LETTER: All extremism is detrimental to society

While I'm in agreement with the spirit of your letter, I must say that I disagree with your argument that rivalry is one of the main causes of extremism today.
Continuing with the sports analogy, I think where we're messing up is symbolized in what takes place at the beginning and the end of almost all of these events. We all stand and remove our hats and place our hands over our hearts and sing the National Anthem. The participants come together and slap hands afterwards in a show of sportsmanship. It's these reminders that we're still all "on the same team" or being thankful to have the opportunity to participate in sporting events freely and demonstrate that by being proud, classy athletes that we've lost sight of.
Being reminded of the "bigger picture" before and after these events is what's missing today. Do we, as Americans, even realize how lucky we are that we have the freedom to participate in sports regardless of race, sex, age, religious beliefs, and sometimes even talent? I doubt it. It's just one more freedom we take for granted.
I agree that most people couldn't care less about the other team, but I don't blame the rivalry of the sport for this mind set, I blame the lack of unity on a higher level. Rivalry breeds new ideas, creativity, hard work, and pride. It should also breed mutual respect. In the business world, I'd even argue that it brings lower prices. It's forgetting the common goal, forgetting that we're all part of something more important than just winning and losing or being right versus wrong that's lost in sports today.
Getting off the sports topic, I think one of the reasons we're all so frustrated with our country's leaders is that they're too busy doing what's seen as best for their party instead of what's really best for the United States of America. On one hand it's our fault as voters for electing them. But until people can see past party lines and take time to even listen to what other candidates are saying, we'll just have to accept it. On the other hand, it's really frustrating to feel as if all the choices are bad because no candidate is representing what you think is right.
I don't know about you, but I'm really tired of "settling for the lesser of two evils."

Sorry for the soap box speech.