i am not really a sports enthusiast. i watch the cricket when Bangladesh plays, because of some socially constructed perception of myself as a bangali, which i need to hold on to in some ceremonial way.
and, every four years, i watch all the matches in which australia is a particpant in the soccer world cup. i watch this because i believe that australian soccer is truly a multicultural sport. it is run by the children of immigrants, and most of the players are children of immigrants. it began as a "wog" sport, and endured racism and marginilisation just like all of us whose parents are from another country. i guess i feel an affinity with australian soccer. we share a profound cultural experience which, as we have grown up in this country, has become a core part of our identity.
when i grow up, i will invest in the future of australian soccer by sending all of my kids to soccer schools(?) from the age of three and a half.
this song by k'naan is two things. firstly, it's nostalgic. it reminds me of summer and running around the grass in the scorching hot australian sun when i was a little girl.
secondly, it's ambiguous. it is full of people waving flags, or moving there arms in flag waving motions. this act is one of the most widely recognised symbols of nationlism. in some countries, nationalism is almost harmless. such as bangladesh. in others, nationalism is the kind of thing which kept institutions such as soccer subjugated for so long. nationalism can be equivalent to racism and hatred. think the cronulla riots and the bogans who chant "we grew here you flew here!" while pumping their southern cross tattooed fists.
i do love the song though. i just thought the irony inherent in its symbolism was interesting.
