“It is also the umpire to whom accusations of cheating, which, though rare in the extreme, occasionally arise, are referred; and it is he who in the not infrequent cases where the cocks expire virtually together decides (if either, for, though the Balinese do not care for such an outcome, there can be ties) went first. Likened to a judge, a king, a priest, and a policeman, he is all of these, and under his assured direction the animal passion of the fight proceeds within the civic certainty of the law. In the dozens of cockfights I saw in Bali, I never once saw an altercation about rules. Indeed, I never saw an open altercation other than those between cocks, at all.”
This quote is interesting because it reveals some aspects of the organization of the cock fights and the morals of the people. The cockfights are not just a group of people who gather around to just bet on random fights; rather, they set a method where the fights have become organized with the intent in preventing conflict. Preventing cheating, the umpire ensures that everyone fights fair. The quote also shows that most Balinese like to fight honestly; they know the guidelines of the game and stick to them. The quote reveals the importance of the umpire’s role in a fight; he must have the qualities of honesty and trustworthiness.
No comments:
Post a Comment