American Olympic skiers injected politics during an interview
A couple of American skiers competing at the Winter Olympics voiced their opinions against ICE operations in the US. Chris Lillis felt heartbroken over immigration enforcement and the responding protests. Lillis felt that the U.S. needed to respect everyone’s rights and to treat citizens with love and respect. Hunter Hess indicated that it was hard for him to wear Team USA gear given the things occurring in the US that he isn’t happy about. He emphasized that his wearing the American flag didn’t mean that he represented everything happening in the U.S. Another skier emphasized the need for domestic peace in light of the intent of peace represented by the Olympics.
From Breitbart:
While speaking at a press conference, Chris Lillis and Hunter Hess attempted to distance themselves from ICE. They clarified that while they support their country, they don’t “represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.,” according to Reuters.
“I feel heartbroken about what’s happened in the United States ….. I’m pretty sure you’re referencing ICE, and some of the protests and things like that,” Lillis stated.
Lillis added that he felt like the United States needs “to focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect.”
Hess also expressed that it was “a little hard” for him to “wear Team USA gear” as there was “a lot going on that” he isn’t “the biggest fan of.”
“Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.,” Hess added.
Other freestyle skiers on Team USA, such as Alex Ferreira, expressed that the Olympics represented “peace.”
“Let’s not only bring world peace, but domestic peace within our country as well, hopefully,” Ferreira added.
Additional Reading:
Weibel, E. (2006, February 6). Team USA Olympic skiers ‘heartbroken,’ say they don’t represent ICE operations by wearing American flag. Breitbart. Link.
Category: International Affairs, Society
When left/libtardery is fashionable…
I think we should help Hess out and make his life easier.. strip him of all Team USA gear, and send his ass back home by the slowest / cheapest route possible…
And F@*K the rest of the whiners too!
Nope, just let them where they are, eventually their visitor status will run out and they can go to the Vatican for help. Just a thought.
Maybe I’m starting to sound like the “Get of my lawn!” guy, but I could care less and less about the Olympics as I get older.
So you don’t want to wear the flag of the nation that protects your right to criticize it? So be it. You’re off the team. Pay back every dime invested in you. Return your uniform, all your equipment. Pay back all your endorsement money. When you bite the hand that feeds you, that hand will slap you upside the head. Bigly.
Pampered princes and princesses who have zero clue about what real evil in the world is, and no understanding of those who actually paid the ultimate sacrifice to allow them to say it. Mighty brave to hide behind the very fabric that gives them the luxury of speaking against it. If it’s such a burden, resign citizenship and stay there. If the team doesn’t call them out, they’re just as bad. Fuckheads, all of them.
Everyone is allowed to have their own opinions.
But to the skiers: YOU WILL NOT, I REPEAT, NOT DISPARAGE OUR COUNTY AT THE OLYMPICS!!!
I second Fyrefighter’s motion above with the addendum that we will not pay for their trip back here.
I proudly wore the American flag on my shoulder during my limited participation in the Middle East Olympics, and I didn’t complaint (publicly) of how the Obama administration was destroying and undermining everything that made America exceptional and great.
These skiers can have the same courtesy or pound sand. Do not talk shit about the family in front of strangers!