The Pest That Is Nationalism... (Euro 2012 :oops:)

[LoneWanderer]

Do my tired eyes with black marks below due to all stress and sleep debt see correctly (mmh, what a sentence...)? There has been no topic of the European Championships in football, co-hosted by Poland and by Ukraine. And by football I mean the proper foot-hit-ball-ball-go-forward-on-grass not the Yankee franchise show that is armpit ball *throws the bait*

If you really are as barbarian as not to know what football is, feel free to read more from the June 2012 issue of Awake! To me it was quite amazing to even have a such article in our literature, the last time I remember having a sports article was the one magazine from the 80s which mentioned the negative effects of heading the ball ;)

In the match that I kind of was following in the background...in one of the quarterfinals Portugal and their star player "dream son-in-law" Cristiano Ronaldo just gave his team a 1–0 lead against Czech Republic featuring players such as my new favourite Theodor Gebre Selassie (HA!). Only nine minutes to go and it seems that this is the end for Czechs, they haven't created much at all during the whole match and even less such a little amount of regular time left.

EDIT: Group stages finished, tonight's match is the first of four quarter final matches:

Thursday, June 21

Czech Republic v Portugal (Warsaw/Warszawa)

Friday, June 22

Germany v Greece (Gdansk/Gdańsk)

Saturday, June 23

Spain v France (Donetsk/Донецьк)

Sunday, June 24

England v Italy (Kiev/Київ)

SEMIFINALS:

Wednesday, June 27

Portugal? v Spain or France (Donetsk/Донецьк)

Thursday, June 28

Germany or Greece v England or Italy (Warsaw/Warszawa)

FINAL

Sunday, July 1

? v ? (Kiev/Київ)

[bohemian]

Missed tonight's game becasue it was our meeting, but hope the CR got back into it.

Of course I shall be watching England play on Sunday, but I don't hold out a great hope for them against Italy.

BTW - I am a huge Yankees fan too, and watch almost every game in the season.

[purplefan]

I used to be a football fan but supporting or watching your country of birth play sports, is definitely Nationalism.

The talk among the brothers before and after the meeting was all about Football.

I find this very disturbing, we we had a veritable banquet of Spiritual food on offer last night,

Not one Brother wanted to talk about that. But It was about the dis aloud goal.

We even had a brother who wore his England shirt under his dress shirt.

We would never dream of singing or standing up for a national anthem, yet Brother are quite willing to say how proud they are

of their country of birth during a sporting tournament.

Sorry but personally i think this is wrong.

You are associating your self with a particular country and is being patriotic.

This is one brother who wont be watching any Football (soccer), rugby, or anything to do with the olympics when it comes on.

I will go out in the ministry and serve Jehovah when these sporting events are on, as people are in.

I went out in the ministry with some sisters (only one brother went out) during the Republic of Ireland game, and we got loads of interesting calls.

[bohemian]

I used to be a football fan but supporting or watching your country of birth play sports, is definitely Nationalism.

The talk among the brothers before and after the meeting was all about Football.

I find this very disturbing, we we had a veritable banquet of Spiritual food on offer last night,

Not one Brother wanted to talk about that. But It was about the dis aloud goal.

We even had a brother who wore his England shirt under his dress shirt.

We would never dream of singing or standing up for a national anthem, yet Brother are quite willing to say how proud they are

of their country of birth during a sporting tournament.

Sorry but personally i think this is wrong.

You are associating your self with a particular country and is being patriotic.

This is one brother who wont be watching any Football (soccer), rugby, or anything to do with the olympics when it comes on.

I will go out in the ministry and serve Jehovah when these sporting events are on, as people are in.

I went out in the ministry with some sisters (only one brother went out) during the Republic of Ireland game, and we got loads of interesting calls.

While I have to repectfully disagree with the highlighted statement in your comment, Ron, I do agree that nationalism can be a snare when it comes to such events. I have no feeling of pride in a national team, and quite frankly am sick to death of the Olympics already!

I agree with you that the talk focussing on the football after the meeting was inappropriate, and wearing an England shirt to the meeting is certainly inappropriate.

I am glad that you have the opportunity to spend more time in the ministry at such times, and am sure you will find many at home.

My next-door neighbour is a very strong Chelsea/England supporter and I certainly would not like to call on him during a game!

[LoneWanderer]

Oops, messed up the topic title...

Just to clarify, I probably used the wrong word. Meant Yanks as a non-footballing nation in general, daring to call their pig skin carrying sport FOOTball, NOT referring to the glorious baseball franchise of New Yarrkk Yankees ;)

But I agree, football doesn't have to be everybody's cup of tea. However I'm with Br. Christopher here, just watching matches in which your nation features doesn't have to be submitting to nationalistic feelings often prevailing during major tournaments such as this. We have received very balanced counsel on this, such as a demonstration at a Circuit Assembly where two brothers agreed to watch a sporting event (in Finland the sport used as an example was naturally ice hockey ) for the sake of the match; not letting their feelings for their country of birth to prevail.

And please remember Br. Ron, people do have different tastes. But you definitely did well to go to the ministry when practically no other brother did! Perhaps you reached householders who like you couldn't care less about the match going on. Maybe some didn't want to be disturbed in the middle of a important match on telly, but at least you were out there.

And I also agree, that is over the top, wearing a football shirt, ANY football shirt, when going to worship Jehovah in his house. But I assume that was only one brother who went over the top with his eager.

Sometimes I get carried away myself talking about football at the Hall or between doors in the ministry, especially if the brother I'm talking with, shares my immense interest in the subject. So although it is not preferable to do so at such occasions, people do get carried away. We used to have a brother in our congregation (and serving in the capacity of a ministerial servant) who lived some five minutes stroll away from the Kingdom Hall. Whenever Champions League matches were on TV on meeting nights, he disappeared very swiftly as soon as the meeting was over. But mind you, he's an Englishman ;)

But to make a confession, few years back I actually wanted to move to England just because of the general interest in football. After all, for me being on the terraces was very important at a time when I felt I had NO FRIENDS in the congregation. There I was part of the crowd, not a bullied teenager who had no friends, not at school nor at the Kingdom Hall. Since I've strived to reach for balance with this matter but had I financial possibilities to do so, I'd still like to travel all over England watching football, visiting all 92 League grounds

--

Didn't bother to watch too much of the match yesterday. Matches with Greece as of late have tended to be quite a bore. I still dread remembering my favourites Portugal and Czech being beaten by the bus parking tactics in 2004

So in case someone wouldn't have heard it elsewhere, Greece equalized soon into the second half but Germans put another gear in and won the match 4-2. German manager Joachim Löw made changes from the three group matches, even though Germany progressed undefeated from their group, and put players like Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus in the starting XI.

Hopefully today's match between Spain and France will be entertaining. I probably end up finding it difficult to get out of bed tomorrow, supposed to go half a day to a District Convention while I'm still visiting my parents. Kick-off local time 21:45, meh I don't really fancy Spain, even though they usually play beautiful short pass play, but I wonder if some of the over-privileged spoilt kids in the French squad are much of a better alternative. Remember the squabbles in South Africa in 2010! They did not leave great impressions as they lost 2–0 to Sweden in their last group match.

[purplefan]

Thanks for that Bro. Julius.

I am trying really hard to forget my football past, I used to support Glasgow Celtic and went to every Scotland game i could.

I was a member of the Hooligan unit combat 13. so as you can appreciate when bro at meetings talk about football, i find it hard.

Please forgive as i was not having a go, i wanted to post how I feel about it.

But you are right when other brothers feel different.

[stuagu]

hi ron... i think youre strong feelings are understandable, considering your past. well done brother for keeping clear of these things.

i do watch football of many different countries and i enjoy it. it thankfully doesnt have the same associations for me as it does you so i can enjoy it. the line is indeed a thin one though... and wearing a certain countries shirt isnt one i would cross.. but wearing one to a meeting ?!!! thats unbelievable!

i would have strong feelings about other areas that i stick well clear of... we all have to do what keeps us safe brother.

christian love stuart:)

[nikviz]

I love football, as I say Football is the best second thing.

I've watched all the matches of the European Championship except Spain - France because I was night watch at the District Convention.

I watch most matches of UEFA Champions League and Europa League. I watch also many matches of my two favour teams PAOK FC and LIVERPOOL FC

Football is perhaps the hottest topic in the country (for the brothers). There is a constant tension between the north and south and between different groups in the same city. It is often issue for local needs in the circuit assembly. Last time the CO said for elders to send SMS to others elders because they club win at football match. (no not me) Said for ringtone with the anthem football Clubs or with slogans of the radius. Said for wallpaper with the symbols of FC.

Didn't bother to watch too much of the match yesterday. Matches with Greece as of late have tended to be quite a bore. I still dread remembering my favourites Portugal and Czech being beaten by the bus parking tactics in 2004

I remember well in 2004. Many brothers celebrate the cup with flags. After, the elders had a lot work for shepherding and local needs.

[purplefan]

Being Scottish, i did have a giggle at England's expense though.

That's why i find football a difficult subject.

There are brothers in Glasgow who fall out with each other after Rangers and Celtic matches.

There is too much passion involved and can be a heated topic.

Although with Rangers going out of business, it wont be a problem.