Fight for Love

I’ve read in books that during the olden times (not in my country, in Europe perhaps) that there are times wherein two men will fight a duel because of their *love* for the same lady. It’s not legal but twas somehow understood why such a thing occurs. Thinking back to this sort of practice, I find it somehow romantic. Can you imagine two men dueling to win my hand? Omigod.

The reason why I write this post is because earlier I witnessed an all-out brawl — fist fight and all — between two guys, er, two against one, if I’m not mistaken. No kidding. I just stepped off the tricycle (a local mode of transportation within villages or barangays) and was in the middle of crossing the street when I heard a woman’s voice screaming and crying, which caught my attention. I saw a group of brawling guys to the point that I actually saw a few punches thrown. I immediately decided to go back to where I came from and hid behind a couple of clustered concrete lamp posts to put distance between the fight scene and I and to protect myself from possible objects thrown my way or, worse, bullets. Egad.

Two men got off a car parked near the scene to break off the fight and that’s the only time I thought it safe to cross the street and go to the bar I was meeting friends at. Twas a crazy and scary experience, I tell ‘ya.

After having seated myself and sipping a cold bottle of beer did I begin to analyse the situation and came to speculate that it may have been cause by a love triangle problem. The two men chose to settle scores using brawns instead of brains. (Sorry if I sound so judgmental. Hehe) But, yea, it was a look at your modern day duel. A lot less romantic, believe me.

Duels have now evolved to street fights that happen in full view of the public AND the person you’re fighting over. How sad. How pathetic. And how scary.

It caused me to further think that this sort of thing is actually pretty foolish. I understand that perhaps you’re merely reacting to your partner cheating on you or retaliating on the other that he or she left you for but neither excuses the Neanderthal-ish act. It’s nothing but bruised ego me thinks. Had it been true love you would have reacted in a more dignified manner. Well, at least, that’s what I’d like to believe.

This then makes me wonder if the “love” you thought you had with that person is real love in the first place. Or was it infatuation?

It’s quite funny how dating in this modern age has become. Some tread it carefully and prudently while some carry on with their dating behaviours so loosely that things with serious repercussions, such as the brawl I’ve witnessed earlier, are taken ever so lightly.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Is it something you approve of? Have you witness a similar thing happen? Have you ever found yourself caught in a similar situation? I’m so curious as to how people react to this sort of thing. It’s quite a novelty on my part, actually. That’s why I’m curious about what people have got to say about the matter.