Probably everyone who comes here will know this, but I’ll summarize. Australia and New Zealand are in the final of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Before games, the New Zealand team does a performance called the Haka.
I don’t think that as an American I should put up with people telling me I can’t have an opinion without better understanding of Maori culture, rugby culture, or whatever. I know some about both, and I think I know poor sportsmanship when I see it. “Just because you’ve always done it that way, doesn’t mean…” The Haka celebrates the violent, warrior aspect of Maori culture. If you want to pay tribute, recite a poem extolling the Polynesians’ skill as navigators or something. Too wimpy? Well, figure out something else with less eye-rolling, screaming and tongue-sticking-outing. Something without “death” in the chant.
(sorry, I meant to put this in the Game Room (close call over GD or pit) not here).
If you want to watch performance art depicting the Comanches torturing their captives, well whatever, go ahead, but wouldn’t you cringe if it was pre-game entertainment for every home Texas Tech game?
Isn’t it the perfect example of sublimation, “where socially unacceptable impulses or idealizations are unconsciously transformed into socially acceptable actions or behavior, possibly resulting in a long-term conversion of the initial impulse”?
And what’s with kids dressing up as monsters, pirates and serial killers and such? If there’s every a holiday celebrating that, we better nip it in the bud!!
And contact sports celebrate the violent, warrior aspect of human psychology, atavistic though it is, in a safe, sublimated, ceremonial way. Nothing could be *more *appropriate to start a New Zealand rugby match than the Haka.
So, the haka celebrates war? Doesn’t the national anthem of the United States (The Star-Spangled Banner) also celebrate war? Why not ask that it not be sung before sporting events in the United States?
I used to tune in to All Blacks matches just to see the haka! Frankly I wish American football games all started with such a warlike shouting and demonstrations of fearsomeness.
So I just watched a few of these Haka performances - is the opposing team somehow required to watch it? You’d think they’d turn their backs, or walk off the field or something to indicate they aren’t impressed.
Quite a few years ago Wales said they were going to sing “Men of Harlech” after the haka, it cheesed off the Kiwis and they did the haka in their locker room before the game.