Archives for posts with tag: Wave

The Martial Wave

May 13, 2016 //
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Image owned by Reuters via the Japan TImes

Image owned by Reuters via the Japan Times

I’m sure politicians get coaching on body language and mixing with the proletariat. It’s such an important part of the role; you can’t afford to be aloof these days.

What makes me surprised, then, is when you watch election results and vote count announcements, and the victorious politician, male or female, has to indulge in this straight-armed ‘martial wave’. It’s not quite Hitler-ish, but it’s not far off.

Perhaps they’ve been told that it makes them look authoritative and indicative of leadership potential. I can’t stand it, it’s all triumphalism and ego-basking, without so much as an ounce of humility, the true indicator of greatness.

Yes, the martial wave sets altogether the wrong tone for leadership. Why can’t victorious politicians, after a brief moment of relief or celebration, take a leaf out of the books of either soccer players or Chinese performing arts exponents, and clap their audience, the people who funded them or put them in the exalted position they are now?

The victory wave; you have to get it right.

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Categories Communication, Language

Your Index Finger

June 4, 2014 //
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Your index finger is an amazing device. Is there a more important digit? I don’t know. I guess that’s why sports people and sports fans who want to stress their hegemony in their league or group simply hold up their index finger, perhaps also mouthing the words ‘number one, baby!’

When I’m driving in the west of Ireland, especially the wild, very west of Ireland – also known as Connemara – I enjoy the silent language of mutual acknowledgement as two cars pass each other.

As the car approaches there is a casual check of the car to see if it’s someone you know – for Ireland is a village, and you’d be surprised how often you bump into someone you know, even for a ‘blow-in’ like me – then a check of of the registration plate to see if it sports the letter ‘G’ for County Galway. If it’s a local car, then the index finger of one of the hands at the ‘ten to two’ position on the steering wheels raises slightly, almost imperceptibly. Nine times of ten it is seen and acknowledged in the same way.

Such is the way in the land of a hundred thousand welcomes, from the tip of your index finger.

 

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Categories Communication, Language