by Guest » July 30th, 2004, 5:31 pm
From a sporting point of view duelling is honorable. In sports two parties match their skills in equal conditions to find out who is better. Of course, in may be one of the parties' intention to cheat or humiliate his opposite, but that would be a deviation from the original fair scheme.
Also, duelling may be a derivation (or rather a parallel development) of those trials of faith made by early medieval prophets to put the divine inspiration of their claims to test by putting themselves through a nearly impossible feat (like crossing a long wooden hall set on fire). If they were indeed the voice of God, then God would ordain them to survive, wouldn't He? Unlike Elijah facing Baal's prophets in 1st Kings 18, such test served more the prophet's arrogance than God's glory; but at least acknowledged obligatory faith in the Providence of God and His justice.
So duelling combines both sportsmanship, faith and justice in a single act, as David and Goliath's duel illustrates. That may make it seen a fair practice, as there are things worth fighting and dying for, and while the use of force may not be ideal, there are people who will just get their way regardless the fair arguments one may have against it. But while the ancient practice seems necessary and fair in their historical terms(particularly in ages when lawlessness forced a person to stand his ground and frequently defend his causes by force), duels have since become devoid of any good traits. There is nothing but murderous rage, pride, arrogance and machism in a duel of cowboys or gauchos. And I find it disquietening that such traits are hailed as part of the cultural heritage of a nation.