Storyline: The NFL’s acknowledgment of Mexican culture seemed like a gesture of peace, a sign that sports can make amends between countries when politics fail. Written by Beverly Turner, Fayetteville, NC.
It’s November 21 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico.
Courtesy: getvideoweb.com
American singer, Becky G, kicks off an American football game by singing The Star-Spangled Banner. A group of sign holders stand several yards behind her and hold up individual pallets which, together, form an image of the American flag.
Then, as Becky G walks off the field, she high-five’s Mexican singer, Julion Alvarez, as he walks onto the field and up to the microphone. Once there, the sign holders flip their pallets to reveal the Mexican flag. As Alvarez sings the Mexican national anthem, cameras scan the crowd as fans hold up the Mexican flag and sing along.
It was all part of the NFL’s International Series with games hosted in other countries. More than two dozen games have been played in the past decade, but previous games were always hosted in London, England — until the recent game in Mexico City between the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Texans.
Courtesy: The Press Democrat
NFL’s decision to play in Mexico and showcase both countries’ anthems comes in the wake of the recent U.S. election season, which reached many intense points, especially surrounding now President-elect Donald Trump’s remarks about building a wall to strengthen the U.S.-Mexico border. He also touted a plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, especially those from Mexico — and he, most controversially, referred to Mexicans as ‘criminals.’
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,” Trump said in his 2015 presidential announcement speech.
The NFL’s acknowledgment of Mexican culture seemed like a gesture of peace, a sign that sports can make amends between countries when politics fail.
Nonetheless, football–American football, as the sport is referred to abroad– received an enthusiastic welcome by the crowd who attended the game in Mexico City and cheered for the players.
Oh! The Raiders won, 27-20.
