2008 Woodie Awards
Smith Dems and Republicans Get Dirty for Discourse
Julia Reed
Issue date: 4/27/06 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
There are many ways to foster debate on a college campus, and many forums in which opposing parties can build a dialogue. Still, I doubt anyone ever tried one as creative as this before now. On Tuesday, April 18, the Smith College Democrats and the Smith College Republicans went head to head, but for once they weren't fighting with words. This year, the illustrious political bodies gave the big finger to traditional political discourse and "went for the balls" in the college's first political kickball game.
The Dems wore sweatbands with donkeys, characteristic blue t-shirts that shouted "Kicking Balls for a Stronger America," and carried promotional signs. The Republicans had pink elephants on their white T-shirts, strings of pearls and sparkly ribbons and brought the sound system packed with 80s tunes. Strangely enough, a spirit of unity prevailed, with a bi-partisan commission acting as umpires, and one liberal kicker, Ali Maranuk, agreeing to play for the other side so that there would be even numbers and the game could proceed. While the final score wasn't exactly fair and balanced-Dems won in five innnings, 21-0-it was sportsmanship, not partisanship that carried the day. Both sides played hard and well, put their best face forward, and saved any disgruntled grumbling for the pages of the Daily Jolt where it belonged.
Prior to the game, there had been a bit of criticism about what kickball could possibly accomplish politically. It was feared that interclub sports would lead to cuthroat competition and that playing a silly game did nothing to affect the serious issues facing our world. In some ways, I guess I agree. Kickball certainly isn't going to end the war in Iraq, it's not going to fix social security, save Roe v. Wade or even raise money for charity. But it must be said that there is something worthwhile about playing games. Maybe the changes they bring about are subtle, but nonetheless, they are important.
In today's world, it's too easy to see every new political disagreement as a battle for life and death. We live in a highly bi-partisan country, where the boundaries between Democrat and Republican, liberal and conservative, aren't lightly sketched on the ground-they're burned into our brains. Too often at Smith, what begins as political discourse turns into a shouting match that makes the "Jerry Springer" show look polite. Is it so hard to understand that every once in a while people want a break? The kickball game might not have affected national policy, but it was fun. While there had to be a winner and a loser, most people left the field laughing and smiling, not shouting and fuming. For 45 minutes or so, Smith politics lost a little bit of its desperate, fight for your life edge, and got downright silly. In this writer's opinion, that's only for the better.
While no team mergers are in the works, one can only hope that Republican/ Democrat dialogue post-kickball might be a little friendlier. Once you've dressed up in a funny T-shirt with someone, it's harder to see them as a dire political enemy; and if you're arguing over nothing more important than a foul ball, it's easier to be giving and understanding. It's feelings like this that will carry over into the clubs' more serious endeavors. If all this game accomplished was generating some much needed goodwill, then in my eyes, it was not a trivial act.
True, April 18 was not the most landmark day in the history of Smith College politics, but it was probably the most fun. We laughed, we cried, we got dirty and then we went home, albeit with a few kinder feelings. Maybe to some that's not so important, but in politics more than anything else, it's little victories like that which count the most.
The Dems wore sweatbands with donkeys, characteristic blue t-shirts that shouted "Kicking Balls for a Stronger America," and carried promotional signs. The Republicans had pink elephants on their white T-shirts, strings of pearls and sparkly ribbons and brought the sound system packed with 80s tunes. Strangely enough, a spirit of unity prevailed, with a bi-partisan commission acting as umpires, and one liberal kicker, Ali Maranuk, agreeing to play for the other side so that there would be even numbers and the game could proceed. While the final score wasn't exactly fair and balanced-Dems won in five innnings, 21-0-it was sportsmanship, not partisanship that carried the day. Both sides played hard and well, put their best face forward, and saved any disgruntled grumbling for the pages of the Daily Jolt where it belonged.
Prior to the game, there had been a bit of criticism about what kickball could possibly accomplish politically. It was feared that interclub sports would lead to cuthroat competition and that playing a silly game did nothing to affect the serious issues facing our world. In some ways, I guess I agree. Kickball certainly isn't going to end the war in Iraq, it's not going to fix social security, save Roe v. Wade or even raise money for charity. But it must be said that there is something worthwhile about playing games. Maybe the changes they bring about are subtle, but nonetheless, they are important.
In today's world, it's too easy to see every new political disagreement as a battle for life and death. We live in a highly bi-partisan country, where the boundaries between Democrat and Republican, liberal and conservative, aren't lightly sketched on the ground-they're burned into our brains. Too often at Smith, what begins as political discourse turns into a shouting match that makes the "Jerry Springer" show look polite. Is it so hard to understand that every once in a while people want a break? The kickball game might not have affected national policy, but it was fun. While there had to be a winner and a loser, most people left the field laughing and smiling, not shouting and fuming. For 45 minutes or so, Smith politics lost a little bit of its desperate, fight for your life edge, and got downright silly. In this writer's opinion, that's only for the better.
While no team mergers are in the works, one can only hope that Republican/ Democrat dialogue post-kickball might be a little friendlier. Once you've dressed up in a funny T-shirt with someone, it's harder to see them as a dire political enemy; and if you're arguing over nothing more important than a foul ball, it's easier to be giving and understanding. It's feelings like this that will carry over into the clubs' more serious endeavors. If all this game accomplished was generating some much needed goodwill, then in my eyes, it was not a trivial act.
True, April 18 was not the most landmark day in the history of Smith College politics, but it was probably the most fun. We laughed, we cried, we got dirty and then we went home, albeit with a few kinder feelings. Maybe to some that's not so important, but in politics more than anything else, it's little victories like that which count the most.
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