Receiver

The "receiver" — and one listener found himself in considerable difficulty. That, at least, is what I understood when I saw the word coming at me this morning through the few open folds of my brain.

The idea that a warm welcome, a heartfelt embrace at a train station or airport, could be replaced by a device — how cold-blooded is that, really? I won’t leave that kind of human impulse to a machine, or worse: to AI. Not a chance. That’s still one of the advantages that makes humanity so singular and strange. Yes, strange. It is particular to Homo Sapiens to receive foreign beings with openness. I believe the precise word is “humanism,” if I remember correctly.

This week, the receiving of foreign guests begins in three countries across the American continent. Mexico, Canada, and the United Magnates of America. Football and its players celebrate a championship meant to bring people from around the world together. That usually works — at least before the match. Millions of people will attend one or more games in person, as spectators. Guests will sleep in hotels, eat in restaurants, buy souvenirs. The economy gets hoisted into rather profitable territory.

At least, that’s how it’s gone before, when a country — or as here, several countries — puts itself forward as host. After having competed for the privilege, hard-nosed and in hard currency.

The receiver-nations Mexico, Canada, and the USA are switched on and awaiting their guests. Hurrah.

Hold on — my receiver is stuttering. Apparently something isn’t running quite as smoothly as hoped at the border to the United States of America. The Somali FIFA referee Omar Artan is declared unwelcome and sent back home. Entry denied. Football teams at the Football World Cup are received at airports like criminals. And Canada practises its dignified silence.

As a Swiss-Canadian, I was looking forward to the excitement, the nerves, and the anticipation of my favourite teams doing their cheerful football-kicking. But that joy is running into reception problems. No, no — the joy in the kicking teams and in the reactions of the crowds in the stadiums is still there.

But the bitter taste of practised fascism makes itself known a little more strongly each day. And that taste I have never liked.

Holy smokes.

I’ll adjust my receiver at once. Reset it a little. The joy of football fans at these world-championship matches will hopefully be peaceful, fantastic, and above all welcoming.

In all three countries.

That’s what my hope-receiver says — and it lets me follow the matches.

From a distance. At a screen.

GOAAAAAL

!