The new salute

I was pleased to see so many business leaders step up to help combat the Covid-19 outbreak at the president’s March 13 news conference. But I was surprised to see the president still in the habit of shaking hands with these leaders, rather than modeling a greeting more compatible with social-distancing health authorities advise.

As a substitute for the handshake, some folks have tried toe-tapping or elbow bumping. But according to my doctor advisers, these improvements still require closer contact than ideal. So I’ve started and been advocating for a greeting more medically sound and symbolically meaningful.

The greeting is a salute, with only the index finger. The index finger salute (as in number one) is a reminder to think of America’s health first in our interactions. It is a personal acknowledgement without compromising social distancing. It can be a symbol that each one of us has an obligation to observe the practices that will keep us from becoming a burden on our health care system and of our responsibility to the community to reduce the spread of Covid-19. This greeting can indicate our solidarity to combat this common threat to all Americans without partisanship.

A full salute is reserved for our military, three fingers is the Boy Scout salute and two for Cub Scouts. The index finger “America’s Health First” salute can become a non-contact but respectful greeting and reminder to those we meet that we intend to do our part.

Try it and pass it on.

Travis Prewitt

Liberty Lake