Contemplating how a lot which means has been connected to the gesture, it’s exceptional how little it says in regards to the nature of man. Whereas a handshake can shut offers, say hi there and goodbye, seal guarantees, it suggests little greater than that hand shakers are typically gregarious, like to socialize, are chatty, get pleasure from exterior stimulation and interplay. At any charge, so say a number of ostensible college students of human habits.
There may be ample proof {that a} handshake isn’t any assure of affection or friendship. It may be used as a distraction, a sign, a disguise of dangerous intentions. Take into account the well-chronicled events when among the strongest world leaders had been photographed urgent the flesh and smiling from ear to there within the blessed presence of trusted evangelicals and different rich promoters of Peace and Love—God’s broadly marketed failsafe deterrent to conflict, starvation, galloping crime, poverty, numerous abuses of ladies and youngsters, and different inhumanities to man.
Lower than a yr after a British prime minister named Chamberlain was photographed pumping fingers with Adolf Hitler, their respective nations had been engaged in a conflict described as “the deadliest battle in human historical past,” with navy and civilian casualties estimated at 70 to 85 million. Then there’s Ronald Reagan’s Particular Envoy, Donald Rumsfeld, captured on movie as he vigorously pumped Saddam Hussein’s bloody hand in 1983. Who might then have imagined future photographs of a raveled and filthy Saddam being dragged out like a rat from a gap within the floor by U.S. troops, finally to be tried and hanged by his personal folks, now converts to the American Manner.
Not too long ago, God’s lead agent in Saint Lucia delivered on the Gros Islet Catholic church a sermon that centered on the sooner cited divine deterrent to every part depraved and ungodly. Throughout the mass, to which representatives of each political events had been specifically invited, the celebrant advised it would look good within the eyes of the Lord, to not say set a wonderful instance for normal mortals, if congregants, by no means thoughts their private or political variations, would all overlook their troubles and shake fingers.
Conceivably in the perfect pursuits of what’s summarized in Matthew 22:39 as “the second of the 2 nice commandments”—Love thy neighbor as thyself—many of the congregation appeared to put aside no matter entrenched hatreds they harbored. At any charge, throughout the hand-shaking ceremony. Right here was a miracle worthy of detailed protection. Alas, to borrow a line from the previous prime minister Kenny Anthony (he was not among the many day’s worshippers!): “In politics, something can occur.”
Evidently nobody anticipated the sudden. By a number of publicized accounts, Allen Chastanet, the chief of the Home opposition, tried a number of instances to be neighborly towards the nation’s prime minister, Philip J. Pierre. As many instances his efforts at displaying some love in the home of God had been not-so-subtly rebuffed. Nothing new. It will be troublesome to recall a time when the celebration leaders had found widespread floor. Not when contemplating the ominous prospects in relation to post-COVID tourism. Not when the opposition answered the federal government’s enchantment for concepts more likely to curb the escalating murder charge. And positively not when a sure Mr. Phillippe Martinez turned Saint Lucia’s categorized CIP operations into a world scandal—which can or could not have contributed to the Trump authorities’s new perspective towards vacationers wishing to go to the USA on Saint Lucian passports. (It happens to me that the cassocked wannabe peace maker may’ve had higher luck had he invited the celebration leaders to hitch him on his altar, there to carry out as required. However then, who’s to say the priest was himself not performing on orders from above?)
Yessir, what appeared to seize public consideration was not a lot the deceitful face of sworn enemies shaking fingers on the behest of a extremely embellished priest as that two warring politicians couldn’t deliver themselves within the foolish season to take part in a love gesture which will properly have been designed additionally to enhance the church’s public picture. For a number of months, common folks had been pleading with the pinnacle of the native Catholic Church and its illegitimate brethren to talk out in protest towards the a number of every day homicides—to no avail.
As for Babonneau’s resident rock-star clergyman, Father Albert, he has all the time sounded much more involved in regards to the surreptitious proclivities of disguised supernatural baddies amongst his common flock. He preaches incessantly about boloms, gens gagé, chembois, high-priced obeahmen and Haitian-style zombies—matters that, a lot to the priest’s expressed annoyance, assured him solely stuffed pews. By no means stuffed wallets.
Within the meantime, Prime Minister Pierre is off-island, reportedly preoccupied with extra urgent issues. Little question he can be required to press overseas flesh as devoid of melanin because the fingers of Allen Chastanet.
A private be aware: I’ve recognized Pip lengthy sufficient to counsel he’s as near being a germaphobe as I’m. The place most individuals would lengthen a hand to be squeezed, caressed or grabbed, I’m extra more likely to voice my thank yous and my so good to satisfy yous. It’s no accident that the prime minister is usually pictured together with his wrists crossed at his crotch. His solely public touch upon the Gros Islet rebuff has been: “Shaking fingers is a voluntary factor.” Observers are invited to make of that what they are going to.
And now I’m considering the duvet of my ebook, Silly Virgins, which options Prime Minister Allen Louisy (sure, one other Allen!) shaking fingers with an over-ambitious radical George Odlum in silhouette. The untold particulars behind that seize shot quantity to a very unhappy story about man’s lust for energy, extra exceptional by far than the Gros Islet episode. Would that our monks might acknowledge the necessity to pray Saint Lucia is spared a repetition of what transpired instantly following the strategic gesture of affection and unity at Mindoo Phillip Park one unforgettable Labor Day again in 1979!
