In a piece entitled ‘Now for the Ugly World Game’ (SBS Website September 29 2001) he writes describing the terrorist attack against New York, and Washington earlier in September, and the inevitable response by the American in through a sporting analogy
Only in this game there are no rules. There are no bounds and touchlines. There are no yellow cards. No free kicks. No compensation for foul play. No retribution for ungentlemanly conduct. No final whistle
The article is quite powerfully written. The analogy of sport is a powerful one, the images of strings of subs rolling of the bench, each more determined and inspired, highlights the bleakness and stakes in a battle of ideas, there are no winners.
The second piece written upon reflection after a conference of journalists is a little cheerier, but the undertone has not changed.
The conference attended by delegates from many of Asia’s Muslim countries talked of the ‘Western lens’ by which the journalists portray the East. Les Murray made an interesting point about how they are unable to present truths they do not know. He illustrated this in the following way:
The 'other side' gives us no explanations about its grievances. There are no souped up press releases, carefully engineered news conferences or strategically placed spin doctors who, lawyer-like, argue the case. There are no cogent arguments forthcoming, or not enough of them, about why monstrosities like Bin Laden, the Taliban and Saddam, are spawned in the sick world in which we live.
In short, the 'other side' has a huge PR problem.
A naive teenage Palestinian girl blows herself up and kills a dozen innocents in a Jerusalem café. And we are to take this as some kind of PR message sent to the 'west' about the rights of the Palestinian struggle.
Sorry, but it won't wash. We need to be told more about why she did it. Better, we need to be told more about what spawned the criminals that made her do it.
In the absence of such explanations, one was left wondering and helpless. What is the cause and measure of the grief and hate that drives human beings to such pain and desperation
Les then goes on to talk about what he knows best, Sport, and in particular examples of sport playing a healing role, or bringing countries together.
The educative anecdotes are everywhere. What about that match in the 1998 World Cup between the USA an Iran, where the players exchanged flowers before the game and, at the end of a furious 90 minutes, embraced after it? They put the small-minded politicians to shame.
What was the first human link in Afghanistan between the locals and the invading forces after September 11? A football match between a British Army eleven and a local one.
What was Iraq's first venture into the outside world following the demise of Saddam? A trip by its football team to Australia.
What was the first thing that unified the warring Hutu and Tutsi tribes of Rwanda, a conflict that left a million innocents massacred in 1994? A football match involving the Rwanda national team, composed of players from both tribes, who enjoyed the buoyant support of all Rwandan fans.
And what has been happening on the sub-continent recently? A cricket series between Pakistan and India, played without incident and with smiling goodwill, between two nations that have been toe to toe, at war or under the threat of war, for the best part of over half a century.
Sport does not have entangled in it, the elements of culture, religion that divide this world, and sports competitions are not ruled by the morals of the west, or for that matter the East. Would it not be more desirable if the conflict our world is torn asunder by could be sorted out in matches with civilised rules.. [nice dream, eh?]
Perhaps sport, as illustrated through the above could play a role in bringing nations together, as has been spoken about the reintegration of Africa into the world community, the healing in hosting the World Cup of Cricket (1995), the World Cup of Rugby Union (1995), and the World Cup of Soccer (in 2010).
While sport may not be the most significant cog in the wheel of restoration and peace, and is riddled with its own problems. Sport is one of few things in ‘civilised’ society that unites not divides.
A parting word on peace, while we know that the end of conflict may not come in our time, may not come in our children’s time, or indeed come at any time. True and lasting peace will come as the King of this age returns. But it is my prayer we may see peace. Or perhaps to put it another way:
So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case ...
We'll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessd beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace ...
But, Jesus, would You please ...
[Gratitude - Nichole Nordeman, from Woven and Spun - I think I've posted the lyrics in full previously]
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