They say going to war without Canada is like going deer hunting without an accordion (ok, they actually say that about the French, but whatever). And we’ve had repeated run-ins with our frozen neighbor to the north in the past (see here, here, here). So you’d think the Canadians wouldn’t be our first choice of allies in our war against the hand shake.
But they also say the enemy of your enemy is your friend. And so, by that crazy logic, I am now friends with Canada. Or at least, one in three Canadians. Because they’ve joined us, CNN, the Dalai Lama, the Obamas, the Boston Globe and some random town in Germany in our fight against the dreaded, disease spreading hand shake.
From The Globe And Mail, which writes that one in three Canadians won’t shake hands due to flu concerns:
A Canadian Press-Harris Decima poll found roughly one-third of those surveyed said they were less inclined to shake hands because of the H1N1 virus.
…
Across the world, people have been urged to cut down on their contact with others. Olympic officials have advised athletes to think twice about shaking hands or kissing, suggesting some might want to bump elbows instead.
Health officials in Spain and France have said it might be a good idea for citizens to avoid the customary kiss of greeting on both cheeks.
Ridiculous? A little. But people keep sending these articles in, so we keep posting them.
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