Scouting: Chief Scout of the Commonwealth

[Paul]

Wow! Great pics, thanks!

[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.

[EagleJCS]

Scouts shake hands with the left hand. The reasons are obscured in the past, though the stories posted previously give the general gist of them.

The Ashanti story (setting aside the shield) has a couple of variations, both attributed to Lord Baden-Powell at different times. You have to know your audience before telling that one, as some boys don't get it or will attempt some playing around, which is what we'd prefer to avoid.

The heart story apparently comes from 'Stetsons and Bare Knees' Pathfinder Scout Annual 1960, Sydney R. Brown #3, in an attempt to clarify B-P's telling. It seems it has only served to provide a third reason for the origin.

Whatever the reason, that's the practice.

Nice pictures Sandy.

[gordontaos]

Wow, I had completely forgotten about the left handed hand shake.

Thank you!

[Chas]

As a Wolf Cub, then a Leaping Wolf, then a Tenderfoot, then a Second Class Scout, then a First Class Scout, then a Bushman's Thong, until finally a Wood Badge Holder, it has always been my belief that Scouts shake left handed to show trust.

As a warrior a boy or man would always carry his spear. If he wanted to shake hands, he would have to lower his guard - in effect saying "I trust you".

When shaking right handed, we are saying "I will not harm you". But that is not the same as saying that we trust the other person not to harm us.

As Scouts would not knowingly harm their brothers anyway, they go one further and declare "You are a total stranger to me, from an alien culture of which I know nothing, but because you are a Scout, I will trust you".

That is what I used to teach my Scouts.

Regards

Chas

[Jock Scot]

I did notice the left handed handshake in the pictures and as I have not been a Scout, I did wonder. Or, I thought, is he like some of us with a right "wing" down, it is just easier and less painful to use the left hand. Alright then, in this case it is probably a Scout thing. Never too old to learn.

[Brian K]

As a Scout (many many years ago) I was taught the story about the left arm being closer to the heart. I am the Institutional rep. for our local Troop and have had occasion to use this handshake with Scouts. I also go to church with a man who lost the use of his right hand in the Korean War and it seems entirely natural to shake hands with him using my left hand - especially after seeing others try a particularly awkward right to left grip with him. Happy 100th Birthday to the B.S.A.