Fr Joe Borg
Winning at any cost?
Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer eyes the ball crossing the goal- line during the game against England on June 27. The goal was disallowed. Photo: AFP
Thanks to Spain, Manuel Neuer, the goalkeeper of the German national team, will not get the chance to hold the World Cup this evening. During this year's edition of the World Cup, he gained notoriety following the disallowed goal in the game against England.
The whole world saw England's Frank Lampard scoring a beautiful goal. But the people who counted - the referee and the assistant referees - did not see it. The goal was not given.
The reaction to this incident proves the validity of my article 'A technology for every ill' in this column two weeks ago.
Immediately after the incident, everyone sought salvation in technology. Technology could have saved the day, everyone said. Even Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who has been foolishly resisting the use of technology, had to concede that enough is enough and that something should now be done.
But in the worldwide discussion, the most essential point of the action was lost amid the din of vuvuzelas. The goal was disallowed not only because there was no goal- line technology, nor because the officials did not see the ball crossing the line.
The goal was disallowed because Neuer cheated. He saw the ball crossing the line but quickly carried on as if nothing had happened and managed to fool the referee. Had he behaved ethically and honestly it would have been a totally different story. Not only did he cheat during the game, he bragged about it afterwards.
The discussion should not have been about technology but about ethics. Are there areas of human behaviour where cheating should be allowed, rewarded and considered to be the object of praise? Is a success based on cheating acceptable?
Some accept cheating in financial matters and call it 'business'. The world is in a sorry state of affairs because of this attitude. Others justify cheating at one's place of work, saying that they are 'Earning something extra for the family'. The result is inefficiency, and places of work are threatened.
Some justify cheating on one's marital partner, saying one should not discard an occasional 'golden opportunity'. Families are regularly broken as a result. The list can go on.
What happened during the England vs Germany game showed that cheating is socially acceptable if it leads to success, which is considered by many as the ultimate criterion of what is right or wrong.
The story of football is peppered with such incidents. Diego Maradona and Thierry Henry are two clamorous examples.
Supporters tend to accept cheating when it favours their side but condemn it strongly when their side is the victim.
These football examples are symptomatic of a society where living double lives is justified.
Peter Singer, in an interesting article which inspired me to write this article, wrote that good examples of ethical behaviour abound in cricket. But he found just one example of a footballer telling the referee that the penalty which was to be awarded to his team was not a penalty.
I know of another example. Christina, a 10-year-old girl, is a goalkeeper with a football nursery team. If she touches the ball before it goes over the goal-line she points to the corner flag even if the referee would have awarded her team a goal kick. She is criticised by her friends for doing so.
It is not easy to behave ethically when the fruits of success are easily available if one cheats. This is why ethics is more important than technology for people to live happily, though technology can help by forcing us to act ethically.
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Joe Xuereb
Jul 13th 2010, 18:28
Andrew Farrugia
If ever you need a listening ear - but religion best kept off the menu.
Joe (sincerely)
guzexuereb@hotmail.com
Andrew Farrugia
Jul 13th 2010, 14:32
@ XUEREB
This is the last time i will comment on anything anyone has written. I do not think i will be missed. Definitely, Xuereb i agree wholeheartedly with what you wrote in your last four lines and i understood them perfectly. So you see that at times there can be not just brushing but strong convergence. I also wish you well; take care of yourself. Maybe, just maybe, that non-alcoholic beer, who knows.
Alfred Camilleri
Jul 13th 2010, 10:33
Bravo Fr. Borg. So Manuel Neuer is a cheater, along with Maradona and Thierry Henry, but not Geoff Hurst. If we are to condemn cheaters, the least we can do is be consistent, not pick on those whom we are biased against and exonerate the more blatant ones, whom we happen to be partial to. It's a pity that 10 year old goalkeeper was not around in 1966. She would have, undoubtedly, pointed out to the officials of the England - Germany WC final, that Hurst's shot which hit the crossbar never crossed the goaline and was no goal at all. Don't you think that Hurst and the whole England team for that matter, were cheaters?.
In case you are wondering, I am anything but a fan of the German national team. I am not sure, however, that I do not smell an aura of the Three Lions somewhere around your good self. 'Supporters tend to accept cheating when it favours their side but condemn it strongly when their side is the victim' Quote from Fr Joe. How very true. Excuse the pun, but please practise what you preach.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 13th 2010, 01:26
Oh dear! Having a turn are we? Andrew, your comment at a glance looked embraceable so I read it all. I picked up your worry about where Malta was heading and I retorted by agreeing with you. And I get abused for my efforts. But that's OK. You ask me what's the problem. Perhaps the problem lies somewhere in, and I quote: 'i believe in sacrificing myself for others'. I know the feeling well Andrew. I too was indoctrinated to believe that to love oneself is selfish and therefore sinful. Many take this philosophy to the grave, never having been told that to love oneself, in modern parlance, is to have a heightened sense of self-esteem. I can imagine sacrificing oneself for one's children is possible, even desirable. Got anybody else, I'm afraid it's often a case of 'stooping and picking up nothing'.
Andrew, I recall you mentioned forgiveness. My take on the matter is that forgiveness undermines the generous spirit if the misdemeanour is not acknowledged. It is not unlike the respect issue - it has to be merited. Above all else, remember life is difficult for everyone regardless of the route we take. Take care man.
Andrew Farrugia
Jul 12th 2010, 15:32
@ XUEREB
Look, you believe that you should invest in what is truly yours, ie yourself; fine and dandy, continue to do so, no one is stopping you. On the other hand, i believe in sacrificing myself for others (and by that i do not intend bricks and mortar, which by their very nature are ephemeral), and no one is stopping me from doing so. Where is the problem?
Joe Xuereb
Jul 12th 2010, 13:54
One weeps for his country. The other weeps for his fides Fido. He would love to laugh with the patriot. But the patriot laughs at the saintly, mortgage-strapped Fido..
(I think there's a poem in the making there, somewhere). In the meantime, it really isn't worth commenting further.
But before I go, I pity these fools strapping themselves in invested bricks and mortar, heavy mortgage payments. They delude themselves so that their children will inherit the earth. I doubt it. I really do. These days I invest in the only thing that's truly mine. Myself. Let the rest fight over whatever it is they hold dear (here again, the genesis of a poem, a work of art that would overshadow any Stitching).
I'm famous for writing more after I sign off than before (I sign off). I have so much to say, forever evolving, exciting. What don't they understand my little lambs?
Andrew Farrugia
Jul 11th 2010, 23:49
@ XUEREB
The least i can hope is that you read all i have written here carefully, though i doubt it since you yourself stated that once you know where it is coming from you ignore it (note i am not using quote marks, merely paraphrasing). Well, what can i say to you Xuereb, a number of things in fact:
* at times i honestly fail to understand what you write;
* you have many times challenged me to come clean and put my cards on the table; maybe you have obtained some insight into my being;
* though i am never elated, and am frequently subject to bouts of anger and pessimism, i consider myself blessed, and for this I thank God and my parents and my family;
* as i told you previously i do not consider you my enemy, despite appearances to the contrary, and maybe one day i will stand you a beer, even low alcohol, but not at the Premier.
Finally, if i make you laugh, so much the better, don't you think?
Joe Xuereb
Jul 11th 2010, 21:41
Quote: 'I have taken up too much space and I will conclude'. Famous last words. If only! How I'd miss the laughs.
Farrugia, you describe societies and those that make it up to a T. They do indeed need to be educated. They're not yet aware there's such a thing. They're not allowed to know the truth. In the meantime they are self-obsessed but, when asked, they fudge something about god and 'they believe in something'. In a spiritual moment they'll even claim 'I was put here for a purpose' and rummage some more inside their hold-all. godless lives but not my idea of atheists.
I had to laugh. All these doom-laden prognostications to daddy, quote: 'ultimately allow strong, unified and determined other cultures driven by an implacable soul to annihilate us or to swallow us up. Pessimism at its worst?'. Preaching to the converted are we? Pessimism as antidote maybe? Ahseb il-hazin halli t-tajjeb qatt ma jonqos? Daddy got there first so nul points for Malta's own Nostradamus. http://www.timesofmalta.com/blogs/view/20090509/fr-joe-borg/should-there-be-more-mosques-in-malta
Daddy, oh! daddy, why hast thou beaten me to the post?
Quote: 'hypocritical, incoherent, irresponsible, unreliable, lazy, self-indulgent '. Quite! And in the least expected quarters to boot nudge! nudge!
Andrew Farrugia
Jul 11th 2010, 15:25
Errata corrige
When i gave examples of "cattivi maestri" i inadvertently left out one particular group: the media and advertisers.
Andrew Farrugia
Jul 11th 2010, 14:53
(contd)
I have taken up too much space and will conclude. When i go over my life i realise how lucky or blessed i have been. I had a reasonably happy childhood and a rebellious youth under the strict governance of a father (whom i still miss) and a mother who were far from perfect but who by hook or by crook knocked some sense into me, and now i have a wife and two kids who, despite the ups and downs of everyday life, provide me each day with an inkling of what eternal happiness is all about. What i worry about (no need really as i will not be here at the time, but i am not selfish) is that my great granchildren will find themselves having to suffer all the devilish exploits of what Fabrizio De Andre (an atheist) referred to when he described humanity: "un porco laureato in matematica pura". Can you imagine the evils which humanity can inflict on itself if passions, instincts and lusts remain unchecked and our God-given intelligence is allowed to run riot. It scares me and i feel justified in repeating Kurtz's words: "The horror, the horror" (Conrad: Heart of Darkness).
Andrew Farrugia
Jul 11th 2010, 14:39
(contd)
I know i am generalising; however, why is it that kids of fourteen or fifteen have already "partaken of all the world has to offer" and are bored stiff with their lives? The post-modern solution is to educate. Educate in what sense? In telling five year olds all about sex and thus remove the last flimsy vestiges of innocence? Is this what some sages suggest? Rebellious kids, I said, of course, because they have been brought up to expect something which is theirs by right and it has not happened and they see that adults are even more obsessed with their mindless pursuit of instant gratification and zany thrills. This is what is happening. The rebellious tendency of youth is natural and stimulating but adult irresponsibility, narcissism and self-indulgence is unpardonable. We are no longer shocked by anything that happens; oh yes, we hear about some tragedy or other and say "poor people, how sad, what a waste" and before we even have time to reflect a bit we are off, madly chasing our latest succubus in order to feel good once again. (contd)
Andrew Farrugia
Jul 11th 2010, 14:22
(contd) Yes total obsession with self, and stopping at nothing to achieve our goals. Our Western civilisation will go the same way of previous great civilisations; it is hurtling heading to self-destruction in a myriad of ways - lack of cohesion within societies, falling birth-rates, the stultifying inability to agree on principles of great import and substance, which will ultimately allow strong, unified and determined other cultures driven by an implacable soul to annihilate us or to swallow us up. Pessimism at its worst? Perhaps. But look at the Machiavels among us: forever bragging about how the end justifies the means - i will cheat in order to achieve that which i lust for, and let no one and nothing come between me and my 'holy grail'; after all (vulgar Maltese) "min he,,, mexa". Excuse me once again. And why is this so, Father? We have all failed, we have been "cattivi maestri" - politicians, teachers, priests, parents, all those who were/ are entrusted to administer to the common good. We have been hypocritical, incoherent, irresponsible, unreliable, lazy, self-indulgent and we have reaped a whirlwind, a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions. (contd)
Andrew Farrugia
Jul 11th 2010, 14:11
Spot on Father; you used the example of what happens in football today in order to reflect on the highly individualistic, self-satisfying, nihilistic, and relativist attitudes which will ultimately lead to the unravelling and fragmentation of what we refer to as civilisation. Bear with me please. Within a space of eighty to a hundred years the European Union will be no more; haven't you noticed such signs of fragmentation in Belgium? What about Spain and its regional aspirations, which have temporarily been put on the back burner by the country's success in football? The much-maligned Bossi enjoys ever increasing popularity in his quest for "Padania Nostra". And we could go on and on. Self-determination! The vindication of the right to choose! Today, the individual deludes himself/herself that they have become masters of their own destiny by constantly and loudly clamouring for what they consider to be their rights without even bothering to assume the slightest responsibility. "This is my life; we only live once; in the end we all have to die, so might as well enjoy life to the max; those who passed away never came back. (contd.)
Franco Farrugia
Jul 11th 2010, 11:21
What is ethics? Where does it come from? What is ethical today is not so tomorrow. Does ethics come from any Institutions that has been around for almost two thousand years? By the fruits we know you: so, the answer is no!