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/ Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Is it true lefties are always right? August 13 is International Left-Handers Day
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Zoe Landi Fontana, The Weekly Journal
apoleon Bonaparte, Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie. Or perhaps you relate better to their contemporary counterparts – Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Jimi Hendrix. All legendary. All left-handed. For those who have never thought twice about the convenience of notebooks, door handles, and corkscrews, the troubles of left-handed people have probably gone unnoticed. Yet ask any lefthanded passerby, and you’ll quickly come to the realization that life is, indeed, full of unnecessary hardships for this minority of the population. I, as a member of the right-handed majority, was curious to learn more about this. In an exclusive interview with THE WEEKLY JOURNAL, a source who requested to remain anonymous recounted his lifelong strife as a lefty. “It is common knowledge that life is challenging for people with extreme physical and emotional Let’s get into some science. disabilities in a world that is catered for the Control of the body works contra laterally. That “normal” people. I’d argue the second worst thing is, the right side of the body is is to have a disability just small controlled by the left side of the enough to be forgotten yet big brain and vice versa. Additionally, enough to impact lives,” he said. as you’ve probably heard, each As he sat across from me, I side of the brain has its unique observed how he struggled to strengths. The left side is credited pick up the mug of coffee set in Control of the with numbers, science and math, front of him by a close-minded, body works contra reasoning, and logical functions. right-handed waiter. With a sigh, laterally. That is, The right side commands he slid the mug to the other side. the right side of the everything enjoyable. It clearly wasn’t the first time this body is controlled Despite trials and tribulations, affront had occurred. by the left side of many renowned artists and “It would be a worthy cause the brain and vice musicians have overcome the for society to fight for a more versa. challenges of working with tools hand-neutral world: where left and instruments crafted for handers don’t have to make micro right-handed folk. The devilishly decisions and micro adjustments gifted violinist Paganini, the longin everyday life - what instruments can I learn, what sports can I play, why fingered Rachmaninov, and the painter of starry nights Van Gogh are just a few more recognizable aren’t the scissors working, are faucets always this names on the long list of gifted lefties. confusing to open, no one wants to arm wrestle We can unofficially say that those few ruled by with me,” he lamented. the right-brain (read: left-handed people) have significantly enhanced function in the areas of Endowed with genius music awareness, imagination, creativity, and The question is what is it that these left-handed intuition. Well, and if you’re still second guessing, people have that we, right-handed normies, don’t?
In fact,
“It would be a worthy cause for society to fight for a more hand-neutral world: where left handers don’t have to make micro decisions in everyday life,” Anonymous Lefty
just go back to the list of names at the top of this article. In his last plea, our embittered anonymous source expressed the following: “I understand life can’t be tailored to perfection, but what’s the point if not to strive for it. I urge you all to work towards a more hand-neutral world – one hand at a time.” On this International Left-Handers Day, celebrated on August 13, check in with the lefties in your life and ask them what it’s like to be so unappreciated.
