VOA慢速英语2021--The Future of Handshakes

As workers return to the office, friends meet up and religious services move from online to in person, people are asking the question: to shake hands or not to shake hands?

When the coronavirus crisis² first began, an event planning business in Kansas City began selling "I Shake Hands" stickers. The words were meant to make social situations easier.

"We didn't want the sticker to say, ‘We Don't Shake Hands' because that is kind of off-putting," said John DeLeon, vice¹ president of operations and sales at MTI Event in Kansas City. "But if someone had the sticker on in that group, then that was the indication that it was OK."

DeLeon added that those who did not want to shake hands with others could simply choose not to wear a sticker.

The handshake has been around for centuries. A widely held belief is that it started as a way to show that a person was offering peace and not holding a hidden weapon.

But hands have germs.

Dr. Anthony Fauci is America's leading infectious³ disease expert. Last year, he warned, "I don't think we should ever shake hands again, to be honest with you."

Dr. Amesh Adalja, another infectious disease expert, does not agree. He thinks people are overthinking the question of whether to shake hands or not. The answer, he says, is simple.

"If you are worried about COVID, the best way to make handshakes safe is to be fully⁴ vaccinated⁵," Dr. Adalja said. "And for any other things that might be on people's hands, just wash your hands before you touch your face."

Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette⁶ expert. Etiquette means the rules that make up the correct way to behave in society. Gottsman said she does not think the handshake will go away because of the pandemic. But she said people should take things slowly.

"Don't be the first to extend your hand, even if you are comfortable," Gottsman said. "Watch the other person and allow them to extend their greeting of choice."

Former U.S. President Donald Trump⁷ has said publicly he does not like shaking hands because germs on hands can pass. However, he faced criticism in the early days of the pandemic when he continued shaking hands at public events.

The administration of President Joe Biden at first took social distancing more seriously. But following the end of federal guidance on face coverings and more widespread availability of vaccines⁸, handshakes and even hugs returned to the White House.

Lizzie Post is the great-great-granddaughter of another etiquette expert, Emily Post. She said the country is entering a time similar to the start of the pandemic, when people wanted to know if others were socially distancing before getting close to them.

Now the question is whether family, friends and coworkers are vaccinated. Post says she likes to announce that she is vaccinated, and then ask directly whether a person wants a hug or handshake.

She does not think the handshake is going away.

"It is a really hard greeting to deny because it has been so ingrained since we were kids or young adults," Post said. "And I see that being more powerful than the past year of not practicing it..."

Business Law Southwest advises businesses in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. At the beginning of the pandemic, it offered to help create new workplace rules — such as a no-handshake policy. But there was not enough interest, said Kristy Donahue, a company spokeswoman.

"At the end of the day," Donahue said, "people crave⁹ human interaction and human touch."

Words in This Story

germ - n. a very small living thing that causes disease

sticker - n. a piece of paper with a picture or writing on it and a sticky substance on its back that is used to attach it to a surface

indication - n. something (such as a sign or signal) that points out or shows something

etiquette - n. the rules indicating the proper and polite way to behave

extend - v. to cause (something, such as your arm or leg) to straighten out or to stretch out

comfortable - adj. not causing any physically¹⁰ unpleasant feelings : producing physical comfort

allow - v. to permit (something)

hug - n. the act of putting your arms around someone or something as a way of showing love or friendship

practice - v. to do (something) regularly or constantly as an ordinary part of your life

ingrained - adj. existing for a long time and very difficult to change : firmly established

crave - v. to have a very strong desire for (something)

interaction - n. the act of talking or doing things with other people

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

3 infectious   

adj.传染的，有传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。
• What an infectious laugh she has!她的笑声多么具有感染力啊！

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

6 etiquette   

n.礼仪，礼节；规矩

参考例句：

• The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。
• According to etiquette,you should stand up to meet a guest.按照礼节你应该站起来接待客人。

7 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

8 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

9 crave   

vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求

参考例句：

• Many young children crave attention.许多小孩子渴望得到关心。
• You may be craving for some fresh air.你可能很想呼吸呼吸新鲜空气。

10 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。