Clenched Fist: Is clenched fist an interfaith sign?

In last week’s Shalom article on blessing fishermen and SMC pump boats, I wrote that it was an interfaith experience which was characterized by acceptable words and gestures of the hand. I forgot to mention Clenched Fist. Why clenched fist?

Actually, this was not explained as a substitute for the handshake after the words, “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” It was like an automatic gesture on my part. Each one of the 51 fishermen — Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim — responded with a clenched fist and with a slight head bow.

Lately I began to question myself. Was it the right thing to do, clenched fist as an interfaith sign acceptable to Muslims? Then I remembered a curious incident, two years ago during an All-Muslim Youth Seminar on Interreligious Dialogue in Midway Beach, Initao, Misamis Oriental. Two young Muslim women adults were being announced publicly as winners of a competition, a youth game. I was sitting in front of the stage. After their names were mentioned, they said in English with a big smile — just loud enough for me to hear — “Let’s do a DUTERTE …” (then clenched fist vs clenched!). I chuckled with a curious WOW! A Duterte clenched fist? Perhaps Google can help. According to Wikipedia clenched fist has been used by communists, by critics of government, and also by groups promoting solidarity and unity. So clenched fist did not begin with PRRD! It can be an interfaith sign of unity and peace!