re: Should Rapinoe continue to receive USWNT call ups?

Well her rationale is that this country isn't perfect, and those who love it should work to make it better. I don't equate protesting a piece of cloth as being the same as protesting the idea of America and everything it stands for. I also don't agree with her choice, and I would't do it myself, but I get what she's trying to convey.

Its no different than getting in a fight with your family. You still love them and know when they're at their best they are wonderful, fun, caring, and loving people. That doesn't change the fact that at that moment, you're angry with how they act about a given subject. So you voice your displeasure because you know they're better than that.

Plus the other piece of cloth, the piece of cloth that she wears is representative of this county. If their is a better country for her let her go there. Representing our country is a privilege one that few people have. She is not there to represent her beliefs.

quote:

---

That's a shite argument.

---

so is this.

quote:

---

She is not there to represent her beliefs

---

i don't give a shite one way or the other about her taking a knee, but you can't just turn off your beliefs.

quote:

---

If their is a better country for her let her go there.

---

I think giving up on your country at the first sign of adversity is weak minded and cowardly. Running away won't fix those problems. This is why I don't quite understand this argument.

For instance, if the nation elected Bernie Sanders and we took a hard political swing left, should those on the left tell those on the right to "just leave the country if you don't like it." No. Stay and fight for the ideal America you hold in your heart and your mind. Running away doesn't accomplish anything.

quote:

---

She is not there to represent her beliefs.

---

To an extent, I agree and sympathize with this. However, we moan and complain about athletes being role models and standing up for what is right and teaching kids to have character and dedication in their work and ideals. She's using her public platform to do that. People lauded Ali when it happened. People praised Tommie Smith/John Carlos for it. They loved Pienaar so much they made a movie about it. Again, I would never dream of protesting in this kind of way myself. But it's working isn't it? People are talking about it and discussing the black American experience, whereas they wouldn't have before.

quote:

---

Well her rationale is that this country isn't perfect, and those who love it should work to make it better. I don't equate protesting a piece of cloth as being the same as protesting the idea of America and everything it stands for.

---

But why is it ok in her mind to protest the cloth, but not protest the team?

Both are representations of Americans.

quote:

---

But why is it ok in her mind to protest the cloth, but not protest the team?

Both are representations of Americans.

---

The flag is a representation of our government and our nation as a whole. I don't equate a sports team to that level of representation. Then again I don't care all that much about the US national team, so I'm the wrong person to have that debate with.