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Wrestling monarchy

When you think of society controlling people, I would think of World War II with Hitler and how he controlled all of Germany with power and an Iron hand. He controlled them enough to kill 11 million people. You could also think of monarchies as being controlling societies they would control every movement of what you did. Anywhere from where you went to where you worked or even where you lived. They are made up of a ruling class that controls people completely. In today’s society, I don’t think people are as controlled today as they were in the past. However, I feel there are some individuals and groups that still try to control society for their own gains.

I think that society controls people in many different ways. Laws are one way.  Laws keep you from doing things that society finds unfit or as a danger. The government is controlling the U.S. borders more and allowing fewer people into our country.  Television is also a way our population is being controlled. You always see thin people on television and you wish you were like them. This makes you think that you should look like that.  Weight gain can be controlling too because if you are on the heavy side people look at you in a negative way. There is so much stuff out there to help you lose weight and look the way that society thinks you should look like. This is another way society controls you. The way you act is another way. You have to be yourself but still be within the norms of society.  People with tattoos all over their bodies and body piercings are looked down upon and are also considered outside the norms of society.

I would say that my high school wrestling team was controlling. I mean the seniors ran the team which is how it is in most schools but the seniors really ran the team. Our coach was extremely busy so any decision that had to be made went to the seniors for a vote. I would say seniors controlled the freshman by making them do everything. We would make them get the water and mop the mats every day and get us our duffle bags and carry them around. We would also make them re rack the weights after we finished lifting. The weight area would always be a big mess with weights all over the room. If you’re a senior, you also picked where on the wrestling mats you wanted to wrestle. The freshman would end up getting stuck in the corners of the mats. Sometimes, there would just not be enough room for them. They would have to wait until the varsity team finished practicing before  they had an opportunity to get on the mats.

I would say wrestling is controlling in itself.  You have to make sure you make weight. This means you have to watch what you eat and make sure you lose enough weight every week. This can be extremely difficult. I had to cut 20 pounds within one week before a match. This was not an isolated incident.  This situation could go on for several months in a row. I was not the only wrestler that had to endure this, many members of the team could tell similar stories.  I did it to myself I would go home after matches on Saturday nights and just eat like there was no tomorrow. I would get a pizza, ice cream, chicken and rice and just pig out until Monday.  Then I had to lose the weight all over again.   That is very difficult. I would put my food on a scale and made sure I would weigh under 103 every time I ate. My meals through the week would be no breakfast and maybe no lunch if I was close to weight.  If I could have lunch, it would be a small bagel. An example dinner meal would be eggs and the next night I would have chicken with an 8 ounce glass of water.   After a while it’s hard but you feel like you have to keep going because that is your job on the team. The wrestling team controls people by picking your weight class and staying there. So they control what weight class you’re in. I think what most teams do with the freshman getting hazed is ok. I would say it’s kind of like a frat pledge get hazed then they are your brothers for life. So I’m ok with getting hazed on the team because I know some day I would be doing the hazing. I think it makes you better for the experience and it definitely brings you closer with your team mates or brothers.

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