World Cup question, from an American

[hrhomer]

I've never been a fan of soccer, or football for the rest of the world, but I have quite enjoyed the World Cup so far.

I have seen a TV ad for the World Cup, with Bono from U2 narrating, basically stating that this is a transcendent event in all of human history... "Wars stop. Business stops." Blah Blah Blah.

How true is this? I understand all of Trinidad & Tobago taking a sick day to watch their match, but "Wars Stop?" Gimme a friggin break!

I understand the fanaticism, but is Bono engaging in a bit of hyperbole here?

Joe

 

[CurtSibling]

Think of your 'Superbowl'.

Now times it by ten, and add the whole world.

Now you have the idea...

PS
Personally, I hate the event.

.

 

[Alpine Trooper]

Someone needs to put a hit out on Bono.

 

[CurtSibling]

Someone needs to put a hit out on Bono.

I am available, for the right price.

(the price being a pizza)

.

 

[civaddict098]

Bono isint kidding. I belive there have been wars in the past that have paused for soccer.

And if im not mistaking a civil war in the Ivory Coast is on hold for the world cup. http://www.eurosport.com/football/africa-2006/2004/sport_sto775940.shtml

 

[Masquerouge]

Business certainly stops (people taking 2 hours off work to watch their team playing is not unheard of, to say the least), but not war.

 

[Alpine Trooper]

I am available, for the right price.

(the price being a pizza)

.

What type of Pizza?

 

[Mr. Do]

Hyperbole, from Bono? Surely not!

Quick, someone organise another massive concert so that he and tonnes of other popstars can prove how much they care about the poor (And also boost sales of their own music 100 fold).

Football's even been known to cause a war in its time, too...

 

[CurtSibling]

What type of Pizza?

One Cajun Chicken Stuffed Crust™, and the crappy singer is history!

 

[hrhomer]

Think of your 'Superbowl'.

Now times it by ten, and add the whole world.
.

Yeah, I've heard that. But it doesn't answer my question I simply can't imagine (for example) USA cancelling the Normandy invasion for the World Cup! I exaggerate by a factor of 10, perhaps, but my point is, has a war been "paused" for some sporting event?

 

[Alpine Trooper]

One Cajun Chicken Stuffed Crust™, and the crappy singer is history!

I couldn't morally order a Pizza from Pizza Hut.

 

[hrhomer]

Bono isint kidding. I belive there have been wars in the past that have paused for soccer.

And if im not mistaking a civil war in the Ivory Coast is on hold for the world cup. http://www.eurosport.com/football/africa-2006/2004/sport_sto775940.shtml

Thanks for the cite! That's what I was angling for.

Joe

 

[civaddict098]

but in reality, soccer unfortunitly isint powerfull enough to cause more than a cease fire, here is an intresting link.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/02/AR2006060201401.html

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

wars have been put on hold before. in WWI, the allies and central powers gout out of their trenches, drank coffee, and played soccer with eachother one day, and went back to fighting eachother the next day. That was when the war was a gentlemen's way of sorting things out, not a hatred conflict you get today. thats how genocides start, hatred. With mutual respect between you and your enemy, the world can get on with buisness

 

[CaptainF]

I believe that according to Wikipedia, both sides of the Angolan Civil War in the early 70's took a 48 hour cease fire to see Pele play a ball game with his team in some Angolan city.

 

[greekguy]

I believe that according to Wikipedia, both sides of the Angolan Civil War in the early 70's took a 48 hour cease fire to see Pele play a ball game with his team in some Angolan city.

It was the city of Lagos, according to the Concise History of the World from National Geographic.

 

[CaptainF]

It was the city of Lagos, according to the Concise History of the World from National Geographic.

Lagos is in Nigeria.

 

[CaptainF]

Ah! I finally worked up the gumption to check Wiki, and it was the NIGERIAN civil war. My bad.

 

[blackheart]

wars have been put on hold before. in WWI, the allies and central powers gout out of their trenches, drank coffee, and played soccer with eachother one day, and went back to fighting eachother the next day. That was when the war was a gentlemen's way of sorting things out, not a hatred conflict you get today. thats how genocides start, hatred. With mutual respect between you and your enemy, the world can get on with buisness

You mean no war prior to WW1 had genocides in them?

And soccer/football is the world's biggest sport, I'd bet people are fanatic about it.

 

[skadistic]

wars have been put on hold before. in WWI, the allies and central powers gout out of their trenches, drank coffee, and played soccer with eachother one day, and went back to fighting eachother the next day. That was when the war was a gentlemen's way of sorting things out, not a hatred conflict you get today. thats how genocides start, hatred. With mutual respect between you and your enemy, the world can get on with buisness

It was christmas when that happened.