[color=skyblue][b][u]Letters to Leocadio the Gaucho Lion: #3[/u][/b][/color] ------- Translations provided by the Avenger. --------- [i]Dear Leocadio, As you know, Emi Martinez performed an extremely inappropriate gesture with his Golden Glove trophy at the World Cup by thrusting his hip to it with such emphasis. When questioned about it, he explained that the French booed him and that he doesn't tolerate arrogance. But his list of eccentricities doesn't end there. It was said that in his home, he invested in a bunker with military-grade security systems to protect his trophy. And to top it off, he invested in a very expensive guard dog to protect his trophy and be his pet. But, hey; he's Argentine, so when we won the World Cup, our players and us just party stupid. I know you were concerned about potential rioting if we won, but where I live, we don't riot if we win. We party if we win because that's what normal people do. But like many Argentines, I do envy the Americans. But I wished we have America's social and political stability here where football (soccer to Americans) is celebrated in a civilized manner. As for Emi Martinez, I personally don't blame him for dancing on the pitch and doing stupid things as long he's not hurting others. So what do you think about Emi Martinez, who is now known for posing with his trophy inappropriately in response to the French booing him? Me, I just think he's a passionate guy who just happens to be quirky and funny. Jose Garcia, age 25, cheetah Pozo del Mistol, Catamarca, Argentina[/i] ---------- Leocadio's response: [color=white][i]Dear Jose: Such behavior bothers me, yes, but I found that worrying and being angry about other people's behaviors was taking a toll on my health, and so it was best to just let things go. What Emi did was wrong. But the French were also wrong to boo him; Leonce had some stern words for his people about that. Both failed because one side's actions tempted the other one due to it bothering him, and he did something in response to it. Maybe they thought he was the arrogant one, and so that's why they were booing him. I don't know. I'd have to ask Leonce. (When our side scored that last penalty kick to win the World Cup, the French players later came up to me and said, "We did congratulate them, but at the same time, we found ourselves asking ourselves, 'Where did it all go wrong?'") Cripto tells me there were low points in his life that helped show he was autistic; he used to hate loud noises, and he'd scream at the kids to shut up at times, especially if they were being rude to a substitute teacher. His explanation was, "I hate being guilty by association, and I knew I was going to be punished anyways because of what they were doing, so I chose to be punished for an entirely different reason." Obviously his life as an adult is going way smoother now, but it hasn't been all smooth sailing. The point is that because he let the behavior of the other kids bother him, he snapped. Both sides failed. Likewise, because the French booed Emi Martinez, he acted the way he acted. Both sides failed. I also wish we acted the way the Americans did. If there is one single nation that gets it right, it is the United States of America. I promise you I am not abandoning Argentina, but somebody asked where I'd flee to if I did, and the answer is the United States of America. Why? A typical day for their police officers is a day ours would kill for because of all the soccer rioting. Yes. They do still have their problems, such as school shootings and bad weather, but compared to the troubles we are suffering, it's nothing. So what do I think of that man? I think I'll just let him make an idiot of himself if that's what he wants to do, because I don't control him. Only he controls him. I don't see what he did as comedy, but then again, I don't see anything as funny. I'm humor impaired; do you know what I mean? I am, however, visiting with a therapist to help solve these problems (as is Diamond Knight, one of the G-52s who represents Argentina), and it might be worth knowing this: it's the same therapist Cripto talks to, and that man is a Christian. He made the comment about how if somebody tries everything in their life to solve something, but does not have Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, then everything they do in the end is worthless and meaningless, and it always leaves them feeling empty inside. When he said that, I felt that this was the case with me, because everything I did to get my fellow Argentines to behave failed (although there may actually be a variety of reasons for that). I therefore converted to Christianity because I needed the spiritual boost and forgiveness from God (and from my people for all the times I bellowed at them). My American counterpart is also a believer in this faith (and as it turns out, so is Cripto), so I'll be talking to them as well as Levon the Christian Lion of Armenia if I have further questions. I hope that answers your question, though; if I missed anything, feel free to write back. Could you also tell Emi if you run into him that I forgive him? Yours truly, Leocadio Villanueva, a.k.a. Leocadio the Gaucho Lion[/i][/color]