Keeping Some Perspective

I'm enjoying my quadrennial vacation -- or perhaps I should say homage -- for the World Cup. I've been collecting some random thoughts about things that have happened on the field or within the stands but today it's important to focus on the host nation. South Africa suffered a rather decisive defeat at the feet of Uruguay today. Adding insult to injury was the red card handed out to their starting goalie meaning that he won't be eligible to play in the crucial match against France. Having to defeat France for any chance of moving into the second round is not a good position. South Africa could very easily become the first host nation to bounce out of the World Cup in the first round. Despite serious doubts, the US team managed to make it into the second round in 1994; South Korea and Japan also managed to do so in 2002 (with the South Koreans making it all the way to the semi-finals). Host nations are supposed to rise to new heights. I hope South Africa can somehow pull out a miracle.

But then again, South Africa has already pulled out many miracles. Today is South African Youth Day marking the anniversary of the Soweto riots. Prior to the match, ESPN showed clips of current South African students who thanked the brave souls who protested in 1976. Not only did those earlier students make a stand for education in South Africa, their actions were also powerful expressions against apartheid.

While the World Cup may seem all encompassing at the moment, I hope South Africans reflect on this day against the backdrop of history and not the bleak picture of today's soccer. It was sad to see South Africans leaving the stadium early and to note the sad expressions of those who chose to remain to the bitter end of the soccer match. But no soccer result should diminish South Africa's journey. In the movie "Invictus" there is a scene where Morgan Freeman (playing Nelson Mandela) notes that black South Africans are cheering for England during a rugby match. One of South Africa's defenders, Matthew Booth, is injured for this World Cup. When I first watched him play, I wondered if some fans -- non-white fans -- were actually booing him. Not the case. He has become a fan favorite to the point where fans yell "Boooooooooth" when he touches the ball. During South Africa's matches, the stadiums has been filled with South Africans of all varieties cheering for the team. Those students during the Soweto riots were protesting for fundamental rights but in less direct ways their actions may have also led to the sights we're witnessing during the World Cup.

I'm sure that there remains much to do in South African in terms of racial equality or harmony or economic progress and equity. But then again how many nations can claim that they are done when it comes to such things?