April 25, 2005

A subtle shift...

Ran into a very interesting photo today -- this is from Yahoo/AP. Look at it and tell me what do you see:
bush-saudi-prince.jpg
President Bush greets Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah at his ranch in Crawford, Texas Monday, April 25, 2005. President Bush is seeking relief from record-high gas prices and support for Middle East peace as he opens his Texas ranch to Abdullah. Saudi Arabia is the world's largest oil producer. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Awww - they are holding hands -- isn't that so cute. But look at which hands are being used. People in the Middle East are very specific about what is done with the left hand and what is done with the right hand. From the US Navy's website on Middle East Taboos:
Right hand/left hand: In most Arab countries, the left hand is considered "unclean" and is not put forward (an important thing for all "south-paws" to know.) The left hand earned this interesting epithet in the harsh desert, a land of few trees and no paper. It was the custom to eat, shake hands, wave a greeting, all with the right hand while the left hand was reserved for certain "hygienic functions" or blowing the nose. (The left hand was cleaned by rubbing in the sand). For some desert nomads, this is still the way of things. Traditionally at meals the left hand is kept hidden in the folds of the robe.

Today it is extremely impolite to offer the left hand for a hand shake or to wave a greeting as this implies rubbing the "unhygienic residue" of the left hand on the person being waved to. Similarly, it is impolite to pass food or eat with the left hand. When eating and drinking, use your right hand. Use your right hand also when you pass, offer or receive anything. As an interesting note, throughout the tales of the "1,000 and One Arabian Nights" enemies are referred to as "They of the Left Hand."
This is especially sweet since I remember a photo from a few years ago of one of the Princes and President Bush in the Oval Office and Bush was seated in a chair and the Prince (forget which one) was leaning with his butt against the President's Desk looking down at Bush while talking with him. Not only was this Prince 'seated' at a higher level then President Bush, he was 'dissing' the official seat of power. Nice to see this subtle come-uppance... Posted by DaveH at April 25, 2005 9:09 PM
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