[Bob Lyle]

Originally posted by Taha Maori
As an example: American football has many refs, more the merrier and this is an expectation by the players. Hence we have an American Football rule book, thousands of pages long, supported by 5,6 ... referees.

Result, American Football players have devised strategies, an unwritten code or culture that could probably equal the 'official rules' book, to beat the rules and the refs.

compare this to America as a nation, x no. of people playing "the game" as related to world affairs. The expectation by American people, as for the players of American Football, is that they will be reffed (by other nations and organisations ie. UN) and that they are 'entitled' to try to circumnavigate "the rules".

Result....because the "nation refs" are 'weaker' than the players (American Govt.) the players (USA) play how they want, ...

On world scale their philosophy becomes..."we will lie and cheat, and torture and maim who we want, when we want, for whatever reason we want to...to win!" Absolutely no self reflection or self reffing, because they (US) are incapable of doing so. As in sport, such attitudes are fostered with international relationships.

simply an example about how American expectations on the sportsfield mimic the attitude of American society in world relationships...sports reflect the society they inhabit and VV...

I would like take this opportunity to apologize to the man from Wheaton. On several occasions, I've called him the dumbest poster on this forum. After reading the Maori posts, I must acknowledge that I was wrong.