i went a soccer tournament today, i found myself sitting between two soccer moms, one supporting the blue team and the other is green. obviously their sons were having fun in the field running after the ball and trying to score etc, but for the parents its a different story. they were so engaged in the game rather emotionally raising their voices in support for their kids and expressing frustration and bits of anger as the game went on.
first of all, yes its cool for the kids to have some fun in indoor soccer field in the middle of thick winter. they seem to have a great ball not much worried or getting all emotional but in the game sort to speak. for moms and dads they got 'carried away'. i was rather a silent dad sitting but not cheering like they do. i figure its something to with 'own child' thing perhaps, an egoic extension through children.
competitive sporting brings defense of ego in full action.
then i saw how i too participate in national sports following and get all crazy about it. same bullshit, sports adoration. soccer moms/dads just do for their kids. while i do it for the national team. its all forms of ego boosting thru one team or another.
within equality equation, physical sports activity for children need not take competitive form, rather as self expression children having fun with a soccer ball. no need to win or loss, no need for parents to feel so proud or shame about their kids. no need to praise how mighty athletic their boys are, or need to compare and feel good about self. all this is ego madness.
funny thing to observe is how parents shouting son's names as if their son is the only kid playing out there. And the verbal proclamations they do in the form of coaching/encouragement towards their kids is just amazing. "yes you can do it, get the ball, block it, take a shot, yes you do it, common now". it sounds a bit like a religious session. and when a scoring happens, omg, parents just go crazy in their jubilant expressions.
i guess, it is what it is. while sitting listening to these backbench parents-turned-coach i was thinking to myself, "what if is this child of yours is starving to death", kind of bitter question to ask, but the point is, "god you are so concern about your son scoring a goal, why not see the plight of million others who are suffering while you are having a soccer party?, yeah nasty on my part to think such. perhaps i was jealous since i don't have a son of mine playing out there, through whom i can feel so proud about myself. well may be so.
yet i cannot dismiss the fact, children having fun is a right for every child, not just for the rich, every child deserve to throw a soccer ball around and have some fun, it must be a right to not just a privilege.
i am one vote for equality in children's sports, so every kid can enjoy his/her childhood, play, run as he/she wishes. No child is ever denied the right to have fun in the fields, we will make sure a system of support will facilitate equality for all kids.
i mean, here only the rich get to have fun. yeah they all cheered the green team who won the game, but its really a shame, we all lose as long as someone is losing out there in this world.
one starving kid is one too many, and there is really nothing to cheer about, is there ? and don't fucking call me a joy killer.
No comments:
Post a Comment