A Beautiful, United World
Summer always has a special taste. This summer in particular is special, with the World Cup taking place in Germany and diverting attention from the horrible events elsewhere. However, we will keep to football because it is a safe subject and because of the ideal it carries. We also have good news about our magazine and its website.
The world cup signifies a number of human aspirations: it presents the nations of the world as united. Teams from different countries and continents are competing in a good spirit, with the aim of being first but also of taking part along side other nations.
There is a good faith in the unity of people of different nations and a joy of showing human capacities for work and pleasure. This unity is extended to spectators and television audiences across the globe. It also displays the diversity of techniques, cultures and mode of behaviour, not only among players, but also among supporters.
One disadvantage of our age of multi-media is that it tends to blear the distinctions and lead to stereotypes (or what we can term the McDonald Effect).
Finally, it gives different images of how the world should be run, not through violent means but through peaceful competition. TV channels world wide can enhance this image by giving space to short tourism programmes before each match to highlight the countries competing, with some information about each country, its people, culture, history and its beautiful nature. It could be a good way of bringing nations together, especially with millions of people tuning in to watch the football matches.
In brief, it is a celebration of unity in diversity. Plotinus, the 3rd Century A. D. philosopher has a short treaty on beauty. Beauty, for him, is an idea (or ideal) that gives meaning to the whole. The World Cup is, in a way, just this. It is an idea that brings the nations of the world together, to compete in a peaceful and harmonious way, and so gives the world a significance and beauty.
Talking about competition, we are pleased to announce a photographic competition with some prizes for the participants. It is a chance to show your photographic skills as well as an opportunity to introduce the best views of your country. For more details, please logon to:
(http://www.islamictourism.com/photoscompetition)
We wish you a very enjoyable summer.
Dr. Abdul-Rahim Hassan
Editor-in-Chief
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