The Tattooist of Auschwitz

                                                                                                                                                                                   
     In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, formerly know as Ludwig Eisenberg, "was just one among countless young men stuffed into wagons designed to transport livestock."  They were taken to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps.  For two and a half years, he endures this horrible prison and survives by being a Tatowierer.  During that time, he meets Gita, and they fall in love.  He tells his fellow prisoners, "I don't know what fate lies in store for any of us."  "He thinks back to the vow he made at the beginning.  To survive and to see those responsible pay."
     Lale tells Gita, "How any merciful god could let this happen, I don't know."  "I believe in you and me, and getting out of here, and making a life together..."  Gita tells Lale that he "will honor them (those who suffered and died) by staying alive, surviving this place and telling the world what happened here."
     And that is what happened.  The Nazis were defeated.  Lale and Gita married in 1945 and many years later had a son Gary.  He asked his mother how she handled later challenges in life.  "With a big smile on her face she said that when you spend years not knowing if in five minutes' time you will be dead, there is not much that you can't deal with."
     In his later years, Lale finally told his story to author Heather Morris.
 

The Show

     Give them what they want.  The main event, the Super Bowl, gives us male strength, agility, and controlled violence.  Halftime is a break from all that.  Music and dance is in the spotlight.  The girls give us what we want.  We hear upbeat sounds and see feminine moves that highlight their strengths.
     What does football give us?  That is another topic.  What did the show give us?

Offense Plus Defense Plus Fans

 

     Many sports teams have two parts: the offense and the defense.  The offense takes possession of the ball and tries to move closer to the goal and score points.  When the other team has the ball, the defense tries to find their weaknesses, counter their progress, and repossess the ball.
     Communication also has two similar parts.  When we speak and write, we usually have a goal in mind and want to make a point, to present an idea, to win an "argument."   When we listen and read, we have to recognize the opposition, see their strengths and weaknesses, and protect our position.  We use offensive and defensive strategies to prove our ideas are stronger and closer to the truth.
     Teams benefit from fans who support and cheer them on as they show their offensive and defensive skills.  We hope our team is stronger and victorious over the the opposing team.  When we speak and write, we have possession of the ball and have our chance to make points.  When people listen to and read what we say, they may agree and become our fans or disagree.  A good communicator needs to speak to those who easily agree and to those who need to be persuaded to change their minds.
     As you support your favorite team, notice the offensive and defensive strategies.  As you communicate, remember to make your point to both your fans and your opposition.