It’s coming home - Reflection by Canon Saro

(Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash)

If you are into sports, the recent June and July was a wonderful time. Full of exciting sports events, most of them postponed from the last summer due to covid-19. That made them even more desirable and attractive. Wimbledon, Copa America, Euro 2020 and probably many others all around the world. There are always many excitements, anticipations, and debates alongside the big competitions. Can Novak Djokovic catch the two other tennis giants? Can Lionel Messi finally win his first national trophy? And more importantly, is it coming home? or maybe next summer.

After a rough period of endeavour, it would be tremendously heart-warming to reach for national achievements, to be proud of our country; to bring it home for the first time. Well, I do not think we need a trophy to be proud of ourselves. We achieved much more during the lock-down, and It is not about the trophy or title. Feeling the nation’s unity and empathy during the competitions was extremely overwhelming. Unfortunately, she chose Rome instead of home. Suddenly, all aspirations turned into disappointment, then we saw the other side of the coin.

It started with attacking the Italian fans outside Wembley. Then racial abuse toward England's black players, vandalising Marcus Rashford's mural, various nonsense and unfair comments from politicians, comedians, and others in social media; and many other nasty acts of hatred.
Really? After all of that lovely sense of solidarity and integrity? Was it all about football? Or maybe some people were just waiting for an excuse.

That horrible situation did not last long. And it is fair to say the vast majority of citizens disgusted by the incidents. Still, it is not a simple thing to forget soon, even though the distraction is easy, mainly because it is preferable. Sometimes, these famous lyrics from The Cranberries applies to us; “but you see, it’s not me, it’s not my family, …”; then leave it. But the big question is if we do not leave it, what can we do about it?

Maybe some tweets help! Why not? If it is online abuse, let's be an online battle - It is up to you to take the last line seriously or as a joke. What about some actual work? Receiving training about racism is a huge first step. There are several self-funded and charity organisations dedicated to fighting racism and social injustice in any form [1]. There will be many events to raise public awareness and sensitivity in which we can contribute voluntarily or simply attend. A little financial support may be helpful. And those who are well-educated in the subject can step forward to educate others. Any small action, even if affects just one person, can lead to a series of change in a part of the society and eventually improves the whole situation.

Social injustice is not just about the law. It is about the way of thinking and the way of behaving when the opportunity arises. The gradual improvement comes from the collaborative efforts of all individuals. There is no superman or justice league here. But, it can be millions of social justice heroes, each taking care of their own share of responsibility.

Canon Saro

While you're here:
Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.

[1] For the sake of impartiality, I do not promote any particular group here. A simple search on the internet brings many available options.