Stronger Than Hate

Most football sports fans in the Greater Philadelphia Area – including Abington Township and Cheltenham Township – typically cheer (and boo) the Philadelphia Eagles.

This past weekend, a number of people in this area have highlighted an altered logo representing the steel industry – a logo that many people today associate more with a NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, more so than the smokestack industry.

Mr. Tim Hindes, the Principal and CEO of TrailBlaze Creative of Pittsburgh, created the logo in remembrance of the attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue and as a symbol of the strength of the people in Pittsburgh and throughout western Pennsylvania.

His statement from his Facebook Page:

“I helped some friends move from their home in Greenfield today [Saturday, October 27th].  Sirens rang out in the distance as we packed boxes into the U-Haul.  It *did* seem like an excessive number of sirens to me, but as someone who lives out in the country, *any* number of sirens seem excessive.  On the way home I had the first opportunity to check my phone, only to see that a shooting had take place at a synagogue a mile away from where we were packing.  My heart sunk.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t because of the shooting, but because (I had feared) it was fueled by hate.”

“You see, earlier this same week, a friend of mine was subject to antisemitic verbal attacks from someone in a prominent position.  I had been disturbed by these events all week long and it seemed that I was seeing these same remarks now being played out in horrific fashion in front of me.”

“When I got to a point where I could, I picked up my laptop and started doodling.  My intent wasn’t clear.  But I doodled.  As any designer will tell you, sometimes graphic design concepts come quick and other times it is quite tedious.  But, I’ve found in my experiences that when design is driven by emotion, it tends to be less cerebral and happens quickly and poignantly.  This was one of this cases. But it wasn’t created without meaning or thought.”

“Before it was the logo of a globally popular football team, the three diamonds were the seal of a product which helped develop the foundation of many cities across the globe – steel.  Like Pittsburgh and its residents, steel is strong.  It was a perfect basis for an image of hope.  Again, with antisemitism being so evident in my life this week, it was natural to include a star of David as a part of that image.  The Jewish community is a thread throughout Pittsburgh’s foundation and an important and diverse part of my fantastic city.”

“Now, for anyone reading this unfamiliar with Pittsburgh, there’s something that you should know–we don’t get rattled easily.  This fortitude was instilled in our community by our pierogi-pinching grandmothers who didn’t take any crap from any jag offs.  We were strong before this tragedy. A tragedy like this just makes us stronger.  Just like you can’t break steel, you can’t break the resiliency of a Pittsburgher.  We are stronger than hate.”

“While I appreciate the requests to use this image and desire to provide me attribution, it isn’t necessary.  Use it.   Share it.  This is an image for Pittsburgh and those who love Pittsburgh.  I see every posting of this image as a WIN for love and a strike against hate.  I am so touched that it has resonated with so many of you across the globe.  I thank you and my city thanks you.”

“I pray for the victims, their families, and the Squirrel Hill community.  I hope this small symbol demonstrates that you are not alone in your mourning and that we all love you.”

Still cheer (and, of course, boo) the Philadelphia Eagles.

But, as Mr. Hindes stated,  share this “image for Pittsburgh and those who love Pittsburgh.”

 

Photograph is courtesy of Mr. Tim Hindes, 2018.