The other side of ‘bringing it home’

So it begins, the cheers, the anticipation, the trepidation, the wanting and wanton. The two sides. Your side, my side, anything but that side.

Neighbours, friends, enemies, nay sayers, people, sheeple, men, women and children. Hoping and praying, some that it will, others that it wont ‘come home’.

‘We wont hear the last of it’ some say. ‘I’d just like to see the other side have a chance’. ‘Their media always big them up, it just gets on my nerves’. ‘Anyone but England, I couldn’t bear it if they won’. Just a few of the comments I hear constantly at this crucial stage of the world cup, from this island of Ireland.

I hear from liverpool supporters, man u supporters, Chelsea, Everton and Man City. What a pity, I think. A pity that there is still such a (not so friendly) divide when it comes to the England team.

What ever the reason, whatever the excuse, I cannot but feel sorry, for you. Sorry that your history is still your present. Sorry that your influence has probably been drilled into you from school, parents, grand parents, perhaps.

Maybe your real self wants to cheer for your neighbour, your current neighbour, not your historical neighbour. The one where your Irish football players go join your neighbours’ football teams so they can fulfil their dreams of being a professional footballer.

Maybe one day your sons will want to play too. What conflict will they feel in order to please their parent whilst denying their dream.

Who is the ‘baddie’ now. Dont we enjoy trade, dont we enjoy English T.V ? Gone are the days of just 2 channels (thankfully). Dont we enjoy tourism to boost our economy from so many of them damn English!

If a child does something wrong and the adult over steps the mark in their punishment, who is wrong? The adult screams and shouts and condems the child and holds a grudge until it seeps into his very bones with anger, and so he lashes out. Is it still the child’s ‘fault’ for being naughty in the first place?

A horrendous past, a horrendous history can only heal with forgiveness. Forgivness of others and of ourselves.

I hate to see hatred, for all it does is create hatefulness. And hatefulness creeps and seeps,and in the end destroys. It destroys relationships, it destroys friendships it destroys joy.

What joy it would be if we could celebrate if England won tonight and our neighbours could rejoice in that fact.

Someone said on the radio today that the Irish dont need a reason to celebrate anything. Ive seen that, they can for the most part be fun, have the craic, celebrate wins and even losses.

That is why as a girl born in England to 100 % Irish parents, grandparents and generational Irish heritage, I feel sorry for those of you, who cannot or will not or feel they should not celebrate if England ‘bring it home’, especially those that support English clubs.

Of course its your right, your privilege and your choice as it is mine to choose to not be defined by past history.