Quite a witty remark; but I am impressed by the way the community is tied together by it. The children ride sheep until they can ride steers, and steers until they can ride bulls; the youth barrel race or breakaway-rope until they’re ready to hogtie a roped calf. Everyone comes out, and events are held for those as young as five (calf chasing) to as old as still ride (often it’s the most experienced cowboys who wrangle the bulls after a ride). Excellent performance is mutually recognized and honored by all.
It reminds me of a point Aristotle made about the best kind of society. (Politics 3.9)
“It is clear then that a state is not a mere society, having a common place, established for the prevention of mutual crime and for the sake of exchange. These are conditions without which a state cannot exist; but all of them together do not constitute a state, which is a community of families and aggregations of families in well-being, for the sake of a perfect and self-sufficing life. Such a community can only be established among those who live in the same place and intermarry. Hence arise in cities family connections, brotherhoods, common sacrifices, amusements which draw men together. But these are created by friendship, for the will to live together is friendship. The end of the state is the good life, and these are the means towards it. And the state is the union of families and villages in a perfect and self-sufficing life, by which we mean a happy and honorable life.”
The chiropractic sponsorship seems appropriate
ReplyDeleteQuite a witty remark; but I am impressed by the way the community is tied together by it. The children ride sheep until they can ride steers, and steers until they can ride bulls; the youth barrel race or breakaway-rope until they’re ready to hogtie a roped calf. Everyone comes out, and events are held for those as young as five (calf chasing) to as old as still ride (often it’s the most experienced cowboys who wrangle the bulls after a ride). Excellent performance is mutually recognized and honored by all.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of a point Aristotle made about the best kind of society. (Politics 3.9)
“It is clear then that a state is not a mere society, having a common place, established for the prevention of mutual crime and for the sake of exchange. These are conditions without which a state cannot exist; but all of them together do not constitute a state, which is a community of families and aggregations of families in well-being, for the sake of a perfect and self-sufficing life. Such a community can only be established among those who live in the same place and intermarry. Hence arise in cities family connections, brotherhoods, common sacrifices, amusements which draw men together. But these are created by friendship, for the will to live together is friendship. The end of the state is the good life, and these are the means towards it. And the state is the union of families and villages in a perfect and self-sufficing life, by which we mean a happy and honorable life.”