This may not be political, and it may have little to do with liberty. Or does it?
The International Olympics Committee has decided that the 2028 Summer Olympics (to be held in Los Angeles) is to feature a number of new (to the Olympics) sports. Flag football (the child’s version of American football, not the British stuff) will be featured, together with such sports as lacrosse, squash, baseball, softball, and something called T20 cricket. (T20 is a short version of traditional British cricket.)
Flag football has always been considered a “kinder, gentler” form of traditional American “tackle” football. Apparently, unlike traditional collegiate and NFL American football, there are both male and female teams. It is played on a half-size football field – apparently with Imperial rather than metric measurements – and is supposedly known for the speed of the game. Traditionally, it has been considered to be a “wimpy” version: suitable for children under age 12 and normal women.
It is reported to be growing more popular, and the two world “powerhouses” for the activity (sport?) are the States: the United States of America and the United Mexican States. Besides the smaller field and the flags, the uniforms appear to be an abbreviated version of soccor uniforms: not as abbreviated for women as current, skimpy running and jumping outfits, but a lot more skin than American football’s armored uniforms (except for “lingerie football”). (Which, given the current rapid decline of such old, outdated standards of modesty may be a reason for this addition.)
Why do we say it may be political?
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The Price of Liberty 
The China dilemma
A good many observers tell us that the People’s Republic of China is on its last legs. That a combination of demographics and the centralization and massive cult of personality of Xi are leading inevitably to a complete collapse. Some have gone so far as to predict mass starvation and depopulation. Of chaos beyond that of a hundred warlords fighting over the scraps.
China will collapse within years, maybe mere months. China’s demographics, its economy, the arrogance and egotism of its leadership, and world economic conditions all contribute to this. The various advocates of this view may disagree on how quickly and how total the collapse may be, but agree that China is in the toaster, just waiting to pop out.
Others, of course, see China as the current ultimate doomslaying threat to the States and Western Civilization. These include the military-industrial complex, screaming about the boogeyman which will gobble up the Pacific, an ocean covered with the debris and bodies of American and allied navies. Dropping bombs (or just rocks) from orbit. Joining with Russia to revive the worst fears of the half-century of the Cold War.
As recently stated by SecDef Hegseth, China is just months away from exploding. Not into chaos (Vision 1) but across the Western Pacific, gobbling up everything in sight. Starting with the American fleet and bases, then Taiwan, the Philippines, Indochina, and possibly even Korea and Japan. Attempting (and according to them, without trillions in spending by American taxpayers) to make the 21st Century the “Asian Century.” And worst case: hyperspeed and orbital bombardment of North America and at least Britain with nukes.
Still others, though, cite evidence to show that China has already undergone a massive depopulation, and is flat-out lying about having 1.4 billion people. (The claims are as few as 300 to 400 million.) And evidence that China is already breaking up internally.
And finally, there are those who claim that China is an essential part of the world (and American) economic system and we must be sure that they survive (and are placated) to ensure that we here in the States survive.
Whom do we believe?
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