World Peace & Violence

I believe that the way to peace is going to be through violence. No, I'm not talking about the absence of conflict caused by mutually assured destruction. I'm talking about violence on a much lower level. I'm talking about groups of people unified by violence, wearing their colors on there sleeves and fighting with all their might to beat another group because those people are wearing a different color. That's right, I'm talking about the National Football League. I've been a fan of football for many years now, but only last night did I truly begin to understand the power that it has to bring people together, even people who are fans of different teams.

It began last night at about midnight. I was waiting in a dingy train station in New Jersey, trying to get back to The Bronx. Not knowing the train schedule, I had no idea whether I'd be waiting for seconds or hours. Then I saw three men of varying levels of intoxication wearing Steelers jerseys, so I decided to see if they were interested in a chat to pass the time. "What a sloppy game," I said. "Bet you're happy to get out with the 'W' though." Over the next 40 minutes I bonded with those men. Though the conversation started with football, we discussed everything from general sports to our personal histories to the economy and the effect it's having on those we care about, to politics. They were genuinely happy and congratulatory when I told them I was getting my master's degree at Columbia. I felt their pain as they recalled the days of Kordell Stewart. And though they accused me of being a "liberal who's in love with the President and best buds with Nancy Pelosi," because I'm from California, they took me at my word when I said it wasn't true.

We started the night as complete strangers, but as I disembarked the train, I was genuinely sad that odds were I'd never see them again. Truth be told, the time I spent with them was about as good as any other I've had out here.

But what really showed me the uniting potential football has was the way they treated the Titans fan that meandered by. Sure, they hassled him a bit, and who can blame them? An hour before their respective teams had been fighting tooth and nail over every inch of turf at Heinz Field. But what they said after he'd gone by was inspiring. They said that they had to give him credit, that they respected him for being willing to paint his face, put on a jersey, and watch the game in a bar full of Steelers fans. Despite the teasing, which was all in good fun, they really respected that man, not just in spite of but because of, his willingness to stand up proudly for views that they despised.

If only we could all be as respectful to one another as a handful of drunk Steelers fans.