USA! USA! USA! — Oh Please, Just Shut Up

“USA! USA! USA!” …. OH PLEASE, JUST STOP

Back in 1976, I was 14. My father took me to an international track and field competition. It was held inside the Fort Worth Convention Center. Team USA faced TEAM USSR in a 3-day mini-Olympics. Track and field, pole vaulting, gymnastics, and all the usual sports were displayed. Despite the USA and USSR being intensely at odds on the global political stage, in sporting competition the mood was very different. The crowd of several thousand, almost all Americans and overwhelmingly Texans, cheered when the athletes from the Soviet Union did something spectacular. Sure, we were all cheering for our fellow Americans. Yet, our *guests* merited respect. They also deserved praise when they won or accomplished something big.