Rugby is not something you play just for fun... it's something you feel. All you have to do is believe in yourself, and just as Webb Ellis did on that day in 1823, take the ball in your arms and run with it. Half the game, however, happens from the neck up. Discourage yourself and you will lose within the first ten minutes of play. However, if you try (and I mean make an honest attempt, not score five points) to win; if you believe in yourself; if you practice; if you dare to become the best—if you show your opponents what you are capable of, in other words, you will win the match from the first kick.
Rugby is an expression of life—a single, glittering thread that reflects the whole. Like life, rugby is messy and unpredictable, a picture of the instinct of survival. No matter what you do to control it, it will have its own way with you. The trick is to experience the moment with a clear mind and an open heart. If you do that, the game—and life—will take care of itself.
Keep calm... and play rugby.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Republican Candidate Impressions
For the first time in my life, I've been closely following the Republican primary process on television (for any/all Brits reading this, I mean the process by which a candidate is selected to lead an American party). The reason this is my first time following the primaries, in spite of the fact that I'm a cognoscente of politics, is that it is the political equivalent of watching sausages being made: it's messy. However, in contrast to the usual 'closed' methods by which candidates are selected in other countries, open primaries almost always produce a party leader who is acceptable to most everyone. So far for the theories: now for the nitty-gritty.
There are now four candidates in the Republican primaries: Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and the old, plodding medical doctor, Ron Paul. Spkr Gingrich, in my opinion, is absolutely the most qualified to run for President; Gov. Romney seems shifty and avoidant—not good qualities in a politician—although he may simply be anxious when talking about some things (for instance, himself). Sen. Santorum, a candidate who will certainly drop out of the race soon, simply seems like an also-ran: like a first-grader screaming 'Pick me! Pick me!', Sen. Santorum just oozes desperation, also something not good to have in a leader. In fact, I recall him saying something almost exactly like the first-grader almost every time he participates in the debates or makes a speech; the most salient example of this is when, during one speech, he called one candidate (Spkr Gingrich, although Sen. Santorum didn't name names) "too hot", another (Gov. Romney) "too cold", and then went on to imply that he himself is the Goldilocks candidate (just right).
Gov. Romney's 'coldness' (anxiety/deer-in-the-headlights) is a major factor when he debates; one must have his finger on the button to be successful, and he doesn't—his hands hang limply at his sides, so to speak. The gears simply don't turn at the right speed. For instance, when Gov. Romney was asked to reveal his tax returns, as did Spkr Gingrich (as well as Mitt's father, Sec. George W. Romney), he waffled, first saying he would "maybe" (politics-ese for 'no') release a tax return, then saying he'd release several of them at once, while sweat glistened on his forehead. If he's got nothing to hide, then why not release his returns? More importantly, if he gets shaken by such a simple question, how does he expect to become the world's foremost celebrity (with all the autobiographical questions this entails)? Another reason Gov. Romney is unelectable is due to a lack of qualifications: Spkr Gingrich and Dr Paul both spent a lifetime in government and can safely call themselves 'politicians', whereas Gov. Romney is a management consultant, a job that pays well but does not provide the appropriate skillset to become a true politician. In fact, Gov. Romney's chosen career makes him even more unelectable, as management consultancy is a seven-figure salary; Republicans, by and large, are middle-class, and Mitt Romney has, so far, been unable to connect with middle-class voters.
This stands in stark contrast to 'Idea Man' Gingrich. A schooled-and-raised politician, Spkr Gingrich has no problem in debates, radiating an air of supreme confidence even when questioned on a hard topic, such as his past infidelity. American Republicans, unlike Anglo-Canadian Conservatives, have a significant portion of so-called 'evangelical', 'born-again', or 'Christian fundie' voters, who have always tended to place more emphasis on a candidate's dirty laundry than on his political worth. However, on a televised debate, this was all turned on its head when the inevitable question came out, and Spkr Gingrich easily blamed the media: he received a standing ovation. Owing to the fact that he is a 'mere' politician (which is, after all, what being President is about), Spkr Gingrich has considerably less wealth than Gov. Romney: although this hinders his advertising, it places him on a level field with the middle class of America, his target. Furthermore, Spkr Gingrich seems to have one idea after another; I swear he must be on some King Hell crank. Not that that's a bad thing. America needs someone with ideas to pull it out of the recession.
Then, there's Dr Ron Paul, who certainly seems to be second-best, although as a libertarian (in other words, one who believes government and private life are incompatible), he is, sadly, not taken as seriously as he should be. Refreshing is the fact that, in contrast to Mitt Romney, whose top campaign sponsors are major financial corporations, Dr Paul's top sponsors are the Army, Navy, and Air Force. This reflects his stance that America should only go to war with a declaration, a stance that I agree with.
There are now four candidates in the Republican primaries: Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and the old, plodding medical doctor, Ron Paul. Spkr Gingrich, in my opinion, is absolutely the most qualified to run for President; Gov. Romney seems shifty and avoidant—not good qualities in a politician—although he may simply be anxious when talking about some things (for instance, himself). Sen. Santorum, a candidate who will certainly drop out of the race soon, simply seems like an also-ran: like a first-grader screaming 'Pick me! Pick me!', Sen. Santorum just oozes desperation, also something not good to have in a leader. In fact, I recall him saying something almost exactly like the first-grader almost every time he participates in the debates or makes a speech; the most salient example of this is when, during one speech, he called one candidate (Spkr Gingrich, although Sen. Santorum didn't name names) "too hot", another (Gov. Romney) "too cold", and then went on to imply that he himself is the Goldilocks candidate (just right).
Gov. Romney's 'coldness' (anxiety/deer-in-the-headlights) is a major factor when he debates; one must have his finger on the button to be successful, and he doesn't—his hands hang limply at his sides, so to speak. The gears simply don't turn at the right speed. For instance, when Gov. Romney was asked to reveal his tax returns, as did Spkr Gingrich (as well as Mitt's father, Sec. George W. Romney), he waffled, first saying he would "maybe" (politics-ese for 'no') release a tax return, then saying he'd release several of them at once, while sweat glistened on his forehead. If he's got nothing to hide, then why not release his returns? More importantly, if he gets shaken by such a simple question, how does he expect to become the world's foremost celebrity (with all the autobiographical questions this entails)? Another reason Gov. Romney is unelectable is due to a lack of qualifications: Spkr Gingrich and Dr Paul both spent a lifetime in government and can safely call themselves 'politicians', whereas Gov. Romney is a management consultant, a job that pays well but does not provide the appropriate skillset to become a true politician. In fact, Gov. Romney's chosen career makes him even more unelectable, as management consultancy is a seven-figure salary; Republicans, by and large, are middle-class, and Mitt Romney has, so far, been unable to connect with middle-class voters.
This stands in stark contrast to 'Idea Man' Gingrich. A schooled-and-raised politician, Spkr Gingrich has no problem in debates, radiating an air of supreme confidence even when questioned on a hard topic, such as his past infidelity. American Republicans, unlike Anglo-Canadian Conservatives, have a significant portion of so-called 'evangelical', 'born-again', or 'Christian fundie' voters, who have always tended to place more emphasis on a candidate's dirty laundry than on his political worth. However, on a televised debate, this was all turned on its head when the inevitable question came out, and Spkr Gingrich easily blamed the media: he received a standing ovation. Owing to the fact that he is a 'mere' politician (which is, after all, what being President is about), Spkr Gingrich has considerably less wealth than Gov. Romney: although this hinders his advertising, it places him on a level field with the middle class of America, his target. Furthermore, Spkr Gingrich seems to have one idea after another; I swear he must be on some King Hell crank. Not that that's a bad thing. America needs someone with ideas to pull it out of the recession.
Then, there's Dr Ron Paul, who certainly seems to be second-best, although as a libertarian (in other words, one who believes government and private life are incompatible), he is, sadly, not taken as seriously as he should be. Refreshing is the fact that, in contrast to Mitt Romney, whose top campaign sponsors are major financial corporations, Dr Paul's top sponsors are the Army, Navy, and Air Force. This reflects his stance that America should only go to war with a declaration, a stance that I agree with.
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