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Probably the most nervously offered, yet most important post I've offered. Like you I am a Christian, and a gentleman. And like yourself, and St. Augustine before us, attend the gladiator spectacles. However, like you, for the contest, and not the blood lust (we are not sadists).
There was a time when the Left in this country spit upon and insulted our warriors. Now, like all of us, they thank them for their service, and set about to turn them into victims, which is what the left generally does to all voting blocs but one (the one so many of them belong to and seek absolution for, the "privileged white" bloc. Funny how so many of the actual racists in our society, guys like Donald Stirling, those corporate ninnies at Sony, are heavy Democratic Party contributors). But I digress, boy do I digress. I wanted to talk about "torture" which, when practiced U.S Government style, is kinda like a day at the beach - blaring radios of obnoxious music, threat of drowning with a lifeguard nearby who's paid to make sure it doesn't happen, and all. Now, if you want to make a moral argument against it, fine, I am all ears. If you want to make an argument regarding it's efficacy, I am as well. If you want to say it's immoral, and it doesn't work anyway, you are being disingenuous. It was at this point that I left the Andrew Sullivan Daily Dish. He and I used to exchange emails back I the day when we argued that Bush indeed won Florida, smelly though it was (though don't get me wrong, he wouldn't know me from Adam). Sully went off on Abu Grahib and Cheney and Yoo and torture in the middle of the great conflict between a civilization and barbarism (the kind of words HE used), and I would send him emails, to the effect of: "Andrew: you may be morally bothered, but you gotta admit, from your own experience and knowedge, that pain can bring forth the revealing of what one is hiding." All I got was silence, and, well, goodbye to all that. Similarly, a torturer cannot say it works, and besides, we aren't really hurting the detainee. Thank the gods Cheney didn't use that approach on the talk show circuits (more something like, "what are gonna do, kiss him on the cheek?").
Anyway, those poor souls who endured 48 hours of "What's New, Pussycat" or whatever tune the interrogators used are now being released back to the battlefields to face us and our allies again. We gotta close Guantanamo, you know. We got drones now. Drones are the saber tools of war. Neat little tools to measure wins and losses without having to face the opponent one on one, and size up both the evil, and the humanity of him. It's kinda like abortion in that way. Neat, quick.
I don't pretend to understand the warrior mentality. I am not a warrior, I am a conciliator. I look for peace, a place to exchange ideas. There was a time when football, sports generally, were used to prepare boys for war. Now, the President himself, The Drone King, wonders if he'd allow his imaginary son, whom he speaks of so often, to play such a violent game. Today, the game is an end in itself, as we seek to withdraw from a strong military presence and shower our fortunes on season tickets and stadia (can't have the Sonics playing in a dump like Wrigley, er, I mean Key Arena). But whether in the military, or on the gridiron, the participant is in a war. There was a time when combat included referees and rules, when civilization enforced such a thing: you treated prisoners with respect, you didn't deliberately shoot officers, etc. The Muslim terror warrior insists on allowing us to tie ourselves into fits over this, the useful idiot left always there to do their work while they plant their weapons next to civilians and cry foul. You infidels shed innocent Muslim blood! (Well, we do too, but that's different).
We have referees to keep our football wars fair, and to remain games, and ensure a modicum of sportsmanship. But when you fight for your buddies in the trenches, like Marshawn does, you take it personally when they disrespect your buddies. You fight for your team, your organization, and your city, but in the end, you know they'll turn on you when you lose your effectiveness. So you fight for those next to you. And you have each other's back. And you return home in glory and the appreciative throngs when you win, and appreciation when you do not.. And like an old soldier, you eventually fade away
I wonder at times if we will turn into Western Europe should we do away with football. I love Western Europe, don't get me wrong. But there, it gets ugly when you take away a subsidy. I don't include hooliganism, which I hear about at the soccer matches and witness at Seahawk games. Never cared for the "let's get drunk so we will fight," ethic. Much prefer the "let's stay sober so we'll win" ethic.
All this to say again: I love you Marshawn, and rue the day you put on another uniform, should it ever come. I want you to fight for my team. And you never have to answer a single question from me. Were I still a journalist, I'd walk by and interview the guy who wants to talk about the game you just played next to him. And you can then keep your hard earned money.
And to you vets out there, thank you for your rough and ugly service on my behalf.