What Goes Around

Keane on Henry

     Whenever I think about the power of YouTube, I think about "the slap heard round the world," that is; Thierry Henry's handball in the World Cup qualifier against Ireland one year ago.
Though its capture on video and its broadcast on Youtube did nothing to change FIFA's decision regarding a replay, it indicted Henry (as well as FIFA and the effects of corporate sponsorship on sport in general) in the court of the world. More importantly, it may change the game of soccer in a permanent way - by bringing about the introduction of video technology to aid the referees in the next World Cup Tournament. Should this happen, it will be a great testament to the power of YouTube, and of social media technologies in general.
   Still, it was not one of the thousands of Henry handball videos that caught my attention tonight. What impressed me was that in this forum, the lone voice of dissent was equally accessible and available and not subject to the whims or constraints of an editor, a sponsor, a producer, or a multi-national corporation. Because of this free and equal representation, my entire way of looking at the Henry situation was changed. Roy Keane (the one man in Irish soccer that can say whatever he damn well pleases without incurring the wrath of the Irish everywhere) gave his brave and honest take on the matter. His view was that the Irish defenders had failed - that the ball simply should not have been allowed to bounce withing the 6 yd. box. The goalie and the defenders were to blame for not clearing the ball out of the area before Henry could commit the handball.
     What a way to keep the focus on sport over politics. What a great example of looking at one's own sins before casting stones. Keane is a brave man. Youtube is even "braver," that is, if a social media tool can possess virtues. Due to the relative safety and anonymity afforded to those who submit videos, freedom of expression triumphs over either side of any battle of "good versus evil" by providing the truth of the gray areas. As Steven Sondheim said in Into the Woods, "Witches can be right / Giants can be good / You decide what's right / You decide what's good."