Societies No Man's Land
In today's society the metaphors placed on what's acceptable and what isn't is an issue that goes unspoken of. People see one concept and think it is tolerable because it is accepted in society. Though there may be another concept that is practically identical to the first but are against it because it isn't accepted in society.
In the article "Kill 'Em! Crush 'Em! Eat 'Em Raw!", author John Mcmurtry expresses the similarities between war and the cutthroat game of football. In society football is something that we wait all week for. It brings families and strangers together to witness 300 pound men pummel each other. The more violent the better is how some people see it, I know that is how I like my football. But why is it that this is something people want to see?
Do you ever see anybody protesting the violence and gruesome injuries some sustain while playing the sport? I sure do not see that. Though I do see people protesting that war is unacceptable and inhumane. The people who play football suffer from injuries that affect their health for the rest of their lives; they also damage their bodies from all of the years they play. It is humane that these men give their bodies and health up just to entertain society.
Mcmurtry states different similarities that go from the use of language (blitz, front line, long bomb, etc) to actions and the way the event is strategized (total obedience, uniforms, propaganda, formations, and drafts). The big difference in the two is the way they are seen in the eyes of society; one is acceptable and one isn't.
Football players dedicate their lives, bodies, and brains up just to entertain people. Yes, it is a love for the game and a lot of the time for the money; but at the cost of health issues down the road, why do they do this to themselves? Why are they willing to endure these injuries and pain? Is it for recognition? For love of the game? Or power over another person?
Mcmurtry also talks about how men go through this pain because of the "tough guy disguise" that in society men need to wear. Men are seen as "warriors" that hold the traits of aggression, ultimate strength, perseverance. Men are supposed to take all kinds of pain and never show their feelings. Things like "Men shouldn't cry" is something that really isn't acceptable in society.
These expectations are always seen in society and if you are a man and cannot live up to them, you are seen as a "wimp" or a "sissy". These metaphors or norms that are placed on men are what play into over aggressive and self-conscience men. If there are expectations set when you are born a male, then you will work to be that way no matter the circumstances.
If you do not live up to these norms that are set, then you are looked at as "less of a man"'; but what is less of a man? There are children and men that are pariahs because of these expectations. They are bullied, physically and verbally.
What does this say about us as a society though? We feel excitement from witnessing others pain, a lot of us look forward to that part. We'd rather see someone make a big hit, rather than a nice catch. We are against people in war getting injured because of the pain they endure on their bod
ies and mental state. But these football players go to war every Sunday
for 16 plus weeks.
These players suffer injuries and have brain damage just like the soldiers, but we love football, we love big hits and tackles. War is a completely different thing though, we frown upon that. Though the two are similar in so many ways, we accept one and reject the other.
We as a society need to get rid of these norms that are in place. We cannot be hypocrites and accept one thing and not accept another. We must also drop the norms of how men should be. The expectations that are in place need to broken. Just because a man feels fear or pain does not make him any less of a man, it just makes him mortal/ a human.
In the article "Kill 'Em! Crush 'Em! Eat 'Em Raw!", author John Mcmurtry expresses the similarities between war and the cutthroat game of football. In society football is something that we wait all week for. It brings families and strangers together to witness 300 pound men pummel each other. The more violent the better is how some people see it, I know that is how I like my football. But why is it that this is something people want to see?
Do you ever see anybody protesting the violence and gruesome injuries some sustain while playing the sport? I sure do not see that. Though I do see people protesting that war is unacceptable and inhumane. The people who play football suffer from injuries that affect their health for the rest of their lives; they also damage their bodies from all of the years they play. It is humane that these men give their bodies and health up just to entertain society.
Football players dedicate their lives, bodies, and brains up just to entertain people. Yes, it is a love for the game and a lot of the time for the money; but at the cost of health issues down the road, why do they do this to themselves? Why are they willing to endure these injuries and pain? Is it for recognition? For love of the game? Or power over another person?
Mcmurtry also talks about how men go through this pain because of the "tough guy disguise" that in society men need to wear. Men are seen as "warriors" that hold the traits of aggression, ultimate strength, perseverance. Men are supposed to take all kinds of pain and never show their feelings. Things like "Men shouldn't cry" is something that really isn't acceptable in society.These expectations are always seen in society and if you are a man and cannot live up to them, you are seen as a "wimp" or a "sissy". These metaphors or norms that are placed on men are what play into over aggressive and self-conscience men. If there are expectations set when you are born a male, then you will work to be that way no matter the circumstances.
If you do not live up to these norms that are set, then you are looked at as "less of a man"'; but what is less of a man? There are children and men that are pariahs because of these expectations. They are bullied, physically and verbally.
What does this say about us as a society though? We feel excitement from witnessing others pain, a lot of us look forward to that part. We'd rather see someone make a big hit, rather than a nice catch. We are against people in war getting injured because of the pain they endure on their bod
ies and mental state. But these football players go to war every Sunday
for 16 plus weeks.
These players suffer injuries and have brain damage just like the soldiers, but we love football, we love big hits and tackles. War is a completely different thing though, we frown upon that. Though the two are similar in so many ways, we accept one and reject the other.We as a society need to get rid of these norms that are in place. We cannot be hypocrites and accept one thing and not accept another. We must also drop the norms of how men should be. The expectations that are in place need to broken. Just because a man feels fear or pain does not make him any less of a man, it just makes him mortal/ a human.
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