Lefties of the world, stand up! Today is your day to shine, and brag about how cool it is to be left handed. Dammit, it’s
INTERNATIONAL LEFT HANDERS DAY!
We all know being a lefty is cool.
How are Jimi Hendrix, Albert Einstein, Barack Obama, Scarlet Johansson, Lefty Frizzel, Ringo Starr, Marilyn Monroe, Keith Hernandez, Robert Deniro, Sandy Koufax, Babe Ruth, Julia Roberts, Steve Friggin’ McQueen (a one-man Holy Grail of Cool) and Paul McCartney for starters?
In a world built for right handers, left handers have to adapt from birth, doing everything the rest of us do, but backwards, and that gives them a grace and a certain cunning perspective unique to southpaws.
Every tool, doorway, machine, musical instrument and item of clothing is made for righties, yet the left hand dominant have mastered them all, and many have led the way in imagination, talent and innovation.
For centuries, left-handedness was considered Satanic and, as recently as 50 years ago, children were “converted” in school, forced to write with the wrong hand.
Our language is full of negative references to the left side, and the word itself derives from “lyft,” Anglo Saxon for “weak.” A left-handed complement is a veiled insult, a clumsy dancer has “two left feet.” And so it goes, one more case of jealous people being dicks instead of celebrating the unique and special people among us.
Lefties, raise your hands. No, not that one, your right hands, you clumsy oafs!
• Suggested Activities: Trying to do anything with your “other” hand without drawing blood.