Another Sort of War
Aug. 17th, 2008 09:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vovatIt's Olympic time again! I don't really care, but it did make me think of a passage from Ruth Plumly Thompson's Speedy in Oz, in which the title character is negotiating with King Radj of Roaraway Island. His nation has been at war with the neighboring Norroway Island for centuries.
"You could build ships, couldn't you, and go exploring?" suggested Speedy, "or you and the men of Norroway could have athletic contests and things like that."
"And what are athletic contests?" asked Radj, leaning thoughtfully on his lance.
"Oh, tests to prove who can shoot their arrows farthest--or jump the highest or run the fastest, or wrestle the most cleverly," explained Speedy.
"Well, wouldn't that just be another sort of war?" Radj wrinkled his brows in evident puzzlement. "Suppose the Nadjians won these contests you speak of, shot their arrows farthest, proved that their men could outdistance mine, why that would make me so red hot, roaring mad, I'd declare war on them at once, and if my men won, Nadj would want to fight me."
"I guess you do not care much about good sportsmanship," sighed the Wizard's ambassador, feeling he was getting nowhere by appealing to the King's better nature.
In the discussion on this book, John Bell points out that this is "a sentiment apropos of this Olympic period." Nowadays, I get the impression that the Olympics aren't really of all that much concern to the United States. Sure, a lot of Americans apparently still watch the games, but nobody seems to get as worked up about them as they do about their local football or basketball teams. But I get the impression that people in other countries still care. Otherwise, why would the Chinese bother cheating? It seems like it would be a positive thing to see people from all over the world trying to outdo each other in games rather than via bombs or bankruptcy, but the fact is that these other sorts of competition are still going on. Didn't the war between Russia and Georgia begin the same day as the opening ceremonies? While it's certainly not exactly the same, it reminds me of the story of the Christmas truce during World War I, during which there were allegedly football games between the two sides. Of course, after that, they went right back to shooting at each other. I find war sickening anyway, but that kind of thing somehow makes it even worse.
Getting back to the Olympics, I'm just not interested in sports in general, regardless of the diversity of the participants. Maybe they'd be more interesting if they went back to the ancient Greek tradition of athletes competing in the nude.
"You could build ships, couldn't you, and go exploring?" suggested Speedy, "or you and the men of Norroway could have athletic contests and things like that."
"And what are athletic contests?" asked Radj, leaning thoughtfully on his lance.
"Oh, tests to prove who can shoot their arrows farthest--or jump the highest or run the fastest, or wrestle the most cleverly," explained Speedy.
"Well, wouldn't that just be another sort of war?" Radj wrinkled his brows in evident puzzlement. "Suppose the Nadjians won these contests you speak of, shot their arrows farthest, proved that their men could outdistance mine, why that would make me so red hot, roaring mad, I'd declare war on them at once, and if my men won, Nadj would want to fight me."
"I guess you do not care much about good sportsmanship," sighed the Wizard's ambassador, feeling he was getting nowhere by appealing to the King's better nature.
In the discussion on this book, John Bell points out that this is "a sentiment apropos of this Olympic period." Nowadays, I get the impression that the Olympics aren't really of all that much concern to the United States. Sure, a lot of Americans apparently still watch the games, but nobody seems to get as worked up about them as they do about their local football or basketball teams. But I get the impression that people in other countries still care. Otherwise, why would the Chinese bother cheating? It seems like it would be a positive thing to see people from all over the world trying to outdo each other in games rather than via bombs or bankruptcy, but the fact is that these other sorts of competition are still going on. Didn't the war between Russia and Georgia begin the same day as the opening ceremonies? While it's certainly not exactly the same, it reminds me of the story of the Christmas truce during World War I, during which there were allegedly football games between the two sides. Of course, after that, they went right back to shooting at each other. I find war sickening anyway, but that kind of thing somehow makes it even worse.
Getting back to the Olympics, I'm just not interested in sports in general, regardless of the diversity of the participants. Maybe they'd be more interesting if they went back to the ancient Greek tradition of athletes competing in the nude.
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no subject
Date: 2008-08-18 02:35 am (UTC)(we love the Olympics in my house, not so thrilled about the China aspect this year, though)
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Date: 2008-08-18 10:46 am (UTC)It would certainly be a ratings bonanza. {g}
(we love the Olympics in my house, not so thrilled about the China aspect this year, though)
I haven't watched any of the games, but from the stories I've glanced at, I find it amusing that they essentially cheated even at singing the national anthem. And the torch was probably rigged as well! {g}
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Date: 2008-08-18 04:40 pm (UTC)That's exactly why I LOVE the Olympics, at least from an athletic standpoint! I love the fact that these are the greatest athletes in the world and this is their one time to shine, unlike all the pro sports stars in this country with all their huge salaries and party lifestyles and all. I love seeing all these people who have put so much work into being the best even though they don't get the same celebrity as some folks in certain OTHER sports. I thought it was funny and kind of cool the other day to see Lebron James and Kobe Bryant (who ARE on the Olympic basketball team) watching the swim meets and cheering on Michael Phelps to what is probably a more impressive feat than anything they've done in their constant basketball fame back home. And I love the fact that the winner of the 100 meter dash is given the title of Fastest Man/Woman in the World. I mean seriously, that's cool stuff, and it's so much fun to see it happen.
I mean I'm not athletic at all and I really don't have much interest in sports, but the unusual sports of the Olympics rock. Also-- trampoline is awesome.
Politically, I think the Olympics are good for the world in general, because if ALL we had were the bloody wars, it would be so much easier to be all us vs. them, to dehumanize the Other, whereas you see something like the Olympics and realize that everyone IS human after all and we can accomplish great things and that good sportsmanship sends great messages and so forth. Even if world leaders refuse to call a truce, we as human beings aren't all buying it.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-20 03:34 pm (UTC)Speaking of trampolines (but not nudity), did you ever jump on the one at Dr. Goebel's house back in college? I remember doing that a few times.
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Date: 2008-08-20 09:31 pm (UTC)