Gimme Some Goals BABY!!!! Part 2.....

Human Beings are very funny creatures. They place their lives on trivial things, and are indifferent to things that may affect them. Emotions are wasted on stuff that does not matter, and sympathy is denied when required. Material satisfaction transcends all, and the cheaper it is to attain it, the better. Ok…Before I confuse you any further, let me bring you to my line of thought.
As discussed in Part 1, we can see how football unites mankind. How people are passion about all that goes on the field. There are 11 players on the field, whom you support, whom you would want them to win, at any cost. And each time they score, you let out a ferocious roar of joy, and each time they fail, you curse them to high heavens. Yet they keep on playing, playing proudly for their country. The referee is there in the field, ensuring fair play, and he tries his very best to succeed, as he knows that any mistakes he may make in judgment may have serious implications. On the sidelines, we have the coaches of respective teams, trying desperately to figure out a way to lead their team, their sishyas, to victory. The coaches know that it’s a do-or-die tournament, and that their reputation is on the line. Millions, oops sorry, billions of viewers all around the world, watch on intently, holding each and every team under scrutiny. At any time, ask a fan about the biodata of his team, and numbers will spill out from the back of his head. And no doubt, he’d only be proud to tell you whatever he knows about it.
Now, take a moment to reflect on the paragraph above, and you would realize that everybody is involved in the process, and that there is no room for error by anyone. Players have no room to err, as they would face retribution back home. Imagine the wrath of a nation if one player fails to perform. It is a period of tension of great expectations, and everybody would do whatever it takes. However, what I would like to highlight is not the players, but we, the spectators, who are so passionate about the game.
Look at the country that we live in today, whichever country you may be in. Who is ruling it? Chances are it would be the democratically elected politicians. Men and women, elected by you, put up in the government, to control each and every part of your life in your country. From the tax you pay, to the buses you ride, to the education that your children receive, everything is controlled and monitored by the government that you have appointed. However, little do people realize that the government is a by-product of themselves, and seldom give true thought of their performance in the government. Some just vote for the fun of it, some just influenced by the number of posters coloring the streets during the campaign. Some may vote after truly understanding the consequences of whom to vote for. Very often, we can see about these ministers and politicians not performing their tasks up to mark, and therefore neglecting their responsibility to the public who put them there. Depending on the country, the reaction of the public may vary. Some wont give a damn, and some would do whatever it takes to address its issues.
Now, lets zoom out for a moment, and look at it on an international level. Lets look at the performance of our country with another. Ok, for example, just an example, lets look at Sri Lanka and America. I do not need to explain the statistics, but we all know that one is a giant, while the other a minnow. Same thing applies to other countries. Some are giants, while some are minnows. Some may be large in size, but technologically incompetent, and some vice versa. In some countries, you get a higher standard of living; while in some people can barely scrape through. Various countries may have various degrees of freedom of speech, though all would be under the same umbrella of democracy.
However, the politicians and government alone do not make the well being of a country. It all comes down to the citizens. Ultimately, it is the citizen’s responsibility for the smooth running of its administration, from the election of politicians, right down to the civic grassroots. A country with first-class infrastructure and technology, but with third-class public mentality can only see doom in self-implosion. However, a country may produce the best brains, but yet remain backward due to improper administration.
Ok, I am sure by now, most of you are wondering about the relation of politics to world cup. I am almost there. Hold on J
Obsession of material wealth and success has become man’s main objective, so much that the sun goes around the earth. Nobody would really care if their neighbor is starving, as long as there is enough to last oneself in the fridge, it’s a sunny day. On a rainy day, one would try make sure it only rains in his compound. Love of society, and country has long ago faded. This is evident everywhere, from the international arena to the common man.
Countries are forever trying to control others, denying their rights and bullying them. We have self-appointed referees and illegal warmongers, who do not care about what the world says. We also have self-proclaimed pacifists, who insist that no one disturb them as long as they don’t disturb anyone. We have countries that are so rich, so rich that they are too rich to help out their poor neighbors. We read these in the news everyday. And we can only be angry about it. That’s the least we do.
Whatever happened to democracy? How I long to see the democracy that was practiced during the Greek civilization, and even during the times of the Prophet. People can be so passionate about a sport, which gives them pleasure, but then be so indifferent over the affairs that occur in their own countries. Nobody really cares what goes on in the government, as long as their lives are ok, they are happy. With this assured complacency, there are many politicians and ministers, who are unfit for the post, bamboozling away with the public funds. Whoever may be in charge of monitoring them, can be easily influenced into joining them. After all, money speaks a thousand words.
Look at India. It is a perfect example of how a potential superpower is bogged down by ruthless politics. Look at Malaysia. A country with everything it needs, yet the people are concerned with making the largest roti jala and longest teh tarik. Look at Saudi Arabia. A nation so rich in resources, it still prefers to cater to the United States rather than their poor Muslim brothers. Look at the United States. They want to be in everyone’s business, and just can’t mind their own. Look at Iran. They are denied nuclear technology for civilian purposes due to unjustified insecurity by certain quarters. It’s a shitty world we live in, but then nobody is willing to stand up and address it directly. Healthy competition is no longer there, where everybody wins out of his or her own hard work. The world just doesn’t seem to become a better place.
Simply put, the mentality that arises when watching your national team play in the world cup should also be aroused when you are watching your government perform its job. After all, the government should be looked at like a football team. We have the kind or president as the coach, the prime minister as the captain, and all other politicians as players. We should select the best politicians for the job, just as how we want the best football players to play. Keep as many qualifying sessions as you want, as long as you get the best people for the job, it will be all for the better. Let loose your government to a friendly match with that of another country’s, and watch both become better and stronger. The public should then stand behind its own government, and support it with everything they have. They should scrutinize each and every issue, and should voice out their concerns. It is the governments that should fear its people, and not the other way round.
Today, we can see many governments going against the public. If you ask me, the public has only themselves to blame for this situation. When we transfer control to politicians, we should monitor them, and MAKE SURE that they be the representation of the public.
We can be so passionate about football. We can see how it breaks barriers, and brings about people from all over the world onto a common platform. Don’t you find it inspiring to see people of all countries, coming together and having a good time? Imagine a world where people come together and better themselves in technology, progress and lifestyle. The rich can help the poor, the strong can help the weak, and nobody would have to worry about any pre-emptive strikes. Imagine healthy competitions between countries, each trying to become better than the other in a healthy way, with improved progress among the citizens too. There wouldn’t be complacent politicians, and also disconcerted public. If the public were to be fully involved in elevating the progress of their country, like how they are involved in a football match, the world would be a much better place and the results will be much more satisfying and tangible. Trust me, when your country (government) scores a goal, with your support, nothing can be better in this world. You can be proud of yourself and take part in the joy.
I know what I am writing here, is way too utopian to be true. Of course, it is much much much easier to sit back and cheer a football team, than to elect and cheer your government, being a responsible citizen at the same time. But hey, this is life we are talking about. And if we don’t do anything about it now, then do not forget that your children would be living in the same, or even worse, society as you are now.
The world doesn’t need superheroes. The world doesn’t need superpowers. The world needs supporters like you. What the world needs, is responsible people, who really care about themselves, their societies and their countries. The world needs a strong sense of nationalism, not ethnocentrism. The world needs a little bit of love, one that you can afford to give. The world is loaned to you by your children, and not bestowed to you by your parents. Maybe I wont live to see it, but one day, the same passion for our football teams, may rub off into our civic lives. The world still needs the World cup, coz, if all else fails; at least, let the world’s most beautiful game unite us all. Praying for goals to be shot!!!