I think I would have told her that I was booked solid for the next
twenty-five years before she got a chance to tell me.
---
Christopher Hitchens
“ What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.
”
― Christopher Hitchens,
On 4/21/2019 11:21 AM, Carl Jarvis wrote:
Interesting. It would appear that all of a culture's practices had a
practical origin. We accept them because it's expected of us. Like
shaking hands. The practice of showing no weapons was done by
grasping the other person's dominant hand with your dominant hand,
normally the right hand. Today we nod when we are introduced to
someone of a higher station or position. That nod came from a full
bow from the waist. The full bow came from a custom of dropping to
the knees and prostrating before the superior person, usually
stretching the arms out in front and touching the forehead to the
ground, with the rear end high in the air. This show of
"respect"/submission, came from an ancient time when the superior man
mounted the backside of his "inferior". Think of that the next time
you give a nod of respect or drop your eyes when meeting a person of
higher status.
Back in the late 50's I dated a very attractive young woman of obvious
superior status. I know this because she eventually told me so...as
she bid me farewell.
We agreed to meet after work in downtown Seattle, and we began to walk
to a local restaurant. She stopped abruptly and said, "Gentlemen walk
on the outside". She was referring to the fact that I was setting out
on the side closest to the buildings, leaving her to walk next to the
traffic...although the curb lane was full of parked cars.
I exchanged sides, but explained that she was more apt to be struck by
something falling from an open window, than by a parked car. "Well,"
she then said, "It's still a matter of respect". I recall that our
dinner included a fat fried chicken thigh. As I began to reach for my
chicken thigh, to pick it up and chomp down, as we Jarvis' were wont
to do, she picked up her knife and fork and began cutting off little
tiny bites. And so, following suit, I proceeded to do the same,
butchering that poor defenseless piece of chicken all over the table
and my pants and the floor.
Being visually impaired, I had fully intended to take my date home on
the local bus. But after noting her "refined ways", I decided I'd
better spring for a cab. We walked up to her door and I put my arm
around her...another wonderful custom, and bent toward her lips,
anticipating that magical moment. She turned her cheek at the last
moment and placed the palms of her hands on my chest, pushing me
backward. This was another ancient custom that signaled to all
gentlemen that a second date was probably not in the cards. But I
sucked in a deep breath and lied, telling her that I'd had a wonderful
time, and would she care to do this again. She assured me that she
was booked solid for the next 25 years, and besides, I gave new
meaning to the old adage, Diamond in the Rough.
But I see that once again I've wandered off the subject.
Carl Jarvis
On 4/20/19, Roger Loran Bailey <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thinking about this habit of Africans asking for gifts as a way to show
you honor, I just thought of another example that is similar. That is,
it is similar in that it involves making gifts. I think I read this in
an anthropology text book too. There was a certain tribe of native
Americans. I forget which one. To honor you and to show good will it was
their practice to make a gift to you that they had no intention that you
would keep. It was just to show friendliness and good will. Then soon
after giving you the gift they would ask for it back. People from a
white European culture did not necessarily understand this. If you were
to say, no, you gave it to me and I'm keeping it, the giver would be
highly offended. The same white Europeans would also be confused if they
offered a gift and it was accepted and then the native American who had
received the gift turned around and gave it back. I understand that this
is where the phrase Indian giver came from. But can you imagine the
confusion that this example of culture shock caused?
--
---
Christopher Hitchens
“ What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without
evidence. ”
― Christopher Hitchens,
