The Problem With Puto

Mexicans are up in arms at FIFA's investigation of discriminatory misconduct by Mexican fans in Brazil, who have been heard to chant the word "puto", which means "faggot" at opposing teams. Mexicans only recently are slowly becoming aware of their own deeply ingrained prejudices, mostly thanks to the internet. We are always amazed that slurs that to us are perfectly common, such as "puto" or "blackie", are found offensive by others. "We said it in jest", or "it's a term of endearment", some of us will protest.
Mexicans will say that the word "puto" in this context was not uttered in the spirit of discriminating against any gays. This is true. The Mexican fans that were so maturely and in such a sportsmanlike fashion screaming "puto" at the opposing team were not berating any particular player because of their homosexuality. In Mexico, the word "puto" has become an all-purpose insult, not necessarily aimed at gay men. Think of Alec Baldwin or Jonah Hill hurling "faggot" at the paparazzi. People choose to neglect the fact that the original intention of both "faggot" and "puto" is to denigrate homosexuals, and when used against straight men, to disparage them by accusing them of being gay. It's the worst thing you can say to a guy (in Mexico, without mentioning his mother). Even if it is directed at the straightest man on Earth, the connotation is sissy, weakling, crybaby, coward, less than a man.
In Mexico, people are making outraged jokes at the whole situation. How dare FIFA, a corrupt organization with no ethical credibility, chastise Mexican fans for their innocent chanting? A jokey letter to FIFA is making the internet rounds. Written rather pathetically in bad English, it clarifies the definition of homosexual as a person who likes someone of their own gender and the definition of puto as "whoever reads this". It's funny, but that is exactly the crux of the matter: people prefer to ignore the fact that the insult, whether directed at gays or not, is inextricably linked to homophobia. And the word homophobia has in itself become a bit of an empty cliche, so let me remind you: it means fear (and loathing) of homosexuals.

Now, I use slurs (in the privacy of my own mind) and I hate unbridled political correctness, which also largely thanks to the internet, has created a climate, at least here in the US, of self-righteous censorship and mob accusations of racism and discrimination that threaten to turn everybody into either the thought police or hypersensitive whiners. Now college teachers need to warn students that there may be "offensive" passages in books dealing with the usual depredations in human history. People scream "racism" indiscriminately. Everybody is a victim. It's as if we are pretending that we are better than we are and that having prejudices is not the norm in human behavior. Newsflash: it is and we all have them. But that doesn't mean that people should not be aware that words have history, they have power, they can keep others down. The anti-discrimination Fare network, which reported this behavior to FIFA, considers "puto" a slur because it is, no matter how good humored the usage. They don't know that in Mexico people think there's little wrong with it. This is common. We liberally use slurs and then pretend they are not racist or derogatory. By the same token, but inversely, I have heard some fellow Mexicans try to avoid the use of the word "judío" (Jew) in my presence because they think it is a horrible slur. It is not, but they resort to rather amusing euphemisms, asking me if I am a Hebrew or an Israelite (do I look like I'm 5000 years old?). And when I say I am a Jew, they flinch because in their minds "Jew" means someone terrible. Obviously, the more ingrained the prejudice, the deeper the lack of awareness.
So let's simply turn the tables for a moment. I bet Mexican soccer fans would be delighted if their rivals would disparage our team in the same good-natured fashion. The Mexican team, a bunch of putos? I didn't think so.
I can understand to a certain point the frustration of Mexicans with the solemn humorlessness of the correctness brigade. We are great at humor, but still lag in the awareness department. At the second decade of the 21st century, however, it is about time that we look into our dark little Mexican souls and simply acknowledge our deepest prejudices. It is the first step towards diminishing them.
Something else gnaws at me. Forget about political correctness for a moment. Why is it necessary to root for our team by insulting the others? It is bad form, vulgar and completely unnecessary. Whatever happened to our good manners?

A magical day

1. After a spin around Haifa we go to Acre and its Crusader fortresses, winding alleys and authentic street life (and crazy Arabs and Jews who think there is a parking spot reserved just for them right at the entrance). Unlike Jaffa and Ceasarea, Acre has been luckily spared of touristy development, and it is fantastic, with a fantastic real market and fantastic real people living real lives among the millenary stones. A wonderful meal right on the sea, of the tenderest fried calamari ever, at Abu Christos.
2. Then a quick jump into the sea in Nahariya. Park the car, change into the bathing suit. Quickly jump into the gorgeous sea as if it was our own private spa, massage therapy and all. Jump out of the sea just as quickly, pursued by a jellyfish.
3. Make it into Tzfat, the center of Jewish mysticism, in time for the Sabbath. We watch the sun go down behind the hills as we hear spirited Hassidic singing, the people of Tsfat dressed in white or their Sabbath best to welcome the day of rest.  I, the atheist, am overcome by feeling I don't even know where it comes from.
4. Find a hotel in Tiberias overlooking the Sea of Galilee, away from the horror of the main drag. We have a terrace in front of the lake. It is quiet.  We can see the dippers and the half moon shining over the water, crickets chirping, fishies splashing around.
5. We even get to watch the Ghana-Uruguay game.
As I said, a magical day.

The Hand of the Devil

What a game, Ghana v. Uruguay. As I watched that crazy ping pong play unfold at the Uruguayan net, I, like the rest of the world, saw the Uruguayan defender throw the Ghanaian ball out with his hand and his entire arm. I thought, surely an instant moment of desperation, not of diabolical cunning. Luckily, the ref sees it, takes out a red card and punishes the deed. Suarez is out and barred from playing in the next one, if there is one. He walks off the field crying into his shirt.
The Ghanaians get to kick a penalty goal, which can rocket them into the semis.
They miss.
Needless to say, the moment Ghana fails the penalty, Suarez forgets his tears and jumps for joy.
The game needs to be settled by penalties, a most unfair and horrifying way of settling a score in which two teams played soccer like their lives depended on it.
Even at the penalty match, both countries score against each other, both miss. But the Uruguayans simply display more sangfroid, nerves of steel and determination. They win the game.
People complain that cheaters won. True. But they were caught and punished and they still won, which is not the same as winning unfairly.
This was not the hand of God, as Maradona would famously claim after a similarly deviant incident. This was the hand of the devil.
This is soccer.  The beautiful, horrible game.

Soccer Fever

I got it, but this is mostly since I live in New York. Watching the World Cup here is great fun because there are always huge numbers of people from the participating countries. It's a great party. 
In this corner of the world, all the games are in the morning. Let work come to a grinding halt in the entire continent! Drinking before noon for 3 weeks!
What's not to like?
Now, to the business at hand: Mexico has the unenviable position to be in the opening match against the host country (it has been the host country twice, so suck it up).
I, a living repository of conspiratorial cynicism, believe these things are always rigged as much as possible for the host country. So I'm not saying that Mexico has been paid to lose (they have never really needed the money to get that done), but that it's going to be a major battle to prevail against the home team opening day. Bring it on!!!!
Now, rooting for Mexico is all well and good but unless there is a bona fide miracle, we're not going to win this baby, so I need to root for a team that actually has a chance to win. USA? They are so enormous at every other sport that the fact that they are 14th ranked in soccer gives me a little schadenfreude. I actually like that soccer is not this country's game. You can't be a giant in everything. However, I have a soft spot in my heart for them, 'cause they work so hard, they have a fantastic goalie with Tourette's syndrome, and it would be cool if they vanquished some important enemies.
I like Argentina because it has Messi. And I love Messi. I don't like them when, like the Italians, they overdramatize and play dirty, but watching Argentina play is always a pleasure.
I'm over Brazil. They play a lovely game and if they come with real jones for winning (last time around I got the impression they didn't care), they are the most beautiful thing to watch. Otherwise, don't waste my time.
Uruguay? Why not?
Fact is that right now, it is impossible for me to know who I will root for. My allegiances change according to team style, spirit and personality.
Will there be a match between the two Koreas? That would be amazing to see. I propose that if South Korea wins, North Korea gets to dismantle their nuclear arsenal and stop torturing its people. Same if it loses.
I wonder if Big Mini-Enchiladito, who is a great soccer player and a devoted soccer fan is ready for the World Cup.  I need to talk to his mom.
So let this crazy time begin. ¡Vamos Tri!