Hide and Go Seek

It takes me a while to process current events. Responses to Ferguson or the Charlie Hebdo attacks are clearly missing from this blog, even though they are relevant to my "Life is a Narrow Road" theme. My written silence isn't an act of indifference; rather it is an acknowledgement of how complex issues are and a result of my weighing thoughts before making a statement. 

Certain events, though, trigger immediate connections in my mind. The story of a man saving customers in a hostage situation by hiding them in a freezer definitely ignites my brain with overfiring synapses. 

Look at how the story is presented in the headlines:

Notice the immediate labeling of religions.   On one level, it is a "nice" human interest story: Muslim man saves Jewish people. Does religion matter? Sure! But does it matter in this news story?  I'm not so sure.

This is the story of maniacs taking hostages in a grocery store, and killing four unfortunate souls. It is a story of a quick-thinking employee with a big heart saving other would-be victims by hiding them and then escaping, himself, thus saving many lives.  It is a story of human kindness and survival.

Or at least it should be.

But both Jewish and Muslim people are under attack in Europe right now, again. In the case of terrorism, extremists of one faith attacked ordinary deli-goers of another faith, but extremists in any religion or cult do not represent the norm. 

The number of antisemitic acts in France doubled last year and at least 7000 Jewish people left France seeking safer horizons. And in 2013, there were 691 Islamophobic incidents in France. 

It is true that there are extenuating factors. France prides itself on being a secular nation; hence there was a huge push towards outlawing burqas in schools a decade ago. And the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has increased criticism of the Zionist movement common to many (most) Jewish communities.  But neither of these factors should cause rational people to open gunfire on Sabbath shoppers or mosque prayers.   The ordinary people of a faith are not the extremists we worry about.

I think about Lassana Bathily and what I would have done if I were working in a store that was under attack. I am no hero. I scream when I see flames and run out of the house rather than turning off the gas stove.  I dash under the piano to hide when I hear sounds I don't recognize in my house (usually the heat coming on in October).  I'd like to think that I would have the strength of mind to hide people in a freezer and then use  a goods lift to escape and inform the police. But I highly doubt it.

This much I know, though. When I see people in need, I don't see for or race or religion. I see energy and emotion and eyes and families. I see passion in them, and passion in me. 

Look at M. Bathily's reponse, now.

He was born in Mali, a world away from me. Yes, his faith is different, and his career is different. His gender is different, his age is different... He and I are different. But, unlike the message that rings loud and clear in the headlines, he and I think alike. We see people.

Yes, I am reading a lot about the Holoacaust lately, and the concept of Jewish people hiding from antisemitic acts is not lost on me.  Many people risked their lives to hide people who were persecuted by the Nazis, and I am in awe and grateful for these acts of altruism.  I am glad that there are, in all places and generations, people who see one another as fellow humans with needs.  I wish there were more people who thought his way, and I wish the media would present the news with a greater focus on what we share than on how we differ.  

And yes, my post yesterday was about Yiddish but it was also about children's games, and Hide-and-go-seek is another treasure of my childhood that comes to mind amidst these atrocities.  After thinking about these chilly people whose lives were saved in a deli freezer, and after reading R. D. Rosen's "Such Good Girls", I needed to do a little research on the lighter side of hiding.   What I found really fits into my message of internationalism.

Hide-and-go-seek (or its variants) has been played all around the world for hundreds of years. From the Spanish "el Escondite" to the South Korean "sumbaggoggil", from the French "jeu de cache-cache" to the Israeli "machboim", this game is played world-wide. And there are written records about this game going back as far as second century Greece. 

Back in my Tremont Street days, we kids had wild games of Hide-and-go-seek and its variants (Kick the Can, Manhunt...). Neighborhood kids from about four to fourteen would play outside at twilight. Sometimes the moms would chat in porches or sometimes we would wait for the first cries of "Kids! Dinner!" but always the games were organized by the kids and for the kids. Age, race, religion, athletic ability--- none of that mattered. Playing together, finding the best hiding places, keeping quiet even when you want to giggle, and looking out for the younger kids--- that is what mattered. 

Hide and go seek--- look out for one another--- Thank you, M. Bathily and all the people who risk to help those in need.