Scouting: Chief Scout of the Commonwealth

[JSFMACLJR]

I noticed that he shakes hands left-handed. As a right-handed person, that always "throws" me a little.

If I remember correctly, the Scout handshake is given with the left hand.

[ABG0819]

If I remember correctly, the Scout handshake is given with the left hand.

Some one please correct me if I am wrong but I was taught that the Scout handshake is given with the left hand. A regular handshake is right handed as a show that the offerer is weaponless. A scout shakes left handed because shows a bond of trust between the two scouts. Since one scout would NEVER offer personal violence to another. Again if I am incorrect please let me know, though I doubt I am. That is not to say that I am right because of my own intelligence rather as a tribute to my grandfather, a good man, a good sailor, and a great scout. I owe much if not all of the fact that I have my Eagle award to him, for which I will be eternally grateful.

Thanks,
Graham

[piperdbh]

I've learned something today. Thanks for the info.

[rocscotjoe]

Some one please correct me if I am wrong but I was taught that the Scout handshake is given with the left hand. A regular handshake is right handed as a show that the offerer is weaponless. A scout shakes left handed because shows a bond of trust between the two scouts. Since one scout would NEVER offer personal violence to another. Again if I am incorrect please let me know, though I doubt I am. That is not to say that I am right because of my own intelligence rather as a tribute to my grandfather, a good man, a good sailor, and a great scout. I owe much if not all of the fact that I have my Eagle award to him, for which I will be eternally grateful.

Thanks,
Graham

I have been told two reasons for the left handed handshake of the Boy Scouts. One reason, I very much like, one I do not. In brief: I was told that your left hand is closer to your heart, and the reason for shaking left handed shows a true expression of friendship. When I was in Wood Badge, one of the Scouters who takes the military aspects of Scouting far too seriously, IMHO, related a long winded story about an African chief setting aside his shield, which he carried on the left showing a willingness to trust he would not be killed...as I said, not a reason I want young men to internalize.

I always tell Scouts, the left handed handshake shows heart to heart friendship.

[macwilkin]

I have been told two reasons for the left handed handshake of the Boy Scouts. One reason, I very much like, one I do not. In brief: I was told that your left hand is closer to your heart, and the reason for shaking left handed shows a true expression of friendship. When I was in Wood Badge, one of the Scouters who takes the military aspects of Scouting far too seriously, IMHO, related a long winded story about an African chief setting aside his shield, which he carried on the left showing a willingness to trust he would not be killed...as I said, not a reason I want young men to internalize.

I always tell Scouts, the left handed handshake shows heart to heart friendship.

I don't see anything wrong with that story, and given B-P's African links, it certainly fits with the origin of the Boy Scouts as a way to train the youth of Britain & the Empire after seeing a lack of preparedness in the Boer War.

One of B-P's foremost supporters was the noted American Scout Frederick Russell Burnham, who also served a good deal in Southern Africa.

T.