I appreciate your point about how our passions drive us. I see people get passionate about different things. We're a weird clique, those of us who can get worked up about a game. I know some very dedicated people who get worked up about issues with big social implications. I get a bit worked up myself around social justice issues. Things that really impact people's lives. Those born into this world without much chance for success or happiness while others are born with so much -- sometimes too much. But then life is like that. Not always fair. Nature isn't fair. When I was growing up, a kid across the street suffered leukemia for several years and then died a painful death. But then his death brought together our families.
My father and his father had disliked each other for years but, when the son died, we were invited over to sit shiva, a Jewish tradition. We all got dressed up in our best and crossed the street. The father spoke of his son so movingly. After that, our families bonded. Our parents liked each other after that. Our fathers respected each other. His parents went from treating me like persona non grata to someone they were consistently glad to see. When I came home to college, I made a point of going by to greet them. It taught me that beauty can grow out of tragedy. The broken hearts can open to love.
Football, by comparison, seems meaningless. Except that it's an artificial way to inspire feelings that can be in many ways similar. Who's to say what has real importance, real meaning? It's a kind of artificial warfare that deliberately creates winners and losers, which can give rise to a sense of meaning.