>>>They think of it as “some Middle Eastern custom, I guess”.
Guess what, this is not the Middle East, and women are treated with a little more respect and decency than in the Islamic world, thank God. If you cannot adapt to this strange and alien practice, I might have a suggestion or two. (And it would not include the decapitation of a woman who tried to shake your hand...)
If you can’t bring yourself to talk to me without attempting to grab my hand - better find other people to talk to. Don’t like me here? Lobby your government not to give me a visa next time, then. *shrug*