Five men stand talking near the center of a cavernous room. Around them are partially completed metal framings and dangling electrical wires. The conversation appears to be very serious. Three of the men are dressed in business suits and ties. The other two are dressed more casually, with open collars and no jackets. Measuring equipment is attached to their belts or hung from their necks.
The attention of all five is focused on the work in progress.
The workmen glance at them from time to time. When beckoned, one of the workmen approaches the group of five. Questions are asked and answered. Heads nodding, all look around at this-and-that. One of the men in a business suit pats the workman’s back. He returns to his work.
Another workman standing nearby says, “Now what”? Another says,” Don’t mean nuthin’ to me. I get paid by the hour”.
Whatever was discussed seems to be concluded. The five shake hands all around.
They exchange small pieces of thin white cardboard. Each looks at the card they’ve received, solemnly shaking their heads forward in some kind of tribute. The men in suits depart. The two with measuring equipment linger, measuring and making marks on their clipboards.
The workmen break for lunch.
I witnessed this scene from a distance. I couldn’t hear what was being said though I knew they were exchanging business cards.
An outsider to American culture would probably think it a peculiar business.
I wondered what a visiting Fiji Islander might make of it?
He could make sense of workers working. He would probably be puzzled at what they were working at. He would be at a loss to explain the five men who didn’t appear to be doing anything. The three in dark suits might be priests of some sort. The two that were measuring, were measuring thin air. Perhaps it was religious ritual.
The metal frames and dangling wires were no doubt preparations for a tribal ceremony of unknown purpose.
The exchange of useless white cards would certainly confirm ritual.
When he returned to his remote Fiji island, he would tell his fellow villagers about the odd ritual he had seen in faraway America.
The villagers would wonder in amazement. What could be the purpose of exchanging these thin white pieces of cardboard? Perhaps it was a ritual of sharing.
Maybe they would take to exchanging white cards amongst themselves just for the silly fun of it.
No, they wouldn’t do that.
They don’t have any white cards.