tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15348405.post115034318455668724..comments2023-10-16T08:45:28.443-04:00Comments on Complex Universe: The Red Devilsshellzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08885116052234986638noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15348405.post-1150388355049036942006-06-15T12:19:00.000-04:002006-06-15T12:19:00.000-04:00Coming from a non-sports fanatic, it seems that wh...Coming from a non-sports fanatic, it seems that when the World Cup hype grabs a hold of you, you're brought back to simpler times. You become a part of "something". You feel at one with strangers, and for once it doesn't matter that you don't know these people in the bar with you or on the street with you...if you're wearing the same colors, you have a common bond and you can immediately identify with each other - an instant brotherhood. Politics, environmental issues, gas prices, job woes and money problems all fall away for that period of time, and all you need to focus on is a simple "win or lose". And the emotions are also pure - Joy or Disappointment. And even in disappointment, the sheer elation of the winning team still touches you.<BR/><BR/>Sally's statement really makes you wonder...if the world were to place the same amount of focus and energy behind a worthwhile cause, one could only begin to imagine the results...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15348405.post-1150384674170710492006-06-15T11:17:00.000-04:002006-06-15T11:17:00.000-04:00I am not sure; I've wondered about this, too. One...I am not sure; I've wondered about this, too. One of my friends flew to Europe for the World Cup, and his description of his experiences hanging out with the other U.S. fans sounded positively like religious fervor. Is that good? Does it make us too nationalistic? Does it divert our attention from other stuff that we should focus on, instead?<BR/><BR/>Sometimes I feel like if everyone in my state, Georgia, who's a rabid University of Georgia fan, put their heads together to focus that energy on something like hunger or homelessness ... well, that would be powerful, indeed.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, it's nice to have diversions from the daily grind. And certainly, sports can be a transcendent experience for some people. So ... yeah. I don't know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15348405.post-1150364301595276792006-06-15T05:38:00.000-04:002006-06-15T05:38:00.000-04:00Like you say Shellz it has some effect to break th...Like you say Shellz it has some effect to break through barriers and unite people. England is awash with St. George's flags at the moment. At 5 o'clock tonight I guarantee the streets will be quiet - my wife plans to go shopping (not a footy fan).<BR/><BR/>Also a friend was talking to me yesterday saying about going to the pub to watch the game surrounded by loads of people they don't know etc. "...because the atmosphere is just so great at times like this...." <BR/><BR/>Shame that once we are knocked out - sorry must remain optimistic - once we win all that "we are one" spirit will disappear in a few weeks. I remember the same when we won the Rugby world cup in 2003 and the cricket Ashes last year. United for a time.<BR/><BR/>Maybe that is part of it - people can't sustain the energy to be united like that continuously so it can only be sporadic when events like this come along?<BR/><BR/>Only TV I watched in treatment in 2004 was the England games in Euro 2004.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com