South Africa Should Ban The Vuvuzelas Horns

Who was the idiot who decided that it would be a good idea to give tens of thousands of energized soccer fans loud and obnoxious horns? If you've been watching the World Cup you know what I mean. These native horns - known as Vuvuzelas in South Africa - are quite popular with visitors to the country. And people bring them into the stadiums to cheer on their national squad.

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The horns never stop. It is incredibly annoying to be watching the game and to have to listen for over 90minutes to a bee buzzing noise. And I imagine that they may at times irritate the athletes to say nothing of the horn-less spectators.

But beyond the noise at the stadiums, these horns are going off all over the cities as fans stay up late into the night

It is because of the constant noise, that the South African authorities are considering banning the Vuvuzelas:

There are reports that World Cup organizers are already considering a ban on the vuvuzela, the ubiquitous narrow instrument that's making every contest in South Africa sound like a ferocious swarm of radioactive bees—or a Hollywood publicists' luncheon.

Vuvuzela-mania is threatening to drown out national anthems, quick-witted soccer chants and tender conversations about 19th century literature between U.S. and English fans. It's apparently irritating TV viewers more than the chatter on "ESPN Sunday Night Baseball," or that Kia commercial with the anthropomorphic hamsters who enjoy hip-hop.

Vuvuzelas are even suffocating—zut alors!—the competitive passion of the French World Cup team. "We can't sleep at night because of the vuvuzelas," France's captain, Patrice Evra, said after Les Bleus played to an uninspired scoreless tie versus Uruguay.

I know that this is part of South African culture, but if you're a regular tourist then I believe you have little right to protest and must just, as they say, "do as the Romans". And South Africa's culture must be allowed to shine throughout the games. But part of hosting the World Cup, part of the obligation, is not just to showcase one's land, but also to create an internationally welcoming climate. This is why Qatar, which does not recognize Israel, has stated that if it gets to host the World Cup it will allow Israelis to visit during the games in keeping with the internationality of the sporting competition.

Hosting nations for the World Cup, Olympics and other international affairs must in some cases push aside native culture or regulation in the name of the universalism that defines these events. And if one native regulation or cultural facet unbalances this commitment, then it should be temporarily suspended. The Vivuzelas falls into that category. This is not about "doing as the Romans" because nobody is just visiting South Africa for the sites, this is about a great World Cup. And the constant horns are obnoxious. So people have the right to protest here if the horns undermine the greatness of the World Cup. And protest they should.

The ubiquitous horns should stop.