Soccer / Hijab
Yep. This here is one of dem serious posts. Rare as they may be, when they involve anything outside of music, I do think about other things. I think I probably don't write about other things (aside from my general woe is me *headpalm*) simply because I work with people who are of sufficient intellect that I can vent and rave and have a good old fashioned argument with them.
There are however, a number of areas that are clearly sign posted as taboo.
Religion (aside from passing remarks at least) and soccer (because 12 out of 15 seem to be bonkers to the point of homicide for the sport).
I'm not massive on soccer, for reasons I will explain. But before I do that, let me post a link that says some things I agree with - http://www.watoday.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/italian-theatrics-cost-new-zealand-famous-win-over-defending-champions-italy-20100621-ypj8.html?autostart=1
So, There are really 3 primary reasons I don't like soccer, although a 4th has been added as a result of recent events.
1. Unwillingness to embrace change.
I give you cricket. The most austere, and some may argue pointless, of all ball sports. Thankfully, not nearly as pointless as baseball. Whenever I say baseball, I say it with my best retard face. So cricket has 20/20 - not saying that's good or bad - it just is. They also have a 3rd umpire. These things seem trivial to most now, and have even become a solid integral part of the game, with the crowd ooooooooh AHHH'ing as the decision is given. Watching some of the games in the current world cup, has merely highlighted how desperately the update in technology is needed. One game of watching Italy play (Olivia was most concerned when I said I would rather NZ win) should be enough to turn even the most deeply insane technophobe yearn for some sort of electronic appeal system or assistant, as often it is appears the fury of the air dislodged by the opposition is the only possible assailant. It really ruins what could be an otherwise entertaining game. Do the guys that dive around have any self respect? Are they just so far up their own arses, or busy bathing in $1000 notes so as simply not to care? Some may argue AFL could do with a similar system to root out inconsistency in decision making, but there is a critical difference. The average soccer match (English Premier League), according to internets, sees some 1 and some odd goals per game scored. AFL - probably somewhere around 20 (if not more??). Therein lays the problem. 1 incorrect decision in a soccer game, which leads directly to a goal has much more profound gravitas.
2. Diving.
It is an Olympic sport - the Chinese have been quite successful at it of late. It can have certain descriptive nouns or even verbs placed in front of it, to form interesting topics for conversation: Scuba diving. Muff diving. However, Fagus Poofyitis Diving (ala Italy) has a more profoundly dissatisfying heft. I mentioned it in point 1, and I reiterate again - It makes what could be an entertaining spectacle, an ugly frustrating one.
3. Umpiring Personalities.
In any other sport, the "personality" of the umpire or referee being considered a legitimate impact upon the outcomes of games, would cause considerable consternation amongst fans. Instead, soccer fans seem to be willingly accept that the big personalities of certain refs mean that their team may be disadvantaged before the clock even ticks over a single second. This is madness. Call me crazy, but surely the whole idea of the world cup is a game of skill, not of popularity. Otherwise it would be called "So you think you can play soccer" and idiots from all over the world would waste money voting. Alternatively, it could be played to interesting tunes and called Worldovision.
4. Vu Vu Zella
BBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Although. Impressive that it seems to have breed a whole race of people that can take a breath and blow again for 90 minutes without feinting. I try blowing up 3 balloons and I stumble around like a 70 year old drunk, who’s nanging.
So anyway. I have been thinking a great deal about the whole hijab issue that is gripping much of Europe and has now also to a degree come to media attention here in Australia. A Muslim lady was asked to remove her facial covering during a job interview, and is now suing the potential employer for discrimination.
If Olivia was living in Oman, and working there, she would be expected to wear what was considered appropriate. Similarly, I find myself agreeing with the French particularly in principle when they say -come to our smelly cheese country, but be aware, your conventions will not be respected and you, just as we do in your home country, will dress to what we consider acceptable.
Then I find myself wondering if Australia’s willingness not to implement such forceful laws actually gives us a moral high ground in the “We’re more multicultural than you are” fame game. Of course, the lack of any such laws in this country is probably more a symptom of our general apathy rather than intent to behave inclusively.
Ultimately, for better or worse, I find myself feeling the stand being taken by many European nations, is the right one. Religious diversity (as much as I loathe fundamentalist religious dogma) is not something I think the world should seek to rub out, however extreme forms of social, racial and gender indoctrination are.
There are however, a number of areas that are clearly sign posted as taboo.
Religion (aside from passing remarks at least) and soccer (because 12 out of 15 seem to be bonkers to the point of homicide for the sport).
I'm not massive on soccer, for reasons I will explain. But before I do that, let me post a link that says some things I agree with - http://www.watoday.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/italian-theatrics-cost-new-zealand-famous-win-over-defending-champions-italy-20100621-ypj8.html?autostart=1
So, There are really 3 primary reasons I don't like soccer, although a 4th has been added as a result of recent events.
1. Unwillingness to embrace change.
I give you cricket. The most austere, and some may argue pointless, of all ball sports. Thankfully, not nearly as pointless as baseball. Whenever I say baseball, I say it with my best retard face. So cricket has 20/20 - not saying that's good or bad - it just is. They also have a 3rd umpire. These things seem trivial to most now, and have even become a solid integral part of the game, with the crowd ooooooooh AHHH'ing as the decision is given. Watching some of the games in the current world cup, has merely highlighted how desperately the update in technology is needed. One game of watching Italy play (Olivia was most concerned when I said I would rather NZ win) should be enough to turn even the most deeply insane technophobe yearn for some sort of electronic appeal system or assistant, as often it is appears the fury of the air dislodged by the opposition is the only possible assailant. It really ruins what could be an otherwise entertaining game. Do the guys that dive around have any self respect? Are they just so far up their own arses, or busy bathing in $1000 notes so as simply not to care? Some may argue AFL could do with a similar system to root out inconsistency in decision making, but there is a critical difference. The average soccer match (English Premier League), according to internets, sees some 1 and some odd goals per game scored. AFL - probably somewhere around 20 (if not more??). Therein lays the problem. 1 incorrect decision in a soccer game, which leads directly to a goal has much more profound gravitas.
2. Diving.
It is an Olympic sport - the Chinese have been quite successful at it of late. It can have certain descriptive nouns or even verbs placed in front of it, to form interesting topics for conversation: Scuba diving. Muff diving. However, Fagus Poofyitis Diving (ala Italy) has a more profoundly dissatisfying heft. I mentioned it in point 1, and I reiterate again - It makes what could be an entertaining spectacle, an ugly frustrating one.
3. Umpiring Personalities.
In any other sport, the "personality" of the umpire or referee being considered a legitimate impact upon the outcomes of games, would cause considerable consternation amongst fans. Instead, soccer fans seem to be willingly accept that the big personalities of certain refs mean that their team may be disadvantaged before the clock even ticks over a single second. This is madness. Call me crazy, but surely the whole idea of the world cup is a game of skill, not of popularity. Otherwise it would be called "So you think you can play soccer" and idiots from all over the world would waste money voting. Alternatively, it could be played to interesting tunes and called Worldovision.
4. Vu Vu Zella
BBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Although. Impressive that it seems to have breed a whole race of people that can take a breath and blow again for 90 minutes without feinting. I try blowing up 3 balloons and I stumble around like a 70 year old drunk, who’s nanging.
So anyway. I have been thinking a great deal about the whole hijab issue that is gripping much of Europe and has now also to a degree come to media attention here in Australia. A Muslim lady was asked to remove her facial covering during a job interview, and is now suing the potential employer for discrimination.
If Olivia was living in Oman, and working there, she would be expected to wear what was considered appropriate. Similarly, I find myself agreeing with the French particularly in principle when they say -come to our smelly cheese country, but be aware, your conventions will not be respected and you, just as we do in your home country, will dress to what we consider acceptable.
Then I find myself wondering if Australia’s willingness not to implement such forceful laws actually gives us a moral high ground in the “We’re more multicultural than you are” fame game. Of course, the lack of any such laws in this country is probably more a symptom of our general apathy rather than intent to behave inclusively.
Ultimately, for better or worse, I find myself feeling the stand being taken by many European nations, is the right one. Religious diversity (as much as I loathe fundamentalist religious dogma) is not something I think the world should seek to rub out, however extreme forms of social, racial and gender indoctrination are.