It’s Just a Game

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — November 21st, 2003

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It’s Just a Game

I am about to reminisce for nostalgia's sake, so take a minute to go back with me. Before the invasion of the videogame, remember going to the closet and pulling out your favorite board game. 

Man, board games seem so ancient. Do people still play board games? Better yet, do they still make them? 

What ever happened to Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Pick-Up-Sticks, Don't Break The Ice, Topple, Jenga or Trouble? But, my game was Hungry Hungry Hippos. When you got finished playing, your hands and fingers were red and throbbing, but it was worth it. 

What about card games? Go Fish, Ol' Maid, I Declare War and the best card game of all time Uno. It had nothing to do Spanish, but I guess Uno sounded better than shouting One. What about Connect 4, Pictionary and everyone's favorite Scrabble? 

Those were the days -- mindless entertainment and nonsense. The age of quality board games is dead. 

Risk. If you ever played it you knew it was a tactical and mental strategy game where the goal was to conquer the world. You build your mercenaries and eliminate your enemies. 

The world is your battlefield. Each of the seven continents is divided into different territories and only certain territories allow you to gain access to other continents. For example, from Brazil you could travel to West Africa and Japan gave you a path to Australia. Fortify your territories to go on the offensive and attack or sit back and let the enemy come to you. Harmless fun, right?That's until I began to put the game into perspective. 

Follow me: If you look at this country and view it in terms of the wars fought, we'll see a common tread. Don't look at each individual war as an attempt at world domination; instead, track their continuous progression because in the scheme of things, it's a culmination. 

This isn't Pinky and the Brain, it's much deeper than that. But now that I mention it, doesn't Bush remind you of Brain (narf). His speeches are repetitive tef tef (Egyptian for saying much of nothing), though he tries hard to sound educated.

But I digress. If my theory is correct, then the best place to establish a recognizable, but discreet presence is on easily accessible coasts. As we speak, the U.S. has military bases on Ecuador, Portugal, Italy, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Okinawa, Japan, all of which are coastal countries.

And get this: in June of this year, Curious George wondered over to Africa with hopes of expanding the military presence on the Motherland. With the large majority of countries based in the Muslim tradition, their goal is to counter terrorism. The countries that will act as military training are Morocco, Senegal, Mali, Algeria and Tunisia. Of all the countries in Africa, I wonder why these countries were chosen? 

If this ain't Risk, I don't know what is. This time it's real, it's no longer a game. Abre los ojos and watch for the BS or you'll be a part of it.