We are moving ever closer
to the Olympics.
And the qualifying process has
produced a little bit of news.
I've been watching some of
the gymnastics, but over in the
track and field sports, generating
a different sort of discussion,
most recently about the actions of
hammer thrower, Gwen Berry.
Who turned away from the flag to
face the stands while "The
Star-Spangled Banner" played during
the metal ceremony on Saturday.
She then draped a T-shirt bearing
the words "activist athlete" over
her head.
Now that has produced the sort of
reaction you might expect in
America.
And bear in mind she says,
she feels like they specifically
played The Stars-Single Banner
when she was stood in there.
Because if they know about her past
statements, about the flag and
about activism all that.
She said, they said they were going
to it before we walked out, then
they played when we were out there.
But I don't really want to talk
about the anthem because that's
not important.
The anthem doesn't speak to me.
It never has.
And she had previously said,
my purpose and
my mission is bigger than sports.
I'm here to represent those who
died due to systemic racism.
That's the important part.
That's why I'm going.
That's why I'm here today.
She has previously said I'm
an American, but
I can honestly say I'm not proud of
things this country stands for, and
we can do better.
I want to represent people
who cannot represent themselves and
I want to speak for people who
can't speak for themselves.
So there's been quite a bit of
nuance and background to why she
might do something like turn away
from the flag.
And of course all of those who want
to wrap themselves in the flag and
do other horrible things to
the flag are not going to listen to
any of that.
It's just an excuse to attack her.
Ted Cruz tweeted,
why does the Left hate America?
Sure we have our faults, but
no nation like for instance,
we don't defend our wives when
they're viciously attacked online.
But no nation in the history of
the world has liberated more people
from captivity,
has lifted more out of poverty,
has bled more for freedom.
Or in a civil war bled to stop
freedom or
is blessed more with abundance.
God bless America.
Ben Shapiro said that feeling when
you finish third but
still finished first in a self
involvement Olympics.
He's not self involved at all.
Scott Walker says,
what is wrong with people?
Growing up everyone stood for
the American flag.
Growing up everyone was as happy
and well off as I was everyone
had white privilege like I did.
I'm adding a little bit there but
I'm not interested in it really.
What I want to jump to though is
what I knew is going to happen,
which is this.
The anti cancelled culture anti PC
right is going to react exactly
like you'd expect to her turning
her back on the flag.
So here's a bit of congressman
Crenshaw.
>> We don't need any more activist
athletes she should be removed from
the team.
The entire point of the Olympic
team is to represent
the United States of America.
That's the entire point.
Okay, so it's one thing when these
NBA players do it okay, fine.
We'll just stop watching, but
now the Olympic team and
it's multiple cases.
>> Okay, so
she should be taken off the team.
She turned her back she should be
taken off the team.
Charlie Kirk tweeted athletes that
don't honor the American flag
should be banned from all
competition.
David Steinberg who is an editor
for some right wing
things said send the fourth place
finisher she is a world of options.
And I only include him because I
looked at his profile and
he credits himself as ending PC era
by exposing them Nomar Francesca.
They want her to be cancelled from
the team, banned from it because
she did something they consider
politically incorrect.
But they're all totally against
cancelled culture and all that.
What do you think?
>> No, you said it right there.
That's exactly right.
That is 100%.
We should keep on saying that over
and over and over again.
You participate.
In fact, you want to increase
council culture, but
just against people whose views you
disagree with.
To them,
I just say you get a hammer and
you get a hammer and
you get a hammer, all right?
She's the hammer thrower she can
give it to you whenever you want.
Look, here's the thing, I am so
supportive of her and
and her statement and
just saying I am an activist and
an athlete at the same time.
Usually athletes are always told to
shut up to just do their sports and
then as we saw,
in tennis with Naomi Osaka, right?
Like you must give your little
press interview and
then go away and then shut up and
don't say anything about politics
then we'll like you, right?
And that's bs no athletes should be
able to do and
express themselves if they want.
She already represents
United States.
I never stand for the anthem when
I go to baseball games.
Just as my thing ever since
the Iraq war.
And yeah, shout out to Tommy Smith
and John Carlos who raised their
fists in 1968, the Summer Olympics.
In that classic historic photo
during a really pivotal important
time in this country and we are in
another one of those times.
So, good on Gwen.
>> Agreed, but because you sit for
the national anthem,
I'm going to have to cancel
the arbitration room.
You should definitely check out.