Sport as a Substitute for War Essay - 3367 Words

Sport is such a pervasive human activity that to ignore it is to overlook one of the most significant aspects of contemporary American society. It is a social phenomenon which extends into education, politics, economics, art, the mass media, and even international diplomatic relations. Involvement in sport, either directly as a participant, or indirectly as a spectator, is almost considered a public duty by many Americans. It has been observed that if there is a religion in America today, it is sport. (Sage 1974) Society views sporting events and game-playing as a means of fun, physical exercise, and even relaxation. In reality, sport has become the primary substitute for war in a society that seemingly thrives on the need to†¦show more content†¦Illustrations of symbolic references and war rhetoric must be investigated, with special attention given to footballs unique role in the sport-war association. Numerous studies have been performed that provide insight into the psychology of a society that, because of its requirement for aggressive outlets, has allowed sport to progress into a more war-like behavior. These analyses present conflicting views but are overwhelmingly in favor of the sport-war ideology. Studying the psychological aspects of aggressive behavior, and their place in sport and war, allow for final images to be drawn regarding sports integral role in society. IMAGES OF WAR Chronicles from times past have provided evidence that basketball, football, and lacrosse, to name only a few, have all descended from long forgotten games used to prepare warriors for combat. Various Olympic sporting events such as the marathon and javelin throw, for example, were molded from events that took place during ancient battles. These images are numerous and are not limited to any one race or civilization. American Indians have long participated in a sport they believe was given to them by their Creator. It was known as They Bump Hips or the Little Brother of War (Conover 1997). Today we know this game as lacrosse. Lacrosse is an aggressive sport requiring fierce competitiveness, speed, endurance, remarkable dexterity andShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Cola War Case Based On Porter s Five Competitive Forces Essay1608 Words   |  7 PagesAnalyzing Cola War Case based on Porter’s Five Competitive Forces Due to globalization and this fast-growing business environment, firms struggle to earn above-average returns. They strive to establish a competitive advantage in order to earn higher returns. It is not enough for firms to establish a competitive advantage, they should also figure out ways to sustain it. 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