South Africa World Cup: What's worse, the vuvuzelas or the whining about them?
Steve Bloomfield, author of Africa United, and a blogger here in South Africa for the World Cup, says the trumpets should be banned in the spirit of cultural diversity.
“The World Cup should be a celebration of difference,” writes Mr. Bloomfield in today’s blog, also entitled Africa United. “A time when we get a glimpse of countries and cultures we know little about. And if Bafana fans stop blowing their vuvuzelas perhaps they’ll be able to give us a few renditions of the incredibly moving ‘Shosholoza’ instead.”
Simon Williamson, a local journalist and blogger, begs to differ.
“Dear Europeans, Cristiano Ronaldo and whingy white South Africans,” he writes in his own blog, Kingsimon. “For the last few days, I hear you have been complaining about the noise of the vuvuzelas at games. As we've been blowing them consistently since Thursday night we haven't been able to hear you whining until now.”
He says more, but much of it can’t be printed in a family newspaper. Ag, shame.
For the record, a final decision has not been made. Danny Jordaan, the chairman of the local World Cup organizing committee, told BBC on Sunday that a ban was certainly possible.
“We've tried to get some order. We did ask them [not to play] vuvuzelas during national anthems, [and not to play] vuvuzelas when anyone is making an announcement or talking. I know it's difficult, but we try and manage as best we can," he said. "We've heard from the broadcasters and other individuals. It's something that we're evaluating on an ongoing basis."
