It's Only a Game!
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h h anarchist^weeMy V o l.3 5 No. 28 Freedom 13 July, 1974. the upper class snob who does not want to mix with the "common peo ple" and the rich who do not want to wait for treatment in an al ready overcrowded system, to em THE ILL-HEALTH ployers who offer the B.U.P.A. scheme (medical insurance) as an extra incentive to their employ ees (yet the boss always wins be cause it is to his advantage that OF THE STATE his staff have quick medical treatment and thus cut short time spent in sick leave). It is time AFTER A campaign by the National by illegal ? action have stopped Union of Public Employees, the that all those who feel they must the "free choice" of the indivi pay extra for their medical treat government has decided to speed dual to be either private or NHS up the phasing out of private ment (or think that the NHS treat patients. Xet to be given the ment is not good enough) should no beds in National Health hospit opportunity to have special als. This private bed system is longer exploit the National Health- ■ treatment at the expense of many Service. yet another example of wealth/ others is a privilege that our class privilege existing within so called "democratic" society can Although in this country we society, that for enough money a do without. Those in favour of have a health system that is far patient can have immediate medi the pay bed system argue that pri superior to many others, if it is cal treatment, with a private vate patients somehow subsidise to work well, and cater for the room, etc. in a N.H.S. hospital, the National Health Service. If needs of sick human beings, the at the expense of other, less this is true it shows how rotten ■management must be taken from the well off patients (and most pro the system must be. (It is int bureaucratic hospital boards by bably needing treatment just as eresting that while doctors and the doctors and nurses who actual quickly) who must wait for a specialists are paid fees by the ly run the hospitals. Then maybe free bed in the "public" wards. private patients, the nurses, etc. the strict hierarchical set up Xet the action by the union has have no extra salary. within the hospitals will be over been strongly condemned (as any come, and the abuse and exploita one reading the national press There is a vested interest all tion of doctors, nurses, cleaners will have seen). So far they along the line to retain the pay and kitchen staff will end. have been selfish, jealous, and bed/private patient system, from D.P, DURING THE LAST few months we have been inundated with discussions cn the contest, which side would win, whether the tactics were right, whether the captains (and players) were the right choice, whether the rules of the game should be IT’S ONLY A GAME! changed - but never whether they should continue playing this es capist, adolescent, ceremonial real the whole game is oriented The goalposts he must reach - game. The captains, Heath and to his right-wing players. otherwise knows as the simple aims of food, clothing and shel Wilson, glower at each other Heath's team is disgruntled and ter - are made of elastic and re from the centre of the field, demoralised by defeats and its treat before his advance. That dark accusations are made of morale suffers from the occasional his management can make his own foul play by and of Wilson, Benn, conviction that they have the goalposts retreat in a similar Castle, Foot and even Silkin wrong captain and even the wrong (though slower) fashion makes whilst Heath's team perform tactics, and do not improve mat strenuous feats of gamesmanship, ters by changing strategy in mid- ■little difference. If his oppo nents' seem to be losing they scoring occasional goals but field. Nevertheless the game has change the rules or declare goals never really seeming to want a a great following despite the fact null and invalid. It is even victory, which event would give that the results are palpably fixed that throughout the match the game too nasty a shake-up. fixed and the enmity between the Every now and again Thorpe and teams is stage-managed. The hand the value of opposition goals is his retinue of players seek to shaking and bonhomie in the progressively devalued. He is join some team or other but no dressing-rooms and sometimes on cheered by others with the retort body is wild to get them at their the field itself are the true re "It's only a game". But in this transfer fee. flection of the relation of the 'game' men suffer, are crippled teams to each other. They have and die and there are no specta Meanwhile Wilson, whose know tors . ledge of the real game of foot- the greatest admiration for each ball, judging by one of his other as players and their con There are other games, the game speeches, is not very great con tempt is reserved for the specta ,of Law, the game of War to name tinues to play a cautious game. tors. After all. .it's only a but two, where the realities are He uses his left wing to terrify game ! clouded, the values are juvenile his opponents and cheer the fans On other fields the game goes and the rules are corroded by time of the left - without actually on. The common man daily goes and the whole game is stacked in letting the left score any goals. out on the field. The ball is at favour of the big battalion teams. He tries to do the same thing his feet, he is exhorted from The constant urge is to be a with his right-wing who now and every side to score which it is sportsman, to take defeat as it again appear to actually score. said is easy and expected of him comes, and not to complain. The But since the battle between the but the ball is sometimes made of two sides is more apparent than lead or is chained to his font. ■ Continued on Page 3 Col ,, 3 Centro de Documentagao e Apoio a Pesquisa 1 unesp* Cedap Faculdade de CiSncias e Letras de Assis 17 li 19 20 21 22 FREEDOM PRESS 84b WHITECHAPEL HIGH STREET FOOTBALL MAGIC LONDON Ei Phone 01-247 9249 SOMEONE ONCE wrote in FREEDOM all the skill, scraftsmanship, that sport was now the opium of Publications flair, poetry of motion and th'e people. Veil if this is finally that magic which this A B C of Anarchism. Alexander true, then many "football freaks, sport can achieve. Everyone Berkman 25p (post 5p) ;like myself, have been as high likes supporting a winding USA 75c post free <as kites over the past three team, but a lot of teams have About Anarchism, what anarchists (weeks. For this' year's Vorld been successful by playing safe believe...how anarchists differ Cup Finals in Germany have pro defensive football rather than Nicolas Walter 15p (post 3^p) vided some of the finest foot attacking and going out for USA 40c post free ball we have ever seen or are goals. They've achieved res Anarchism and Anarcho-Syndicalism. ever, likely to see again. ults but it's been dull and not Rudolf Rocker 20p (post 5p) However, before we take an very entertaining to watch. In USA 65c post free other puff on the pipe it must fact, that was what Sir Alf did Anarchy. Errico Malatesta be said that behind all this for* English football, safe, 25p (post 5p) marvellous entertainment, poet dull and so predictable. USA 75c post free Neither East Nor West. Marie- ry, craftsmanship and pure What this World Cup produced Louise Berneri, sel. writings skill lies money end heaps of was the two best sides in the 1939-48 30p (post lOp) it. Footballers in these fin final. I myself was committed USA Si.00 post fre^ als are not only being paid to Holland because they have The State. Its Historic Role. P . enormous sums of money just to played complete football. Every; play, but will reap extra bon player has at one time or other Kropotkin 20p (post 5p) USA 65c post free uses if they win or reach cer attacked the opposing goal. Lessons of the Spanish Revolution tain stages in the tournament. They gave everything to attack 1936-39. Vernon Richards For football is big, big busi and have given fans a series of ness. There is far more to entertaining, thrill packed and cloth £1.5,0 (post 22’ip) this world cup than the games unpredictable games. Individual paper £0.75 " USA cloth $4.oo : paper $2.00 on the TV and chat shows that players (like Cruyff) stand out have now become part and parcel but the team as a whole has that List of other titles, including of the football package. It is magic which truly makes them an annual vols. Selections from sickening to see Pele, probably all time great side. "Freedom" 1954-64 and back issues ■ the greatest footballer of all ANARCHY 1961-70 on request. time, and now a millionaire, It is this type of football advertising a soft drink which that has come out on top and has as much connection with will influence the youngsters.