Left is just right for me
published: Thursday | August 26, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

WHY IS it that left-handed persons are forced to raise their right hand in a court of law before swearing the Oath? Should not the state recognise the person's individuality? If there is recognition of right-handedness, does the failure to recognise the other way discriminate against those persons so oriented?

This to some may be a minor issue, yet at the heart of it we are face to face with a state that treats basic rights with little regard. Were we to institute a system of removing the hands of thieves, would we take the left hand of a right-hander and the right hand of a left-hander? Would that not be manifestly unjust since taking the right hand of a right-hander would deprive him of the dexterity needed to earn a living, but taking a left-hander's right hand would not produce the same level of punishment.

Minutiae of the wheels of justice, perhaps, but then, where should the quest for justice end?

I am, etc.,

CLIVE OCNACUWENGA

gingerground@hotmail.com