Peace and Quiet

I've noticed that during the week, between Monday night football and the pre-game show on Sunday morning, there's a peaceful hush in the household. Before football season, this was just the norm, but now that Sunday morning through Monday (well after twilight) are filled with the energy of football games, I've taken notice. Our evenings are often engaging, but mellow. We are a couple who go to dinner at 9:00 p.m. and rarely turn in before midnight. Not only do we practice this lifestyle, but we're becoming known for it! A friend of mine recently said, "we could always go out at 9:00 p.m. on a weeknight- you guys are always up for it." Often our evenings consist of watching DVDs until one of us (the snoring one... no not the pug... well her too) falls asleep on the couch in the middle of a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode. I'm beginning to become wise to the industry of football. Have they targeted us? The demographic of Americans who are busy and worn out during the week, and need a hobby? Isn't Sunday a day full of dread for the upcoming work week for the typical 9-to-5-er? Isn't Monday so depressing that everyone needs a beer and a flickering TV screen in front of them? Wait- have I happened upon a drug? The American's soma? Has our need for relaxation and rejuvenation been replaced by hypnosis? I used to think the message went a little something like this, "Dream big, kids- because you could make a million dollars for your athletic prowess too!" Now, I'm beginning to think that the message is more like, "Drink it up, America- we've got an industry to entertain you- and you've got a sucky life."

*SIGH* I have a friend who really believes in conspiracy theories... and I don't intend to create my own, but I do wonder about the appeal of football. Why has the industry blown up to the point that athletes are our best paid "workers?" Why do we culturally appreciate athleticism and physical skill over artistic creativity and social justice? Why is American pop culture common knowledge, and history, social science, politics are not? I wonder how participation in the industries that exist to entertain affects our culture... after all, many adults are not "smarter than a fifth grader." Sad, but true.

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