Nationalism and the World Cup

We find ourselves in the midst of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  “The eyes of the world are on Brazil,” as the nations  come together to compete in the beautiful game of football. It is difficult to argue that another sport combines  finesse, talent, speed, and precision that this sport employs. Despite the pleasure found in watching a quality game or admiring the talent of a particular team or player, I am troubled by the overwhelming sense of nationalism connected to our national team competing in the World Cup.

Walker Percy, in his classic work, Lost in the Cosmos, prompts a thought experiment on the issue of transcendence and return to the deranged world in which we live. Percy makes the case that the self is like a movable piece in Monopoly that is orbiting the earth attempting to figure out the best way to gain reentry into this world.

Reentry can be achieved through such methods as: disguise, travel, or return (a favorite of the Porchers).  After sitting in a few bars during the World Cup, I can now add to Percy’s list: Reentry by sports.  What does this mean?  It means that people are attempting in some way to link their national identity and pride with the identification with a particular sports team.  In other words, we attempt to gain an understanding of our self through connection to our national identity.  This is a clear case of totemism in which the individual becomes their nation as they watch the World Cup.

I want to be very clear that I enjoy watching the United States compete on the global stage. (Especially re-watching the 1980 Miracle on Ice game) It’s difficult to match the intensity and pride that surround these events and it accomplishes unity where politics often divides our nation. But I have noticed problems with defining our national pride solely by these games.  It begins with the amount of emotion and passion that we pour into these sporting events, which results in misguided nationalism. This is troubling because it requires nothing more than watching a game on the screen, thus placing us, as citizens, on the sidelines.

If we truly seek to be patriotic members of our society we should begin by getting involved in our local school boards, participating in our religious community, or by staying active in local and national politics.  If nothing else, these are the main provisions of being a patriotic American.  Let’s harness the intensity and national pride that’s found surrounding these sporting events and apply that  to getting involved with our local communities.

“Don’t be a spectator … take a hand in the game.” -William R. Webb