Where do you belong

It is pretty surprising to see how religion has become such an important issue in today's world. Living in another multicultural country I see in everyday life how religion brings about disputes/differences of opinion/arguments and basically moves people apart, when in today’s world what we do need is to come together.

Being a sport fan, religion seems to have pervaded in that sphere too. Watching the Asia Cup football in 2007, every time the Omani or Qatari team scored a goal the whole team knelt down to touch their forehead to the ground as a sign of prostration to Allah for giving them the talent to play well; Matthew Hayden crosses his chest every time he scores a century for Australia; the ‘God’ himself Sachin Tendulkar looks up and says a thanks to someone upstairs when he scores big too. AC Milan striker Kaka even displayed a t-shirt saying, ‘I belong to Jesus’ after scoring in the World Club Championships in Japan. The Pakistani cricketer, one of the best batsmen in the world of cricket, Yousuf Yohanna who only a little while ago was catholic, thanks Allah for all the success he has been having.
Makes one wonder, how hard do you have to really work if everything is God given? And if religion is having such a big impact on our lives than do we define ourselves just by religion? Do we owe no relation to the country we belong to? Are we Hindu/Muslim/Catholic first, or are we American/Australian/Indian/Pakistani? When Yohanna thanks Allah for the success he has had, does that mean that the other Pakistani players in Pakistan who are not Muslim should convert to Islam in order to do well? Does he owe no thanks to the country that has given the opportunity for him to do well by selecting him in the team in the first place? Should not Kaka’s t-shirt have read, ‘I belong to Brazil?’
Most of these players have done well in their field of sport predominantly because of where they are from. They grew up watching and playing the sport that was popular in their respective countries. So who should they be thankful too?

Religion only works when it brings about peace and understanding between one another. We all have differences of opinion, and when you do live in multicultural countries, this divide magnifies. There still are a few ‘yobos’ out there who claim to be better than the other based on religion and believe only one religion should exist. There is not much anyone can do to change their way of thinking. As Gandhi said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Living in a country like Australia, which is not to dissimilar too America, makes one realise where one’s loyalty should lie. If you earn your bread and butter living in a certain country, then I believe that’s who you belong to. You may not agree with everything the country’s politicians say, but you still belong to that country, and maybe one day your voice will be heard. It just depends what you say and how you say it.