Must we shake hands?

trueBy Deo Tumusiime

“Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen”, often we say during mass, followed with a handshake.

The last thing anyone wants to imagine at this moment of prayer is the likelihood of exchanging disease instead of peace. Yet sadly, spiritual and health matters are not necessarily synonymous.

So during mass recently, one lady literally refused to shake her hands with anyone. It was obvious that this believer did not want to take chances with the outbreaks of Marburg and Ebola-two of the most deadly lots of our times. Persons on the other end felt obviously offended after extending their hands and being turned down. Question; Must we shake hands even when it’s well known that they are a number one way to spread disease?

The handshake has evolved over centuries into its currently profound cultural role. Artifacts from ancient Greece suggest that the handshake began as a general gesture of peace, revealing one’s open palm as a symbol of honesty and trust.

The custom and technique of this open-palm gesture subsequently evolved into the modern form of the handshake, now representing an international symbol of greeting/departure, reconciliation, respect, friendship, peace, congratulations, good sportsmanship, or formal agreement.

Beyond its interpersonal significance, the handshake commonly assumes commercial or political importance (Daily Mail). However, beyond this rosy picture of the handshake is the health implication (and others) that must make everyone think twice.

In lower school, children are taught about the 4Fs responsible for spreading disease; Food, Flies, Faeces, and Fingers. To master these, and then be faced with a culture where hand-shaking is now almost a reflex action, is simply contradictory.

Perhaps the time is now for a re-think about this bit of our tradition as a precautionary measure against the risk of disease. Yes, it may be cultural shock of sorts for someone not to return a hand for a hand in a greeting gesture; but certainly prevention is far better than cure.

Health risk aside, it is additionally widely believed that human hands are ‘electronically’ wired to transmit feelings. It’s for this very reason for example, that some women will naturally not shake just any man’s hands. Some have such soft hands that upon shaking, a man may begin to wish he could sustain the shaking beyond its ordinary intention. Others wear romantic perfumes on their hands that leave a pulling impression.

These instances further make this hand shaking business more undesirable, considering that any emotional overtones arising from a lady’s hands should be consummated in her spouse and not anyone else. Otherwise, you have innocent believers and friends being scandalized.

At this, I would therefore have no problem with of simply saying say “Hi John! Hi Mary! Hi Dee!” No one ever catches disease by returning “Hi” for “Hi”. Other alternatives already used by some people like bowing your head, waving a hand or placing your palm over your heart and if you like, the Baganda greeting of kneeling; could be more embraced. The Banyankole traditionally offer a hug for greeting, and in much of Europe, people greet with a kiss.

 When it comes to church; since hand shaking is only a formality with no obviously verifiable peace imbued upon the shaking, then I suppose believers should be saved the risk. Yes, in any case, God looks mostly at the heart and not the physical signs which for many are no more than a formality.

Let’s not take chances!

The writer a communications consultant