The Rational Argumentator A Journal for Western Man-- Issue IX
		The Irrational Exhuberance of American Dining Etiquette: Part II                                                                  Harry Roolaart Many of our readers rightfully pride themselves on their rationality and objectivity. Certainly, they bristle at the thought of irrationality affecting their lives, or worse, being accused of irrationality by others. And yet, most every one of our readers persist in at least one form of irrationality: the mindless obeisance to a tradition: the American dining etiquette. Clearly, human beings possess two hands. But, to place one hand aside and engage in the disturbing and hindering process of transferring one utensil from one hand to the other, over and over again, while neglecting a perfectly useful hand – smacks of irrationality. Two things are striking about this habit. It clearly violates European etiquette – brought to Europe by the Greeks - that tells you to keep both hands above the table wielding gracefully knife and fork. European etiquette is objective as it is well reasoned out to make the most effective use of hands and utensils at a table setting. Secondly all Americans eat the American way (black, yellow, red, white) which is amazing if you think of the different ethnic origins, cultures, and value systems. To conclude: I began this article with a comment about Americans who cut their food with the edge of their fork rather than use a knife. For a long time, I blamed this habit on bad table manners. But, as of late, I’ve come to place such people one rung above those whose dining habit shuffles utensils from one hand to the other while ignoring a perfectly good hand. Why do they do this? Because colonial America was unaware of the existence, let alone the proper use of the fork. In their defense, it may be said that those who use the fork to cut their food do so because they realize the irrational exhuberance of shuffling utensils. Now, if they would just look down, into their laps…and observe that they possess one more hand. Then, all would be well with American dining etiquette. Harry Roolaart is the founder and creator of the harryroolaart.com website and is a writer and artist living and working in Charlotte, North Carolina.  You may contact him personally at hroolaart@harryroolaart.com.  Do you seek to selfishly remedy America's intellectual bankruptcy? Submit your work to us at rationalargumentator@yahoo.com.  CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE MAIN INDEX.