Don't worry. It's his index finger and everybody better watch out, because he knows how to use that thing.
Public speaking comes hard for most people, and even many who take it up never master the effective use of the art. Senator Bernie Sanders is not one of those people. Just about all effective public speakers, including Bernie, make good use of their hands. Anyone, who thinks hands are not eminently useful for communication, has never visited a foreign country and tried to communicate without benefit of common speech.
The effective use of hands in communication was studied by Vanessa Van Edwards and her communications consultancy, Science of People, measuring the reactions of subjects viewing speakers in "hundreds of TED Talks". Her advice, drawn from the research, included this:
Bring Out the Jazz Hands.
A speaker's body language is extremely important for determining a talk's success. By analyzing specific patterns, the study, which was conducted by Van Edwards's company Science of People, found that the more hand gestures a speaker used, the more successful the talk. Van Edwards says prior research has shown that we have an easier time trusting people when we can see their hands. In addition, when speakers use their hands to explain concepts, people have an easier time understanding them.
Other researchers agree.
Among American Presidents and Presidential candidates, only a handful of truly gifted public speakers clearly stand out in modern times. In my lifetime, the more wooden speakers included Presidents Truman (usually), Eisenhower, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and both Bushes. The also-rans also included a lot of pedestrian orators, too, including Adlai Stevenson, Hubert Humphrey, John Kerry, almost the Republicans, etc.
All public speakers learn to use their hands, but only the great ones do it naturally and effectively, or at least act like they do (I'm talking to you, Ronald Reagan). Effective use of hand gestures provides a common denominator among some of our Democratic Presidential stalwarts:
President John F. Kennedy, a/k/a The Slain Prince of Camelot
President Bill Clinton, a/k/a The Big Dog
President Barack Obama, aka Bringer of Hope and Change
If you think you would enjoy a photo essay of Bernie demonstrating why, finger-wise, he is more than fit company for the great Presidential orators who preceded him, you are in luck. Join me out in the tall grass to see.
Bernie uses his versitile pointing finger to, well, make lots of different kinds of points. Candid photos from various appearances and events help illustrate this.
Bernie The Explainer
Bernie The Declaimer
Bernie The Arguer
Bernie The Denouncer
Bernie The Decryer
Bernie The Warner
Bernie The Appellant
Bernie The Inspirator
Bernie The Exaggerator
Apologies to all and hat tip to Al Gore for that last caption.
Join me soon for Bernie Gives America a Hand . . . Sometimes, Two
PS
I am grateful and humbled by the notice received by my recent diary giving my take on why Bernie is going to win it all, the most Facebook shared post on Daily Kos on June 7 and now up to 23,000 shares. The message is spreading. Bernie is in it to win it.
