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Do you ever notice how politics pops up on the most unlikely places? Like at work or something. Maybe you go into a convenience store and you here a clerk say something about the war or disparage Dems or Repubs or whomever they are against at the time.
Politics is an odd thing, lots of people have passing opinions for sure.
Well, this last month or so it has been an issue in the UFC. Yes, the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Why? Because in two championship fights, the two champions have been making an issue about politics. In the heavyweight championship fight, defending champ Tim Sylvia called challenger Jeff Monson a "Scumbag" for allegedly not supporting the troops. Monson, an avowed anarchist and anti-capitalist, is ardently against the Iraq War and wants the troops to come home immediately. Monson has pretty much shrugged off Sylvia's comments and has noted: "It's just one of those things when you know you're right." The politics here is pretty trite though, Monson is an articulate and extremely political person, while Sylvia may have just been making ignorant comments to get in his opponent's head more than anything. Consequently, Sylvia won a boring, unimpressive decision last night.
But the interesting one is the welterweight fight between champion American Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre, who is French-Canadian. Hughes has been making comments about how Canadian's do not have a "Warrior spirit" and how they do not like to fight and have "not heart." He also has been attacking St. Pierre's French heritage in much the same manner. Hughes often says that he is joking, and just trying to get under his opponent's skin, which is one of Matt's trademarks. Lately he has gone as far to say that Canadians do not go out and fight to do good in the world etc. The subject of heart is an important one, as Hughes did beat St. Pierre by submission with one second left in the first round two years ago. Many feel St. Pierre had the round won and if he had just gritted it out for one more second the fight may have been different. Hughes has latched onto supposed Canadian and French weakness and has made it a theme of his rants. For his part, St. Pierre just ignores Hughes' comments and does not seem fazed by them. It is also worth it to note that Hughes is one of the greatest and most dominant fighting champions in the history of MMA. He's nearly considered unbeatable, and has been on a tear as of late. So what happened?
Last night in their championship fight, St. Pierre dominated Hughes, battering him in the first round and then pounding him out in the second. He even knocked one of Hughes's teeth out.
Like I said, don't make fun of Canada's foreign policy.
Now to finish up, whenever I see things like the comments by Matt Hughes and Tim Sylvia, it always makes me think of the "Ugly American" stereotype. It's like Americans are known for our vast ignorance and stupidity about culture, history and world affairs. I don't expect Matt Hughes, the fighter, to know about Canada's role in creating the U.N. Peacekeeping program and how they are always willing to donate soldiers to go to conflicts around the world and restore order. Much more than the U.S. is willing to, for sure. I don't expect him, again as a fighter, to know Canada's role in our war in Afghanistan, nor France's, in which both countries stayed to clean up our mess long after the Bush administration abandoned the place. But, I do expect Matt Hughes as a college graduate and a pretty intelligent guy, to not be some embarrasingly ignorant. Tim Sylvia on the other hand, does not surprise me. He is probably the stupidest interview in the business, with an ego and mouth way bigger than his marginal abilities should allow them to be. I would, however, like to think that the average American could differentiate between stupid shit like say, believing something as moronic as the Iraq War is wrong, and not supporting the troops.
Sadly though, after several years, all too many people think that supporting the troops means blindly allowing them to get killed.
Oh if we could only get the chance to punch those people out as well.
But, then again, we are all commie peaceniks around these parts, you know? :)
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