On Gandhi and Soccer

Soccer is loved around the world. One of the reasons for this, I think, is that it's not high-tech and doesn't require a lot of expensive equipment. All you really need is a ball. The Little Guy, who is two-and-a-half, has grown to love soccer since we've been here in Kolkata. While he enjoyed kicking the ball around in the States, he now makes a habit of taking his soccer ball and wanting to go downstairs to play soccer with the drivers in the parking lot below. Last night, the eve of Muhatma Gandhi's birthday, was one of those times.

Sean wanted to go downstairs to play soccer again, so Philomeena got him dressed to play and took him down. I followed downstairs about 5 minutes later. It started with Sean and I kicking the ball to each other. When Sean got bored and wanted to play on the swings, Philomeena would take him and I would continue kicking the ball with whoever wanted to play. It didn't matter if the person playing was a security guard, a driver, a child who lived there, or one of the young guys who took out our morning garbage. If you could kick a ball, that's all that mattered. The game lasted a little over an hour, and by the time it was finished, about six of us were in a circle kicking the Little Guy's red soccer ball to each other.

Isn't that what Gandhi would have wanted?