oh say! Can you see by the dawn's early light. American culture is an incredible thing. I have been unable to put my finger on exactly what causes the patriotism. Exactly what it is about their military, flag and teams that makes them tick so much. It has to be something which is passed through generations and instilled in youngsters at a very tender age.
I mean it to be no sleight to American people when i see there is almost a juvenile love for their country and teams. I reiterate teams because the support, pride and passion that people show for their teams over here is on the same route (still pronounced "root" for me, not "rout") as they do for their entire nation.
For example, the four main teams which people from San Jose follow are the San Jose Sharks (hockey), San Francisco Giants (baseball), San Francisco 49ers (football) and Golden State Warriors (basketball). If i go for a walk outside of the apartment complex, i am almost certain to see at least one person wearing some paraphernalia for each of these teams. Given they are World Series (sic) champs in the baseball, there is so many Giants hats and shirts everywhere that you would think every day is game day (which is almost true) and that the stadium was right around the corner (not the truth!). As well as this, i am likely to find something or someone with an American flag on it.
Going to a game is a whole different story. This is where i make my point about a juvenile affection and love for their team and country. I grew out of my seriously involved fan days in about 2011. I still like watching my Penrith Panthers play and now understand that a win usually means three losses to follow but there is no growing out of this at all in America. At a ball game this week we sat next to a young family who had a 20 month old child with them. The child had apparently been to lots of games already and was yelling "Go giants!" all the time. You see grown men going to games with gloves, hoping to catch a home run from their favourite player or a foul ball from the opposition so they can be seen on the big screen throwing it back. This bit still does something with me. Grown men walking into stadiums and sitting down, punching their glove and waiting for their chance. It seems such a juvenile thing to do but this is their passion. This is their team! And of course, losing is not an option. Every game is there to be won.
The same goes with hockey. Ice Hockey is a weird sport. Three periods of 20 minutes and fifteen minute breaks between each period. i suppose this gives ample time to use bathrooms, buy more weak beer and eat more fattening foods. They will play music and try to get people pumped/interested in this time and you will inevitably find some older gent see himself on the big screen and lift up his shirt and dance wildly. Wanting to get the crowd going and behind him. Don't get me wrong. The AFL have their grannies, NRL has it's bogans, Union has it's graduates and A-League has its rioters but for each sport in America, there is no specific demographic. There is an even, widespread fan base split across ages, socio-economic groups and ethnicities. It is incredible.
I believe that this is definitely linked to the feelings that Americans have for their nation. Maybe it is because they see the world as a competitive event. The passion in terms of positivity, optimism and belief is astounding. Fans believe that their team can do nothing wrong. And there is definitely an undertone of that when they speak of their nation as well.
Their players are their troops. Their team, their nation. The respect and optimism is something that can not be taught. And don't get the impression that i am being negative in anything i have said here. It is admirable. It is remarkable. I have been moved witnessing the cheering and singing during their national anthem. The honour given to returned troops and military personnel (especially around Memorial Day). this is something which will take generations to build. The solidarity, the unity. There is the optimism that anything is possible. That they can do anything and achieve anything. It gives proof to the world that their flag is still there.
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