Some friends have been calling me out for labelling Eileen Gu a traitor. One conservative friend even found occasion to point out that I defended Raven Saunders last summer for what some characterized as her "anti-American podium demonstration."
Well, I stand by both. And if you don't see why it's appropriate to label Gu a traitor while still praising Saunders as a hero, allow me to explain how I differentiate between the two.
Gu is an American born and raised. Yes, her mother is Chinese. But in this country, that doesn't matter (or at least it shouldn't). All people who grow up in this country as well as newcomers who embrace it are as American as you or I. Gu is a product of American upbringing, athletic traditions, and support networks, all of which were more essential to her athletic success than mere heritage. She's an American athlete, dang it, and if she had a shred of honour, she'd validate that by competing for the nation in which she was moulded.
But that's not the main problem. While her choice to compete for another nation is something of an act of ingratitude, what's worse is her apparent ideological dismissiveness.
By contrast, Saunders actually competed and brought glory to her country. If that doesn't afford you the platform to express yourself, I don't know what does. You can disagree with how she used that platform, but not with her using it. Cause how many medals have you won for your country that you get to decide how she uses hers?
But in terms of ideology as well, Saunders is a very different case. She has been critical of the United States, sure. She used her platform to call out prejudice and declare solidarity with fellow Americans, many of whom are still marginalized.
That is not an anti-American act. Indeed, I would argue that using one's free speech to criticize one's country very well may be the MOST American act of all. Criticizing your country isn't un-American. It's the thing that makes this country great. This reality proves an especially difficult concept for some people to understand, but even OPENLY HATING America does not render one un-American.
Yea, that's right. You can stand up right now on top of the Stars and Stripes, extend your middle finger, and scream "I hate America!" at the top of your lungs as they play the National Anthem at a veteran's memorial and even THAT would not render you un-American.
(Mingus... are you actually insane?)
Nope. Empty gestures like standing for the pledge and other largely self-gratifying demonstrations of patriotism are not the essence of America.
Freedom is the essence of America.
I use my freedom to stand and hold my hand over my heart with respect and reverence when they play the anthem. But that is no more an act of patriotism than an act of using that same freedom to bring attention to a worthy cause. Or using it in any other way. The most patriotic thing an American can do is simply act upon their God-given freedom to do what they want to do.
Furthermore, In America, celebrating your country is no more patriotic than criticizing it. Indeed, many of our most revered heroes did little more than criticize their homeland.
(But Mingus, there's a time and place to criticize your country. But the global stage with the world watching isn't it. When you're an Olympic athlete, the moment has to be bigger than you. Anything besides gestures of deference during the National Anthem reflect poorly on the country itself. Thus- even while I concur that Saunders had the right to use her podium that way- I still sharply disapprove and find her an ungrateful champion and a poor ambassador).
Were her actions REALLY such a bad look for America? Did her demonstration genuinely harm our international image? If you're watching the Olympics in a place where such expressions are not an option- including the P.R.C.- are you truly more likely to scoff at the United States for allowing such behaviour? Or are you more likely to envy the freedom she holds and applaud the nation that enables it?
I would argue that Saunders' demonstration was neither un-American nor an international source of embarrassment. She demonstrated freedom and, if you ask me, that's exactly the look we should be going for as a nation.
And that's why I respect Raven Saunders but not Eileen Gu.
Saunders criticized her country. She also won a medal for that country and, more importantly, she REMAINED in that country and continues to bring it glory while exercising her free speech to promote causes she supports. She not only competes for her country abroad, she fights for the ideals of freedom it represents at heart.
Gu? She not only refused to compete for her country, she turned her back on the principles we hold most dear by equivocating on important ideological distinctions between the U.S. and the P.R.C.
To quote Gu, "Nobody can deny I'm American, nobody can deny I'm Chinese. When I'm in the U.S., I'm American, but when I'm in China, I'm Chinese."
Nope. It just ain't the same. She's conflating ethnic identity with national philosophy. One can be ethnically American and ethnically Chinese. One cannot identify with American ideals and P.R.C. ideals because they are not the same, and I refuse to pretend otherwise.
The world is not some place where everyone is in the same boat and all forms of government are alike deep down and ideals don't matter. That's a dismissive and far-too-common worldview and I disapprove wholeheartedly. The United States is a flawed place built on sound ideals. the People's Republic of China is a flawed place built upon reprehensible ideals. I'd be intellectually dishonest to ignore that reality and so is she.
Saunders chooses to represent a nation where she CAN use her podium to express herself. A country where demonstrations of advocacy or criticism represent not only valid expressions of freedom, but genuine acts of patriotism.
Gu chooses to represent a nation where that option is not available to her. A country where collective image holds higher priority than individual rights.
Ultimately, Saunders is an American champion. Gu is a traitor who not only turned her back on those who fostered her rise to success but also chose to represent a nation that is America's ideological antithesis.
She deserves our criticism and we should all exercise the freedom of speech she sacrificed to bestow it upon her.