United States Women’s National Team superstar Megan Rapinoe has earned a lot of criticism for her willingness to speak out on social issues and her decision to kneel during the national anthem in protest of racial inequality in America. But she never did any of that because she hated her country, as her critics claim. In fact, it was for the opposite reason.
Megan Rapinoe saw her legendary soccer career come to a close this week when the United States Women’s National Team was eliminated from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. To celebrate her storied career, ESPN aired a video narrated by Rapinoe’s fiancee, WNBA legend Sue Bird, on Sunday morning as a tribute to the soccer star.
During the video, Sue Bird revealed that Rapinoe’s true motivation behind her activism and her protest during the national anthem was her “patriotism,” making it clear that it was “because she loved America.”
“Her patriotism has led her to lend her voice to those who need it,” Bird said in the segment. “When she started kneeling to protest racial inequality in the United States, she did it because she loved America and believed it could be a better version of itself.”
Following this declaration, plenty of people took to social media to give their reactions to Rapinoe’s patriotism.
I wrote this in 2019. Seems appropriate to re-up it today.https://t.co/a0V2JCab0V
— Nancy Armour (@nrarmour) August 7, 2023
Republicans hate the US women's soccer team and are delighted at their defeat today. Why ? They are so homophobic that they despise the happiness and talent that is Megan Rapinoe so they cheer for their opponents. This their "patriotism".#USWNT pic.twitter.com/AyIxCNm658
— RocknRollRabbi (@mishabendavid) August 6, 2023
If you are a Patriot and you are so giddy about the US women's soccer team ad Megan Rapinoe losing because they want America to be better than it is that you have to run to a swimming website and make every single story a brag about your patriotism and the vengeance Lady Liberty…
— Braden Keith (@Braden_Keith) August 7, 2023
How fragile is American patriotism? Virulent critics of Megan Rapinoe refuse to support the freaking #USWNT, the winningest, proudest team yet, representing the US on the world stage. You have to wonder what their real agenda is. It certainly isn't in support of best of the US.
— Dr J is at sfgreek.bsky (@SFGreek) August 8, 2023
Dear Megan Rapinoe,
We will never forget your patriotism. Something magats know nothing of.
Sincerely,
America— This is my side job. (@area51fan) August 7, 2023
Amen. Megan Rapinoe is a treasure. The only ounce of patriotism I have is for the USWNT and I never felt it more strongly than when she took a knee https://t.co/QDKBWb15SF
— B-b-b-bene and the Gesserit (@NotTravisNewman) August 8, 2023
Oh Laura, Megan Rapinoe has more skill, talent, class & patriotism than you'll ever have. You have a job cause you spew lies & hatred every night, cause Fox viewers are too dumb to know you're lying to them.
Megan isn't the one rooting for a traitor & Putin https://t.co/g9QwKmvbsG
— 🟦 🟧🇺🇦☮️🌊🌻 Lucy's Woke AF!! Lock 🍊🤡 up! (@LucysOnIt) August 8, 2023
Patriotism isn’t just blindly supporting your country when you see faults, it’s fighting to make your beloved country the best version of itself. And that’s clearly what Rapinoe did throughout her career.
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