Ready the Foam Fingers for War

Chicago Blackhawks fans getting rowdy at a game.

     In The Kentucky Cycle the character Patrick Rowen is complaining about being poor and says, "when we was fightin' I was doin' fine --- it's peace that's killin' me!"(100). You'd think that Patrick has his words mixed up because usually all the killing is during war. However, he is speaking to what America really values most. Money. War is great for the economy with all the jobs and weapons sales. Other than that, going to war with another country brings people together.  America loves war.
     To be clear, I am not saying that Americans go around shouting "I love war". We find more modern and socially acceptable ways of supporting it. For example, supporting professional sports teams like the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks are currently in the NHL playoffs and their fans have been going crazy. Supporting professional sports teams is like supporting war. Just think about it: the violence, the economy boosting from apparel, and the sense of community from rallying for a common cause. Also, when a team's season comes to and end whether successful or not fans are depressed just as Patrick Rowen is in the quote above. What makes the violence in sports more socially acceptable? Could America survive without the competition of sports?