It’s that time again: The Olympic Games. A time when nations come together, not to sing kumbaya, but to compete. Where athletes representing a nation give it their all in pursuit of Olympic gold. Why then do liberals have such a hard time with all this? In the age of Barack Obama, who loves to say that America is not the best, and in a time where mediocrity is pursued instead of excellence, it pains liberals to chant “U-S-A” even during the Olympics.
Let’s step into the mind of a liberal and look at his analysis of the Olympics and his “conflict” with rooting for America. Sure, he wants Americans to do well (at least I think he does), but he doesn’t want to appear that he’s rooting too hard for his country. The column to which I refer is written by David Sirota for Salon.com, but it could have just as easily been written by Barack Obama.
Titled “Don’t chant ‘U.S.A.!'”, the author dives into the history of the Olympics and points to the games of 1984 and 1992 as turning points for him… years in which patriotism ran amok to the extent that he now feels ashamed to root for America. Of course, 1984 was the year of the Soviet boycott of the games in Los Angeles, and 1992 was the year that America sent the “Dream Team” to dominate in basketball.
In making his case that he has “outgrown” his zeal for America to be the best, Sirota laments the fact that Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and the rest of the Dream Team were assembled to beat competitors to a pulp. Personally, I’ve always had a problem with the so-called “amateur” nature of the Olympics. Everyone knows that other nations would seek out their very best athletes. They would train them, feed them, and pay for everything so that these “amateurs” could compete. It should be about the best versus the best, period.
But according to Sirota, it was just too much American dominance for him. I bet he was loving women’s gymnastics this time around, when three of the very best female gymnists in the entire world are Americans, yet only two were allowed to compete in the all-around exercises. Apparently, even in the Olympics, excellence is giving way to diversity.
Here’s what Sirota thinks:
However, I’ve outgrown the lust for an overpowering victory that has us, medal-count-wise, leave everyone else in the dust. I’ve outgrown it because while I know our athletes deserve our support and respect, I also know that the same respect is due all the competitors from all the nations at the games — and respect is something wholly different from complete conquest.
It’s a truism we should remember when watching the Olympics — and when contemplating the larger world.
Hello! Was this guy ever an athlete? Olympic competition (any competition) is about doing your absolute best in the pursuit of VICTORY. There is no disrespect presented when someone tries to beat someone else. That is the nature of competition.
I’m sick and tired of liberals wishing for something less for America…. that we somehow owe it to the world to not be good any more… that we should not have pride in being an American…. that chanting “U-S-A, U-S-A” is somehow taboo.
This is America. Love it or leave it.
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