USA Unites Over Sports and Little Else

Fair warning to any and all readers. This post is a tad more cynical then usual. 

The modern political division of the United States arguably began with the Nixon-Kennedy election in the 1960s. Hippies vs. Workers. Left vs. Right. Pro-choice vs. Pro-life. Liberal vs. Conservative. Thanks to our government, political parties, and the mass media this is how most, if not all, questions are framed. There are only two sides to every issue. Rarely, especially over the last decade, do both sides come to a consensus and/or compromise.

Yet there are moments of unity. The people gave a collective cheer for the moon landing. Watched the Berlin wall crumble together through televised broadcasts. They worked as one during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and took to the streets celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden ten years later. Most recently sports fans, from all parts of society, decried the NFL behemoth for failing to negotiate with the professional referee union.

Take a look at the last paragraph. It speaks volumes to the value system we have in this nation. There are a host of issues, both domestic and abroad, that require action. There is unrest in the Middle East. The EU is in dire trouble, and Europeans are rioting in the streets. The recession may technically be over (the GDP has not declined for two or more consecutive quarters), but the aftermath is still baring down strong on the American people. Infrastructure and education are still in decline. Unions are losing their collective bargaining rights. Minorities face new discrimination in the guise of voter ID laws. Debates continue about women's reproductive rights. We can't even agree if health care is a privilege or a right.

The nation has a hell of a time uniting to tackle any of the above, but can rally with the best of them once their precious sport is jeopardized. People flocked to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. The mass media jumped on this story as if it was a cure for cancer. Both candidates for President chimed in as well. All agreed that the professional referees were preferred over the amateurs, and that the NFL should do what is needed to make that happen.

We can agree about referees in a multi-billion dollar industry, but we can't form a consensus about numerous issues that are infinitely more important. Even recent events, like NASA successful landing of Curiosity on Mars, seems insignificant to the masses when compared to the fervor over NFL refs. Americans will unite in times of war. We will marvel at our own progress. And we will most definitely have a fair and balanced football game every Sunday. Everything else is open to endless debate.