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I think it's not unreasonable to raise questions about gun competitions in the Olympics. The games are supposed to be at least a symbolic step toward world peace, brotherhood, and all that. So why are there competitions that are primarily military in nature?
It's not an anti-gun nut thing to ask why games dedicated to peace should have weapons of war in them. The biathalon, pentathalon, the rifle and pistol competitions (except for maybe skeet, which comes from hunting, not warfare), the fencing competitions (war from an earlier era), and even the equestrian events (which were at first restricted to military personnel), are all legacies of warfare.
I've always felt that none of these belong in the Olympics at all. Not because I'm some rabid anti-gun nut, but because I think competitions based on warfare have no place at an event that should be a celebration of the best of humanity, not a reminder of the worst.
I think it's not unreasonable to raise questions about gun competitions in the Olympics. The games are supposed to be at least a symbolic step toward world peace, brotherhood, and all that. So why are there competitions that are primarily military in nature?
It's not an anti-gun nut thing to ask why games dedicated to peace should have weapons of war in them. The biathalon, pentathalon, the rifle and pistol competitions (except for maybe skeet, which comes from hunting, not warfare), the fencing competitions (war from an earlier era), and even the equestrian events (which were at first restricted to military personnel), are all legacies of warfare.
I've always felt that none of these belong in the Olympics at all. Not because I'm some rabid anti-gun nut, but because I think competitions based on warfare have no place at an event that should be a celebration of the best of humanity, not a reminder of the worst.
Of course, if we want to eliminate all "warfare" related activities, the first thing that has to go is American style football. It is, after all, a game of warfare. There is strategy, offense, and defense. warfare on a playing field.
Then there are all the variations of the game; soccer, rugby, etc. ALL warfare on a playing field.
Lacrosse was, I have read, originally a substitute for warfare among the indigenous peoples of Northern North America (before it was North America).
Karate, judo, jiu jitsu? Nope, can't have them, either.
Throwing the javelin, discus, or putting the shot (SHOT!! OMG, NO!)
Wrestling or boxing? of course not!
Even chess! Kings, queens, knights...
Of course, if we want to eliminate all "warfare" related activities, the first thing that has to go is American style football. It is, after all, a game of warfare. There is strategy, offense, and defense. warfare on a playing field.
Then there are all the variations of the game; soccer, rugby, etc. ALL warfare on a playing field.
Lacrosse was, I have read, originally a substitute for warfare among the indigenous peoples of Northern North America (before it was North America).
Karate, judo, jiu jitsu? Nope, can't have them, either.
Throwing the javelin, discus, or putting the shot (SHOT!! OMG, NO!)
Wrestling or boxing? of course not!
Even chess! Kings, queens, knights...
You are being absurd.
The military-based competitions in the Olympics were not remnants of someone's ancient ethnic traditions. They were based on skills necessary for survival in the very real and very deadly wars that were raging throughout Europe and Europe's colonies during Baron de Coubertain's time. The skills -- fencing, shooting, horseback riding -- were necessary to kill or prevent oneself from being killed. No other reason. It is one thing to see a competitive sport as a metaphor for war. You can do that with just about any athletic competition. But it's quite another to use the actual tools of war -- and recent wars at that -- as athletic entertainment at an event supposedly dedicated to humanity's higher instincts. You don't agree, but I don't think that point is difficult to understand.
You obviously know absolutely nothing about competitive shooting
ML
But it is just as impressive as someone doing Pokemon Go. That was my point.
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