As I sit glued to the TV, watching the players from these 32 countries compete against each other, I realize that they are all motivated by a common goal (no pun intended). Several months ago, I wrote a blog about judging people and the idea that members of countries with few financial resources choose to spend their money on soccer jerseys and not something more conducive to helping their communities to prosper (that being according to the American perspective on what it means to "prosper," of course). Well, in seeing the hope and the group unity that is awakened by the World Cup makes me wonder whether the World Cup could achieve more than simply determining the winner of a soccer tournament.
Current events have us shaking our heads at the BP oil spill or at natural disasters (floods, earthquakes, etc.) or wars, but we as a community -- a global community of more than 6 and a half billion people -- have the power to overhaul the greater school of thought among us. In other words, look how soccer brings together many of those people. Everyone is excited and hopeful at what the competition brings and wants their country's team to advance to the finals. Could it be that the World Cup is a microcosm of the world at large?
You have your die-hard fans (patriots), your fans who don't control their rage when the final whistle is blown (extremists), your team captains and coaches (leaders), your followers (law-abiding members of society), your referees (law enforcement), your yellow cards and red cards (citations/jail), and your uniforms (passports) as a means of identification. (Naturally, there are also those who couldn't care less (the innocent bystanders/civilians).) Even though 31 teams ultimately end up feeling the pangs of defeat, everyone comes together to celebrate the sport and the fact that everyone exists on a level playing field (again, no pun intended -- well, maybe only a little bit intended), despite the fact that every country's background is vastly different from one another, with some that boast more opportunities, privileges, and resources, financial or otherwise.
Many people have established non-profit organizations centered around soccer as a peacemaking activity (like Grassroot Soccer), but I think perhaps these noble entrepreneurs haven't taken it globally enough. They might set up shop in a small African village or in an off-the-beaten-path Latin American community, but we need something more far-reaching...Then again, you can't create change without a starting point, something small-scale to expand into something more widespread.
I guess my point is this: soccer has the power to bring the world together. Why not take advantage of that so that everyone can wear their respective jerseys but play for the same team? Is that too much to ask? Coaches, fans, and players all working together? It all starts with the kickoff...
