Juan Sarmiento #4- Soccer Explains the World, Football Explains the US

            The novel How Soccer Explains the World by Franklin Foer, dedicates its last section discussing the idea that just like soccer, people return to tribalism and nationalism overshadowing the idea of globalization. Many people when their International soccer team is playing are very much in favor of where they are from. Foer fails to really mention international soccer or events such as the World Cup. It is clear that Foer is right in that no matter how international or globalized we are now because of advancement in society and technology, at the end of the day people will revert to nationalism.

It is interesting to make the connection that what if, since soccer explains the world, then maybe American Football explains the US. In the last week or so it has been made visible that America is much more divided as previously thought or portrayed by the national media. This divide could possibly be explained by American football.

It is clear that the US is very much not into soccer. Maybe there is a correlation between passion for soccer and internal unity. I believe this may be possible because of the difference of values across nations. Everyone knows that the United States values individualism as well as completion, this can be seen in every aspect of US society, from schools, jobs and of course the economy. These values are instilled in every American and are leading us to a country lacking the tribalism experienced by other countries with many different and opposing values.

Because the United States lacks the nationalism compared to other nations when it comes to soccer, American football might be the most suitable way to explain this country. American football rewards individuals that stand out as well as hard workers on and off the field. Americans see themselves as strong willed and determined, much like football player feel. There are 32 professional teams and hundreds of college teams, all these numbers of teams to root for allows us to see why the US is so divided. Just like American football is divided across the country, so are its followers being taught to go against its own people .The US focuses on individualizing instead of unifying, which is preventing its members from feeling the same sense of unity and nationalism explained by those whose values bring them together.

The lack of unity, and in fact the encouragement of individualism, has produced a country divided when it should be coming together. Be it racial, economic, and international or any other social issue, the American public is trained to fight each other.

As long as the US remains divided, issues will not be resolved and conflict will persist. The phrase “together we stand, divided we fall” is a clear view of what this country is. The separation makes it harder for progress to be made, but makes it easier for us to be ruled and take action.

It is time, that if the United States wants to remain an international power, that it moves from a country of divided people to a country unified to truly help change the world for the better.

Other countries will become increasingly unified because of the theory of tribalism proposed by Foer, maybe even reverting us back to a world where globalization is barely a factor. It could also move us to a time where the tribal instinct moves from specific countries, to world organizations such as NATO and the European Union. Regardless of what is to come, the US should look towards soccer explaining it instead of American Football.