I can’t explain it, but I probably cry more at sports movies and powerful musical performances than I do at news of human tragedy. Am I an insensitive prick? I think it has to do much more with pride, triumph, inspiration, and overcoming the odds that get me emotional. Yes, I like happy endings.
There are many great sports movies out there. Probably my favorite is Miracle, the Disney movie about the underdog 1980 US Hockey Team that Coach Herb Brooks takes past the big bad Russian team to win the gold medal. Every time I hear Al Michaels call, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” I choke up like Pavlov’s dog – even if it’s just a ring tone and not a part of a hockey documentary. I’ve probably watched it 50 times and I know the ending but I still tear up…. Why?
The same thing happens to me in the theater. Whether it’s an off-Broadway production of Annie, a community theater performance of Les Miserable, or a high school showing of High School Musical when I’m in the audience and the performance moves me I usually get a case of shivers and tear up at the finale. My favorite show has probably always been West Side Story. I just saw that Steven Spielberg is releasing an updated West Side Story movie this year. Not sure I like the idea of the original being replaced, but if anyone can do it well it’s Spielberg.
I don’t have a lick of artistic talent like my family does, so I never could teach an instrument, produce a play, or draw a stick figure. But I can appreciate a talented product. As an athlete I didn’t have much talent until I grew into my frame in college where I played volleyball, but as a coach I’ve been lucky to coach many success stories big and small – even the Little League team of 9 yr olds I have now has given me triumph anecdotes in our short season.
As a Dad, I’m blessed to have daughters who have both musical and athletic talents to fuel me with so many happy memories that I can easily summon prideful tears. It just takes a simple storytelling or watching a video on my phone for my eyes to get misty. Cast as the lead on stage and a soulful solo performances that moves everyone in the room? Check. State championships and Cinderella seasons? Check. Sorry, I’ve got something in my eye here.
I don’t think I’m an insensitive prick about not crying much at human tragedy. I vaguely remember something in a psychology class about a human tendency to be saddened by suffering animals more than by human tragedy. My layman’s logic explains us not crying about humans as a defense or coping mechanism because we actually are full of connections to other people and share characteristics that help us identify with the victims. We feel sadness and can empathize with the injured, but we put up walls and detach from the tragedy.
I’m definitely not alone among people – both men and women – who get moved to tears by powerful performances. It may seem childish to cry when your Boston Red Sox or Chicago Cubs finally won their modern World Series Championships after 100-year droughts in 2004 and 2016 respectively. But wow, even a non-fan has to appreciate their triumphant stories. Living in Cubs Country in 2016, the story was infectious. It may seem more acceptable to tear up at a showing of Hamilton with its powerful music and performance. What a masterpiece of art!
Masterpieces…. Theater, symphonies, books, sculptures, surf, movies, championships, dogs, architecture, gardens, forgiveness, summer camps, treaties, National Parks, home-cooked meals, fireworks displays, landscapes, campfire songs, starry nights, foreign languages, parents that show up, kisses… So many great, positive things in the world to marvel at in awe and see beauty, joy, art.
The biggest downside I see in our tendency to detach from human tragedy is that we become calloused to it – school shootings, racism, poverty, crime, war. There’s plenty of tragedy. The good news is we can find beauty and magic and positivity many times a day to refresh our spirits. In fact, I’m certain there’s exponentially more masterpieces in a day than tragedies. If we could only let the positives move us and open our hearts more than a stroke of fear closes us up, just think how beautiful the world would look to each of us.
And when we see beauty and feel love we achieve great things. We are capable of masterpieces that move others to tears.
View From The Tailgate 