People from across the political spectrum understand we can love our country while disagreeing with its current leaders. We all do it at some point.
Remember how angrily people calling themselves patriots criticized the Obama and Biden administrations? It’s more than a little hypocritical for the president and his allies to savage Olympic athletes for simply answering questions about what’s happening in our country.
Face it: The brutality of President Trump’s mass deportation project is no secret. It has drawn worldwide attention and mobilized millions of Americans to protest. It’s not surprising that U.S. athletes would be asked about it, especially since dozens of them have connections to Minnesota, the most recent focus of the regime’s cruelty.
Despite outrage-stoking claims from politicians and pundits, none of the U.S. athletes “trashed” the United States. They respectfully raised concerns that are shared by most Americans.
“I feel heartbroken about what’s happened in the United States,” said skier Chris Lillis, referencing ICE and related protests. He called for “respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens, as well as anybody, with love and respect.”
“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think,” said skier Hunter Hess. “It’s a little hard; there’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t.”
He added: “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”
Amber Glenn, a figure skater, acknowledged that the queer community and other communities are having a “hard time” under Trump. Glenn said, “I hope I can use my platform and my voice throughout these games to try and encourage people to stay strong in these hard times.”
Those were reasonable from-the-heart responses from extraordinarily talented and hard-working Americans. But MAGA mouthpieces couldn’t handle it. Trump singled out one of the athletes as a “loser.” That was a signal for everyone to pile on. And they did, mocking athletes as “whining pansies” and denouncing them as “ingrates on ice.” A social media comment called them “a disgrace to the red, white, and blue.” And Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said they should be stripped of their Olympic uniforms.
MAGA pro boxer Jake Paul claimed to speak for “all true Americans” in saying, “If you don’t want to represent this country, go live somewhere else” — a sentiment shared by multiple MAGA figures. Where was that “love it or leave it” crowd when Trump was denouncing the U.S. as “failing,” destroyed and going to hell? They were cheering.
There are a few things going on here. One is that our narcissistic president cannot bear even mild criticism. Politicians and pundits who want to stay on his good side are constantly trying to prove their unquestioning loyalty. That’s why so much of the hate directed against athletes was ridiculously out of balance with what they actually said.
Another is that self-proclaimed champions of “free speech” on the MAGA right are actually eager to suppress speech they don’t like. Trump threatens media outlets whose coverage is not sufficiently flattering. Secretary of State Marco Rubio orders the expulsion of a foreign student who signed an op-ed he disagreed with.
MAGA officials dictate what can and can’t be taught in university classrooms. And people who denounce “cancel culture” demand that American Olympians be cancelled for speaking their minds.
MAGA wants to decide what it means to be an American, and that means being MAGA. Jake Paul’s “real American” claim contrasted with his denunciation of Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny as a “fake American” for daring to voice criticism of “our great country.”
But it’s not patriotic to keep silent while the president is wreaking havoc on our Constitution and our communities. In fact, it’s our duty to speak out, like lawyer and Olympic curler Rich Ruohonen.
Ruohonen made it clear that he loves the U.S. and is proud to represent it. He said what’s going on in Minnesota has been hard for everybody, adding, “This stuff is happening right around where we live.”
“We have a Constitution. It allows us freedom of the press, and freedom of speech, protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures and makes it so we have to have probable cause to be pulled over,” he said. “And what’s happening in Minnesota is wrong — there’s no shades of gray.”
Ruohonen went on to say he loves the way Minnesotans are showing up for one another with love, compassion and integrity, adding, “What the Olympics means is excellence, respect, friendship.”
“We are playing for the people of Minnesota and the people around the country who share those same values.”
Americans should be proud that our First Amendment gives us the freedom to criticize those in power. Some of our athletes are using that freedom to defend the values of a free society. I’m grateful for them.
