Every four years the world-wide interest and energy for soccer culminates in the month long World Cup tournament.  One of my favorite films, "The Cup," demonstartes how World Cup fever finds its way even into a Buddhist monastery in Nepal.  In my household, my partner Hollis has always focused on the World Cup, occasionally transporting us to US qualifying matches, and making sure that we were near a home TV at World Cup time. 

This year Hollis's 9-5 work schedule kept him from following the matches closely -- the games from South Africa came in at 7:30 am, 10 am, and 2:30.  But I had enough flexibility in my June schedule that I could stay home and think about "the goal of world community" (6th principle) fairly often as the tournament began.  And I became something of an addict.  Yes, GA pulled me away for a week in the middle of it, but even then I caught portions of the games in the hotel.  And my flight connections miraculously allowed me to see one whole game and two halves in various airports.  In league with my cousin in South America, I was rooting for all the South American teams, and I was disappointed when Uruguay lost its last two games.  I will watch the final between Netherlands and Spain without a strong inclination for one team or the other, just looking for a good game.

What have a learned?

Life isn't always fair.  A thrilling drive down the field or a beautiful pass doesn't always (in fact, rarely) lead to a goal.  This World Cup has been very low scoring, so the rewards for beautiful play are slow in coming.  And  quite a number of early games were marked by bad refereeing which brought really unfair calls and scoring.  Which leads to my second insight.  .  .

You can't always complain when things are unfair.  Complaining to a referee about the unfairness of a foul will promptly bring you another foul, or more accurately, the dreaded "card," which can lead to expulsion from the game.  Self-control and professionalism are qualities that the players need to display.  You often need to pass over the unfairness and go forward.  From this, there arises at least a veneer of mutual acceptance among teams -- more than I see in other sports competitions.  Which allows us to appreciate.  .  .

The diversity among the nations and within the teams.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the parade of the nations, their differing flags, national anthems, personalities.  It is good to know that there are national anthems less singable than ours.  It is interesting that Japan's national anthem is in Eastern tonality, while North Korea's is a thoroughly Western sounding march.  Where did all those South American countries get the "operetta overtures" they use for anthems?  But more fascinating were the faces and personalities and temperaments, all different and also the same.  Four years ago, the final game was marred by a French head-butt which was said to be a response to a racial slur.  At one phase this year, the teams were asked to make statements which promised racial respect and harmony.  Mere window-dressing?  Probably.  We can't really know what is muttered on the field.  But, naively, prehaps, I believe that progress can be made.

Having visited South Africa eleven years ago, I am delighted to see that that country has carried off the games with a high degree of grace and style.  It was good to see some attention given to the history of the place, most notably a feature about the Soweto Children's Massacre on the anniversary of that tragedy in June.  If the Netherlands win the title today, there will be some irony because Dutch descendents in South Africa were the architects of Apartheid.  But the New York Times carried an article today, saying that many black South Africans are cheering for the Dutch, recognizing the cultural connections more than the history of oppression.  This is "a confirmation of Nelson Mandela's belief in the healing power of sports."  All in all, perhaps that's what I have been sensing as I watched the World Cup.