MUSINGS
                         

I’m not a soccer guy, but I have been watching a lot of the World Cup. I still

don’t understand the intricacies of the game, but it’s pretty easy to understand that kicking the ball into the goal is good. Most of the time, though, the game is only part of what interests me. I get drawn into the fans’ songs and celebrations. We like to think we’re better than the rest of the world at everything, but we fall far behind the ranks in terms of soccer fandom.

From the Norwegian row to the Congolese man who stood still as a statue

throughout the entire match, the different countries represented at the World Cup all have specific rituals and performances to support their teams. For each team, there were people who traveled from their home country to support their team, and they were joined by immigrant communities living here in the United States.

That’s one of the things that makes living in the United States so special. We are a nation of immigrants, and while those immigrant communities become a part of the United States, they still hold connections to their roots. This week, we’ll see English-Americans, Spanish-Americans, Argentinian-Americans, and French-Americans celebrating or mourning the outcome of the remaining games.

We all come from somewhere, and it’s okay to hold onto that identity while also embracing a shared identity as an American. Celebrate who you are and where you came from.

James Phillips

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