Zayde did something evil this week in his class in Oakes Elementary in Okemah, Oklahoma. He wrote with his left-hand. That prompted a teacher to explain that the left hand was “bad” and should not be used. When his mother wrote to inquire, the teacher sent an article explaining how the left hand is associated with the devil and is deemed evil. Of course, a few left handers who seemed to do all right range from Alexander the Great to President Obama.
Zayde is in Pre-K and learning to write. The teacher sent an article that explained how the left hand is deemed “unlucky,” “evil,” and “sinister.” It also noted that the devil is often portrayed as left-handed.” Indeed, while not mentioned in the article, historical figures like Joan of Arc were portrayed as left-handed to make them look more evil (though it is not clear which was her dominant hand).
Reporters were unable to speak with the Superintendent and the principal of Oakes Elementary would only say that she is aware of the situation and “hung up before we could ask any questions.”
Just for the record, here are a few of those left-handers in history:
Lloque Yapanqui Inca monarch
Ramses II, Egyptian pharaoh
Tiberius, Roman emperor
Alexander the Great
Charlemagne, Holy Roman emperor
Julius Caesar, Roman general
Napoléon Bonaparte, French emperor
Josephine de Beauharnais
King Louis XVI of France
Queen Victoria of England
King George II of England
King George VI of England
Prince Charles of England
Prince William of England
Fidel Castro, Cuban leader
Benjamin Franklin
James A. Garfield
Herbert Hoover
Harry S. Truman
Gerald Ford
Ronald Reagan
George H.W. Bush
Bill Clinton
Barack Obama
Trope,
I agree that left-handedness is more than hand preference. I was switched from left to right in kindergarten. I am fairly ambidextrous now, though I have had a terrible time learning how to knit (at the yarn over part I keep going backwards).
So this list shows many political and military leaders were left-handed. That sampling seems far greater than just 10%. Obviously a greater proportion of left-handers become political and military leaders. And everyone knows that politicians and generals are evil. They are the ones who declare and wage war. Where’s the disconnect? Logically, left-handers are evil.
Being ambidextrous means being able to eat sugar with either hand.
Not there anymore, Nick, at least not on Pier 39, which is where it was when I visited it. IIRC.
I’m glad to see the selection of baseball gloves for lefties has improved.
Trope, There was a store in SF out on one of the piers called “Just Lefties.” My daughter is a southpaw and my wife and I shopped for her. That was awhile back, don’t know if it’s still there.
Trope, I coached baseball for 30 years. Starting in the late 70’s/early 80’s, the selection of gloves for southpaws starting improving. Prior to that, there were some first baseman gloves for lefties, but few others. I played Little League in the 60’s w/ a good lefty player. He pitched and played the outfield w/ a first baseman’s glove. There is an ample selection now.
Also, it is not just the objects but the approach to doing so many things that is counterintuitive to lefties. A simple thing like tightening or loosening a jar lid or a screw is counterintuitive to a lefty. Speaking for myself as a lefty, I sometimes still get confused and tighten that screw when I mean to loosen it. It’s just backwards.
I’m not complaining, just pointing something out. I wouldn’t change a thing. I would never want to be a righty. (And there are advantages to being a lefty too.) On the other hand, when I was young a right-handed kid could go to the store and select a glove among many for the upcoming baseball season. A lefty had to worry if there would even be one available. I don’t know if this is still true.
Thank you, Prairie,
You make good points. However, left-handedness is about more than literally the hand. When I throw a ball, I never throw it with just my hand; I throw it with my hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder — indeed, my entire body. Being left-handed or right-handed is more about orientation (the brain) than a specific body part. In other words, many things made for righties, just don’t feel right in the hands of a lefty.