CHOOSING SIDES

When Jim Irsay, the owner and general manager of the Indianapolis Colts, was presented with the AFC title trophy after his team narrowly defeated the New England Patriots, he rushed through his obligatory thanks to the players, coaches and fans so that he could thank the real MVP: God. Soon head coach Tony Dungy stood before the cameras and seconded that thought. He gave the credit to God, without Whose help the team could not have defeated its arch nemesis. Clearly, God wanted the Colts in the Super Bowl.

While I never disputed that divine intervention played the decisive role in this championship game of exchanging scores -- where it could have gone either way -- it left me disquieted. Some would have credited Father Time for stepping in and calling it a game, but unlike God, he is not known to answer prayers. Besides, I'm sure Father Time just wanted it over with so he could watch CSI.

No, all I could think of was, why did God want the Patriots to lose? What did New England ever do to lose God's backing? Had quarterback Brady been a little too lucky in the past? Too good looking? Had New England sports franchises not suffered enough heartbreak? Clearly the Patriots must have done something terribly wrong, or God would not have kept knocking the ball out of the intended receiver's hands.

Or could it be that God disliked "patriots" in the generic sense? Maybe God isn't into nationalism. Perhaps God disliked how patriotism has been marketed lately to Americans. Or maybe God was pissed over the way dissent, atheism, pacifism and other advances since the Enlightenment have become unpatriotic.

Could it be that God deplores the patriotic fanaticism that abandons principle and drives insecurity to madness? As Nicholas Kristof said today in his OP-ED column in the NYTimes, how easy it is to become uncivilized when promoting civilization.

And who is this God guy anyway? What the hell is He doing watching football while my needs (and admittedly, others) go unmet?

And why is God so fickle? Whose side is He on? Christians think their god is the true one, Muslims think their god is better, and my daughter thinks God is a woman who carries a hair-straightening wand.

Personally, I like John Lennon of the Beatles, warts and all. I don't know who's going to win the battle of hearts and minds, but if "living life in peace" seems desirable, we may need to give up some of our childish and dangerous beliefs.