Counter attack: World shut for a month
Other news takes a backseat while guys in shorts kicking around a ball takes centrestage
Has it been four years already? Kill me. Every four years I have no choice but to be saturated by the World Cup craze, which excuse me, I never asked to be a part of. What happened to free will? I want to turn on a news bulletin and actually watch the news not the sports channel.
At least, when I read a newspaper I can sift through the stories that interest me, but with television I have no choice to see half of the news bulletin dedicated to the World Cup. I mean, does the world shut down for an entire month? Are there no more erupting volcanoes, devastating earthquakes or violent coups taking place? Has science and technology just stopped innovation completely? No breakthroughs on the fight against cancer or Aids?
People, who seemed to be perfectly normal functioning members of society, suddenly turn into mindless drones, waving flags of countries they are not citizens of. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for patriotism and good sport, but I just think it's completely ridiculous to be so passionate about guys in shorts kicking around a ball. I'm sure some of you reading this are thinking, why did they give this woman an entire column to talk about something she is clearly not an expert on?
Very true.
I do not claim to be an expert on football. It's a miracle in itself that I know what a penalty shot is and why someone is allowed to kick a penalty shot. But I do believe I am representing a fairly large audience of girls, and possibly guys, who are just sick and tired of all the shenanigans.
Political turmoil
What do I mean by shenanigans? Let me paint you a picture. I am Lebanese and anyone who has a general knowledge of the Middle East should know, Lebanon has no shortage of political turmoil, sectarianism and strife. To top it all off, every four years, Lebanese manage to stop hating each other because of political affiliation and hate each other over which South American or European team they are supporting for the World Cup.
The Hezbollah flags are taken down and replaced by Brazilian flags. Am I completely nuts to think that this is so childish and stupid? Don't even get me started on the insanity between the Algeria and Egypt games, in which ambassadors were pulled, embassies were ransacked and political mudslinging reached its lowest levels.
Also wasn't there a Colombian player who was killed by a crazed fan after he scored an own goal? Insane! We are not solving the Arab/Israeli conflict here, it's just a ball, a couple dozen guys who desperately need showers and Nancy Ajram singing in the distance holding a Coca-Cola in one hand. If people could only channel their passion for football into good use, such as institution building, education, and the countless other productive causes out there, imagine how much positive change we could affect!
