It must have been the donut. Germany won against Turkey last night 3:2. Lahm smashed in the winning goal one minute before the game ended.
The kids were so excited to be allowed to stay up for the first half of the semi-final European Soccer Championship match between two phenomenal teams last night. A collective spirit blanketed the nation. We're gonna win. We're gonna win! Because many Turks live in Germany, I felt we were on the winning side no matter what. It was a dream-team constellation.
Even the baked goods expressed the country's confidence. Sipping my morning coffee, I glanced over at the bakery window during a brief break yesterday morning. Two bright green disks, aptly named Amerikaner, smiled at me. They were decorated to look like a soccer field. Graced with a chocolate circle that read "We are the champions" How could I not get them for the kids? I bought them both.
The game proved to be instructive on many levels. For historical reasons, the Turkish population in Berlin is the largest outside Istanbul. The kids were rooting for Germany, hoping the other team wouldn't win. I told them no one could lose because we are all one. Yeah, yeah, Mom. We might be unified in your world, but for now, we're for Germany!
The game started off by each team capitan reading a short message about tolerance and racial diversity. I found it comforting in some way, as if they wanted to signal to the crowd that they were both winners, worthy of respect...and the gold.
In the end I cried mixed tears - of joy for Germany's triumph, and of sadness for Turkey. The Turkish coach almost broke my heart as he said, "I would have loved to give my people the gift of victory. For that, I am very sad."
What humility, what beauty, what truth. Sports moves us forward in more ways than one. And we can teach our children that there is much more to be learned from losing with grace than from winning without compassion.
