The World Cup. It has begun.
Every four years, the eyes, ears and hearts of billions turn to soccer. It’s not simply a tournament. I think it’s sort of a like a pageant of humanity. A global display where passion illuminates more of what we have in common, that what we don’t.
One cannot really speak about this World Cup without acknowledging the significance of it’s location, South Africa. The first cup on African soil. A place where they say the earth has turned red from bloodshed and tears, in an effort to UNITE.
South Africa, as the host nation, has chosen to underscore these games with the classical concept UBUNTU. Ubuntu (who’s origins are the Bantu languages of southern Africa) is a humanist philosophy that focuses on people’s allegiances and relations with each other. It is called the essence of being human.
Ubuntu is about our interconnectedness; how we can’t live in isolation. Yes, Facebook and Twitter have done great things to bring us closer together, but at the end of the day it’s not how we get to each other, but how we treat each other once we get there. The technology of our age now asks that we extend those principles to the Internet. Our communication, our leadership and our commerce. The trust necessary for a collective prosperity. There’s a cool Zulu maxim which I will probably never be able to pronounce that goes: “umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu.” It means a person is, who they are, through others.
“A person is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.”
-Rev. Desmond Tutu
Open to others. Available to others. Affirming of others. Words to live by. Could we? For perhaps just one week? A day? An hour perhaps?
As the FIFA World Cup continues to capture the imagination of billions across the globe, we can’t help but beg the question: “if something as small a soccer ball can unite the world in celebration and peace, what else can we do?”
Hmmm…..
All my best,
Jay Kubassek
Thanks for those words Jay: as a fellow citizen of yours, but also a South African, it really feels good when locals here get what goes on in Africa.
Let me know when CCPro intends to make a foray there to set up business and I will definitely be on board all the way.
Well said, brother.
Amen…
Dear Jay,
Your vision brought me to you. I am about to launch your vision in my own style within CCPro matrix shortly. It’s been an exciting journey to date. As we reach out to the global internet community, let’s take from this article a pledge to maintain civility and respect to all we encounter. Thank you for your continued leadership.
Back to work. William – a newbie member
Hi Jay – I’m a very newbie to CCPRO – loving every minute of it – have experienced my fair share of challenges – sold my first App on the weekend – great feeling!
have plenty of leads I’m working with – and – I live in beautiful sunny South Africa – where we live and work by “Ubuntu” standards
Thanks! for CCPRO the company and the amazing community
back to the grindstone – my team is waiting for me to upload my latest article and video for their perusal
Last note – I honestly hope we’ll be able to experience some personal CCPRO presence in our beautiful country at some stage…
Kindest regards and a warm thanks
Elmarie
Hi Jay: Always appreciate reading your insights. My grandson is in a traveling soccer team and having the games in South Africa is so very exciting.
I am in a leadership course that speaks all about what it means to be human…thank you for keeping your eyes on what is truly important!
Dear Jay.
Many thanks for this “oh, so true” article – it brought tears to my eyes.
I live in crime ridden South Africa and have had two armed robberies and an attempted high-jacking.
Suddenly we are all united in the joy and excitement of hosting the biggest sporting event in the world.
How can this be achieved by “something as small as a soccer ball”? I wish I knew.
…. let’s not underestimate the power of life’s simple joys.
Thank you for your amazing leadership and vision.
Dear Jay,
I am truly thankful to be part of the community, am (new) 15 days old at CCP but am enjoying myself – just finished listening to Lena. I am a proudly South african and CCP has true ubuntu; I know that I will make it – appreciate all the support and training I receive. Be blessed
Dear Jay,
I have read many of your messages and I have to say that this one had deeper meaning and touched my heart more than any other. I am moved to amazement, not over the idea that we are all interconnected but over the fact that we have allowed disconnection in the first place.
Thanks for bringing this very special message to the foreground.
Jay
Thanks for this heartfelt account. South Africa is our heritage, our motherland and our roots. We have adapted to foreign soil in other lands, but it is Africa that is in our soul.
We hope and pray that this beautiful land and continent will unite more peacefully and re-connect with her lost children abroad…
As always, we thank you for your inspiration…
Hey, Jay.
Not only are your commects on point, but for far too long, through much of its doing, Africa has been a “forgotten” continent, in the sense that most people only associate this great continent with famine, backwardness and abject poverty.
But now, the world would begin to see this great continent in a positive light…thanks to a “little big game” called soccer(Football to the rest of the world)
Thanks for the piece.
Chintua
Hey Jay, yeah, that´s true. I don´t really know what else can we do to live in peace, especially in the third world countries like mine, Colombia. I wish I could come up with something to help out our society and our government besides my family´s charity foundation to help homeless kids.
I don´t know if you heard the news yesterday, but here in Colombia 4 hostages (police officers) were rescued yesterday from the Guerrilla “FARC”. They held them for 12 years.
That`s great news for us… I hope all the hostages are released soon so we can really live in peace.
Hey Jay
I am so proud of South Africa and I know all the tourists are feeling so welcome because we are such a welcoming nation and Ubuntu despite all the challenges we face. Awesome article and yes CCPRO has Ubuntu too, that is why we are all here 🙂
Hi! Jay, fairly new to CCPRO, still trying to get my head arond it, have set up a couple of links with members so hopefully that will get me moving. I can’t let this pass, all the excitement and hopefully peace in SA at the same time we need to spare some thought for the despair od ordinary citizens in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, 100’s of 1000’s pouring over the border looking for a little peace. Thanks for your leadership and great program Jay, regards Lindsay
Dear Jay!!I am repectful and honor to see you and your family go to South Africa, You have such beautiful wife and beautiful baby. I am greatful to be member in your company I looking forward to see you again. I’m so sorry I am not home, I work 6 days week some time work 7 days week. I am sick and tryer working heard and get pay $10.00 dollar per hrs.
Hi Jay I am greatful thankful to be part your team. Please Help me right now I have heard time with financial.
Thank you!!
Kong sourivong
Thank you Jay, You such Lucky person on this earth. I am very heard live or time.
Hi Jay,
Awesome thoughts here in your article. I am new to CCPRO and am excited to see the company is about more than getting rich. It is awesome to see you have care and concern for multicultural needs and news. Hope to meet you sometime.
Sue
Rockin thoughts- I think of my life in four year blocks- What I’ve done since the last cup. My link will connect you with the World Cup show. Hope you enjoyed Switzerland upsetting Spain today!
Thanks Jay,
Always appreciate your insights.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
All the best
Mike
Jay,
Thanks for writing this post , i find the information that you have shared of great value to the people that i connect with and going to pass this on to my tribe. I look forward to reading more from you.
Great information! I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. Thanks!