August 13th celebrates LEFT HANDERS DAY, now celebrated world wide. You might wonder why a day is dedicated to left-handers while there is no celebration for the right-handed. This article will explain that. For over a millenia now, the ratio of left-handers to right-handers has remained roughly the same, with only 10% of the population made up of lefties. During these years left-handers have been ill-treated, misunderstood, belittled and discriminated in various ways, including myths, society, family, religion and even language.
In many languages, including English, Latin and German, left handed means (originally), broken, weak, crippled, awkward, clumsy, defective, evil, sinister, even ill-omen and illegitimate, while in Russian (levja) is an insult. Myths call left-handers an associate with the devil, cursed, potential sorcerers, rebellious and depicting ill health. Today it denotes homosexuality.
For years left handers have been beated for writing with the left hand in schools, called names such as southpaw, skivvy/scrummy handed and so on. Being a lefty cannot be considered cool because scientifically it has been proven that they are prone to more mental ailments than right handers, such as dyslexia, schizophrenia, alcoholism and autism. And it is also said that left-handers may live an average of 9 years less than right-handers. Plus, there is no proper reasoning why you are a left handed, or why there is only such a small population of them.
It feels like fate is punishing them for being left-handed. Even if you beat the odds, daily life and should-be simple experiences can be of difficulty or even painful; something as simple as tying a shoe lace, writing on binders/files, using pens on chains, dining in a restaurant, sharing a writing table with a right-hander, handshakes and hugging can pose a challenge. Difficulty in using equipments which are more adapted to right-handers, like right-handers; desk (possible for you not to know there is one as such if you are a right hander), scissors, sharpeners, can-openers and much more. In the end the cons outweigh the pros (which include creativity, artistic skills, musical skills, faster brain activity since messages are transmitted faster from the right side to the left side of the brain and vice versa, better multi-tasking skills and higher IQ [a possibility]). T
he entire year left-handers try to fit into the right-handed world where all are more adapted to the latter, try to go on with daily life, facing difficulties from doors to sinks to writing desks and computers. They have to deal with a world where they are considered different, weird, awkward and even condemned.
But this day was finally established to raise awareness among people that there are others; people forgotten due to the their minority; existing, facing inconvienience. To raise awareness that there are potential children who are left-handed, prone for mental illness, and to prevent such an occuring. A day where they deserve the break for all they encounter daily. A day brought forth to stop discrimination. A day where left-handers can be themselves, and not try to fit in. A day where they are recognized for who they are. A day when they are not seen as different but as unique. A day when you can say, everyday is yours except today, this day is mine.
It is a day to be normal; an equal. To be proud of who you are.
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If you are a left hander facing difficulties- think you are the only one who feels as such or if you reqire more information- visit www.lefthandersday.com. You might be surprised!
Write to me, of your opinions in this topic to race_faster7@yahoo.com or PM me on Wattpad @race_faster. Hope you enjoyed this article and found good knowledge.
And a "Happy Left-handers Day" to all left-handers out there. -race_faster
