The stakes were high.<\/p>\n
Each side wanted to win.<\/p>\n
No side had any desire to lose. They refused.<\/p>\n
And both sides thought this issue, this event, this moment in time, was most necessary to bring home a victory.<\/p>\n
… We can\u2019t be too sympathetic. We can\u2019t give too much. We can\u2019t totally listen nor give up much. We must stand our ground. We must support our side only…<\/em><\/p>\n And then it happened.<\/p>\n The man fell to the ground.<\/p>\n No pulse. No pulse.<\/em><\/p>\n Make no mistake about it; the man was a fan of only one side. He only rooted for one. And he rooted fiercely. He clearly sided with one over the other \u2014 maybe even uttered a few expletives. He firmly believed the opposing advocates were way off base.<\/p>\n One woman then loudly summoned all those in the audience. \u201cHelp!\u201d\u2026 Her same-side supporter was now slumped over in his seat. \u201cHe\u2019s weak,\u201d another said, in realization that in the middle of this whole, fierce debate, help from any side was needed.<\/p>\n And help now.<\/p>\n A man had fallen to the floor. His life was in jeopardy. Would all those on opposing sides realize his life was in jeopardy? Would they react promptly to help him? Would they keep what\u2019s most important, most important? Could they even see that?<\/p>\n Or would they let their support systems get in the way? \u2026 would they block what\u2019s right? \u2026 and skew perspective?<\/p>\n I admit\u2026 the passions run deep\u2026 legitimately deep.<\/p>\n Let me diminish not anyone\u2019s passion.<\/p>\n Those near started chest compressions. One of the men, in fact, leading the care for the stricken supporter was actually a supporter of the other so-called side.<\/p>\n He performed mouth-to-mouth\u2026 five to seven minutes\u2026 until medics arrived.<\/p>\n “He started breathing on his own a little and his pulse came back, and we were fortunate we were able to revive him,” said the supporter.<\/p>\n Fortunate\u2026<\/p>\n That word strikes me\u2026 he knew we were fortunate\u2026<\/em> even\u2026 from the other\u2026 side.<\/p>\n Republican, Democrat\u2026<\/p>\n Trump, Clinton\u2026<\/p>\n Black, white\u2026<\/p>\n Feminist, meninist\u2026<\/p>\n The dividing lines run deep.<\/p>\n I wonder how many would have refrained from helping simply because of the side from which one hailed. That is a sad commentary on today\u2019s culture\u2026 even upon today\u2019s intelligent\u2026<\/p>\n The University of Florida and Louisiana State University share a fierce, competitive rivalry. There is often a public back and forth, negative feelings shared, with little expressed compassion. They are both incredibly, athletically talented and competitive. And they want to win. Because of their continual, direct competition against one another, those Gators and Tigers don\u2019t like each other very much. Sometimes we even hear the word \u201chate.\u201d<\/p>\n This past week the two regular season, co-SEC champions squared off for the annual College World Series, and surprising to no one, the fierce rivalry continued. It was tough. It was rough. It was full of passion and deeply held opinion. Some of the words expressed on the playing field should be heard by no one.<\/p>\n On the night before game one in the best-of-3 series, an 87-year-old Florida fan apparently suffered a heart attack and had no pulse. The father of a star LSU pitcher helped revive him.<\/p>\n Thank you.<\/p>\n Thank you for being an excellent example to the rest of us. Thank you for focusing on what\u2019s most important\u2026. thank you for knowing when individual passions should be set aside\u2026 thank you for knowing when the name calling should be nonexistent\u2026 and thank you for knowing when we should each be shaken to our core, remembering that there is better and more that binds us together.<\/p>\n Respectfully\u2026 The stakes were high. Each side wanted to win. No side had any desire to lose. They refused. And both sides thought this issue, this event, this moment in time, was most necessary to bring home a victory. … We can\u2019t be too sympathetic. We can\u2019t give too much. We can\u2019t totally listen nor give … <\/p>\n
\nAR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"