Norwegians Confused by Bush Salute

Associated Press ^ | January 21, 2005

[RWR8189]

OSLO, Norway (AP) - President Bush's ``Hook 'em, 'horns'' salute got lost in translation in Norway, where shocked people interpreted his hand gesture during his inauguration as a salute to Satan.

That's what it means in the Nordics when you throw up the right hand with the index and pinky fingers raised, a gesture popular among heavy metal groups and their fans in the region.

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``Shock greeting from Bush daughter,'' a headline in the Norwegian Internet newspaper Nettavisen said above a photograph of Bush's daughter Jenna, smiling and showing the sign.

For Texans, the gesture is a sign of love for the University of Texas Longhorns, whose fans are known to shout out ``Hook 'em, 'horns!'' at sporting events.

[mewzilla]

A salute to Satan? ROTF!!!! Well, Aggies would agree, wouldn't they? ;)

[debboo]

Norwegians and all other countries need to stay out of our business. How absurd to think that our President and his family would be thinking of Norway during the parade. If they wanted to give a high sign they could have used the international finger wave high sign to the b@#$%%^rds.

[k2blader]

If a 35 year old (or older) person did that sign at me I'd think it looked pretty dumb too.

[NorCalRepub]

I wouldn't expect them to know about the Texas Longhorns but I would expect them not to jump to that ridiculous conclusion

[conservativebabe]

Dumb@sses! I wonder what the finger means in Norwegian

[mewzilla]

Well, there are lots of gestures that could be taken the wrong way in a different country. The thumb's up signal is another one.

[KMC1]

Aggies and Liberals all agree it was a tribute to Satan...

[MisterRepublican]

I wonder if the Norwegians were informed the University of Texas Longhorn Band was passing by in the parade at the time. Sounds like an unbiased media over there, like ours.

[billorites]

Don't make that gesture in the North End of Boston or any other Italian neighborhood.

[theFIRMbss]

>A salute to Satan? ROTF!!!!

I recently saw
an old John Lennon picture
and Lennon flashed it!

[dhuffman@awod.com]

I frequently cautioned my offspring about using hand-sign that might be misinterpreted. We Americans are acutely aware of 'the finger' but nearly none are aware of the 'unicus' gesture resembling the female genitals, or or the devil's horns or of the cuckold gesture or of any number of others.

Hell, we don't even differentiate amongst vulgarities, profanities and obscenities. They're all just 'swearing'. what Barbra Streisand.

The conspiracy of ignorance masquerades as common sense.

[tracer]

It indicates the IQ of the average Norwegian....

[SF Republican]

The folks in Michigan know what it means.

[mewzilla]

Hook'em, Horns? Really? Jeez, if Lennon did it, it really must have something to do with Old Nick.

[OldSmaj]

Well, there are lots of gestures that could be taken the wrong way in a different country. The thumb's up signal is another one.

Yeah, well I learned the hard way about the traditional "OK" sign.

Never use it in Italy.

Extreme insult.

Prompts instant road rage.

Over and above that which the Eyetalyans usually exhibit on their roads.

[k2blader]

Yep, and also I think raising only the "pointer" finger is a no-no in France (I learned that the hard way).

This reminds me--didn't the first President Bush commit some kind of hand-gesture faux pas somewhere abroad during his term?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

No surprise here. The Norwegians are also baffled by integrity, Democracy, and a market economy.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

I frequently cautioned my offspring about using hand-sign that might be misinterpreted. We Americans are acutely aware of 'the finger' but nearly none are aware of the 'unicus' gesture resembling the female genitals, or or the devil's horns or of the cuckold gesture or of any number of others.

Hell, we don't even differentiate amongst vulgarities, profanities and obscenities. They're all just 'swearing'. what Barbra Streisand.

The conspiracy of ignorance masquerades as common sense.