World Cup-World Class

Shouts and screams of excitement filled the night air as Honduras beat-out San Salvador 2-1 and qualified for the World Cup Soccer Competition. This bright spot in an otherwise discouraging year was the burst of new life the country needed. It has been twenty-seven years since Honduras has qualified for this world championship.

The year began its downward spiral when (then) President Manuel Zelaya , in an effort to buy the loyalty of the country’s poor, created a new law that tripled the minimum wage. It also required employers to pay a bonus of one month’s salary every year. White-collar workers already receive what is called a 13th and 14th month bonus in June and December; now there would be another. The elated workers soon found that their employers could no longer afford them and many businesses closed their doors.This devastating financial blow became a force in the ripple affect of the sinking U.S. economy. The pressure caused by each one became a heavy weight on the rising middle class; an important ingredient to lifting any country from poverty level.

The end of May startled Honduran residents with the first earthquakes the country had experienced for over twelve years. Residents along the Caribbean Coastal areas as well as the Bay Island rode the waves of land undulations from the quakes and resulting aftershocks for over two weeks. The 7.+ earth movements must have been the tool to awaken people from their dispirited state. Within two weeks s the Congress of Honduras put their foot down by removing Manuel Zelaya from the office of president and then from the country.

The ensuing drama reminded me of behavior of my youngest brother. He would tease or incite a situation and when others would retaliate he ran squealing to hide behind our mother. She would then protect him just to have peace restored. And so it was with Zelaya, only mama’s skirts were worn by U.S. President Obama. Although the removal of Zelaya was in accordance to the Honduras Constitution it was viewed as unacceptable. Obama justice was dealt out with a heavy hand. An embargo was placed to try to starve people into submission, then visas where revoked and ambassadors removed from the U.S.

The interim president placed by the Congress, Roberto Micheletti, has been a model of propriety and consideration. He has been open to offering cooperation to mediator’s efforts to resolve what some of the world sees as a problem. However he will not compromise the country’s constitution by surrendering to economic pressure from the outside. He may be a politician but he is also a patriot. His priority seems to be to keep peace in the land while defending the Constitution.

An interesting synchronicity has become apparent. Twenty-seven years ago the Congress of Honduras established its current constitution. Possibly the surge of honor and veracity felt with those freedoms was carried onto the soccer field in 1982 to qualify for the World Cup finals. This year the same constitution was challenged yet steadfastly defended. Did the country’s faith in their constitution awaken that same sense of honor and steadfast belief? We are seeing history repeat itself; Honduras has reclaimed its place.