Having the children mimic the war

One average sized gym, a bench placed in the centre towards the back of each side, two teams, a desire to eliminate the opposition. When the whistle is blown all hell breaks loose. Balls like cannons wreak havoc. And it's all taken so seriously. Every close call disputed. On the benches stand the wounded prisoners of war displayed with pride. A trophy rack. Their arms upstretched, the voices aharmonically crying the names of their teammates, would-be-saviours, it's a nearly eccliestical affair. Much sound and fury but really their on that bench reaching for the heavens and the flying balls they are impotent. Images of WW2 are brought to mind, how many hospitals fell behind enemy lines, how many POWs were forced to march or...whatever to earn their keep.Even more recently, more distressingly silhouettes of abu ghraib are recalled. Now this may seem like overwrought verbal imagery but do you remember dodge-ball? Shouldn't we wonder why we have the children mimic the war?