Sunday Scribblings - Left & Right

Do you have a favourite? Left or right?

This week's prompt has to do with everything left & right. We can choose, as there is a lot to be said about these two.

For starters, how did we come up with these words and these concepts? They are useful, no doubt, but they could be more precise. We could say: it's there on 30º starting from your head. I am also fond of the orientations based on the hours of the clock in the english language. Saying, it's there at 4 o'clock is a very fine tool. Amazingly enough we don't use this terminology in portuguese, so we have to manage with only four directions: left, right, front, back. I'm actually quite perplexed at how we orientate ourselves so well with these simple terms.

"Left" is a concept strongly afflicted in most languages. For instance, sinistra (left) in Italian is one of the most obvious negative connotations of the word, as it also means obscure things, just like sinister. On the other hand, 'right' is a word that in many languages means 'how it should be', 'correct', 'straight'. The left of our bodies is where our heart is at, a part of the body that is commanded by the right side of the brain, the one with all the feelings. Is that a reason to consider the 'left' weak?

The other day we tried to establish which side of the brain was more dominant in us with that rotating doll. I also remember something I read a while ago about the way we fold our hands together. When we intertwine our fingers there's one that stays on top - which is it? I read in the BBC website that is it thought that this reveals our brain-side dominance - if it's the right finger, we're governed by our left, logical side; if it's the left finger, we're ruled by the right side. I found an article on this subject here. This hypothesis is not confirmed, maybe we fold the hands as the result of a motor habit. Anyway, my left finger is on top and I'm not very logical, so take your pick.

I'm right-handed. But I have more strength in my left arm. Rafael Nadal plays tennis with his left arm, even though he's right-handed. There's another player that does exactly the opposite but I can't remember who he is. Oh, it's Moya! (Thanks Google!) So you see, it doesn't really mean anything...we can adapt and be happy whatever our dominant side is ;)

You want to talk about politics, I suppose. No, you don't. I wonder if our political orientation isn't as genetic as our hands. Well, that would be silly. It is something we acquire with our education, isn't it? But is it something that is rationalized and pondered? Why do I find myself mocking certain politicians and smiling at others (well, this might be an exaggeration, I don't smile at politicians!)? People don't fall for the politicians' ideas, they fall for the parties they represent, because parties are symbols and we humans are suckers for symbols.

And the award for best usage of the words left and right goes to: Bon Jovi! For that extremely inspired B-side CD title: This Left Feels Right (I've never laughed so much in my life! I still do whenever I think about this. It's the most hilarious title ever.)