America was built on a political divide, but even as ugly as it has been throughout our history, one idea prevailed - "country first!"
The fact that many prominent conservatives are celebrating the loss of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team is a fresh reminder that the idea of "country first" is dead in America. Right-wing talkers like Charlie Kirk and Clay Travis, plus bigger outlets like "Fox and Friends," Breitbart News and The Blaze actually celebrated the USWNT losing to Sweden 5-4 Sunday morning and being eliminated from the World Cup.
The game came down to two penalty kicks. Sweden made their kick by the slightest of margins, and outspoken U.S. superstar Megan Rapinoe missed hers; and it was over for the U.S. women who have dominated the sport of women's soccer, with two World Cup wins.
Megan Rapinoe is one of those sports figures who uses her podium to advocate for certain social causes. She is a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community and promotes pay equality. In 2016 Rapinoe became the first white athlete to kneel during the playing of the National Anthem, but her definition of patriotism means demanding better out of ourselves. There is no doubt that Megan Rapinoe is an athlete who is also a social activist.
The USWNT has been on a crusade to gain equal pay with the men's team. For many Americans, the idea of demanding equal pay is a "woke" concept, so now the team has garnered the image of being "woke," which has earned them an automatic dismissal by the far right. Many conservative talk show hosts and podcasters have condemned the team because of their perceived collective political ideology.
When I read that the loss and embarrassing elimination from the World Cup was being celebrated by some conservatives - I was reminded that it's “politics over country” in America today.
I understand the disliking athletes using their platforms to push social and political issues, but every American is allowed to have their views and at every level of life, Americans are using their positions in society to push their own political beliefs.
To be happy that a U.S. team lost on a world stage is also embarrassing. Players and fans have their political beliefs, but when it comes to a U.S. team on the world stage, we should support the United States team.
If you disagree with athletes expressing their political views and that causes you to cheer for another country over the U.S. - then you are guilty of doing the same thing you don't like about athletes with political views.
Why can't sports be sports even if some players voice their political views? Why can't we be the United States of America first, with politics and every other thing that divides us second?
If a popular Saints player allows their political views to be known, do you then hope the Saints lose? We are Saints fans first and everything else second. We should all be Americans first and our political divisions come second.
