The Left Side of History
Imagine being punished simply for the way you held a pencil.
For centuries, that was the quiet struggle of left-handed people. Not rebels. Not rule-breakers. Just children whose dominant hand happened to be the one history mistrusted.
In medieval Europe, left-handedness was seen as a mark of evil. Associated with witchcraft. The devil’s work. In some cases, it was a death sentence.
Across cultures, the bias echoed. In Germany, the word linkisch—meaning left—also meant clumsy. In Mandarin Chinese, the word for "left" is used to imply something wrong or incorrect. In Japan, it was believed a left-handed child might grow up unmarriageable. Parents intervened—forcefully.
Classrooms became battlegrounds. Children were made to write with their non-dominant hand. Some had their left hands tied behind their backs. The consequences were far more than physical discomfort. King George VI developed a stutter after being forced to switch. President Truman experienced similar pressures. And researchers now believe this "correction" led to lasting neurological effects, including attention disorders and speech impediments.
Even etiquette took a side. In some cultures, the left hand is considered unclean—never to be used in eating or greeting. The world, it seems, was built for the right-handed majority. Scissors, desks, baseball gloves, tools. Designed not for all, but for most.
And yet, the left hand persisted.
It painted masterpieces. Wrote novels. Directed nations. It served quietly, brilliantly, defiantly.
Today, left-handedness is seen for what it is: a natural variation. No longer something to fix. Just something to understand. A small reminder of how slow the world can be to accept what doesn’t fit its mold—and how important it is to keep pushing the boundaries of that mold.
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Because sometimes, the best path forward begins by embracing what once held you back.