So specifically, she qualified to be sent to the Olympics. Right now, she’s representing herself, and from her POV, other people that have legitimate beefs with the USA - both historical and present.
Second, we have recent precedent for people to compete based on their athletic merits even if they do not directly represent their nation, such as the recent Russian competitors after Russia itself was unable to compete due to the doping scandal. Admittedly, this is the specific athlete’s issues with the US rather than the US being banned, but it’s still people participating on merit rather than the nation’s recognition.
So, I don’t see a major contradiction. For that matter Gwen Berry isn’t indicating she hates the US even though she feels (with cause, again) that the US has not show respect for her people. That’s her opinion, and the US Olympic committee explicitly allows it.
The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee permitted athletes to take part in “respectful demonstrations on the topic of racial and social justice” at the trials, but a ban on “protests and demonstrations” will be in place at the Tokyo Olympics.
Now the second sentence may be troublesome for her depending on how it’s applied in Tokyo, but that’ll be another thread (possibly).
Ultimately you are right. I guess I don’t give a crap because. I’ve got that privilege to ignore the activist athletes protests during the games.
NTL it’s a valid question, if the anthem with its patriotic shallow bullshit is removed then what happens to the activist athletes movement when they lose that public platform? rN the SSB is a convenient target to air grievances of systemic racism.
She’s 32 years old. She’s not a child. She has been a professional athlete for 10 years, is a 3-time national champion, and holds a world record. Calling her a brat and saying she’s having a “hissy fit” is very reductionist.
You talk about disrespect in the OP, but are demonstrating none of it in this thread. I’m happy to talk about the merits of her protest and whether or not she is demonstrating patriotism if you’re interested.
They’re racist? Is this not in the realm of possibility? Maybe it was an accident. Maybe not. It’s not unreasonable for her to think she had been set up.
Plenty of people boycott Nike for a whole lot of reasons.
Kaep didn’t get “caught pouting on the sideline.” He made a consistent and continuing choice to try to use his platform to highlight police brutality. Cuz, you know, that is a real thing. Just ask George Floyd. Oh, right, you can’t. Because he was murdered at the hands of Derek Chauvin and his buddies. But yes, he was just being petulant.
I hate the Australian national anthem (it’s so depressing and downbeat) and frankly would like to see the end of national anthems being played at sporting events.
Ascribing petty personal motives with no valid basis to a black athlete protesting systemic racism in order to paint that athlete in the most negative light possible? Are you sure you’re not the OP?
So, maybe she was stupid in thinking that the one time that they deviated from their schedule, that they did specifically what they said they would not do, and played the anthem during the medal ceremony when she was on the podium, was done on purpose.
If your raison d etre is to shine a light on the plight of your people but then you play the victim because of a mistimed anthem yeah that’s a butt hurt prima Donna on display.