Rapinoe’s protests are hurting the fight for gender equality

WASHINGTON >> Nike withdrew a new Independence Day-themed shoe featuring the Revolutionary Warera flag after former NFL quarterback and Nike-endorser Colin Kaepernick said the flag was a symbol of the slave era. Nike said it removed the shoe from retailers because “it featured an old version of the American flag.”

In fact, it featured the American flag actually in use in 1776 on the original Fourth of July, and is named for the Founding Mother its design is commonly attributed to, Betsy Ross. A version of it was actually carried into battle by Union troops fighting to abolish slavery during the Civil War.

Sadly, Kaepernick, who blew up his NFL career by refusing to stand for the national anthem at games, isn’t alone in his hostility to patriotic symbols. Megan Rapinoe, the co-captain of the U.S. national women’s soccer team, refuses to place her hand over her heart with the rest of her team when the national anthem is played at the World Cup in Lyon, France. “I’ll probably never put my hand over my heart,” she told Yahoo Sports. “I’ll probably never sing the national anthem again.”

She says she’s taking a stand against President Trump. But she started protesting the anthem in solidarity with Kaepernick in September 2016, before Trump was elected, when she played for the Seattle Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League.

Let’s be clear: Rapinoe is an amazing athlete. Her heroics in the quarterfinal against France were a wonder. And she has every right to express her displeasure with Trump. Many Americans have legitimate grievances with him.

But Rapinoe is playing for the United States, not Trump. It’s one thing for a professional athlete to protest the national anthem, but quite another for a Team USA member to. Rapinoe is protesting the Stars and Stripes while wearing the Stars and Stripes. If she really feels she can’t show respect for the U.S. flag and anthem, she shouldn’t wear the U.S. jersey.

Here’s the worst part. What she’s doing is selfish. Her protest coincides with the U.S. women’s team taking an important stand against gender discrimination. They are suing the U.S. Soccer Federation because, despite being more successful on the field than the men’s team, and bringing in more revenue, they are paid significantly less than the men. They have a point, and the World Cup is a chance to rally the country behind their cause.

But instead of unifying Americans behind her team’s admirable fight for gender equity, Rapinoe is dividing Americans with her anthem protests. Many Americans who might support the team’s cause are being alienated by its leader.

In 2017, at the height of the NFL anthem protests, polls showed 64% of Americans said athletes should “be respectful during the national anthem,” while just 24% disagreed. Since only 42% of Americans approve of Trump, that means there are millions of Americans, who, like Rapinoe, don’t like him, but also don’t like athletes protesting during the anthem. How does that help the cause of gender equity in sports? Answer: It doesn’t.

Rapinoe also said that if Team USA wins its fourth World Cup title, “I’m not going to the f------ White House.” Good for her. Many athletes have refused White House invitations from Republican and Democratic presidents alike. She has every right to do so. But she doesn’t have the right to protest the U.S. national anthem when playing for the U.S. national team.

During the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, U.S. coach John Tortorella announced that “If any of my players sit on the bench for the national anthem, they will sit there the rest of the game.” Asked why, Tortorella told ESPN: “There are men and women that give their lives for their flag.” Their service and sacrifice, Tortorella said, make it possible for athletes to play a game for a living.

He was right. The coaches of Team USA should deliver a similar message to Rapinoe before today’s final.