July 4th, 2006, was my first Independence Day not spent in the United States.  Three years ago I was studying abroad in Tanzania.  During that same time, the 2006 World Cup was going on.  I was more concerned with missing the World Cup then celebrating July 4th.  While in Tanzania, I expected to be cut off from television and the Internet.  I packed a small radio in my luggage so I could tune into a local radio station to get the scores of the games.  After a 20-hour flight, I was suprised to find that the place where I and my fellow student would be staying was equipped with a television.  During the day, while my classmates went into the surrounding areas to learn about a new and foreign culture, I remained at the hostel and watched soccer.

I was forced to pry myself from the World Cup on a number of occasions.  One such occasion was for a tour of an Arushan family’s home.  That experience changed my outlook on the trip.  The house had dirt floors and a large stone couch that was coverd with cloth.  The simplicity of the home was matched with the warmth and kindness of the occupants - a woman and her two boys.  With the help of a local student who was studying English at the United African Alliance Community Center I was able to talk with the woman and her two boys.

Why was I more interested in watching soccer than engrossing myself in the happenings of a world and people thousands of miles away from my own?  Was I afraid that I had nothing in common with these Tanzanians?  I was humbled to say the least. After I finished my porridge I was given a tour of back yard.  While we were surveying the garden the two boys began to kick around a plastic bag filled with dirt with rope tied around it.  I broke from the herbivoric scene and joined in with the boys.  The boys didn’t speak any English and I could barely count to three in Swahili.  But I had an idea.  The next time the ball came to me I quickly moved my feet and waist as if trying to juke a defender from me.  I stopped and looked at the boys and said “Ronaldinho.”  They smiled broadly and began to move their bodies as I did.

The United States is not a soccer country; we’re a pigskin nation.  Most Americans would rather watch the Steelers play the Iggles rather than a match between Chelsea and Manchester United.  There’s nothing wrong with that.  I attend Penn State University where football is king and Joe Paterno is a god (if it’s a winning season).  Yet, the rest of the world is obsessed with soccer, or as they call it, football.  The US has excelled in industry, science, technology, and consuming hot dogs.  We have the best military in the world.  But why haven’t we mastered soccer?

As President Obama travels the world and continues to reset the US’s foreign relations, I urge him to include soccer into the conversation.  Obama gave a historic speech to the Muslim world.  He visited Buchenwald.  He will travel to Ghana on July 10th.  Those are all great actions but if Obama truly wants to improve relations with the rest of the world he should start playing soccer.  The world knows that Obama loves basketball but he would get a lot of love from the world if he would get the cabinet together for a game of soccer on the South Lawn.

Two of the president’s advisor’s personalities would translate on the soccer field.  Defender of the president’s message, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, would make an excellent goalie.  Chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, known for his firey personality, would make an excellent striker.

It’d be great to see Obama host the US Men’s Soccer Team before they leave for South Africa to compete in the 2010 World Cup. Obama has already hosted the NCAA Men’s Basketball Champions, the MLB World Series champs, and the Super Bowl champs.  Team USA Soccer isn’t the favorite to win next year’s World Cup but they made a good showing in the CONFED cup tournament.  And if they play like they did in the CONFED cup, up until the second half against Brazil, they will go far in the World Cup.

If I learned anything during my brief time in Tanzania, it’s that soccer brings people together.  So this July 4th, suit up your cleets, grab one of those zebra colored balls and start practicing.

—
Michael Pipe