Megan Rapinoe

US co-captain Megan Rapinoe salutes the crowd after scoring the first goal in the 2019 World Cup Final against the Netherlands (photographer unknown)

So the 2019 Women's World Cup winners are the USA, beating the Netherlands 2-0 in France yesterday. As an American, I should be proud, and I can certainly say that I think the best team won. My European heart, however, suffered when England lost the semifinal (VAR! Ellen White's lost goal! The penalty miss (why didn't they let Lucy Bronze blast it through the net?!)! As a WSL fan, I had a strong commitment to the Lionesses, and I felt it when they did not prevail. For the final, the large contingent of Arsenal Women in the team, and a lifelong love of Dutch football, also turned out to have a pull on my heartstrings. Whilst the US players were clearly stronger, the Dutch held on staunchly, until they were felled by the awarding of a penalty kick in the second half. Megan Rapinoe, a co-captain of the US team, stepped up, and sent Sari van Veenendaal the wrong way to score the opening goal. It broke the Dutch team. Ah well, that's football. Congratulations, commiserations, and thank you all teams involved for raising the profile of the game.

I've heard conflicting opinions regarding Megan Rapinoe. My first instinct is to celebrate her for standing up for her beliefs, e.g., protesting her National Anthem in solidarity with NFL player Colin Kaepernick's stand against racial injustice in the USA; being part of a gender-discrimination lawsuit filing for equal pay for female soccer players; she is an ambassador for ending homophobia and transphobia in sport, she supports Paralympic athletes and donates a percentage of her salary to football-related charities. She ticks a lot of boxes for me. So where's the conflict? 

Earlier this week, Marc Thiessen wrote in the New York Post:

"Rapinoe is an amazing athlete. Her heroics in the quarterfinal against France were a wonder to watch. She has every right to express displeasure with the administration. Many Americans have legitimate grievances with Trump.

But Rapinoe isn't playing for the Trump administration; she is playing for the United States. It's one thing for a professional athlete to protest the national anthem, but quite another for a member of Team USA to do it. Rapinoe is protesting the Stars and Stripes while wearing the Stars and Stripes.

That isn't OK. Representing your country is a privilege, not a right. If she really feels she can't show respect for the US flag and anthem, then she shouldn't wear the US jersey, either."

(full article here)

It is clear today that many people I know, who may agree with Rapinoe's desire for change in various areas of national life and culture, are offended by what they see as her lack of respect for a national symbol and an institution. This surprised me, and that is why I'm taking a moment to consider the situation. 

Although I am a US citizen, and was born there, I did not grow up in America. I have to admit that I really do not understand, at a visceral level, the symbolism of the flag. In fact, my religious beliefs make me wary of such an icon, since idolatry is a big no-no in the Torah. Thus, I'm not too worried about flags and anthems. 

Therefore, what does it mean to represent your country in a sporting competition? What are the responsibilities that you take on when you put on the shirt? I would hope that you would  comport yourself according to the values that your country (is supposed to) represent (s). But what if you feel that the current administration is falling short of the national values in which you believe? Are you dissing your country if you use the platform your sporting prominence has given you to shine a light on what you believe to be flaws and failings in the life of your nation? As I write these questions, I am sorry if people feel hurt by what they see as the disrespecting of a badge or a shirt or a flag or a song. But, they are symbols. If what they stand for is under threat, I am glad that they (& I) live in a country where it is possible to question and debate and express dissent. And I am proud that there are people brave enough to speak out where they see injustice. So in the end, while I hope that all involved will say their pieces without resorting to ad hominem attacks or vulgar language, I congratulate Ms Rapinoe for her stand, and wish her well.