The West's dark age of political scarecrows

The political scarecrows of the West, Stand listless and silent,...

Being a North American is to be a sports fan and follow athletic heroes. It was hard to avoid being a football fan especially when my nephew had a lengthy career in the famous game. He gave me bragging rights!

There was a time in my early life when I constantly had a sprained thumb from a badly caught football or baseball. Now they hang out over my key board.

My late brother-in-law was a true hero and friend as he had a baseball glove trapper that was the envy of every player on the field. I always found an excuse to borrow it. I can still smell the leather in all its braided glory.

I greatly admire the skill and endurance of hockey and soccer players as their game demands a very high level of skill and fitness. It is little wonder hockey players do short shifts. Soccer players have a chance to catch their breath when the ball is elsewhere on the field.

Then there are the pro tennis players who hammer the ball over the net at lightning speed and we see bleachers of spectators rotating their heads in devoted unison following the ball.

Now I follow the sport of politics which is going through some very dismal times. One of the problems being that too many useful idiots see it as a sport when it is the serious business of statecraft and building better futures requiring a modicum of integrity and civic responsibility.