Sunday, March 27, 2011

On Fighting and Being Human


Sergio De La Pava's A Day's Sail is one of the very rare writings I've found that comes close to doing justice to the beauty and potential for metaphor found in fighting. He is able to artfully weave Virginia Wolfe, Gatti v. Ward, Corrales v, Castill, and even a pinch of law to make this article seem like I commissioned it myself.

Thanks to the ability to embed video De La Pava doesn't have to explain the the exceptional feats and heart displayed in the ring to the reader, but can instead allow them to experience it themselves with just a click.

Beyond just succeeding in using boxing as a writer's tool it's also a nice look at what it means to fight, or struggle, and what kind of light you deserve to be seen in as someone willing to endure the fight. Borrowing the term “in a light most favorable to the People” from the realm of law De La Pava argues that "Certain people are entitled to this light. They are numerous and teem and their numbers include artists, fighters, nurses, damn almost anyone who does or worries about doing." Personally, I wouldn't have extended that last sentence to include anyone who "worries about doing," but it's not a big enough difference of opinion to sour me on his point.

I can't encourage you enough to READ THIS. It is worth every one of the very few minutes it will take.


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