From: SROWELL@ESOC.BITNET
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Re: USA WORLD CUP AND english supremecy, (ha ha ha)
Date: 7 Apr 92 22:53:04 GMT
Article-I.D.: ESOC.92098.172430SROWELL
Organisation: European Space Operation Centre (E.S.O.C)

I think it will become very evident from what follows as to my
nationality, but I would request that this not be allowed to blurr
the points that I would like to make.

Firstly, I think it's very sad that people have to use a forum such
as this one to air their distorted nationalistic views. Perhaps they
enjoy being controversial; if that's the case then perhaps it would
be a good idea to have a new bulletin board called ARGUE!

Frankly, I have no real objection to the US hosting the World Cup in
1994, after all, it's the first time the WC (what an unfortunate
abbreviation!) has been staged there, and it will probably be just
as exciting as anywhere else. I would say that the US are particularily
good at organising public entertainment - just think of Disneyland,
Epcot, Universal Studios etc. - the world copies these ideas left
right and centre. So I don't think there's any real problem with the
actual location.

As for the lack of any real track record in America with Soccer, I would
say that we all have to start somewhere. I hope that the US team gives
the other competing teams a run for their money - after all that's what
the World Cup is all about, international competition.

Having said this though, I really must make strong objections to Mr. Cook's
tone, his one-sided argument approach, inaccuracy and his apparent inability
to find the CAPS LOCK key.

Submitting postings to a bulletin board of the type that Mr. Cook
has made, have no argumental value because they are designed to provoke. In
the process of provoking, all that happens is that people retreat into
their nationalistic/tribal shells and harbor bad feelings. Responses to
the postings are generally even more inflammatory and make the situation
worse.

Mr. Cook is not a good ambassador of his country. In my opinion, I think
he should apologise for his comments.

The fact that Mr. Cook insists on CAPITALISING his country (US) and leaving
England as 'england' proves that he is playing exactly the same game that
he is trying to denounce.

The US has a very strong hold on the world's society. It's a fact, whether
it's good or not. As such many Americans believe that the US is the most
important nation in the world and that it makes them individually
superior somehow.I believe Mr. Cook falls into this category...

Obviously, US citizens are NOT superior to any other nationality, neither are
the British. In fact, I would say that our two nations are closer than any
other in heritage, at least. Friendly rivalry is fine, but there is a limit
and Mr. Cook crossed it.

The one regret I do have about the WC being in the US in '94, is that the
US also 'won' the Olympics over Athens, Greece. Greece really could have
done with this event, not only because it'll be the Centennary, but because
they need the cash, pure and simple. America has a tendency to get rather
too large a slice of the cake sometimes.

On a final note, Mr. Cook, if the 'WORLD' part of the World Cup is so
important, how come the US 'World' Series excludes other countries? (:-))

I'm looking forward to the World Cup in 1994, and at least it's going to
be easy to get there (getting tickets may be a different matter).

(P.S.Stop mixing up 'England' when you mean the United Kingdon of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) - get your facts right!)

I feel better for that...

Simon