Pam Richter
Since the World Cup kicked off more than a week ago, there has been talk about the controversial call for the Americans, Spain being upset in its first game, the self-destruction of the French and of course, the horns being sounded throughout the games, the vuvuzelas.
While the vuvuzelas seem to be getting the most attention out of any of the storylines at the World Cup in South Africa, let's put that debate aside just for a few moments and focus on the real purpose of the World Cup - an international sporting event at its finest.
The World Cup takes place every four years and sets out to find the best soccer team in the world.
And ultimately, when all the games are over, a new champion of soccer will be crowned. The team will be able to boast in its title for four years until the next World Cup in 2014.
Analysts will debate the play, talk about what players didn't play well, what calls should have been called and how South Africa was as a host nation.
While all of these are important, a greater lesson should be remembered from this international spectacle.
The World Cup has brought the world together. Only few events are able to do to is, one being the Olympics.
With all the wars, conflicts, poverty and disease occurring in every part of the globe, the World Cup helps us forget about the evil for just a little bit, and helps us focus on something positive - sport.
I'm hard pressed to come up with an event greater than the World Cup or the Olympics, that brings the entire world together in a positive way. No book, painting, speech, scientific discovery or political movement can do that.
Yes sports are a lot of times just seen as pure entertainment, but with every game, there is a lesson to be learned.
What's the lesson for this year's World Cup? Well, the President of South Africa said it best.
"Those who at times are not good, let them for just four weeks be good," said Jacob Zuma, while addressing a crowd during the Free State for a World Cup prayer service.