Fight Festival

January 3, 2008 - 11:33 AM by Stephanie

Some years back while covering a story on “Youth & Guns in America” for German network television, I had the privilege of spending time with gang members in South Central Los Angeles (i.e. “South L.A.”).

No, that was not a typo. It was a privilege. Because it was a slice of life I would have never been privy to had I not been working in the media. We can chat about it later over coffee…

Part of the cover included hanging out at a “why can’t we all get along” sort of party attended by opposing gang members being encouraged to “work out differences by duking it out” rather than shooting.

When, after a few beers one guy got angry with another guy for “dissing” him (he stepped on his new white sneakers by accident), things got heated. The cameraman and I discovered that despite encouragement toward the physical, the young gang-bangers were packing. We hit it since we weren’t…packing, that is.

In Peru last week, there was a large scale attempt at stress release via the “punch it out” method during the annual Fight Festival Week.

The Big Felafel blogged it and seems to feel that if here in these parts we had a little more of that “women, children and seniors put up their dukes”, we might all be the better for it.

We talk too much about talking. Let’s get Olmert in the ring against Abu Mazen. Let’s get Livni and Conda-poo-poo to cat fight and I will sign up to fight anyone from Betuach Leumi (Social Security…slf), the banks or the Knesset (parliament…slf). The rules will be a good old fashion fight for five minutes. There will be a referee to make sure that we play by the rules and that there on no cheap shots.

After this festival we will all walk away a little calmer and realize that Peace must punch you in the face- not talk you to death.

I’m not sure, felafel. It didn’t work in South Central. But yours makes for a good read!

Share with others