What's wrong with this picture?: French World Cup Team

Perhaps you are aware of the on-going racial tension in France, in fact in much of Europe, in recent years. France is particularly notorious for its intolerance of immigrants and their influences on the local culture. No Muslim head scarves are allowed in their public schools, for example. You may remember the riots that broke out in Paris this spring fueled by the high rates of unemployment and the feeling of exclusion of Muslim youth.

But have you seen the French National Soccer Team? Of the 23 players, only nine are white. Nine. While the team was critized early for all manner of issues--playing style, age of players, and yes, racial make-up, the country is rallying around 'Les bleus', the pet name for the team. Before the winning began, the New York Times reports, right-wing politician Jean-Marie Le Pen, head of the National Front, an anti-immigrant party, publicly bemoaned the number of blacks on the team and the lack of enthusiasm the players demonstrated in the singing of the national anthem.

But now they are winning. They are in the semi-finals! The country is elated and united behind their team. Before we get all crazy about the hypocrisy, think of how many minorities we have sent off to war over the centuries only to snub them upon their return to the homefront. No vote for a while, no lunch counter service, back of the bus...Finally we came around. And most would argue that we're not quite there yet.

What will happen after the World Cup is over? We'll see. Is this the start of some national self-examination and growth or just good soccer? Only time will tell, but if the French can play together, maybe they can live together, too.