第1582期：World Cup, Governments, And You

A bad government is like a bad marriage – it makes you feel you are always to blame while it can do no wrong.

A good government is like your dreamboat – it exists only in your adolescent dreams. They are perfect only because they are gone and beyond your reach. It’s but a mirage you imagined with libido and adrenalin.

A regular government, neither very good nor too bad, is like a football referee. Every time he whistles, there are boos and cheers simultaneously. But never mind; Referees are entitled to blow whistles – it’s their job. The audience is there to woo or boo – it’s the fun per se.

A great government, eh – there is nothing like that in this world.

A government, at best, would be like a world-class football referee – no one feels or realizes their existence. The match goes on smoothly as if there were no referee – no one gets hurt, no one receives cards, and no one needs to blow the whistle (no pun intended here.)

After you watch a match, you either like or dislike it, but you won’t say, “The match is wonderful because the referee is great. I like the referee. I love the referee. Long live the referee.”

Come back to the sane world. You will think Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is great. That’s natural, but no one is there to enjoy or admire the referees.

Watching several hot matches, I can’t help but ponder several things:

• Most referees are mediocre, but no one blames them as long as they do their job. A mediocre referee is better than most governments.

• Most games were full of surprises, which are pleasant if you are not gambling on the matches. The joy comes with beer and junk food, but not money.

• Some moments are exciting, but the excitement only belongs to the winning teams. It vanishes quickly, however intensive it may be. The show must go on.

• None of the games is our business, but watching the World Cup is one of the few occasions when we can justifiably mind others’ business.

• Everything is out of our control and that of the players too. Leave it or lump it. That’s the best we can do.

• One team will kiss the cup at the end of the game, but no one dares to keep the trophy forever, destroy it, sell it for money, or refuse to give it back after four years.

• To qualify for World Cup matches, one must kick the ball better than others and abide by the rules so that others agree to play with you.

• No matter the result, every team is eager to return to the next game four years out.

• For some, the game is their debut; for some, their swan song. Life is no different. Every day, new lives are born, and old souls can’t stay.

• It’s a game, after all. It’s life, too.