Sport and Militarism Lecture Review

Review of last slide deck's unfinished slides, particularly focusing on themes of sport and militarism.
Encouragement to engage with the lecture despite the temptation of staying in bed.
Recognition of collaborative learning through class conversations.

Idea: "Once you see, you cannot unsee" - recognizing the relationship between sport and militarism.
Discussion on student interpretations of the course material, questioning motives behind military images in sport.
Importance of critically analyzing implications and reasons to care about the link between militarism and sport.

Examination of Desjardins' article addressing militarism in everyday life beyond just professional sports.
The case study of the 2019 Canadian Army Run as an ethnographic study showcasing military propaganda.
Quote from Desjardins: "I contend that the 2019 Canadian Army run represents an additional propaganda tactic" - focus on depoliticization of military action such as this run.
Examination of how militarism operates even in ostensibly non-military, participatory events.

Depoliticization: The event promotes the military without addressing the political implications of warfare. This allows for an idealized representation of the military without critique.
Militarism in Civilian Life: Militaristic ideals are normalized, leading to a lack of critical engagement with military actions and policies.
Recognition that even recreational involvement in these events sanitizes the violence associated with militarism.

Event details: Thousands participate annually in a run often filled with military imagery (e.g., finish line celebration at the War Museum).
The finish line offering militaristic paraphernalia (e.g., dog tags) detracts from the serious nature of military conflicts.
An absence of debate on ongoing military actions – it becomes largely a social and community event without critical discussions on warfare.
Engaging in celebration decontextualizes warfare’s consequences, leading to a watered-down perception of combat.

The event acts as a site of socialization where patriotism and support for the military are subtly encouraged.
The lack of critique means that soldiers’ roles in complex geopolitical contexts become overlooked.
Ideas discussed (e.g., Colin Kaepernick's protests) highlight how critiques of the military become criticisms of the nation-wide sentiment.

Definition: International adaptive multi-sport competition involving wounded, injured or sick servicemen and women.
Observe how narratives of "Invictus" (unconquered) evoke ideas of heroism and resilience despite their origin in injury from war.
Purpose: Inspire recovery, support rehabilitation, and foster respect for soldiers' sacrifices, but also implicates deeper issues regarding how injuries arise.
Discussions about ableism and the portrayal of veterans at events showcasing athletic performance against the standards of able-bodied individuals.

Testimonies from competitors highlight variables such as inspiration vs struggle, and the need for social connections with peers who share their experiences.
Critiques exist regarding who truly benefits from such games, revealing that some may feel excluded or that such events romanticize suffering and sacrifice without addressing broader systemic issues.
Tension exists in narratives about recovery through sport, raising questions about the legitimacy and sustainability of these portrayals in light of the realities of veteran life.

Encouragement for students to reflect critically on how sport and militarism intertwine and shape societal narratives surrounding military activism and national identity.
Importance of recognizing the historical implications of military involvement in daily life to engage fully as informed citizens.