A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics and how the coming together of nations in peace has always been a fuel of sorts for me.
In spite of competing before practically empty stadiums (stadia, for you Latin students) and arenas, and braving the hassles that come with Covid caution, the athletes performed admirably. One particular story caught my attention: the US and Iran facing off on the basketball court.
This was a classic example of how, when humans are put in a context where mutual interests are shared, their humanity wins the day over any existing differences or even animosities. Ever since the taking of the US embassy in Tehran by Iranian revolutionaries in 1979, the two nations have been at odds as their governments have continued to pursue seemingly diametrically opposed idealogical paths. Mind you, I do not take these differences lightly; they are real and cannot be circumvented.
But here on the court, players were exchanging warm handshakes and even compliments. To quote the AP report as seen on The World, "... the Americans didn't spend any time before the game discussing how the meeting between the nations might be perceived in diplomatic circles."
As Iranian center Hamed Haddadi put it,
"We're just here to play basketball."
If only there were more opportunities for this type of exchange. Because, truth be told, Iranians -- as well as Chinese, Russians, North Koreans -- are humans first. And just as you and I might bristle when foreigners put all Americans in the same stereotypical categories, we are sometimes foolish enough to do the very same thing with those whom our governments consider as adversaries.
Most people just want to play basketball.