War Without Casualties

War Without Casualties  

Now that the footy season is over and the Mighty Hawks have prevailed it may be opportune to reflect on sport in community. What exactly does it all mean?   Here is one take on it you can disagree if you like, let me know if you do.             

Note Red/Black-Blue/White

 In most societies we substitute war or practise for it with sporting contests where the two sides compete without casualties. In the traditional view of society men faced out; protection, hunting, and warfare. Women faced in; home, childcare and nurturing. This is of course is being challenged by feminism, but it is still a strong reflection of the values in our society. Man as the impregnator, the provider and the protector lives in a hazardous world.

Revolutionary War -Note Red and the Blue

To train him for these hazards society had to invent activities which would have a relatively low attrition rate, but would provide incentive enough for him to perform as on a battlefield. Thus sport was invented or evolved. Team sports mimic a horrific aspect of human nature, the thrill of us versus them of tribal warfare.   Team sports manage to successfully simulate the primal joy of victory or the agony of defeat but without anyone actually being killed.

The language of sport is identical with the language of war: Discipline, co-operation, team play, aggression, persistence, endurance and so on. The dictum about turning men into boys is really about turning men into soldiers. Also the same blind fanaticism that sees the people of nations collide in war is on display down at the local oval or park every day of the week.

 

Sports Fan Not that far removed from a Cave man, Preparing for war?

So next time you see boy/girls out their on the field ponder are we preparing them for war?
If so; is this good or bad?

D-Day 6th of June 1944 Airborne Troops

Eureka Redcoats storm the Barricades at Ballarat.

 

 

 



 

John Condliffe

2.10.13

PS I barrack for the Essendon Bombers!

Vietnam