Hope was the watch word for the game. Surely the Atlanta Falcons hoped - almost in disbelief - during the first half of the game, when they almost "owned" the field. Then hope shifted into the hearts of the Patriots as slowly and methodically they took possession of the ball, the field, and the game, in the second half and that unforeseen overtime. Millions of Americans' hearts likewise shifted between hope and frustration as that gridiron battle took place.
But, I submit, the question of hope for our country was being affected by a much smaller, quieter battle and victory which took place on Saturday on a N.Y.C. commuter train. As Jonah Engel Bromwich relates in the N.Y. Times, Gregory Locke, a twenty-seven year old N.Y. lawyer, was returning on Saturday night from dinner in Manhattan with longtime friends, when he boarded a No. 1 train and was confronted with an ugly - and frightening - sight.
"The car's windows and posters were covered in anti-Semitic graffiti, according to accounts from Locke and another passenger in the car, thirty-six year old Jared Nied. Messages had been written over subway maps. Swastikas were drawn on the doors and windows." (Bromwich)
In a phone interview, Locke recounted that his first reaction was shock; but, he added, "the shock quickly subsides and turns into a sort of realistic horror." Jared Nied's reaction of shock was transparent on his face and in his body language, because another passenger, a woman, noticed and said to him "Oh, that's absolutely horrible. Do you think there's any way we can erase it?"
A light went on in Nied's head. He realized that alcohol would erase the graffiti and he asked the other passengers
"Does anyone have hand sanitizer?"
Now here's where the story gets interesting. If you've ever ridden on the N.Y.C. subway, you know that it's a microcosm of the country. Students, businessmen, street musicians, parents with infants and toddlers. People of every age, social class, race, and religion. You see everything - Hasidic Jews' black hats and curls; African American dreds; Muslim burkas; jeans, ragged shorts, expensive suits and ties; Sikh turbans. Yet, when Nied asked the passengers on that No. 1 train whether anyone had hand sanitizer, the response was amazing.
"I've never seen so many people simultaneously reach into their bags and pockets looking for tissues and Purcell," an amazed Locke posted on Facebook, along with posting photos of the commuters wiping away the graffiti. In about two minutes, all the Nazi symbolism was gone. Quietly the passengers sat down, glanced at each other, and settled back into their commute. The whole episode had lasted only five minutes.
Millions of people saw battle, hope, victory, and loss at NRG Stadium in Houston on Sunday. Millions of articles were written about it. By lunchtime on Sunday, only 390,000 people had reacted on Facebook to the hope-filled victory of the people over blatant prejudice on a N.Y.C subway, and the post had been shared only 275,000 times. Yet, which victory was more important for all of us?
Locke's post and those photos should be shared - and savored - by millions of us. More than any gridiron battle, this battle against death-dealing Nazi prejudice is a battle central to the soul of our country. And Locke's story of quiet, unassuming action by a group of ordinary people with little in common besides their humanity, and American spirit, should fill us with hope.
Hope - because one woman asked how such prejudice could be erased.
Hope - because one man thought of a creative way to do it.
Hope because a group of people stood up - to act in integrity for humanity.
Hope - because one man knew the importance of what they did and recorded it for posterity.
Do I begrudge the New England Patriots their victory on Sunday? Of course not. They fought hard.
But another group of patriots fought hard for victory on Saturday on a N.Y.C. subway. The battle only lasted five minutes, but it was a battle for the soul and conscience of our country. On that tiny battlefield, hope, humanity, and goodness won. God willing, may that battle for respect and compassion for all who live here be won over and over again through out our entire nation. And get Facebook coverage every time. While millions of us applaud and vow to do likewise.