When empires are in decline, they often create spectacles and distractions to keep much of the citizenry from seeing the depths of debauchery to which the society has sunk. By keeping the masses fed and entertained, they can more easily be controlled and manipulated by those who are in power. This is the logic of the Roman poet Juvenal when he says, “Give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt.” 

History and our present circumstances show us that when it becomes increasingly difficult for the people to affordably access bread, the tendency is to make the circuses larger, more extreme, and more violent to distract from the lack of flourishing in other areas of the people’s lives. The circuses become a celebration of nationalism and power, a form of propaganda to make the masses feel good about themselves even though so many other aspects of their lives have been diminished by the wealthy and powerful few. 

The blame for the diminished flourishing of our lives gets shifted away from those most responsible for it to those who are the most vulnerable and who have the least amount of power to protect themselves from the power and violence of the state, a power that is reinforced in the minds of the people through the spectacle of the circuses.

Very few things give off Roman empire vibes quite like a gladiator circus spectacle on the emperor’s birthday in the empire’s capital, steps away from the emperor’s palace. Apparently Caesar wants to see some blood in the Coliseum for his 80th birthday. Are you not entertained?! Efforts to politicize sports, especially for the purposes of promoting ultranationalism, should be relentlessly resisted.

The current president is attempting to create a self-aggrandizing circus out of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States as a nation. The UFC event on the ruined White House Lawn, the vanity 250 dollar bill, the vanity passport, the unsuccessful attempts to organize propaganda concerts in his honor, and the FIFA World Cup are all a circus for him and his oligarch allies to distract us from the damage they are doing to our nation and our world.

Over the next month, the eyes of the world will be fixed upon the United States as we host the FIFA World Cup with our Canadian and Mexican neighbors. This global event is occurring during our national recognition of our 250th anniversary as a nation. Ideally, it would be an opportunity to celebrate our connection with the diversity of the larger global community through the unifying spirit of sport. Tragically, those currently in power in the United States are co-opting the event for their own financial gain and political purposes and for the celebration and perpetuation of their power. 

I am a soccer fan, and I would normally be excited about the World Cup being in the United States, but I think it is tragic that the world did not decide to boycott the FIFA World Cup matches being held in the United States and that the current president is being enabled to use the tournament as part of his 250 propaganda, but given that much of the world will be watching, it is now imperative that there be massive displays of nonviolent resistance to the use of the World Cup as a circus of distraction over the next month. 

We have an opportunity to show the world that there are millions of us who oppose fascism, who oppose ripping apart families, who oppose white Christian nationalism, who oppose oligarchy, who oppose the nihilistic destruction of a livable climate for profit, and who are doing all in our power to create a diverse, participatory, and multi-racial democratic republic with liberty, justice, and equality of opportunity for all.

The next month is not a time to celebrate what our country has currently become. It is a time to rescue our democratic republic from one of the worst persons in the history of humanity and from the fascist oligarchs and white Christian nationalists who support him.

Over the next month, the eyes of the world will be upon us, and what they will see is up to us. Will they see us acquiesce and be entertained by the circus of fascism, oligarchy, and white Christian nationalism, or will they see us rise up for the beloved community of all persons and all life? The choice is up to us. We are free to reject the circus and to embrace beloved community.