Body language is an imperfect tongue. Bodies do communicate, however. We possessors of bodies, and of minds, interpret, and understand this non-written, non-spoken language. John Kerry has been on the public stage for many years now. We Americans know his "look." He has a very winning smile which he wears often, perhaps for a natural sunny disposition, fortunately to give breadth to a narrow face and a huge chin.
Sergey Lavrov, of course, we Americans do not know as well. His eyes are close-set and intense, his head more square, his body is more square, more square that is in body and in head than is long John Kerry. Kerry is 6'4" tall, Lavrov appears to be a couple of inches shorter. Lavrov's natural state seems to be this intensity which frequently appears to be confrontational or hostile. When seated he leans forward, Kerry, literally, is more laid back. Lavrov looks like a junkyard guard dog.
Often, when people with a similar natural look to Lavrov smile broadly, it does not look...natural; they're facial muscles are forced into this unnatural state and their faces appear almost to crack. It can be grotesque. Seeing Lavrov in his natural state, it is hard to see him smiling or laughing. But, Lavrov has a wonderful, natural broad smile and a harder-to-force "intermediate" smile. He appears to have experience in it, to like it.
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Sergey Lavrov, of course, we Americans do not know as well. His eyes are close-set and intense, his head more square, his body is more square, more square that is in body and in head than is long John Kerry. Kerry is 6'4" tall, Lavrov appears to be a couple of inches shorter. Lavrov's natural state seems to be this intensity which frequently appears to be confrontational or hostile. When seated he leans forward, Kerry, literally, is more laid back. Lavrov looks like a junkyard guard dog.
Guard dog.
Let's look at these two guys together over the course of a year, a year with high highs and low lows:
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Walking in Moscow. Kerry, confident body language, former prosecutor, accomplished debater, trying to convince Lavrov that Syria should be bombed.
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He's listening. But he's not buying it.
In Geneva, after agreement on Syria. Look at Lavrov's smile! And he's a "hands-on" type of guy, who'd a thunk it! It was a triumphant moment for Lavrov. Kerry, the naturally more smiley of the two isn't quite as effervescent, he's almost sheepish. Kerry stumbled into a resolution of Syria. It was Lavrov's triumph.
Low five. Happy Days. Also on Syria. Someplace.
The "suicide-compact" photograph. Their first meeting on Ukraine. Fucking God damn!
Look at that! Never seen John Kerry look like that.
Kerry looking to the heavens. Lavrov staring vacantly.
Second meeting on Ukraine, in Paris last week. Kerry hang-dog, Lavrov smiley. Is that a gloat? Umm...face turned, hard to tell...I think it's a gloat.
In Geneva, after agreement on Syria. Look at Lavrov's smile! And he's a "hands-on" type of guy, who'd a thunk it! It was a triumphant moment for Lavrov. Kerry, the naturally more smiley of the two isn't quite as effervescent, he's almost sheepish. Kerry stumbled into a resolution of Syria. It was Lavrov's triumph.
Look at that! Never seen John Kerry look like that.
Kerry looking to the heavens. Lavrov staring vacantly.
Second meeting on Ukraine, in Paris last week. Kerry hang-dog, Lavrov smiley. Is that a gloat? Umm...face turned, hard to tell...I think it's a gloat.
