It should probably come as little surprise that the FIFA World Cup in South Africa has captivated my imagination. If you haven't been tuning into the games so far, I would recommend that you consider doing so soon! It is very historic that this event is being held in Africa, and although this event has not been without some disastrous consequences, I think it is positive on the whole.

Two major issues have irked me in the midst of my soccer-inspired delight and bracket building. The first concerns the "beautification" efforts that have occurred throughout cities in South Africa where matches are being held. This should come as no major surprise, since hiding the seamy areas has often been a task for host nations when preparing for major sporting events- I'm thinking specifically of the draconian regulations that were implemented in Beijing in advance of the 2008 Summer Olympics. It is entirely understandable that host nations want to clean up their acts and appear impressive and unblemished with all eyes upon them, but some of these processes are violent. The forcible removal of informal housing settlements for the sake of foreign visitors can be really devastating for the people who live there. This seems unavoidable, and it is a very unfortunate consequence. 

The other thing that's bothered me is the volume of public outcry against the vuvuzela (the plastic horn used by soccer fans in South Africa), which has proven to be even more deafening than the instruments' original noise. FIFA's president has stated on numerous occasions that trying to europeanize an African World Cup is at best disrespectful. At worst, I can't help but think that this is the very kind of colonial mentality that seeks to homogenize culture and remake the world in the image of Europe. It's gotten me pretty enraged. People have already begun to call for the banning of the instrument from arenas in the future. The most "sensible" excuse for this obscene display of eurocentrism is that the instruments' incessant buzzing produces a noise level that is potentially damaging to fans' hearing. Even if this is a relatively legitimate complaint (which seems unlikely since more updated models of the instrument such as those being sold and brought to this event have been engineered to produce lower decibel levels to answer back these arguments from naysayers), the mindboggling deployment of securitizing discourse and constant association of health hazards and the language of disease with Africa (or the Other in general, for that matter) is all too redolent of colonial days. After all, what could THEY possibly know? They couldn't have thought about their safety or health; they are not as scientific or rational as WE ARE!!!!!

I love watching soccer, and I am thrilled that FIFA chose South Africa for this event. Instead of complaining about the noise, why doesn't anyone talk about how amazing it is that a nation with a legacy of racial conflict has achieved so much and come so far since the days of apartheid? Obviously there are still problems:  the rates of violence in South Africa are undeniably high, as is poverty. AIDS is a very real problem as well. And while de jure segregation has theoretically been eliminated, it clearly remains a problem in practice. But there is a lot to praise! South Africa is the only nation that has ever repudiated nuclear weapons and masterminded the Treaty of Pelindaba (which established the African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone, which is still being hashed out). Higher levels of development and brighter outlooks for the future make South Africa a continental and global leader (for better or worse). And they've done a great job hosting so far! I'm loving it, and I think others agree!