As the WTC site finished its cleanup, instead of using the occasion to move on, we use our media coverage to hash and rehash what could have been done to prevent it from happening. Personally, I find that as irrational as trying to figure out why your girlfriend broke up with you six month later. Could it have been avoided? Were there warning signs? Should Milton have followed up his masterpiece Paradise Lost with Paradise Regained? All moot points. What happened happened. Let's move on.

But instead of moving forward, we go backwards, and Utopia slips even farther away from us. It's so far away from us that true bliss only seems to be occurring on the side of the world in Japan and South Korea. Just to prove how out of touch the United States is with the rest of the world, I present to you the World Cup of Soccer.

32 nations are competing for right to be called the best nation in the world. No, they are not using their bombs, just a little ball. No guns are in their hands. In fact, only one player on each team can use his hands at all. There's not a lot of scoring, which makes every moment that much more important. Success and failure happens in the blink of an eye.

Stadiums are full of Japanese and Korean people wearing Irish and Argentinean jerseys. The only terrorism being discussed is the fact that Senegal blind-sided the defending champion French team 1-0. Could the goal have been avoided? Was there a communication breakdown between the defense and the goalie? None of this reflection matters. All that matters for each team is to survive group play and move on to the second round.

Last night, I stayed up into the depths of night watching Argentina and Nigeria play. After a scoreless half due in most part to the spectacular play by the Nigerian goalie, Argentina broke through in the 60th minute on a spectacular corner kick header that snuck in between the monstrous defenders. Most Americans would not have the patience to witness an hour of scoreless soccer action, let alone realize the metaphor: even with the most solid play by your last defense, the other guys can still sneak one by you.

The Nigerians are a team full of brawny beasts, thundering up and down the field. The Argentineans are a band of swift slight hairballs, dancing and shifting. The game isn't about who is the tallest or biggest. The game isn't about who can kick the ball the hardest or longest. It's about who makes the most of the chances, who can set up the best combinations, who can complete the play.

Sometimes one solid header is all you need (Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0), sometimes you are overmatched (Germany destroyed Saudi Arabia 8-0), sometimes you don't even win or lose (Ireland and Cameroon tied 1-1). Countries rise and fall on fate of one goal.

This is what the United States fails to understand. While we titter with egocentric fear, the rest of the world is watching and playing soccer. Our citizens worry about bombs every time they go to a public function, while other nations dance around with drums and whistles. The president wants the world to unite in our fight against terrorists, when the rest of the world wants to unite to kick a ball around.

I would much rather see the U.S. lose to Iran 2-1 (which happened last World Cup) than any military action between the countries. You know who has lousy soccer teams? India, Pakistan, Iraq, North Korea, Cuba, Afghanistan, Israel. Most countries that have civil unrest, fascist rule or frequently involve themselves in military action also have lousy soccer teams.

Maybe if we invested a little more money and attention into playing games with the countries of the world, we wouldn't have to spend massive amounts dropping bombs on them.

Chris Jungle was a feared striker in his Under-12 league.