World Cup celebrations: Respect is a two-way street

Despite the struggles immigrants face while living in a foreign country, there are

cultural aspects that can transport them back to the homeland, among them – especially in the case of Brazilians – the passion for soccer.

With the World Cup underway, the love for the sport becomes even more visible to the eyes of our neighbors because the fervor and the joy of the Brazilians will surely be demonstrated, wherever they are.

Numerous comments were posted on the NewsTimes website and on Facebook concerning the celebration of Brazil’s victory over North Korea on June 15. The contents of those comments, however, were discriminatory and irresponsible, in my opinion.

We all have the right to an opinion, but it is necessary to be cautious and to avoid generalizations that inflame prejudice, particularly when it comes to celebrations involving children and youth commemorating their culture, in this case, strongly associated with the love of soccer. Many of those children who came out on the streets, buoyed by their parents’ euphoria, are United States citizens. Children that, according to some of the online comments, should have their parents, relatives and friends picked up by immigration (ICE) while parading along the streets.

We are talking about individuals who work hard to provide their families with a better and more dignified life. Individuals whose contributions to the growth of our economy are overshadowed by the biased comments about the way they display their pride of being Brazilian.

In Brazilian culture, soccer is a synonym for passion and unity. Not only in Brazil, but all over the globe as well, soccer brings races, ethnicities and nationalities together, all embedded in the same excitement.

While we know that the laws that rule the country where we chose to live must be obeyed, we must also remember that respect is a two-way street. For that reason, the deep meaning behind the Brazilian celebrations must also be considered and respected.

Last Sunday, June 20, after Brazil’s victory over the Ivory Coast team, I went out into the streets to observe the celebration that took place on Main Street in Danbury. As I drove by the Public Library, the energy and the thrill of the Brazilian people was simply contagious. A small group of fellow Brazilians carried with great pride a gigantic flag from Brazil, displaying our yellow and green as they passed by.

Far away from home, the love for one’s country often erupts with greater intensity. What I witnessed that day was an immeasurable amount of love and respect for Brazil. I am aware of some incidents with folks that took their enthusiasm to excess and acted erroneously. For that reason, I would like to ask my fellow Brazilians that when approached by a police officer during the World Cup celebrations, please act respectfully, listen to them and avoid confrontation, because your actions may influence the outcome of that stop.

Every festivity requires control, and sometimes people allow themselves to be carried away by the joy – and this is when they tend to make mistakes. But even when that is the case, I believe it does not justify the offensive criticism – and even threats – against the Brazilian community made over the past weeks. If we preach respect and civility, as many of the online users did in their comments, we must first set an example.

As a Brazilian, my heart carries the same pride for my roots and I know that it is impossible to remain unmoved by each victory of our Brazilian soccer team in the World Cup. Many of our fellow Brazilians translate those victories as their own personal conquests – this is one of the reasons why their celebrations are so full of emotion.

Let us all cultivate tolerance and understanding, because everything in life is part of a learning process. Let us celebrate in a healthy and wise way, being always aware of the laws that must be followed. Nevertheless, I want once again to emphasize that respect is a two-way street!

I wish all great enjoyment of the rest of the World Cup tournament and to my fellow Brazilians – let’s go get our six-time world championship in 2010!