By Scarlett Lewis, Chief Movement Officer, Choose Love Movement
Read on Medium.
There’s a lot of buzz surrounding the NFL’s decision to change the end zone messaging. While some are calling ‘foul play’ on changing ‘End Prejudice’ to ‘Choose Love’, the NFL introduced their Inspire Change Campaign in 2020, and the Chiefs actually made this end zone change during their January AFC Championship game at Geha Field at Arrowhead Stadium in January where they beat the Buffalo Bills.
As we scrutinize the language driving our social movements, it is imperative to advocate for positive messages like ‘Choose Love’ which contrasts sharply with terms like “end racism” highlighting what we oppose rather than the virtues we aspire to embody. By emphasizing love and acceptance, we shift the focus from division to collaboration, fear to courage, anger to forgiveness, selfishness to gratitude and compassion.
We all want to love, and be loved. This is the common thread that connects us all.
The Ripple Effect of Choosing Love creates a chain reaction of caring and connection between people. When you make someone feel seen and valued, even in small ways, you contribute to an environment of kindness and empathy. The more we practice these gestures, the more they become ingrained in society, and create a more connected, compassionate, and loving world.
The Origin of ‘Choose Love’
The NFL’s Inspire Change campaign started as a social justice helmet decal program in 2020 which allows players to choose from a selection of slogans to display on the back of their helmets. ‘Choose Love’ is a slogan that Damar Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills, displayed on his helmet after suffering cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January 2023, which symbolized resilience, compassion, and unity.
Years before, in December 2012, Choose Love™ was inspired by the courage of six year old Jesse Lewis who saved 9 classmates before being killed at Sandy Hook. This mantra, rooted in a young boy’s ultimate sacrifice for his classmates, implores us to embrace courage and compassion as catalysts for change. Jesse Lewis’ legacy reminds us that every individual, regardless of age or circumstance, holds the power to foster positive action.
Three words Jesse left on Scarlett’s kitchen chalkboard that gave her a mission. (spelled phonetically Nurturing, Healing, Love)
Jesse left a message to his family shortly before his death, “Nurturing Healing Love.” The meaning breaks down into three parts:
- Nurturing means loving kindness and gratitude
- Healing literally means forgiveness, and
- Love is compassion-in-action.
Those words plus the courage Jesse showed, became the foundation of the Choose Love Movement. When you practice these three character values, in that order, you are Choosing Love. It becomes a rope that you let down to yourself in the well of any situation and you can use it to pull yourself out.
We all possess the courage and compassion that Jesse and Damar demonstrated—a courage not just to imagine a world devoid of racism, hatred, or violence, but to actively contribute to its realization. Choosing Love invites us to be part of the solution, to transcend the limitations of fear and prejudice, ultimately crafting an enlightened society that values every human being.
Together we can create the world we want to live in, one that is safe, peaceful and kind.
What is the actual impact of the NFL changing the end zone message to Choose Love?
#NFL
#ChooseLove
#EndRacism
#Superbowl
