A short commentary from Snowflake

 While generally Germaine and I have the same views about the direction the U.S. is heading, I tend to be a bit less hyperbolic. This morning I became hyperbolic. 

I like to think, we have the same goal, to keep the U.S. a civilized country, expose fanaticism, and expose the Right. But did that goal sway my reaction to something innocuous? 

Why am I bringing this up today? Because we ALL - whether we admit or not - can get so riled up we sometimes see something that isn't there. And today, I made a fool of myself and only when my partner reminded me I was taking something WAY TOO SERIOUSLY, did I realize I too have become a victim of certain narratives and beliefs. 

Let me explain:

This morning watched a soccer game between the U.S. women and Netherlands. Part of the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Throughout the game, the camera kept panning to the American audience. They were particularly loud and boisterous. But it was their persistent chant that got me upset. 

USA! USA! USA!

Why should this bother me? Every nation supports it's players. Why did this effect me? Then I realized why.

This USA chant has been termed as something you hear at Trump rallies. It's something that is now been associated with the American Conservative. It's akin to saying "Don't mess with us." And who has fed that narrative?

You guessed it! THE LEFT MEDIA!

Chanting “U.S.A, U.S.A!” is fine; what matters is the context, the intent behind the chant.

So it’s not so great if the idea of raising one’s voice in a group display is to try to put another group of Americans in its place by implying – solely because of race, ethnicity, heritage or skin color – that they’re not real Americans or “not American enough.” Whatever that means.

That is when the chanting can become really offensive. Patriotism is one thing, racial or ethnic putdowns are another. In recent years, we’ve seen far too many examples of the latter.

https://www.cnn.com/2013/02/26/opinion/navarrette-usa-chanting/index.html

Though dated, I also found this story:

OK Conference fans asked to stop chanting USA during sporting events, and here's why:

It’s not that the OK Conference wants to stifle patriotism, Haskins said. In fact, he said fans are encouraged to chant USA after the National Anthem has been played.

However, Haskins said there have been reports that fans have been using USA as a disguise to taunt opposing teams, players and spectators.

https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/article/ok-conference-fans-asked-to-stop-chanting-usa-during-sporting-events-and-heres-why/

Then there is this bit of tripe:

The People Chanting “U-S-A” Loathe America, and Everything It’s Supposed to Stand For

https://www.pastemagazine.com/politics/donald-trump/the-people-chanting-u-s-a-loathe-america-and-every

That article is about the idiots who stormed the Capitol chanting USA USA. Yet the title of the article seems to imply that chanting USA USA is only done by loathsome people for loathsome reasons. If you only read the headline, you would come to that conclusion, wouldn't you?

So, were the American fans mocking the Dutch? Or just being supportive of their team? Did I over-react? 

Another way of asking this: Have WE been programmed to believe that chanting USA USA is done only in a hyper-patriotic fashion and suggest a put down of those who are NOT American or those who are NOT America enough? Has the left leaning media made the chant something NOT to be proud of? 

Or has the chant been SO misused that we now get riled up when we hear it chanted?