Shut Up and Just Win a Gold Medal
No, we’re not heading back to Milan for some more post-Olympics Bob Sledding. But we are overlapping with the Games to take a sharp turn to politics.
To start with, there was Trump inviting the Gold Medal-winning Men's Hockey Team to the State of the Union Address, using it as further evidence that, in his words, America was "winning". No, the Women's Hockey Team that also won the Gold Medal wasn't there, but in fairness that's only because Trump had insulted them, begrudgingly saying he had to invite them, too, or he'd "probably be impeached." And for the record, athletes on the U.S. Olympic Team (not "America" itself, in case one is uncertain how winning medals works) won an additional 10 Gold Medals and 21 other medals, Silver and Bronze. None of them were invited to the SOTU or to the Oval Office, where Trump looked like a kid giddy on Christmas morning when one of the men's hockey players put his own Gold Medal around Trump, looking as if he had actually won it.
(No word if Trump gave the medal back, or if it's with the Nobel Prize and Purple Heart that were given to him as gifts by the recipients.)
Also worth noting: Five members of the Men's Hockey Team did not go the the Oval Office or attend the State of the Union Address. (This does not mean that all the others necessarily supported the administration -- that's unknown -- just that the only thing we can be sure of is that they wanted to attend as part of the team.)
There has been a good share of political response in the U.S. to some of the athletes – and this doesn’t include the booing of “JD Vance” during the Opening Ceremonies. But after a competition, the medal winners (and sometimes other of the athletes competing) have a press conference. And when there is a press conference, there are questions. And when there are questions, there are answers. That’s how it works. It’s not like an athlete generally just decides to spout off with their opinion, whatever it may be. But they win a medal, perhaps a Gold Medal, and – while wearing a uniform representing the U.S. Team – they’re asked about representing the U.S.
And the thing is, they’re not there as government officials to discuss policy. They’re athletes. They’re on the U.S. Team because of their athletic skills and qualified. They’re not there to defend or even criticize government policies. And what they’re actually representing are U.S. skiers. Or U.S. figure skaters. Or U.S. luge or bobsledders. Or even, yes, U.S. curlers. And when they’re asked about the United States, most of them understand that “the United States” is more than one political party, or one view, or one ethnicity, or government officials. And so, they usually explain what their own positions and morals are.
And that’s pretty much what those questioned said – when asked. That they can only go by their own morals. And in doing so, they might be critical (or supportive) of what the government was doing. And several were critical – though incredibly polite and thoughtful of it. Which is foundationally what freedom of speech and the First Amendment is about.
Yes, they were on foreign ground. And there’s always been sort of a guideline that when you’re in a foreign country and in the public arena, you aren’t critical of the U.S. But, of course, that’s just a guideline, it’s not required. And it’s not only contrary to freedom of speech, but it’s also often “violated.” And the country didn’t fall. Honesty won out, which was always the best calling card for the United States and democracy. When the wildly-popular country musical group the Dixie Chicks were critical of George W. Bush during a concert in London, though, Red state country music fans were outraged, and it undercut the group’s career. Which was the fans’ right, but it certainly was a black mark for what makes America great. (And it seems likely the fans and radio stations would have been just as upset if the comment had been made in the U.S. “Overseas” was a convenient excuse.) A wonderful documentary was made about this, Shut Up and Sing.
And, of course, when you’re in the Olympics, it’s very often going to be on foreign ground – since that’s core to the Olympics and the gathering of nations. And there is world press coming out of every door. And athletes are going to answer. And even you’re an athlete wearing a Team USA uniform, you have the right and even obligation to answer honestly. And if you don’t want athletes to speak out politely about brutalizing innocent citizens and arresting innocent citizens and killing innocent citizens – then don’t brutalize, arrest and kill innocent citizens. But at the very least, don’t expect anyone to defend it when asked. Even if they’re wearing a sports uniform representing Team USA. Especially because “Team USA” is 340 million people with different views.
And yet, when there was criticism, and extremely polite criticism, government officials from Trump, “JD Vance,” Sen. Rick Scott, many other MAGOP senators and down slammed the athletes – Gold Medal winners who brought honor to the country – publicly, putting intense outrage against these young men and women, most in their early 20s.
When the U.S. men’s hockey team won an amazing Gold Medal victory, much of America celebrated – and many celebrated as if it spoke to who America was a nation politically and morally, though it really was just a really nice victory for the country to enjoy and appreciate the skill and effort of a hockey team. And when the player who scored the winning goal, Jack Hughes, gave an enthusiastic speech and thanked the troops for helping make it possible, the far right embraced him as a true American patriot!!!
What I suspect none of them new is that his view on other subjects ennobled him even more. Like these comments he made in 2024 when the National Hockey League (of which he’s a member) was holding a Pride Night, that was controversial and not every player supported. But Jack Hughes (whose brother Quinn was also on the team and also scored a game-winning overtime goal, his in the quarterfinals, and whose mother Ellen Weinberg-Hughes was a coach for the Women’s hockey team) said this --
And further, the Golden Girl of the Olympics for Americans was, understandably figure skater Alysa Liu. Her remarkable skill, but – even more – the utter joy with which she skated and every time she spoke seemed to overwhelm people. And overwhelmed them, so many said, with the embracing spirit of America. She was celebrated across political party lines.
And so now, after all those on the extreme right were rightly cheering her win and declaring as a Great Win for America, and with how wonderful and joyful Alysa Liu is, it would be so terrific and American if they actually stood by that, as she answered a question and politely expressed her views -- politely and gracefully -- based on personal experience, starting with her father coming to the U.S. seeking political asylum from China for being an outspoken critic of their government’s brutality after Tiananmen Square.
Note that not only does she talk about caring for others, but off-handedly in the middle there she also talks about attending protests herself.
Alas, no, of course, after this answer became public, not all those cheering her before as a great symbol of America felt that way as much. I saw one person online try to explain to Alysa Liu that what she didn't understand was that her father came to the U.S. legally.
I couldn't let that sit. So, I responded. "Actually, I'm 100% sure that Alysa Liu knows very well where her father came from, and how he stood up to government brutality. And also that she sees legal citizens in the United States attacked and brutalized and arrested for having dark skin and speaking with a foreign accent. Which you don't seem to understand."
But we can't leave Alysa Liu there. Because so much of her is joyful. So, we'll end with this recent and timely and pure-Alysa Liu video when she was invited to throw out the first pitch at a baseball game in St. Louis. It's wonderful. And just about what you'd expect. As unexpected as it is.
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