The Left-Handers

The Left-Handers

              At first, I didn't know.  It was only through Audi and Jim Lanford that I learned that there is an International Left Handers Day and it falls on August 13 of each year. It is dedicated to all the left handers in the world. Because left handers comprise only a little percentage of the population worldwide, they are a minority.  Most are right handed and the world seems to be meant for right handers. Being right handed is the standard and being left handed is the unusual one. 

International Left-Handers' Day intends to promote awareness of the difficult situation most left-handers are in.  (oddcalendarpic; caption is mine)

Writing with the left hand is considered as unorthodox.

             We notice this in school where desks are for right handed students. Left handed students have to make that hook or semi loop to be able to write on the desk.  Oh, I remember my classmates Ben Jacinto and Eric Cammayo making the necessary adjustments. At the work place, left handed workers at a garment factory or at a shoe shop, have to contend with the scissors when cutting fabrics or cutting leather. They don't see the searing edge. Scissors are for the right handed. But these workers adjust well to the situation. The same is true with those who work with the computers.  Mouse is designed for the right handed. The old style slot machine is for right handers.

Desks are designed for right handed students.

Left handed workers don't see the shearing edge when cutting fabrics or leather. (shann.compic; caption is mine)

The old one-armed bandit is designed for the right handers. Today, slot machines have buttons. (uscasinorentalspic; caption is mine)

The manual can opener is for the right handed. (g'gle pic; caption is mine)

Lefties experience difficulty with the left click and the right click.

               Left handed are called lefties. A boxer or a baseball pitcher who is left handed is called a south paw.  When fighting or playing, he stands with the right foot forward. Many lefties have distinguished themselves in their respective fields, be it in politics, business or sports. They have excelled. Incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, is left handed. Former President Bill Clinton is also a leftie. Bill Gates is left handed. Entertainers Ophrah Winfrey, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Keannu Reeves, Paul McCartney, Angelina Jolie, Robert de Niro and Robert Redford are all left handed.

Incumbent USA President Barack Obama signing documents. (wikia; caption is mine)

Former USA President Bill Clinton at the White House (wikia; caption is mine)

Tony Abbott is Australia's Prime Minister. (wikia; caption is mine)

 Napoleon Bonaparte was called "the Emperor of the French". His wife Josephine was left-handed too. (fanphobia; caption is mine)

Mugshot of the left-handed Bill Gates in 1977 when he was arrested for careless driving. (digitalspypic; caption is mine)

Bruce Willis of Die Hard fame (theage.compic; caption is mine)

Demi Moore starred in the film The Scarlet Letter, acting as Hester Prynne. Demi is left-handed. (g'gle pic; caption is mine)

Paul McCartney is known as the left-handed guitarist of The Beatles. (flametreepic; caption is mine)

Angelina Jolie is the highest paid movie actress, per Forbes Magazine. She is left-handed. (thewallpaperspic; caption is mine)

Robert de Niro played the role of the young Vito Corleone in Godfather Part II. He won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor  for that role. He won another Oscar for Best Actor in Raging Bull as boxer Jake LaMotta. (wikipic; caption is mine)

Robert Redford starred in films like The Great Gatsby, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Horse Whisperer. (weadiamediapic; caption is mine)

               It is in the field of sports that many left handed athletes have excelled and have earned the admiration of countless fans all over the world. 8-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is a southpaw. His powerful left has knocked the living daylights out of many opponents. Paeng Nepomuceno is a 6-time world bowling champion. World number two in tennis, Rafael Nadal, is left handed and his powerful forehand has continuously posed problems to top ranked Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. Tennis ladies champion Petra Kvitova is a south paw. Multi-titled Manu Ginobili of NBA champions San Antonio Spurs is a leftie who easily penetrates the tight defense of opposing teams to score crucial points. Ace golfer Phil Mickelson is a leftie too. At the local front, left handed Allan Caidic, dubbed the Triggerman in his heyday, is one of PBA's 25 greatest players. Mike Bilbao had a prolific career, playing with De La Salle College, Tanduay, Beer Hausen and Mariwasa until he was permanently sidelined after a car crash. The list is long.  So many left handed persons have truly excelled in sports and other fields that they have created the impression that lefties are most likely to succeed in their line of work.  I, for one, am impressed.

- Konted

Ricky Hatton is knocked out by Manny Pacquiao with a vicious left in Round 2 as referee Kenny Bayless halts the fight even without counting. .(theguardianpic; caption is mine)

Paeng Nepomuceno is perhaps one of the greatest Filipino athletes of all time. (wallpoperpic; caption is mine)

Rafael Nadal has won 14 Grand Slam titles. He is currently ranked number 2. (g'gle pic; caption is mine)

Petra Kvitova in action versus Italy's Marion Bartoli at the Rogers Cup in Montreal in 2012.  Kvitova won the Wimbledon Tennis championship in 2011 and 2014.  Kvitova is from the Czech Republic.(zimbiopic; caption is mine)

Manu Ginobili is a 12 yr NBA veteran. He has won four championship rings with the multi-titled San Antonio Spurs.  He is from Argentina. (g'gle pic; caption is mine)

Phil Mickelson has won The Masters in 2004, 2006 and 2010. He won The Open championship in 2013. He is left handed ONLY when playing golf. (golfdigestpic; caption is mine)

Allan Caidic holds the PBA all-time record for most 3 pt shots made. He played for University of the East, San Miguel and Great Taste. (spinpic; caption is mine)

Left-handed Mike Bilbao played for De La Salle College, Tanduay, Beer Hausen and Mariwasa.  He was a wily court general. (interbasketpic; caption is mine)

Shifty guard Willie Miller currently plays for Barako Bulls in the PBA. He has played with the Alaska Aces, Talk n Text, and Barangay Ginebra. (hoopnutpic; caption is mine)

Now a senior, left-handed Ben Jacinto can still beat much younger opponents in golf. He is an all-around athlete. 

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