Dale’s Daily Data: V For Victory

Nearly every picture you see of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II shows him with a big fat cigar and flashing the V for Victory sign.  Right?  But be careful how you give the victory sign because it could mean something else. 

It was actually a Belgian politician who escaped to England who encouraged all of Britain to use chalk to mark public buildings with a V as a reminder each day of what the ultimate goal was – to defeat the Nazis.  It was promoted during broadcasts on the BBC and of course Churchill started using it – almost like an answer to the German’s Sieg Heil salute.

There’s a proper way to give the V for Victory sign though.  The palm of your hand must be facing away from you – almost like first giving a sign to stop, then showing your two fingers in a V.  If you do it the other way – with your palm facing yourself – in England and other British Commonwealth countries – it’s an insult.  It’s the same as giving the finger in this country and President Bush – President Bush, senior, made that mistake while visiting Australia in 1992.  He didn’t realize it until it was explained to him later and he apologized. 

There’s another legend to the V for Victory salute.  During medieval times the English were always well known for their accuracy with a bow and arrow.  If they were ever captured in battle, their enemies would cut off their index and middle fingers so they wouldn’t be able to use their weapon anymore.  Showing two fingers became a symbol of defiance effectively saying I can still fight.