I concur with David Brooks that sports are popular and relatable to many young people, so they can be a valuable forum for discussing social and ethical issues.

The topic of race and ethnicity is one example of how sports may encourage debates about more critical societal concerns. Sports can serve as a forum for discussing how race affects athletes' opportunities and results and the connection between identity and performance. For instance, the controversy surrounding Colin Kaepernick's decision to take a knee before NFL games during the national anthem spurred a debate about racial inequality and police brutality on a national level. 

Another example is the topic of nationalism and international affairs. Olympics-style sporting events can serve as a backdrop for discussions about the significance of national identity in world politics and the possibility of sports diplomacy. Sports can spark political and cultural interchange, as seen in the famous "ping-pong diplomacy" between the United States and China in the 1970s.

Sports can also spark debate on topics like gender and sexuality, the rights of people with disabilities, and the influence of technology on the competition. For instance, the line between human and technical augmentation is questioned by Paralympic athletes' usage of prosthetic equipment.

 

02.  

American sporting culture today is unique to the experiences of this nation and built on the many cultures, ethnicities, and historical events undergone throughout the past. Firstly, when learning about the different eras where sporting activities were documented, I was surprised to learn Native American Tribes are the originators of some sporting traditions practiced today and were the first to introduce European settlers to sports that have continued to grow in popularity. Games such as lacrosse and unique ceremonies that carried out religious rituals before matches started are traditions traced back to Native American tribes that European settlers gained inspiration from when embarking on Northern America. Later in history, the influence of these Native American tribes was blended with European sports culture and set the tone for the game today. As history progressed, The Colonial Era displayed the diversity of European settlers with roots reaching back to Dutch and English descent. Within colonies, attitudes towards sports became issues of class and religion, reflecting some perspectives that fueled historical events. I was highly interested that sports mirrored the values of people in America during the time and connected to events such as The English Civil War, the American Revolution, and other incidents that forever influenced the history of the United States. For example, after thousands of English immigrants settled in colonies, sporting games were outlawed in efforts to erase British culture and instead were replaced by activities like swimming and hunting that supported survival instead of amusement. Today the challenging working spirit of these setters is noted as a part of America's values of independence, work, and achievement. Similarly, historical events like the American Revolution and other acts of rebellion against Britain influenced sporting games as social classes played different activities, creating further class separations. For instance, higher classes participated in horse riding, cards, hunting, and other sports imported from Britain, while lower classes played more physical activities called "blood sports''. I was surprised to learn how greatly European immigration influenced sporting culture in America by forming new games and activities and the attitudes and mixture of cultures played into sports in the United States now. Secondly, I found it interesting that the reform during the Antebellum Era pushed a want for women's sports that had not been documented since The Native American Tribes. The differences in lifestyles between each era show the uprising of sports in American history and the more significant opportunities sport held for all.  

After reading, I would like to learn more about the Antebellum Era (1820-1860) and how attitudes during that time influenced sports today. Significant reforms took place during this era, guiding how our society views social class, race, gender roles, and the importance of sports. Additionally, I think medical discoveries during that time are more relevant to modern history than other eras and can be found in the rules of sporting games. 

 

03. 

In reading/watching material about different areas of American sports history, I learned about how sports in America originated and who had the idea to bring sports to ofInitiallyulture. Initially, when the Europeans and the British came to this country back, it was the Native Americans who got their concept of sports, and they, with the Europeans and Britain'scollaboratedBritain Some of the sports they worked together were to bring games like cricket, and soccer, etc. Sports culture took a big spring when the Native American Sports Council was formed in 1994. Its increasing popularity helped create structure and organization around these games and sports. Another thing that surprised me was having a background of prominent athletes such as Jim Thorpe, Billy Mills, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Rickie Fowler. Jim Thorpe was a college and professional football star. Billy Mills was a Native American who won an Olympic Gold medal for Running. Jacoby Ellsbury is a famous baseball player. Rickie Fowler is currently one of the top five golf players in the world. The areas I might be intrigued to learn about are how sports could have been violent in the American culture and what sports meant to people in American culture.