I have a few observations on the hand gesture — index finger and thumb forming a circle — that Donald Trump has a penchant for using, and that was pictured on the front page of the Globe Tuesday, the morning after the first presidential debate.

For many in the United States and elsewhere, this gesture represents the “OK’’ symbol. However, in many other parts of the world, the connotation is very different. It can be viewed as a vulgar insult, referring to a part of the body. In Japan, it is a symbol for money. In France, it is a big zero. In the Arab world, it represents the evil eye, and is expressed as a curse. Occultists interpret it as representing 666, the sign of the devil.

American politics is playing out on the world stage. Take your pick, folks.

Joanne Pereira

Brockton