(8i) World Cup football

Introduction

The World Cup is over, and I am sure that throughout the world many people enjoyed watching the games. There were surprises such as Morocco that became the first African and Arab country to reach the semi-finals that they lost. Other countries lost unexpectedly early in the tournament.
Still, at the start of the tournament there were controversies about last minute changes such as the fact that the OneLove armband was forbidden. What can be wrong with love and not hate?

Mr Thawadi, an influential figure in the organisation of the World Cup is wrong when he said that the protests at Quatar's World Cup are against Islamic values. Instead, they are about the right for people to be who they were born to be, without being forced to live a lie, or fear to be imprisoned or even killed when they are themselves.

It started with Fifa boss Mr Infantino who first listed people with who we should be inclusive, to continue with saying that because of Europe's terrible past three thousands years, we should remain silent for the next three thousand years, thus even when other people abuse humans. Of course, we should not as we should reason for instance why the hate towards LGBTQ+ people is wrong, a hate that was spread throughout monotheistic cultures and during the colonisation of the world by Western countries, something that was clearly wrong. When countries choose not to respect human rights, it is the right, the obligation, for other countries to speak out and, if needed even boycott events organised by those countries.

World Cup and human rights

28/11/2022 - Mr Thawadi has issues with the OneLove amband

Quote from article: Mr Thawadi – Secretary General of the supreme World Cup Committee for delivery and legacy – said he had an “issue” with the armband because he saw it as a protest against Islamic values and an Islamic country hosting such a major event.

Mr Thawadi also said organisers only wanted visitors to respect the culture and religion of the region. By condemning the armband and speaking about it, it became a global issue. Some supporters also wanted to use the colours and flag of the gay community; this LGBTQ+ flag looks also very similar as the Peace flag as it concerns inclusion. So, should we be against Peace? By referencing to these symbols during the World Cup, they are now even more widespread known than before the tournament. How this issue started (in italic and on the right as published on FB):

Mr Swanson who is gay says Mr Infantino means it when he says he is inclusive. I am sure he is. But, when human and workers rights are not respected than this should be said so actions can be taken to end abuses. Only because of continuous pressures, the situation for many workers improved at building sites in Qatar. And no, it is not OK to work together with whatever regime when a regime refuses to respect human rights so people face discrimination or die. Still, he is right when he talks about the hypocrisy of the West that always lectures others without setting the example. However, increasingly Western countries act as they say.

When Fifa boss Mr Infantino says he is inclusive, he can proof what he says by allowing OneLove armbands at the World Cup.

Otherwise it is only propaganda by the Fifa boss that is meaningless. Love should be a universal human right, not laws that says who can and cannot love others.

We know now that Fifa boss Mr Infantino was insincere when he spoke he is inclusive. Months ago the Fifa was asked whether a OneLove armband can be worn during the World Cup, but no response was given, except that the Fifa came with its own armbands, that exclude any suggestion of the existence of LGBTQ+. Further, Fifa will fine any football players who show support for LGBTQ+ people, thus officially deny their human rights. There must be a reason why few, if any, football players come out as gay, unless maybe after their career.

Still, seeing examples is important, that include not forcing people to hide. Last weekend a deadly attack on an LGBTQ+ club in the USA, a developed country, showed why openly showing signs in support of LGBTQ+ people is important: to show that every life matters and prevent hate spreads. We know that in the Middle-East LGBTQ+ people have to hide, and this is wrong.

We now understand why the Fifa boss had such an aggressive exchange with the press as he was forced to say he is inclusive (while he even forgot half of the world population, ie women). His actions show he is not. An armband on the arm of straight football players is a small sign, no-one says a gay parade should be organised. Women from Wales had their rainbow coloured hats removed before the game against the USA, indeed, also supporters are targeted. This is not a football World Cup, it is a religious tournament. A World Cup should unite, not exclude.


On 18/12/2022, the World Cup ended when Argentina defeated France in a final as a thriller. Obviously, the winner was honoured whereby the Emir of Qatar placed an Arab cloak or black bisht, over Argentina's senior football player Messi, whether he liked it or not. Of course, this shouldn't be an issue, as long as Qatar would have allowed a OneLove armband to highlight human rights issues; now this gesture means "We have the final word" whereby in our country not all humans are equal. And thus not everyone appreciated this gesture.


Respect needs to be earned by showing respect to others

Countries don't need to respect cultures and religions that abuse human rights, certainly not in modern societies. It is not only about LGBTQ+ rights, look to Afghanistan and Iran where women are oppressed as men want to control them while Iranian women are fed-up with this and protests for freedom, even when they understand they may die during these protests, and some men are willing to die for them. Even Iran's Supreme Leader's niece says oppression needs to stop, but the Leader rather kills than change his mind to allow women to live their life as they wish, and he certainly do not want to share power with women. The intimidation of Fifa that blocked support for Iranian women worked efficiently as the USA manager apologised for not using the official Iranian flag as they used an altered one to show support for the protesters; yes,the USA seemed to go flat on its stomach for Iran. More respect for Iran's national team:

A strong signal by the Iranian football team, even when they know they may face severe consequences as they express solidarity with Iranian women and those who protest for their individual freedom to wear, or not, a headscarf.

The response of their Portuguese manager: let the kids play, each country has its troubles. As if in each country hundreds of people are killed by their security officers.

A World Cup, or Olympic Games as happened in the past, is a place where protests can happen when people are treated badly. This doesn't seem to be an ordinary World Cup.




Recent history of LGBTQ+ people after centuries of suppression

In the West, as recent as WWII (1938-1945), it is not common knowledge that Hitler and supporters ordered the extermination of LGBTQ+ people, if that was possible. And while allies fought against the evil of Hitler's ideology, LGBTQ+ people were the last to be liberated from the dead camps and their history was unwanted as focus was almost exclusively towards the Holocaust, thus extermination of the Jews who indeed suffered greatly as about 6 million Jews were murdered in extermination camps. Still, also gypsies, people on the left, artists, and indeed LGBTQ+ people also suffered. It took until 1994 before Germany stopped Hitler's laws and the last convicted gay persons were liberated from prison; still, only as recent as 2017 Germany pardoned gay people who were punished for being LGBTQ+ and agreed to compensate those who suffered from Germany's wrong laws. While it should have been obvious immediately after the war that Nazi laws are wrong, by definition. Thus yes, it takes time to create a better world.

Quite unbelievable. The country that was only a few decades ago ruled by one of the biggest monsters that ever lived on this planet, resulting in the death of millions of people, still doesn't grant LGBT+ people all rights they should have although I now read PM Merkel may agree with the introduction of gay marriage. Still, Germany should have been the leading country to reverse all evil that that leader and his followers enforced upon other humans, but the country only seems to follow, and not lead, in certain areas. But also in other Western countries there is still opposition against gay marriage while racism and sexism still rules some people's lives, including many religious institutions.

And thus, how can we then expect that the rest of the world who are still developing, are at the same level concerning human rights as the developed world, certainly when religious leaders, including those in the West, indoctrinate them since their childhood? Therefore, we have to try to educate the rest of humanity by explaining why people deserve to live as they wish, as long as it doesn't hurt others.


We have to look to the USA to understand why the mind-change happened in Germany, and in others parts of Europe and increasingly in the rest of the world. It took until 1969 before a small group of LGBTQ+ people in New York were so fed-up with another police raid against the gay bar Stonewall that they dared to revolt against authorities. But, this revolt was the beginning of a liberation, at least in the developed West, with increasingly LGBTQ+ parades in more countries. In ever greater numbers straight people and their children join to celebrate diversity as many know personally, within family, friends or colleagues LGBTQ+ people. This change happened only just over 50 years ago. Or, why did it take so long to recognise everyone's human rights? Indeed, we should not forget the influence of religious leaders, of whom many are gay, for spreading LGBTQ+ hate, although even here a division growths such as in the Anglican Church where Conservatives try to convince others that progress on human rights is wrong, but they are unable to do so.

Even today there are still people in the West who think that LGBTQ+ people don't need to live. Remember the terrible attack against an LGBTQ+ bar in the USA that killed 49 mainly younger people, while only recently another deadly attack took place as LGBTQ+ hate is preached by an increasingly more extreme right Republican party. But also in Europe hate crimes still happen such as in France, and in Slovakia where 20,000 people came together to remember two gay men who were killed. Remember LGBTQ+ free zones in Poland, and difficulties to organise Word Pride in Serbia although in the end pride could happen, often in countries where people allow a strong influence of their church. Still, they become increasingly marginalised such as in Slovakia as people notice that LGBTQ+ people are no threat to family values, but racists and sexists are dangerous, including for their own children when they are not as their parents want them to be. The result? An old-fashioned Christian religion that is disappearing in the West because people no longer accept hatred. Therefore, it is important when Pope Francis I speaks out against the criminalisation of LGBTQ+ people, although opponents will call him an anti-Pope whose teaching they certainly will not follow.

The Polish. They suffered under Hitler. They suffered under communism and the Soviet Union. Both ideologies that demonised people, including LGBTs. Still, Polish also had an LGBT hating Pope who couldn't stop dehuminising LGBTs. And thus now certain politicians dehuminise again although it was a narrow win, suggesting also Polish society is changing. When will humans learn from the past to avoid disaster?


Still, as a reaction against a declining traditional Christian religion that is still seen by a large group as part of the Western identity, there is a tendency by part of society towards "having to defend our traditional Western values", although they don't seem to realise that women rights, LGBTQ+ rights, anti-racism, contraception and, if needed abortion, ... are what define todays Western values. Many of these people are still angry with Germany (remember how President Trump refused to shake hands with PM Merkel) because they know (stories of) Americans or British who lost their life to fight for freedom during WWI and WWII, while in today's world Germany often preaches but doesn't take sufficient responsibility to fight for instance against an extremism in Afghanistan after the attacks against the USA. This can be partly understood because of Germany's horrors committed during two world wars, so it kept its army small. But, since the invasion of Russia in Ukraine, Germany is changing and invests again more in weaponry to help Ukraine. As a result, Russia that suffered from German attacks during the WWII, can claim Germany is again against Russia (while originally Stalin was on Hitler's side).

Still, many of those Americans who claim to defend Western values are anti-Antifa (ie against anti-fascism, thus in favour of fascism), whereby they understand that Hitler was mad, but still they agree with his policies of hatred towards people who are different such as LGBTQ+ people but also those with another skin colour or religion (partly understandable after Muslims attacked the USA and attacked them in Afghanistan). As the extreme voices seem to grow in the USA, the American Congress passed a law to protect LGBTQ+ rights, but also those of interracial marriages against an increasingly extreme right Supreme Court that wants to enforce conservative family values while this results in the exclusion of family members such as LGBTQ+ or mixed race children.

Still hope in this world. Although not perfect, now throughout the USA same-sex marriages are recognised, although individual states can refuse that same-sex couples can marry in their state. LGBTQ people and their family and friends but also companies know which states to avoid.

It is also hopeful that a number of Republicans had the courage to vote in favour of this law, although only after the inclusion that religious groups can continue to discriminate against same-sex couples. Indeed, they may crucify who they call their example (Jesus) when he would walk around today and may speak out in support of LGBTQ people.

Still, this doesn't seem to protect LGBTQ+ people sufficiently as the governor in Tennessee want to make drag a criminal offence while also in Florida the governor, who may be a future presidential candidate, becomes increasingly extreme as he hopes that will make him more popular.

What was to be expected is happening: after the ban of abortions, people warn the next step would target LGBTQ+ people. A first step is to ban drag performances, even when the governor of Tennessee is himself a secret drag, maybe the reason why he is at the forefront to advocate the ban as he wants to show the world, and his family, that today he is "a real man".

And thus human rights are slowly dismantled by people who fear God and fear to be on the wrong side of history, and thus they vote for laws that Hitler and Stalin but also Isis and al-Qaeda would approve.


Also in Italy, right-wing political parties whose politicians claim to support traditional family values that means father, mother and children, won the latest election and formed a national government. Italy is also the country where the LGBTQ+ community is still quite invisible. What to expect in a country that hosts the conservative, traditional family values supporting Roman Catholic Church of which its religious leaders are unmarried but advise everyone to marry and have children. Further, contrary to their preaching of moderation and respect for others, over centuries by means of alliances and wars the Church became extremely wealthy and influential to be able to promote these traditional family values whereby even the rape and murder of children by religious employees hardly reduces their power, although recently this started to change, at least with the general public while politicians and police still seem to be hesitant to confiscate documents when they are not given voluntarily by the Church.


In Canada, 215 schoolchildren of indigenous origin, this means the original inhabitants, were buried by a Catholic school. Mr Trudeau said requests for the Church to release its records on the schools had been met with "resistance".

Why is there "a request"? In a normal society, when 215 children are buried in a garden, police and investigative judges will go to the area, block it off, search and remove all possible evidence to investigate. In a normal society, we do not allow time for those who hold evidence to remove this evidence.

Recently, the Pope also changed canonical law concerning (hiding of) abuse of children. Still, why does a society allow that religious institutions are above laws that apply to everyone else? Yes, for minor crimes such as priests who drink too much Church wine, the Church can have its own laws. But, for abuse, rape, murder, should it not be normal that society arrest and judge the criminals, whether the Church likes it or not? Because, the Church had its time to proof it doesn't mind victims but is only concerned about its reputation that continues to sink by every refusal to act.


"On accuse, aussi en France". Indeed, as a Catholic Sister says in the article: "If the Church must tremble, well let it tremble".

Over centuries, RCC priests condemned men who have consensual sex with other men. But, many priests raped children, often boys, while senior clergy hid these crimes. This happened worldwide, including the murder of large numbers of children such as in Canada and Ireland. Yes, the Church as a whole is guilty as they knew and know and still refuse to act sufficiently until victims speak and it can no longer be ignored.

Still, also secular powers are guilty as police and judges sided with the religious Institutions (at least with Christian churches); even today when they allow the Church to handle the abuses internally instead that police confiscate any evidence.

Yes, paedophiles can be found everywhere; still, celibacy and thus loneliness contributed to a large extend to the abuse of the weak, together with the arrogance of people belonging to an institution that considers itself morally superior. Still, they continue to judge and condemn others such as LGBTs and prostitutes. Unbelievable that people continue to identify themselves with such an institution. Indeed, today you don't need others to tell you the difference between good and evil, think for yourself. Even God can be a private thing.

The Vatican, Christian groups and extreme right groups, often brothers and sisters against human rights. And thus, while Italy's Lower House voted for laws to criminalise discrimination and violence against women, LGBT+ and disabled people, the Varican's effort to block such laws was successful. Yes, the Pope showed his real face although he pretends to be more liberal in public.

And thus, almost 80 years after the defeat of fascism at the end of WWII, Italy still doesn't manage to shake off its demons of the past because of the presence of many powerful closeted unmarried men in frock in the Vatican who don't mind to cover-up abuse of children by colleagues.

It is time that this and similar institutes, that can't break free from their past teaching, loses their power grip as their damaging influence are not only felt in developing countries but even in Europe. Another European country on a list with Poland and Hungary where also part of society can't accept human rights. It is also beyond believe that intelligent people still respect those religious leaders who harm societies.


Very long ago the LGBTQ hate started

But, it is not only about Muslims and Christians as these religions are founded on the Jewish religion, a small but very influential religion. Indeed, LGBTQ+ hate finds its origins with the story of Sodom and Gomorrah whereby people claim God destroyed the cities because of homosexuality, not because they exploited people. Even today extremist Jews hate LGBTQ+ people while they consider women as inferior who try to trick men to do wrong and thus need to be silenced (origins in Adam and Eve whereby Adam blames Eve to have tricked him in eating the forbidden apple, as if he had no choice), just like extremists in Islam, and even in conservative Christianity women have little power, unless outside the church. Even non-religious Jews such as Mr Netanyahu try to use this extremism to remain in power and avoid judgment for corruption.

While, if Jews know their history, they should understand that their God sent an openly gay man, Mr Alan Turner, to decode Hitler's secret messages, and thus defeat this great evil before the nazi's managed to destroy every single Jew. Still, in the end Mr Turner as a gay man was no longer trusted and died after eating an apple with poison whereby it is not known whether he committed suicide, or was murdered. But, as the LGBTQ+ communities who suffered under the nazi's were nearly erased from history, few people know this story, or acknowledge the importance.


In conclusion, progress in human rights is not possible without protests so traditions change. Religious people speak about a future time that is about peace. But, that is only possible when people include others, even those who are different. When they refuse to do so, there can be only troubles. The members of the three monolithic religions are told that many will follow false prophets. They should also know that their God wants to be the only God for everyone, and thus doesn't like exclusion. So, why can't people think for themselves about good and evil? We don't need old books for this. We should live in the now and future, don't repeat past mistakes.

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