The World Cup: It's Giving... Unity

It has been 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Since that time, we have lived through slavery, countless wars, catastrophes, and total injustice from a government that would rather see us starve than give us the basic necessities and human rights we so rightly deserve.

The negativity we see so often on social media looks like the future is doomed and we have no way of getting out unscathed. We’re often faced with racism, classism, homophobia, ableism, and simple hatred for people who are only living life the best way they can.

But social media only shows a fraction of the whole picture.

Technology has become so advanced; we have constant access to information and the rest of the world. However, we still feel disconnected from everything and everyone. Life feels dull and glum. Day-to-day life is becoming more and more difficult. The cost-of-living is always increasing. The simple joy of living is literally being sucked out of us, along with the last shred of hope. For far too long, our government leaders have been lying to us about what the rest of the world is like. Feeding us propaganda in order to incite fear and divide us. It still feels too far away, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

We can have the world we always imagined because there is still good left. The United States isn’t always a terrible place to live. There is kindness, generosity, humanity and a strong desire to have something more then what we are currently being offered. We long for community and true connection. Both have become a survival tool and the reason many of us are still here.

The greatest example of community I have seen recently has come out of something no one expected. We all had our doubts and resistances, but have since come to learn we had no reason to be scared. And we have the world’s football fans to thank.

The FIFA World Cup has come to the Americas. And it’s been a non-stop party since the opening ceremony. This is more than football; it’s a global celebration. When I come across videos I can’t help but get a bit emotional at the pure joy I am seeing. It reminds me how much fun we can have together without all the political noise.

(Even the Olympics don’t get this kind of attention.)

From the Japanese in Mexico, the Scots in Boston, Algerians in the Midwest to the Norwegians in Texas. Host cities are showing us that world peace is no longer impossible. We are healing one goal at a time. Celebration after celebration, we are setting aside our differences and coming together as a human race.

We have proven that when the rest of us come together, we win. Different nations, one passion, one game that unites us all. This is what the beautiful game is all about.

Until the next Spark,

Kat