Watching the football from all different countries, there is one question I have for at least some of the spectators watching from wherever they happen to be. There are a lot of "nationalists" who love their country and want foreigners out, and anyone that looks or sounds foreign - so what do they think and feel when those who they don't see as "one of their own" are scoring goals for the win?
How does it feel?
It must evoke some kind of conflict within to get the win whilst simultaneously dislike some of those who made it happen, right? Which amuses me. But at the same time, it makes me wonder how many times they butt heads with this personal conflict and how they justify it for themselves, and for those who think similarly to them.
Any ideas?
While I can take guesses, I can't really put myself in the shoes of these people, because it is so far away from how I behave. Or perhaps it is because I am not a nationalist, thinking it is kind of a silly way to believe. I get the sporting rivalry, I get the jokes and the culture, and I get the fun of business competition - I just don't get the other side of it, where it is about self-interest above all else, based on quite meaningless attributes. Where people can strongly hate what they likely don't know much about.
When it comes to sports though, it is pretty interesting because at least for many sports, there are clear over and under representations. For example, about 75% of NBA players identify as African American - but the population of the US is only about 15% black. Whereas only about 4% of NHL players are black, with 93% identifying as white.
Do racists watch sports?
I assume so. Which again makes me curious what they think when the team they want to win, wins - but that team is made up of people they don't want to accept as one of their own.
My daughter is very much naïve to all of this at the moment, with only a few school classes over the years broaching racism. She knows it exists, but she herself doesn't really see it exist in her daily life, as her classes have a bit of a mix and they are pretty accepting, so far at least. But I am pretty sure that at some point she is going to see and hear things that just doesn't gel with her experience or outlook of life and other people. And I think that her looking the way she does, is going to mean that others will make assumptions about her background, and speak less guardedly.
How will she feel about that?
I am pretty sure she is going to have her own personal conflicts around racism also, because she is going to be drawn into conversations that will make her uncomfortable, because they are had with friends. Even for me looking the way I do, have been part of conversations where someone "forgets" (not friends) that I am not white, and then afterwards realises and adds something along the lines of "but I don't mean you..."
The world is definitely more multicultural than it was when I was a kid, but at the same time it is also getting less accepting of people who are different. Not just skin colour, culture, or religion - but across many lines, because people have made themselves individuals of some category, believing that they are special for being in that group.
We are all in a minority of one.
But just because that is true, doesn't mean that it is the only group we are within, because we are all in the "human" classification too - though I think it might be debatable for a few of us. At any one time, we could ascribe to thousands of groups, each as slightly different grade to the one next to it, each with the potential to be a differentiator to serve as a point of contention.
But where does that get us?
Well - it looks like we are going to find out in the coming few years, because rather than reducing the space between each other, we are making the gaps ever-wider, and the gradations ever finer. We are all on the spectrum that is almost infinitely divisible, but none of us are identical down to the cell. Rather than treating ourselves and each other as part of a whole, we look to stand apart as a singular individual, which might make us feel better about ourselves, but far less capable as a part of the human species.
We can pretend we are better.
Doesn't make it true.
Taraz
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I think that my nationalism is not as strong as that of some other people. I would prefer if entire world would speak lithuanian. But I think that this is more about convenience and less about nationalism. I also worry that among normal immigrants can come a lot of religious extremists. I am perfectly happy without others trying to force me to believe what they beliefs, thank you very much. So that kind of people is definitely not welcome here. But I don't have a problem with normal people just struggling with their lives and working towards...their goals.😛 I also don't have a problem with black people or gays/ lesbians. As long as they don't try to make me apologize and repent for being white/straight. Or for something some other white person did long before I was born...I don't understand trans. For me it seems that if you were born a man you are a man. Even if your body gets mutilated by some surgery. I don't understand this ,,I feel that I am a man/ a woman'' thing. You simply are a man or a woman and your feelings doesn't change that fact... But even if I don't understand trans I think that they are also free to what their want(as long as they are old enough and are able to understand what they are doing...).
But I am a bit of a nationalist- I think that it is absurd that some countries are getting foreigners to play for their national teams when those foreigners have nothing to do with said country. No, playing in the same team as Luka doesn't make you slovenian. I would even have to think really hard if I would accept Sylvain Francisco into our national team. And he at least played in Lithuania for 2 seasons. So his case is already stronger than just playing with x player for a while.
Wouldn't it be better if the entire world spoke a beautiful language - maybe Elvish :D
Yep. I get a lot of what you are saying about the various identit things. It has made people crazy. And when it comes to trans, I agree, belief doesn't ,ake truth. People can believe what they want, but don't force it on others who believe differently. If you want to have your beliefs respected, Respect the beliefs of others.
LoL I've had the people "forgetting" I'm not white thing, I think because a lot of people over here seem to associate "Asian" with North Asian and I'm SEA so there will be some "all these Asians" remark and I'll be like BRUH.
I think with some people it's they see a difference in behaviour/methodology that they don't like for whatever reason and they just associate it with superficial idiocy that they can see which is my headcanon for how people can "forget" the skin colour/ethnicity of who they're talking to (presumably similar enough in behaviour/methods if on friendly enough terms) while whining about sterotypes.
And then people feel like saying "I don't mean you" makes it alright.
I can agree with this for sure. I think it is a bit like a superstition, where something happens and then some random environmental factor like a black cat crossing a road (or four) gets attributed to the reason.
Just like having the friends you can point to and claim you're not racist/sexist/homo/transphobic XD
LoL!
I don't think they care about it because they aren't being told to be outraged about it. If they were it would be totally different.
It must evoke some discussions though, right? I know people who would otherwise be racist, but come football time - they are happy for the win regardless.
I guess maybe I don't see it as much because I don't really watch soccer. People here find the dumbest things to be racist about though, so I also don't feel we are a good barometer.
I am 100% Indian, and 100% American; and that's the way it has been for me.
This is football season, and Trevor did a show several years back when France won the world cup, it remains relevant today...
Still relevant today, but do you think it is the case in the US that it is acceptable when a large part of the population are against the "non-American" citizens?
No, not a large part; a vocal minority. Say about 30% or less of voting population. I am not saying that is a small number but saying it is not a “large part” of the population.
Ahh this makes me think hard about how nationalists deal with foreigners scoring goals for their favorite sports teams. It is very strange that some racist people can hate immigrants but still cheer for them during a match.
You are absolutely right "how people are focusing too much on small differences instead of looking at our humanity."
It is sad that our modern multicultural world seems to be getting less accepting of anyone who is different. By trying so hard to stand apart as individuals we are making ourselves much weaker as a species.
!PAKX
I believe that our identities are multifaceted, and we often overlook the shared humanity that connects us all.
Hmmmm...You’ve touched on a fascinating aspect of sports and representation. The numbers you mention: NBA being overwhelmingly African American compared to the general U.S. population and the NHL being overwhelmingly white highlight how cultural, historical, and structural factors shape who participates and succeeds in different sports.