Food for thought perhaps?

Last Monday we met the South African WIP contingent and they told us their personal stories and experiences of growing up in South Africa. As Gary referred to in his blog it was very refreshing to see the pride each of the seven SAWIP team took in being South African. The flag and anthem are embraced by all cultures in that country. Unfortunately in Ireland symbols are still a very divisive issue. In many ways the problems South Africans face are so much bigger than ours (race, economy etc.) and it is certainly true to say that we have come a long way in Ireland but there is still a long way to go.
It has just occurred to me that perhaps the only time all the people on the island united in joy was that fateful day of Saturday, 24 February 2007 when the Ireland rugby team beat England 43-13 in Croke Park. I’m a great believer in sport bringing people together, having many friends from different countries through basketball. The legendary Belfast footballer George Best called for an All-Ireland football team (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/4374631.stm - for those law students among us who like references) and perhaps one day this will become a reality. For my many unionist minded friends on WIP who may feel this would be some step towards a political united Ireland I would re-assure you that this is not the case. I would advocate this idea based purely on the idea that we need to break down the hatred and misunderstanding of each others traditions still prevalent today.
Sport has proven itself throughout history to be capable of breaking down barriers – whether we take the example of Jesse Owens at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin or the South African and Ireland rugby teams. Throughout the worst of the troubles the Irish Rugby team competed in the 4 Nations rugby tournament. I remember being told by a rugby fan in a pub once that it was the only time that southerners got the chance to mix with northern supporters who would mainly come from a unionist background and how at a time of great political strife it acted as probably the only forum where both traditions were united in support of a cause. A fair assertion to make is that Rugby in Ireland is a game predominantly played by the middle and upper classes. Soccer on the other hand it can be claimed is a game well supported by ordinary working class people. An All-Ireland team would be ground-breaking in bringing people from all backgrounds together and ensuring that our children grow up not viewing someone as being different simply because of their surname, religion or where they were born.
If we are to truly get rid of sectarianism in Ireland and make people comfortable living on this island together in peace then surely the medium of sport is the most effective and least contrived way. Belfast and Dublin are only two hours travel by car from each other but interaction among them is very limited. It is time to get rid of this ‘fear’ of each others cultures. On a lighter note I think both the Republic and the North must be tired of missing out continuously on major championships at this stage – imagine if McGeady and Duff were setting up chances for the great David Healy, if this fantasy were a reality maybe all us WIPPER’s would have a great excuse to go visit our SAWIP friends when the next World Cup is on in South Africa. Alas one can always dream!