Today’s Guest Column
For the next three weeks, productivity at the workplace will be far from maximal. The number of iPhones and tablets out and about will be undeniably high. Debates will ensue and hearts will be crushed. Work will pile up, but at the end of the day, we’re willing to make that sacrifice. After all, the opportunity to do so only comes around once every four years.
From the avid soccer lover to the average fan, the World Cup captures everyone’s attention across the globe. Just take a look around; you can practically feel the excitement of the World Cup in the air. With such an atmosphere, it is hard to dipute the World Cup has a unique way of bringing people together.
Just look at the U.S. national team. We have players from an extraordinary array of native countries and backgrounds playing for one nation, united by a mutual identification as Americans. John Brooks, who scored the winning goal against Ghana, was actually raised in Germany but decided to play for the U.S. Same goes for German Fabian Johnson, Norwegian Mix Diskerud and many other players on the roster.
As we watch such an eclectic group of players come together and represent our country, we are reminded of the diversity of our nation. Regardless of one’s individual race or place of birth, we are all united to support our nation in its quest for glory.
This does not just pertain to the U.S. The World Cup uniquely unites a nation by pushing boundaries and creating opportunities for progress despite pushback and discrimination. For instance, superstar Mario Balotelli became the first black player to appear for Italy’s national team in a major tournament. Despite initial racist remarks by Italian fans, Balotelli is now considered a role model in Italian soccer.
If we broaden the scope and examine the issue in the context of international relationships, does this concept still apply? Can countries forget about their prejudices against another country during the World Cup?
Theoretically, that would be great, but realistically it is not possible. How can a nation simply forget about its differences when it is facing a rival nation on the world’s biggest and most competitive stage? Unfortunately, hatred and discrimination will always be a part of the equation — no less so when the players carry the weight of representing their countries’ prevailing ideologies on an international stage.
Despite this grim remark, we need to understand the World Cup is not about forgetting one country’s prejudices against another. There is not a switch that can simply be turned off. The beauty of the World Cup is it creates a de facto presentation of these differences and allows each country to boldly share its culture, struggles and aspirations with the world.
So while some may look at the World Cup as just a particularly elaborate soccer tournament, it is much more. The World Cup is a tool for social unity to bring differences together and open our myopic views to what’s really happening in our countries and in the world.
As college students, it is especially important for us to take note of this point. We no longer live in an isolated world. We are a part of a global community in which college is just the gateway to the world and our futures.
We must realize what we do can impact the world, and therefore, we must consider ourselves global citizens. So as we enjoy the World Cup for the next few weeks, keep in mind that this is more than a soccer tournament — it’s a chance for people to come together with their differences in a mutual respect for Pelé’s “beautiful game.”
Sauradeep Sinha is a sophomore chemical engineering major. He can be reached at deepsinha2@gmail.com.
