To carry on with yesterday's theme, today was the day that the Americans fired over 50 missiles into Syria, apparently targeting the Syrian air base from where the recent chemical attack was launched.
In 1982 I was enthralled by the World Cup and the tension between the English and Argentinian fans because of the Falklands War wasn't something that really made sense to me in the way that it should have. It was just two sets of supporters who didn't like each other. Brazil were playing in the World Cup and even though I saw the news about the war, how could it really be more important than the World Cup to a 9 year old.
In April 1986 America launched air strikes against Libya. It was close to home and got even closer when Libya fired a missile towards the American base on the island of Lampedusa. As terrible as it seemed I looked forward to the World Cup in Mexico a couple of months later.
And today? For completely different reasons, and different emotions, I want Saturday to come and football to be back on tv. Because I don't care? No. Because I don't want to face up to this becoming anything bigger and football is an easy, thoughtless distraction. In 1982 and 1986 I didn't really get it. And do I now? It still doesn't make any sense. People are dying everyday and the politicians meet and talk about it. And then somebody else fires some more bombs. I may not completely get it, but it does hit me more than it did when I was 9.
I don't ignore. I don't downplay the seriousness of what is going on. But football is simpler.
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