Snooker - Game or Sport?

With the World Championship beginning, once again the old battle of identifying snooker as a game or sport has emerged.

The label of "game" carries the negative connotations that a certain sport is trivial. This seems to be levelled at snooker for two reasons. Firstly, the lack of physical prowess and stature required for snooker seems to place it outside the realm of sport. However, the skill and intelligence required to form and carry out an intricate snooker strategy must be considered in the same vein. One may not have to train their body, but the honing of the mind required for snooker is the same process in a different sphere.

Secondly, elements of snooker have placed it as a more elitist form of entertainment. While it is true that there is a more calm and reserved atmosphere at a snooker match, this certainly does not make it any less of a sport. The level of control and decorum is indicative of the respect between players, not a heightened level of haughtiness. But this is a false image in any case, with snooker clubs across Europe allowing people to play the sport regardless of social standing.

Overall, snooker has many parallels with sporting events such as tennis and golf and yet does not suffer the frivolity of false labels. If these absurd reasons for labelling snooker as a trivial "game" are placed aside, snooker will finally be able to take its place alongside other great sporting activities. This would expand the sport and encourage greater participation and competition.

When this years contest in The Crucible comes to a close we will have a new World Snooker Champion. I do hope that they will be rightly considered among sporting legends.

-The English Student

Beijing Olympics - Boycott?

As the Beijing Olympics approach, the level of unrest and discord regarding the event has increased.

Recently, activists supporting the rights of Tibetan citizens have taken to the streets, disrupting the Olympic Relay in France and San Francisco. These people believe that the Chinese government does not have the right to keep the Tibetan region under their control. In addition to this, demonstrators have spoken out against the exiling of the current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. In response to this upheaval, Chinese citizens have called for the embargo of French goods and businesses. Consequently, many have begun to call for a boycott of the Games. I for one, support this rejection for two reasons.

The excuses of the Chinese government for Tibetan subjugation have reached ridiculous proportions. Their propaganda has included the bizarre accusation that the Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been encouraging violence. I believe that a boycott of the Beijing Games would force the Chinese government to drop all deception and engage in real, worthwhile negotiations with Tibet.

Secondly, a rejection of these games would send a message in relation to media censorship in China. Should many countries decide to stay away from this year’s Olympic Games, it will be impossible for Hu Jintao to continue to isolate the Chinese state. The exterior forces of the world will be sending a clear message that their input and influence in the world is important and to separate a population from this force is downright cruel.

The Olympic motto states: "Swifter, Higher, Stronger" and it is the responsibility of the international community to ensure that these ideals are resolutely upheld.

-The English Student

Aeon Flux: Isthmus Crypticus

Trevor blinds and clips the wings of two fantastic creatures and in doing so, highlights the barbarity of animal imprisonment.

Goodchild has captured a pair of wondrous creatures known as the Seraph Trevs. He is not the only one who takes part in this practice of entrapment. Aeon, Ilbrin and Una are all complicit to this slavery, and so is modern society.

Many intellects have championed the cause of zoological gardens. Yann Martel gives us a very reasonable viewpoint of the use of zoos as a protection for animals who would otherwise struggle in the wild. But the breach of the Ishtmus Crypticus chamber teaches us differently.

By ensnaring these animals, we deprive them of their right to live, love and even die. It is nothing but human arrogance to assert that our artificial circumstances are more beneficial than natural ones. They may have a higher chance of survival, but life without freedom is merely existence, regardless of species.

"This creature is in agony" and while the physical body may be cared for, the shackles of animal imprisonment cause more damage than nature ever could.

-The English Student

A New Era?

In the past two years we have seen the end of many political eras in various countries. This timing is not a coincidence.

The retirement of Tony Blair, the apparent (or pending) fall of Mugabe, Bertie Ahern's notice of resignation, the newly founded presidency of Medvedev and Sarkozy and the upcoming U.S. elections all coincide with each other in a relatively small time period. This pattern can tell us many things about current societal trends.

People are dissatisfied with their current leaders of government. Every culture is now influenced by the diversity prevalent in neighbouring areas. This range is expressed by societal contrasts and comparisons. Our more "open" age of information and technology has effectively changed the political focus of the world. Citizens seems to be looking for a political structure that can adequately address the issues of trade, identity, security and culture that are inherent in this development.

However, can these new regimes be confidently seen to encompass these issues? It is problematic to place all new political entities in one camp or the other. At best, one can say that some of these new leaders understand this diversity, while others do not. Crucially, the success of these administrations will depend on their acceptance of this more transnational doctrine.

"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold" and the movement from the centre to an all encompassing political backdrop can only be beneficial.

-The English Student