Shiva-Pennywise: Sports-Culture Deuteronomy$

[Abishai100]

Here's a mock dialogue between Shiva (Hindu god of destruction) and Pennywise (fictional demonic clown from the iconic Stephen King pedestrian horror novel It) about sports-culture and its relation to 'consumerism metaphysics.'

I think such a dialogue captures some of the cultural anxieties characteristic of our 'consumerism-ambitious' TrumpUSA.

Shiva represents self-control and praise, while Pennywise represents nihilism and wrath.

I wonder who would appreciate such a dialogue more, our consumerism-trained President (Donald Trump, a former casino-owner) or our First Lady (Melania Trump, someone who can offer the President some moral grounding!).


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SHIVA: Modern age sports-marketing is plagued by free-agency cynicism...
PENNYWISE: People are willing to be ruthless in the name of excellence and achievement!
SHIVA: I wonder how youngsters who dream of becoming famous athletes feel...
PENNYWISE: The excitement of competing in front of large crowds keeps youngsters motivated!
SHIVA: So failure has become an economic issue...
PENNYWISE: Victory has always been linked to profit!
SHIVA: What do we say about athletes whose careers are ended by injury?
PENNYWISE: Such tragedies are considered 'part of the game.'
SHIVA: Then it's a game for the brave...
PENNYWISE: Everyone cherishes glory and everyone experiences humiliation...
SHIVA: If humiliation is a reality, then sports executives should empathize with athletes.
PENNYWISE: It's difficult to empathize with athletes when they take illegal performance-enhancing drugs!
SHIVA: No one is above reproach...
PENNYWISE: Excellence is worth the cost!
SHIVA: So is fanfare...
PENNYWISE: There's no difference between steroids-use and Wall Street greed...
SHIVA: Well, what about baseball cards?
PENNYWISE: Kids like collecting baseball trading-cards, because fanfare contributes to 'sports culture.'
SHIVA: Every youngster has the right to think optimistically about sports/athletes even in a consumerism world.
PENNYWISE: Well, then every adult hast the right to think optimistically about stockbrokers...
SHIVA: If commerce can be coordinated with temperance, then we don't have to be cynical about industry!
PENNYWISE: Power is as important as teamwork...
SHIVA: I disagree. Teamwork contributes to intelligence!
PENNYWISE: Well, perhaps that's true, but I simply like being cynical sometimes...

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[Abishai100]

Religion

Here's mock-dialogue between the Marvel Comics characters Squirrel-Girl and Black Manta who both represent naturalism, primalism, Mother Nature, and eco-consciousness.

Does Trump care about these two characters??

I thought I'd add this addendum to inspire more dialogue about the value of sports in the age of media/TV...

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SQUIRREL-GIRL: Are you cynical about international sports (e.g., Olympics)?
BLACK MANTA: I enjoy World Cup soccer and cricket...
SQUIRREL-GIRL: When Middle Eastern nations (Syria/Iran) compete, we think of Sunni-Shia conflicts...
BLACK MANTA: I doubt people place so much moral weight on sports and entertainment, my dear!
SQUIRREL-GIRL: Not true. What about the Olympics Dream Team (men's basketball) and the film Munich?
BLACK MANTA: That film was about terrorism at the Summer Games involving Israel-Palestine...
SQUIRREL-GIRL: Are you suggesting some political conflicts are 'inevitably' emergent?
BLACK MANTA: Yes, especially in the era of globalization and trade (politics touches everything, and it's coincidence only).
SQUIRREL-GIRL: Nevertheless, sports arenas grant competitors a stage for intriguing peaceful negotiations!
BLACK MANTA: I concede that sports paves the way for improved relations (e.g. USA-USSR men's volleyball rivalry).
SQUIRREL-GIRL: So what do you think of Sunnis and Shiites competing in international sports?
BLACK MANTA: It's not too different from Britain and Northern Ireland competing in international rugby.
SQUIRREL-GIRL: So you insist that the politicization of sports is mere coincidence, do you?
BLACK MANTA: Yes, for the most part (especially in the modern age)!
SQUIRREL-GIRL: I think sports speaks to scientific concerns about genetic engineering and Eugenics.
BLACK MANTA: I think you're inferring steroids-dialogue, and for that, there is peace-potential between Sunnis and Shiites.
SQUIRREL-GIRL: Correct. Everyone (regardless of religious differences or cultural differences) cares about health/vitality.
BLACK MANTA: Dolls of athletes can't tell youngsters to 'transcend' the very grave problem of religious terrorism!

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