Love is all you need

The tortuous, hot, sticky breeze of Italian summers swept through the derelict grandstands. No cheers, no whistles, no applause. Just the sound of the emptiness of forgotten traditions. The commentator would periodically announce to the wind that the next race was about to begin. Silence, until the horses made their final turn and their galloping hooves and the crack of the whip pierced through the hazy afternoon. But still, no cheers, no whistles, no applause. The riders were deaf to the silence.

This afternoon, Josh, Professor Mac and I made a trip to one of Rome’s harness racing tracks. I’ve never been to a horse race before and expected to have your stereotypical Kentucky Derby experience: gambling, drinks and obnoxiously large hats. But, the stands were empty, the facilities chipped with old paint and the grass untamed and well above knee level in some places. It was a ghost town that rivaled the ones of wild west lore. But, despite the unoccupied stands, you could still feel the passion that the track embodied. You could feel it in the jockies, and in the trainers, and in the noble creatures they tend for.

The forgotten sport reminded me of print journalism — both are professions that go greatly ignored, but are kept alive by the passion of those that do them. In harness racing, the riders have no fan or community support and compete for very little money. But, they continue because they love what they are doing. In journalism, you are constantly pelted with negative feedback and must face the challenges and demands of an ever-changing news culture. But, you continue because you love what you are doing.

So, it must be true, “All you need is love. Love is all you need.”

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