I am so proud of these honest Americans who are representing millions of us fellow Americans on the international stage. They are speaking Truth to the world when many of our voices are drowned out by propaganda and political machinations perpetrated by trump and his corrupt cronies. Thank you American sport's stars for speaking up. You do us proud.
By contrast, here's a campaign ad for George Conway's Congressional run. Man can skate. (sorry for the Twitter link; why do these people keep using it???)
Love it. Thank you for posting it, since I am not on any social media. I agree with you, I don't understand why anyone in their right mind still uses twitter. Let the right wing loonies be among themselves, including Musk, of course.
It is NOT unpatriotic to criticize the country of which one is a citizen. Patriotism is NOT about blind acceptance. Patriotism is about understanding that ones country has flaws and then finding ways to improve them or do away with them so that all can continue to be proud.
They are representing the good in America. Congratulations on that, and please continue to speak your mind with your constitutional right of free speech.
I still remember standing and cheering with raw emotion at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics when John Carlos and Tommie Smith stood on the award stand and raised their black-gloved fists for the world to see! Those protests make our country stronger and better. It is also what the world used to see and admire about our strength and values in the USA. The greed, corruption, racism, stupidity, and core moral weakness of Trump and his Cabinet have confused the world. So that alone makes me very proud of our athletes and their comments at these Olympic Games.
Megyn Kelly just continues to sink ever lower as she goes full MAGA. Amber Glenn has been very candid about dealing with mental health issues such as anxiety, in addition to discussing her sexuality.
Glenn is a very, very talented athlete.
Wishing Glenn and all the U.S. Olympic athletes the best
God bless those who speak out! Am so tired of our president’s behavior. I suspect as long as he continues to act like an egotistical madman & we hate it he will just keep doubling down.
“I see patriotism as constantly demanding better of ourselves,” said Megan Rapinoe. That is very inspirational — and aspirational.
But realistically — and at a bare minimum — American “patriotism” is demanding that our government live up to and obey the legal requirements and principles stated in our Constitution and our Declaration of Independence. All are created equal — with inalienable rights. Like the right to present our grievances to our government through free speech and peaceful assembly.
They —Trump, MAGA, Musk, et al — “don’t get it” because they don’t really believe in protest, political argument, or democracy. They only believe in power, force, and strength. Because of their wealth and possessions, they believe they “are entitled to wield power” — all the power — without any opposition. They can’t even imagine not having influence, not having power, or losing an election. Trump says so repeatedly. American democracy, on the other hand, is based on popular voting, free elections, rigorous debate, and political disagreements — where everyone is entitled to their opinions — whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, farmers, laborers, movie stars, athletes, or persons with disabilities who are on welfare.
You see it’s THE PEOPLE who make America a country. We are a country because of the people. A country of the people, by the people, and for the people. We are a democracy whereby the government only operates by the “consent of the governed.”
Trump has it BACKWARDS. He thinks the US Olympic Athletes represent the US, which means they cannot criticize or even comment on US politics. THEY have to be “patriotic,” and he gets to decide what is “patriotic.” He thinks the athletes are lucky the US picked them to represent the US. BUT THAT IS BACKWARDS. We in the US are lucky that these exceptional athletes chose to compete on behalf of the US. They are outstanding because of their hard work and perseverance. They aren’t representing our “government.” They aren’t in Milan to support Trump’s tariffs, his invasion of Venezuela, of his demands to annex Greenland. They are there to compete as American athletes and American citizens. But they are not just athletes. They are sons, daughters, parents, neighbors, consumers, people who socially engaged and concerned about their communities and their loved ones. They have opinions on sex, marriage, climate change, inflation, tariffs, affordability, equal rights, due process, etc. They have every right to voice their opinions.
Being free to express one’s opinions is a pretty good definition of what it is to be an “American.” On the other hand, when politicians use their political power to threaten that an US Olympic athlete who expresses a political opinion “should be stripped of their USA Olympic uniform,” or forced to “go home,” … well, that just sounds darn right “un-American.”
And what’s the “big deal” anyway? For a couple of weeks, Olympic athletes will have “the world’s attention.” Trump is criticized daily / nightly by opponents and late night show hosts. Why is this attention — and Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl attention — getting Trump so upset. Could it be that his poll numbers are falling faster than an Olympic downhill racer? Could it be that more young people are expressing their opposition? Could it be that more Republicans disaprove of his conduct? Could it be that Trump is becoming more afraid of the possibility impeachment and conviction?
"And so, I see patriotism as constantly demanding better of ourselves."
It's right in the Preamble: "... in Order to form a more perfect union...". Implicit in that is the admission that we weren't perfect before, and we aren't perfect now. But we strive for perfection.
That's what the magaloids don't seem to understand. We aren't perfect. But our greatness, insofar as we have been great, has been not in our perfection, but in our constant efforts to achieve it. And that is precisely what they want to give up. " Good enough!" they say. And that is unamerican.
I am so proud of these honest Americans who are representing millions of us fellow Americans on the international stage. They are speaking Truth to the world when many of our voices are drowned out by propaganda and political machinations perpetrated by trump and his corrupt cronies. Thank you American sport's stars for speaking up. You do us proud.
A very uplifting article! Thank you.
Let's put Mister on a pair of skates and see how he does. No: one skate. Go for it, Loser.
I love your idea, KKG. I think I would give my left arm to see that. He wouldn't get very far, but sink in immediately.
By contrast, here's a campaign ad for George Conway's Congressional run. Man can skate. (sorry for the Twitter link; why do these people keep using it???)
https://x.com/gtconway3d/status/2019777055768846344
Love it. Thank you for posting it, since I am not on any social media. I agree with you, I don't understand why anyone in their right mind still uses twitter. Let the right wing loonies be among themselves, including Musk, of course.
I won’t touch other social media unless someone gives me a link like this. But it came from The Hill, I think, and why are they still using Twitter?
He's on one skate right now, and it's not pretty!
It is NOT unpatriotic to criticize the country of which one is a citizen. Patriotism is NOT about blind acceptance. Patriotism is about understanding that ones country has flaws and then finding ways to improve them or do away with them so that all can continue to be proud.
They are representing the good in America. Congratulations on that, and please continue to speak your mind with your constitutional right of free speech.
I still remember standing and cheering with raw emotion at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics when John Carlos and Tommie Smith stood on the award stand and raised their black-gloved fists for the world to see! Those protests make our country stronger and better. It is also what the world used to see and admire about our strength and values in the USA. The greed, corruption, racism, stupidity, and core moral weakness of Trump and his Cabinet have confused the world. So that alone makes me very proud of our athletes and their comments at these Olympic Games.
Megyn Kelly just continues to sink ever lower as she goes full MAGA. Amber Glenn has been very candid about dealing with mental health issues such as anxiety, in addition to discussing her sexuality.
Glenn is a very, very talented athlete.
Wishing Glenn and all the U.S. Olympic athletes the best
God bless those who speak out! Am so tired of our president’s behavior. I suspect as long as he continues to act like an egotistical madman & we hate it he will just keep doubling down.
I agree wholeheartedly, and I support the teams' positions and candor.
She has free speech rights. Glad she is using them.
“I see patriotism as constantly demanding better of ourselves,” said Megan Rapinoe. That is very inspirational — and aspirational.
But realistically — and at a bare minimum — American “patriotism” is demanding that our government live up to and obey the legal requirements and principles stated in our Constitution and our Declaration of Independence. All are created equal — with inalienable rights. Like the right to present our grievances to our government through free speech and peaceful assembly.
They —Trump, MAGA, Musk, et al — “don’t get it” because they don’t really believe in protest, political argument, or democracy. They only believe in power, force, and strength. Because of their wealth and possessions, they believe they “are entitled to wield power” — all the power — without any opposition. They can’t even imagine not having influence, not having power, or losing an election. Trump says so repeatedly. American democracy, on the other hand, is based on popular voting, free elections, rigorous debate, and political disagreements — where everyone is entitled to their opinions — whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, farmers, laborers, movie stars, athletes, or persons with disabilities who are on welfare.
You see it’s THE PEOPLE who make America a country. We are a country because of the people. A country of the people, by the people, and for the people. We are a democracy whereby the government only operates by the “consent of the governed.”
Trump has it BACKWARDS. He thinks the US Olympic Athletes represent the US, which means they cannot criticize or even comment on US politics. THEY have to be “patriotic,” and he gets to decide what is “patriotic.” He thinks the athletes are lucky the US picked them to represent the US. BUT THAT IS BACKWARDS. We in the US are lucky that these exceptional athletes chose to compete on behalf of the US. They are outstanding because of their hard work and perseverance. They aren’t representing our “government.” They aren’t in Milan to support Trump’s tariffs, his invasion of Venezuela, of his demands to annex Greenland. They are there to compete as American athletes and American citizens. But they are not just athletes. They are sons, daughters, parents, neighbors, consumers, people who socially engaged and concerned about their communities and their loved ones. They have opinions on sex, marriage, climate change, inflation, tariffs, affordability, equal rights, due process, etc. They have every right to voice their opinions.
Being free to express one’s opinions is a pretty good definition of what it is to be an “American.” On the other hand, when politicians use their political power to threaten that an US Olympic athlete who expresses a political opinion “should be stripped of their USA Olympic uniform,” or forced to “go home,” … well, that just sounds darn right “un-American.”
And what’s the “big deal” anyway? For a couple of weeks, Olympic athletes will have “the world’s attention.” Trump is criticized daily / nightly by opponents and late night show hosts. Why is this attention — and Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl attention — getting Trump so upset. Could it be that his poll numbers are falling faster than an Olympic downhill racer? Could it be that more young people are expressing their opposition? Could it be that more Republicans disaprove of his conduct? Could it be that Trump is becoming more afraid of the possibility impeachment and conviction?
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I am so proud of our young people.
And I loved how NBC covered so many other counties in their reporting.
"And so, I see patriotism as constantly demanding better of ourselves."
It's right in the Preamble: "... in Order to form a more perfect union...". Implicit in that is the admission that we weren't perfect before, and we aren't perfect now. But we strive for perfection.
That's what the magaloids don't seem to understand. We aren't perfect. But our greatness, insofar as we have been great, has been not in our perfection, but in our constant efforts to achieve it. And that is precisely what they want to give up. " Good enough!" they say. And that is unamerican.