OT Team USA athletes

A simple question.

Should an athlete representing his or her country stand, face and respect the flag at the Olympic Games.

I am all for protesting. I support all of the athletes who have decided to use their platforms to bring attention to the horrible injustices happening around our country.

But now the athletes are representing this country. My initial thought is it would be hypocritical to run, swim, ski, whatever for your country and then turn your back on the flag at the podium.

That being said, I’m a bit of an “old head” according to my children, so I was curious to hear others opinions

Probably can’t happen, but would love to have a real conversation about this

 

I don't care what they do. It's none of my business. I only care what I do.

 

You should always face the flag before you burn it.

 

I always thought that if you don't wish to represent your country at the Olympics...you probably should give your spot to someone who does, but I understand why some athletes given the platform and world stage would see it as a responsibility to highlight an injustice they think needs attention...I just don't like that the Olympics have come to represent that side of politics when there are places to contest injustice outside of the world Olympic games...people have been threatened in the Olympics before for political reasons...Munich...it doen't help the games and sort of distorts the event from entertainment to political tension....regular season, no problem with folks taking a knee...world games, I think national pride is an important element to bring to the competition...that's easy for me to say though and I will accept anyone's choice to do that peacefully if they choose to....just wouldn't be my choice

 

I agree with you here.. but I'm becoming an old angry man as well.

 

No. We should have no obligation to respect them either.

 

It means we still live in a free country.

 

As soon as I was going to type YES they should stand……took a deep thought and realized, THIS is exactly what the flag stands for and why people like myself and many here served their country…..so that people have the right to choose.

 

I’m still wondering why the Olympics have even lasted into the 21st Century. It’s gotten to be more of a joke than anything. Perhaps the intent somewhere along the line was to bring the peoples of the world together, but all it has become is a political hot mess that pits people against each other in an ever increasingly pugnacious world. The Olympics has been past its sell by date for years. Like the world doesn’t have much higher priorities to deal with…….America needs to take a knee and then bow out.

 

I think it's fantastic that new still all come together to compete like this.

 

Two things:

I agree 100% with you.

A real conversation can be had, no doubt, but it will be an echo chamber conversation.

 

You think it's a mess now, you should have seen it during the Cold War.