The story goes that the former and last dictator of Portugal, Salazar when asked what was necessary to rule the country responded with the three “Fs:” football, Fatima and fado. He was saying that all that he needed to control the country was sports, religion and music. Fatima, of course, stood for the religious element. The town of Fatima was where the famous three Catholic children were supposed to have seen a vision and had a message from the Virgin Mary. The apparition event took place just prior to WW1. Portuguese tradition has it that Mary’s appearance at Fatima and the public’s embracing response was the reason that Portugal was able to remain neutral during the war.
The “ F” for fado stood for the typical sad folk music popular in Portugal at the time, while the “F” for football, obviously, stood for sports. During those years Benfica was Portugal’s greatest football team and Eusebio, a famous striker, was the star. When a famous Italian team offered Eusebio a large contract to come play in Italy, Salazar prohibited it saying that Eusebio was a national treasure. Salazar knew the value of football over the masses and kept their star at home. We all remember the words of Karl Marx who said that religion was the opiate of the masses. Salazar amplified the opiate to include the music and sports industries which at the time of Salazar were still in their infancy in comparison with today. But of course the Romans and Greeks had used sports in the same way. In the time of Rome’s decline it is said that the people demanded more circus and bread as Rome was being surrounded by its enemies.
Today we could amplify the list of opiates further and include the giant central commercial centers where thousands rush every weekend to shop for the things that money can buy. These are the new temples of mammon, where the faithful go to worships the new idols. We buy gadgets that give us more time on the internet where we can watch more sports, music or religious events, have internet sex or watch movies that practice it. And yet all our things and momentary pleasure still do not satisfy the deepest yearning of our soul for truth, love and eternal happiness. Like John has said:
Love not the world neither the things of the world for all that is of the world, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, is not of the father but of the world. And the world passes away and the lust thereof, but whosoever doeth the will of God abideth for ever.[1]
Jesus went on to say, “A man’s life consists not in the abundance of things which he possesses.”[2] James put it a different way. He said,
“Whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not,…, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”[3]
James is saying here that if we are lusting after the things of the world, or living for them only, we are committing spiritual adultery with the world. That is why we will never be ultimately happy. Man is not just a physical being. He is spiritual being and he must seek first his spiritual needs. As Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”[4] “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”[5] In the Old Testament the Lord said through Isaiah,
“Why do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And you labour for that which satisfies not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline you ear, and come unto me: hear and your soul shall live.”[6]
Man is constantly trying to find happiness in the things that are not eternal and therefore in the end do not bring ultimate happiness. His amusements help him escape from the predicament he finds himself. They help him escape his life without meaning and purpose. They help him escape the daily grind of making a living and acquiring more things. In the end, he ends up empty wondering if this is all there is to life. “Eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die.” He spends his time trying to take care of and satisfy his body and its needs and desires, while neglecting his spirit, his eternal soul which will last for eternity. Like the old poem “He Fed His Body But Starved His Soul.”
There was a man that some folks called great, said he’d done good, had graveled with fate. He’d won some fame and some riches, too. But in the crowd there were those that knew; the soul of him so miserably small, that real greatness he knew not at all. For all through life he had missed the real goal, he fed his body but starved his soul.
He had no time for the little things, that so much peace and contentment brings; a faithful friend or a child’s tender look, a promise sweet from the dear Old Book, a little talk with a Friend Divine, a little walk where the wild flowers wind. He was just half a man, not well rounded, whole; who fed his body but starved his soul.
And when that day of accounting came and God’s own time death called his name; then the poor, frail, worthless, empty shell, he groomed and fed and tended so well, was left behind just an earth bound clod, while his shriveled soul went to face his God. All unprepared and paid the full toll, for he had fed his body and starved his soul.
So come my friend and take time today, to read God’s word and walk in His ways. We’ll follow the trail that higher goes, to regions where the soul larger grows. You’ll never hear them say of you then, just one of the common herd of men. So if you would be well rounded and whole, read God’s word to nourish your soul. [6a]
Are you feeding your physical body with food and drink and entertainments of the flesh to the full while your spirit is empty and longing for satisfaction? Do you feel like Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones’ famous song, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction!"[7] I can not get any satisfaction because all I am trying to do is satisfy the flesh. But the trouble is that the flesh is never satisfied. It always wants more and more is never enough. Like the proverbs say, “The eyes of man are never satisfied.”[8] No matter how many beautiful woman a man has seen, he will always look at another one. Like the rich Romans in the time of Rome’s great wealth and abundance who would attend banquets full of food and sex and alcohol. They would eat to the filling of their stomachs only to vomit it all up so they could fill it once again. Like some of the scandals of recent times of rich politicians or wealthy business well in years seeking sex with young girls hardly 18 years of age. The flesh is never satisfied, it always wants more. But as Jesus said, “The flesh profits nothing.”[8b]
But in this article I wanted to look at the World Cup and Olympics and see what kind of affect they have on the economies of the countries that host the games. I also wanted to see if these sports events are part of the spiritual web woven to catch men within its borders and prohibit them from finding the way, the truth and the life. John Perkins’ Confessions of an Economic Hitman which we have talked about earlier, talks of the infrastructure contracts that third world countries are forced to accept from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.[8c] These contracts ultimately leave the country poorer than when they started. Are FIFA and the Olympic project part of the great financial sorcery to bind heavier burdens of the poor economies of the world in order to keep those economies and those peoples submissive to the international bankers?
Some time ago I did a study on the Google about the countries who had hosted World Cup and Olympic events. Two of the articles I found I have linked at the end of this post. I had seen the affects of these games in Portugal and Spain where the government invested large amounts loaned from Europe. These loans went to improve infra-structure and to build the needed stadiums in the hope of reaping the financial benefits of the games. In the end we found out that the financial benefits hardly warranted such a financial investment, and the government and people were left with a big financial loan to pay back.
That’s why we saw the manifestations in Brazil before the World Cup games as some have realized the games bring little relief to the poor and needy. They only serve to increase the wealth of the wealthy through construction contracts with some cities left with stadiums they do not know how they will pay off nor maintain. But since football is part of the web to keep men caught, as Salazar so confessed, the Internationals keep Sports as a high priority on their agenda. They want a pacific populace. They want a population which will not rise up against their masters, the financial elite. They want a population that will submit and adhere to the financial injustices perpetrated against them. They bind heavy burdens grievous to be born and they themselves touch not the burdens with one finger.[9] The bankers and politicians create big national debts and then expect the population to pay it back to them. Something is wrong with this picture, but the silent majority willingly goes to the slaughter. Sports is one of today’s opiates that keep them walking in submission to their corrupt leaders.
One of the problems today though is the Muslim youth, many of whom have not integrated into the Western society. They remain aloof and therefore out of control through the normal methods of manipulation. The religious element usually helps governments control their populations. They gain financial or influential favors because of their cooperation with the government. But radical Islamic movements from the Middle East embittered by the events that have occurred there are in this case feeding rebellion and violent acts of aggression as we have recently seen in France. Maybe that's why the next World Cup will be held in the Middle East, to counter that radical Islamic movement and bring those up and coming youths under Fifa's conformist influence.
Of course FIFA always justifies the extra expense for the host country, saying it is good for the countries pride and national identity. Local government politicians will also parrot FIFA’s mantra knowing that big money coming into the country will mean contracts for their friends and supporters and something more in their own pockets. In the end FIFA always manages to walk away richer than before, while the host country almost always has a great burden to pay at the end and often some “white elephant” stadiums that are a burden on the local economy. In recent years only Germany and the USA have had World Cup or Olympic events in which they have managed to break even. Many countries are waking up to the fact that the World Cup and Olympics are bad business.
But the truth is that for generations governments have used sports as a way to distract the population and keep them content. Sports are an amusement. They keep men from thinking about their own problems and their own inability to change their world for the better. A man may have a poor and miserable job and life, but he can find self esteem in his favorite champion who helps his team to victory over their rival. The spectator gains euphoria through the victory his team meets on the playing field. His mind is distracted from his own wretched condition and he finds a sense of meaning in his favorite champion and team.
Interestingly enough, the word amusement means “away from thinking.” During those two hours of the spectacle the fan is not thinking about his problems, but is absorbed in the game on the field, as if he himself is playing. He forgets his problems and worries and dissatisfaction with life and his government and for those moments he is amused. The word “muse” comes from the Greek for “to think” or “to ponder.” As in the word “atheist” the “a” before a word is used as a negative. A theist is a person who believes in God. An atheist is a person who does not believe in God. “Muse” means to think or ponder. “Amuse” means to not think or ponder or to be away from thinking or pondering. We seek out amusements for that very reason. They help us get away from thinking about our problems whatever they may be.
Karl Marx predicted that the poor man would eventually turn against the rich and over throw their unjust rule over the poor. Why has not this prediction come to pass when the poor far outnumber the rich? As the Caesars of Rome and as Salazar of Portugal confessed and the elite of the world know, amusements whether they be music, sports or religious events are important to control the masses and govern a nation. The rich have learned they need to share a bit of their wealth with the poor to keep him content and passively submissive. Today we have the middle class, but many believe the economic advances made in the past are today being lost. We also have politicians who are suppose to be attentive to the needs and wants of their constituents, but are actually controlled by big money and big money’s interests. As in the past it seems like it continues to be a sad day for the poor man. But let’s not think about it too much, isn't there a game today. I could surely use a beer. Are you game?
For more information look at the following links: Is Housing the World Cup Worth it Any More?
[1] 1John 2:15-17
[2] Mark 8
[3] James 4:1-4
[4] Matthew 6:33
[5] Matthew 4: 4
[6] Isaiah 55:2,3a
[6a]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciSAMY9c--A
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7pb1iGcmc4
[8] Proverbs 27:20b
[8b] John 6:63
[8c] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWuAct1BxHU
[9] Luke 11:46
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