Re: Comparing sumo with other sports

["Aaron Willis" <awillis@spys.org>]

I
> learned about the function of heya by reading newspaper articles and
> books,
> visiting the stables, and reading posts on this list.

My first encounter with sumo were through articles, books, television and
the such like that while I was in Japan.  I learned a lot and it is what
spiked my interest in the sport.

It never occurred
> to
> me to try to draw parallels between unrelated American institutions.

At first, me too.  However, after joining the list and learning a lot more
of the "hidden" and administrative aspects of sumo I automatically went into
the mode of comparing and contrasting.  Sure, some of the things I ask can
be unrelated but how else will one learn more?  This is where we will
probably disagree but I cannot see how any sports can be unrelated.

>
> It's better to take something for what it is, instead of making it into
> something
> it's not through the use of false comparisons.

What has been a false comparisson?  I have not said anything that I claim to
be the truth or have tried to manipulate a statement to make it fit what it
is not.  I refuse to take anything "for what it is" because there is so much
that has not been seen.

Aaron Willis