Freedom to Play Soccer

UPDATE: Your humble writer receives links from Mssrs. Reynolds and Micklethwait and Ms. Jackie, at Instapundit, Ubersportingpundit and au currant, respectively.

I’ve never had much use for the term “freedom”. That’s because it’s simply not specific enough in any real political context. Life and liberty, damn right, rights, you bet, property, indubitably, and pursuit of happiness, uh…check. But I’ve always avoided the use of freedom primarily because, rightly or wrongly, I associate the word with wrestling and country music – no offense.

But when I was reading this Reuters story about Afghan girls playing soccer, the political concept of “freedom” was the only word that fit. Liberty is for discussions of privacy, or eminent domain, and somehow not appropriate for discussions of a Kabuli version of Bend it Like Beckham.

Until the overthrow of the Taliban by a U.S.-led coalition in late 2001, women's soccer was out of the question -- indeed women were not even allowed to venture outdoors without clumsy coverall garments called burqas.

And women accused of adultery and other violations of Islamic law were among those publicly executed while kneeling on the goal line at the national stadium.

That horror seems a world away today.

That’s when it hit me like a ton of bricks. In America, where, as Allan Bloom puts it:

“The questions of political principle and of right had been solved once and for all. No further revolution would be necessary, if revolution means changing of the fundamental principles of legitimacy, in accordance with reason and the natural order of things, and requiring armed combat against those who adhere to old orders and their unjust forms of rule.”

We have succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. For the American citizenry, the direct experience of freedom is the common denominator for the polity. Capitalists, union members, farmers, food service workers, etc., they might pursue different, and sometimes competing, ends in the economic sphere; all enjoy freedom when their children play at Little League games together. Within this decided-upon political context arises that wonderful condition we call freedom, and within freedom citizens are defined by their pursuits.

Reuters:

Afghanistan's Football Federation has tried to help, but with limited funds, it can only encourage the girls to continue playing in their own space and time.

"The reality is our society is not yet ready to see Afghan girls play soccer in public," said coach and federation member Habib Ullah Niazai.

"But we will continue to make people aware and hopefully we will have enough funds to help these girls fulfill their dreams."

An appeal for help from abroad has yet to yield any results.

What I was drawn towards was the statement made by the football federation member. I mean – how could a society not yet be ready to see girls play soccer?

The answer is, the Afghans have not yet settled the fundamental political principles which legitimize public activity. No activity will ever be accepted by a polity until they all agree to it. What makes it so hard in Afghanistan right now, are all the competing political ideologies which inform public life, Afghan tradition and identity which include religion, tribe, clan, and monarchy; Western classical liberalism, humanism, and science; atheistic Soviet-era vanguard communism; and finally, radical, Wahabi-inspired Islamism. All of these ideologies compete to set the agenda, have (armed) adherents, and have yet to establish themselves as the legitimate order.

Reuters, of course, makes the (Leftist/Progressive) mistake of identifying the phenomena of organized girls’ soccer as one of “lifestyles” and “social progress” to be solved by greater funding, (from its Internationalista readers around the world, natch). It’s understandable, you see, since Leftist/Progressives have accepted the notion that social progress is a legitimate principle and pursuit for government. That’s why in nations such as Afghanistan, when busy-body Progressives come to their nation and start funding for girls soccer leagues because they are trying to push their agenda for social progress, horrible backlashes against the West ensue – all because nobody really accepts the ideas progressive activists try to ram down their throats.

I don’t do relativism, however. Girls should play soccer. They should all have the chance to be whatever the hell they want to be, and do whatever the hell they want to do. But, and I can’t stress this enough, the only way that can happen is when any given society decides that they want to live in freedom – a risky proposition for most. For Americans, an easy one – we’re the sons and daughters of risk-takers.

And I believe that most people around the world do, in fact, want to live free. Some want to keep them in bondage.

That’s why it fills me with joy to read:

Kabul's Olympic Stadium, a venue of executions during Taliban rule, is often packed with fans watching amateur league games.

And these days, soccer is attracting the most unusual of players: teen-age girls.
Once or twice a week, a dozen girls in black school uniform, black shoes and white headscarves or "chadars" gather in a dusty Kabul school ground surrounded by a high wall for a kick around.

"I like soccer because it is the best sport. It is the king of all sports," puffs Humaira, 17, during a break in the game.

Humaira then goes off and does what two years ago would have been unthinkable during the rule of the fundamentalist Taliban: She removes the white scarf from her head and wraps it around her shoulder and waist.

This allows her to move freely and run faster.

Let us hope that the political principles of the Enlightenment become legitimate in Afghanistan, so that these girls’ freedom becomes a reality, and not just a passing fancy. And it is always worth remembering that these girls would not have a chance at freedom were it not for the United States.

Comments

[Peter]

Just got back from the UK. While there we sought a British soccer souvenir for a soccer-mad 10-year-old nephew back in the States, and thought a tiny soccer outfit for his 20-month-old sister would be cute. In every store we looked, the boys' department was full of Beckham jerseys and other soccer wear all the way down to newborn size, while the girls' departments has no sign whatsoever of soccer clothing at any size. Even in England, it appears, they are not quite ready to display girls playing soccer in public.

[Redux]

I'm not all that surprised, Peter. As far as I know, the U.S. is really the only country which makes has widespread, grassroots girls athletic leagues. Other countries do mount serious challenges to the U.S. in women's soccer, but do so by sorting out all the talented athletes from the general population at a young age, raising and training them as a cadre in some isolated "athelet's village", and then giving them more incentives to play for their nation, including a higher standard of living, greater liberty, etc.

I grew up playing futbol, and the only place that I've ever seen girl's soccer items on display has been in U.S., in specialty stores. That's because for us, the question and appropriateness of women's athletics has been settled.

[Martin Adamson]

Peter: note from a Brit. There is no such thing as "girls" and "boys" soccer clothes. There are just soccer clothes. The girls wear exactly the same kit as the boys, it's just they may have to go to the boys' part of the store to buy it.

[Redux]

Dear Martin,

Thank you for sorting this out. I suppose then, that the UK is much further ahead of us Yanks because of a gender-blind approach to "the beautiful game".

[robert]

the girls NOT must play soccer
soccer id ideas of male

[robert]

the girls dont must play soccer