It’s Time to Bow

Covid-19 will change many aspects of daily life for years to come. 

Last week, Dr. Fauci, American physician and immunologist who has served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, said we should stop shaking hands indefinitely, even after Coronavirus is under control.

Perhaps now is the time to adopt the social custom of bowing, in lieu of physical contact.

And why not? Bowing is fun! It’s safe and it’s very respectful. 

My wife and I performed music for the U.S. Troops in the Asian Pacific and traveled to many countries where bowing was the norm. I thought it was so lovely and affectionate, even from a distance.

Bowing is not as simple as it would seem. There are many levels of intimacy and different emotions that can be expressed without touching. Cordial business bows are more rigid and dry (the equivalent of a firm handshake). Friendly bows are more loose and smiley (like a hug). 

Bows of the deepest affection or respect are very low and long. In Japan, our tour manager took us to a record shop where a great friend of his recognized him from across the room. She ran full speed up to him and paused drastically at the appropriate distance (about 6 ft) and bowed the lowest, most loving bow seemingly possible. It was as powerful as the strongest hug I’d ever seen.

Perhaps long ago (or not so long ago) a pandemic of COVID-19’s magnitude swept through Asia and the culture collectively abandoned physically engaging forms of affection, instead embracing (pun intended) this social distancing form of love.

In any case, let’s try it out, America! Everyone knows what it means to bow. What might have been viewed formerly as “foreign” or “unAmerican” (we hug here) might just be a large ingredient necessary for getting this country out of our current predicament and back to some semblance of the beautiful way of life we once knew.