I love the Olympics! Athletes from all over the world, coming together to compete against one another. The hype, the emotion, the spectacle … I love it all. Most of all, I love cheering on Team USA. Over the years, there have been so many incredible moments for our American athletes. Probably one of the most iconic was the “Miracle” moment when the U.S. men’s hockey team beat the Soviets, in the 1980 Winter games.
I love it when our athletes win their events. They’re on the podium, with the American flag draped over their shoulders and our National Anthem is playing. You can see the pride on their faces. They’re smiling and crying at the same time, and so am I. That’s what the Olympics is about. Years of hard work have led to this very moment. It’s bigger than just one person, it’s a moment for the entire country.
That’s why it was so disappointing to hear one of our athletes tell reporters he had “mixed emotions” about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy. American skier Hunter Hess said, “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 has since backtracked a bit on his comments.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/american-olympic-skier-hunter-hess-cannot-wait-represent-team-usa-after-trump-backlash
Now I know, here in America, one of our greatest freedoms is Freedom of Speech. We have the right to express our opinions at any time, any where. I’m doing just that right now. But voicing your opinion as an individual is different, than when you are representing your country in front of a global audience. When you put on that uniform, with the American flag on your sleeve, you are now part of something larger than yourself.
Can you imagine a soldier being sent to another country during World War II, and telling reporters I don’t agree with U.S. foreign policy? Or a salesperson telling a customer this product I’m selling isn’t the best item you can buy? Or Jared Goff announcing he doesn’t really like that much about the city?
I never agreed with the athletes that knelt during the National Anthem. And I don’t think our Olympic athletes should be bad mouthing the very country they were sent to represent.