Also, a right handed person cannot be holding a weapon, while raising the
right hand.
Mike Ross, JD, MLS
On Sat, 01 Mar 1997 16:32:45 -0500 (EST) dls@SHRSYS.HSLC.ORG writes:
>
>My answer probably has more to do with why we don't use the left hand.
>Specifically, the left is considered the "bad" or "evil" side of the
>body;
>hence, the word "sinister" from the Latin sinister for left or
>left-hand.
>(Check the OED for further discussion on this point.) My apologies to
>all
>you lefties out there, including Presidents Bush and Clinton, but this
>apparently is a belief of long standing throughout the world.
>
>The use of the right hand probably also relates to the idea of the
>right
>hand as usually being the stronger hand (most people are
>right-handed),
>the offering of the right hand "as a symbol of friendship or alliance"
>(OED), the right side as the position of honor, and so on. Even in
>Roman
>times, salutes were customarily rendered with the right hand.
>
>Hope this helps!
>
>Ann Davidson
>dls@hslc.org
>
>
>On Fri, 28 Feb 1997, Laura Ray wrote:
>
>> Now here's a fun question - it's too late on Friday to
>> continue this and thought I'd leave it to the list for the
>> weekend. Does anyone know why we traditionally raise our
>> right hand to take an oath (eg, a witness taking an oath
>> before testifying)? I have found information on the
>> "corporal oath" where one lifts up one or more arms invoking
>> God's vengeance if one violates the oath being taken, but
>> have not found specific reference to the right hand. Any
>> ideas?
>>
>> Many thanks,
>> Laura Ray
>>
>> *************************************************************
>> Laura E. Ray, MA, MLS
>> Media/Reference Librarian
>> Cleveland-Marshall College 216-687-6880
>> of Law Library FAX 216-687-5098
>> 1801 Euclid Avenue
>> Cleveland, OH 44115 laurar@jaslan.csuohio.edu
>> *************************************************************
>> Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
>> None but ourselves can free our minds ...
>> *************************************************************
>>
>
>
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