Wednesday, April 25, 1S34
Pago 11
Daily Ncbraskan
End nationalism...
Continued frc:n IV.;: 2 10 Rical exploitation" when
And one more point to such exploitation lies at
remember is that the very the very heart and soul of
concept of "international the competitions them
games" has an "ulterior selves?
motive"; countries that If these religious and
normally hate one anoth- sports-minded individuals
er's guts come to the var- want to end political ex
lous competitions, not for plcitation in their inter
the "sport of it," but to national competitions,
seek to humiliate or out- they would do well to
do their ideological or eth- work on ending their re
nic rivals. What we find spective nation's capitols
then, is that the "spirit of first From there they can
international competition" then lay claim to having a
is really nothing more foundation for the mani
than a facade for the glob- festo they now seek to
al promotion of certain institutionalize. However,
economic, ideological and talking of ridding sport of
even military realities. political exploitation with
Finally, the manifesto out first ending it where
warns that sports could you are living is like swing
be abused and hat inter- ing at somebody in the
national sports organizat- dark when ain't nobody
ions and governments had there but you.
a dutv to safeguard its
V
authentic idealism and
moral purity."
What "authentic ideal
ism"? From the outset,
these competitions were
extensions of tribal or nat
ion al warfare! What mor
al purity? There will be,
for example, just about
as many blacks participat
ing on behalf of the
United States in thi3 year's
Olympic games as there
are black popes or bishops
in the western hemi
sphere. And there will
certainly be more "bloods"
running, jumping and com
peting for America than
there are black corporate
presidents. I ask then,
what morality?
No activity, endeavor
or institution is "morally
pure." How could it be
when it is run by men
who are, themselves,
other than righteous?
In the first place, these
hagiographical references
are reminiscent of the
same kind of "In God We
Trust (But Never Obey)"
ethos that has been an
integral part of internat
ional relations for hun
dreds of years. Take note,
for instance, that the Is
lamic nations are not
those who signed this doc
ument: take note that it
is always the "Christian"
who seeks to moralize
some aspect of world life.
What must be remember
ed is that if Christianity
was so great, people
wouldn't have to go around
the world imposing it,
someone would steal it!
Also religion or pseudo
morality have no place in
competitions where most
of the athletes, I would
imagine, are being told to
"win at all costs." This is a
direct contradiction to
the litany of idealism spew
ed forth in the Manifesto.
If there is to be "pure
competition," then that's
what it should be. Let the
idealistic hopes, dreams
and prayers be reserved
for Sunday school
i The manifesto is an idea
! whose time has not come.
The manifesto is being
wasted on nations made
up of men who want to
promote their own inter
ests at the expense of
others. The world is made
up of those who geek com
mercial television time,
key space on the editorial
page, and -as much time
on radio as they can get.
The world is a conglom
eration of nations who
have much to gain from
merely competing in the
parries, win cr lece. There
fore, why even attempt to
--dcircc3 tjh o Li-3iiC3 c pel
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Hearken ve m mis rugger tale
U KJJ
Analysis by Mona Z. Koppelman
They were a team with a Quest.
Neither slippery rain, nor blizzard snows, nor
wrong directions could keep the mighty UNL
Ruggers from playing their appointed matches.
From Lincoln to Boulder to Colorado Springs
to Pueblo they went, 20 men brave and true in
search of the Western Regional Tournament.
How and why they found that tournament, and
their great deeds done, are an epic adventure.
Lairds, ladies, freemen and serfs, lend me your
ears as I spirt the grand tale.
Friday morning dawned brisk and cloudy, but
yon weatherwench promised a fair weekend
ahead. Fifteen hale and hearty men mounted
their trusty steed a rental van. Other ruggers
followed by car and by truck to venture west, west
- to the Nebraska border.
But Winter, cruel Winter cast his gray shadow
over the western plains and clutched westbound
pilgrims in his icy grip.
Drifting, creeping, the wicked snow pulled
many an unsuspecting pilgrim into the evil ditches
along Highway 70 in Colorado.
-fear not!" cried the leader of the ruggers, Bill
Henry of the Bald Head.
Savage winds blew, and a mighty blizzard
swelled. A magnificent hill rose out of the snow,
and the evil ditches beckoned again. Every car
and truck in front of the rugby men slipped, spun,
and succumbed to the Hill.
Fifteen ruggers, brave and true, sprang forth
from the van with a cry of Heigh-ho to rescue poor
unfortunates from the evil ditches.
One peasant ran amuck in the middle of the
Hill. Bill of the Bald Head led the charge up" the
hill, to right the peasant's car and set him on his
way.
The ruggers pushed him clear, but the villain
slid back in. The ruggers bent their backs again
and set him free, but the effort was for naught.
Finally, Bill of the Bald Head discovered the
peasant was driving in reverse.
"After many a choice word, we finally got him
up the hill," Henry said.
Continued on Pegs 12
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