A World Cup gathering of many world views — and a reminder that diverse fans really can get along
If you listen to political analyst Chuck Todd’s latest podcast episodes, you’ll hear him return often to the political idea of pluralism: the belief that healthy democracies depend on many centers of power and a wide range of views.
It’s exactly the kind of idea Chuck is likely to explore at The Vineyard Forum on July 9 in Edgartown. If you’re interested, email me at jmacht@masslive.com for more information.
But for me, it also connects to the World Cup — and to the joy of seeing fans from so many countries cheer, argue, sing and celebrate in the same public square.
In many ways, the U.S. is an ideal host for a tournament this large: the venues, the cities, the infrastructure — and, most important, the fans. The economic upside is real, too: the tournament is reportedly expected to add more than $17 billion to U.S. GDP.
MassLive’s World Cup coverage has been stellar and is worth reading every day. And during America’s 250th anniversary, it’s striking to see these games become, at least so far, a peaceful gathering of people who bring different flags, languages and beliefs but rally around the same game.
That is pluralism at its best — not unlike the Olympics, when global hostilities seem to melt away, if only for a moment.
I hope everyone is enjoying the games — and our coverage of them. We all need something to cheer for, at least until the Red Sox get on a winning streak.
Have a great weekend.
