Megan Rapinoe is a goddess. She really is. The almost-34-year-old soccer player is one of the co-captains of Team USA in the World Cup. She has been killing it, game after game during the World Cup. She’s such a striking figure too – the beautiful, out-lesbian with the pale violet hair moving across the field with grace and agility of a ballerina. Rapinoe has also continued her various anthem protests, which she’s been doing for years, in support of Colin Kaepernick and in protest of this administration, in protest of police violence and a lot more. Even at the World Cup, Rapinoe has not put her hand over her heart or sung along with the anthem. She hasn’t kneeled, but sure, it’s notable that she’s “protesting.” The conservative media has been trying to make it into a thing. This week, Donald Trump got in on the “insulting Megan Rapinoe” game:
President Trump criticized one of the co-captains of the US Women’s World Cup soccer team for protesting during the national anthem at the team’s games during the tournament in France. Trump, who has been outspoken about protests by NFL players during the anthem, made the comments about 33-year-old Megan Rapinoe to The Hill during an interview Monday.
“No. I don’t think so,” he said when asked if he thought she should be protesting. Trump made the comments hours after the women’s team beat Spain 2-1.
Rapinoe has refused to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before each of the matches during the tournament as a protest of injustice in the United States. In the past, she has even knelt at other US national team games during the anthem.
“I’ll probably never put my hand over my heart,” the national co-captain said in a recent interview before the competition started. “I’ll probably never sing the national anthem again.”
Well, that was sort of lukewarm diss by Trump, probably because Rapinoe is a white woman. We can only imagine what he would have said about her if she was brown or black. Anyway, it’s clear that Rapinoe is pissing off all the right people. She knows it too. She was interviewed recently (I think this was pre-World Cup, but the video just came out) and asked if she would go to the White House if invited. Her answer: “I’m not going to the f–king White House.”
Q: “Are you excited about going to the White House?”
Megan Rapinoe: “I’m not going to the fucking White House.”pic.twitter.com/OosAQMjYsh
— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) June 25, 2019
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
I.LOVE.IT.
I love how matter of fact she is about it, and then how shes like “well its not like we’re gonna be invited anyway.” She knows she’s pissing off Trump et al and she gives not one iota.
PATRIOT!!!
Love it!
Completely agree—she says it so easily and confidently. I went to the USA/Chile game and there were lots of Americans yelling “U. S. A.” in that guttural staccato—something so otherwise innocent sounded so fascist in this moment, it made me super uncomfortable.
Love her! (Also so beautiful)
Well, our girls got bundled out the other day, 😔 so I’m going to keep an eye on this lady. She sounds awesome!
I love ha.
I adore her.
Me two!!!!
I’m so glad Megan is speaking out against the atrocities of the current US government. I wish more athletes, celebrities, and politicians (US and international) would do the same. How could any compassionate human being support an administration, a country, that turns people in “other” and “alien”, keeping children in caged camps as a power move? I hope she inspires more people to acknowledge the truth and to speak up.
I love her, too.
This is a serious question, not joking: are we supposed to put our hand over our hearts for the anthem? I remember putting hand to heart as a kid in elementary school for the pledge but not during the anthem. I mean, I’ve seen people do it but I’ve seen plenty stand respectfully and not do it. IDK. Just curious.
I never thought we were, but I have noticed lately that more people do it. I don’t. I just stand respectfully. They play it before every little league game where we are and most people do put their hands over their heart, but I never remember being taught that.
I’m a Canadian living (against my preference) in the US and I refuse to hold my hand over my heart or sing during the anthem. I will stand respectfully.
As far as I know I thought military was supposed to be hand over heart and every one else was just standing facing the flag. I’ve never done it personally. But I notice its becoming a thing along with people standing at a bar for the anthem. The more this is rubbed in my face the more I pull I’m Canadian and don’t do this extreme stuff.
Military salute during and people are taught when young to do the hand to heart thing. I never did because I was expected to lol. For the pledge, that is.
Never, ever, was I taught that. Pledge? Yes. Anthem? Never. I’m in a position where I have had to sing or lead the anthem numerous times thru the years. I have never performed it with my hand over my heart , nor have I asked a group to do this. I don’t understand why we include it at so many events. It isn’t necessary.
It was after 9-11 that the hand over the heart and the anthem bullshit really started-that’s also when they militarized sporting events with flyovers and stuff…ya know after we invaded the wrong country.
MERIKA!
Same. I’m not sure when the hand over heart thing started happening, but I can’t stand the sanctimony of some people at say, an MLB game, when they do it and glare at me because I don’t. It makes me crazy, actually.
@Esmom – the anthem is when you run to the bathroom because there won’t be any lines.
I was in high school when 9/11 happened and also was in my high school’s marching band. Prior to that, the national anthem was really the only patriotic song that we regularly played. After 9/11, the kitschy and horrid Lee Greenwood song “God Bless the USA” was added to the rotation. I wish we would have added “This Land is Your Land” instead.
I’ve pissed off some armchair patriots, including some indoctrinated by Faux News by saying that The Star Spangled Banner is not a good choice for our national anthem. It’s both musically more difficult to sing and play, which is why so many singers don’t do well performing it. I think that America the Beautiful and This Land is Your Land are both more accessible musically for both musicians and people who attend sporting events and more reflective of what most of us think as the American ideal.
@Esmom – the anthem is a great time to do your bathroom run and get something to drink and eat. I go to multiple sporting events a year, including at least one college football game. That’s when the lines are shortest.
Yeah, I’m with Esmom on that.
And LOL, Megan, love it! Perfect time for a potty break.
Lots of military and military spouses in my family. The civilian protocol is to put your right hand over your heart and if you’re wearing a hat to remove it while standing and facing the flag. If you’re military in uniform, you should face and salute throughout. It’s rather antiquated and a holdover from a bygone era that was never as great as MAGA pretends it was.
Veterans may also now salute during the anthem, even if uncovered (no hat). I don’t see if often and most people don’t know that changed in recent years so people always look at me funny.
Thanks, HMC. I just googled it and you’re right. Apparently President Obama was caught out for not putting hand over heart in the 2008 campaign and he said he wasn’t taught that. I certainly wasn’t either. Remember that video of Melania nudging trump to do it on the White House balcony? I’m guessing some of us of a certain age (I’m 40+) weren’t taught that. Just interesting it’s considered a protest when some of us don’t even think to do it.
Ms Turtle, I spent a lot of my childhood on various military bases, which is probably why it was drilled into me. Off military bases I don’t see it that often. The older generation (60+) I see do it at parades, baseball games, etc. Especially the older veterans.
Let’s not forget our Hypocrite-in-Chief when Kidney-Wife had to nudge him to put his hand on his heart. Oh yeah.. he *really* gives a sh!t.
I’ve noticed the hand over heart thing too over the last few years. And it seems to be something that really offends others if not done. It feels like this overly-zealous “patriotism” aka xenophophia that has gripped the States in the last few years.
I think it is up to you. I’ve always done it. I don’t judge anyone who does not. As long as people are quiet and respectful it’s ok by me. I was annoyed during a graduation ceremony when one guy spent the entire National Anthem yelling into his phone. He was not American from what I could make out, but he should have figured out what we were doing. Just a rude guy I guess
As a kid, I was taught you stood quietly and respectfully and recited the pledge (hand over heart), and to be standing when the anthem played. If you were walking into the room and it was going on, you stopped where you were until it was finished, and then proceeded (to your seat, across the yard (in the case of an outdoor assembly).
As a teacher (for 30 yrs), I always taught the kids that they needed to stand respectfully, period. A lot of the kids were from different countries and I tried instill in them that we all needed to be respectful, and that meant standing quietly during the pledge, or when any country’s national anthem was played. They didn’t have to participate (speak it, hand over heart, etc), but they needed to stand quietly. Period.
I couldn’t believe I actually had to say this to MANY parents as well. During outdoor assemblies, the parents would talk, keep walking around, make phone calls, etc. I had to tell them that we were trying to teach the kids to NOT do these things during any country’s anthem, and to model this behavior. I didn’t make a dent in them. smdh.
Kidney-wife. Love it.
No. period. Hand over heart for pledge (which I now refuse to do ever again but not because of politics).
I remember also doing the hand thing for the pledge as a schoolkid.
Which when I look back, is just absolute hogwash- you have no concept of what you are saying at that age, and when you are old enough to know, you are / should be entirely FREE to make that decision as you wish ie, not be forced to tell a giant lie every day as a kid.
I’m 74 and I haver never, not one single time, put my hand over my heart or sung along. I don’t know when it became a “thing.” Only during the last decade or so, I think.
And I grew up on military bases in the 40s and 50s and was never taught that.
Here is an article about it: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rules-about-how-to-address-us-flag-came-about-because-no-one-wanted-to-look-like-a-nazi-180960100/
which references this:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/36/301
Well, I didn’t get the memo and neither did my elementary through high school Army Brat classmates nor did anybody at the few civilian schools I went to because we were never taught that, not even during the crazed McCarthyism of the 50s. Also, the anthem wasn’t played every damn time you turned around, which was wonderful. How much longer till our national anthem is changed to USA, USA Über Alles?
I do remember going to a Dodgers game many, many years ago and many people put their hands on their hearts during the anthem. So maybe it’s tradition?
Sixty years ago, we were taught in school from a very young age to stand and place our hands over our hearts while reciting the pledge and singing the anthem.
I started first grade in 1950, graduated in 1962. Went to eleven different schools being an Army kid and moving around a lot. We were not taught that in any of the schools I attended, so obviously, some were taught that and some were not.
I love her answer. Keep pissing them off Megan
US soccer passed a rule back in 2016 that said that all national team players were required to stand-I have no doubt she would still be kneeling if it were allowed.
I respect she’s still found a way to protest on her own terms.
Love it.
Since Scotland are out am rooting for the US and the England teams. I watched the England game against Cameroon and I was shocked at the behaviour of the Cameroon team – one of them spat at an England player. I hope FIFA punishes them for their behaviour.
I doubt IQ45 would invite them if they won, not his type.
IQ45? You’re giving him too much credit.
I know this is off topic and I don’t mean it as a disagreement to Digital Unicorn’s point. The “IQ45” thing bugs me because I work with adults with cognitive deficits (low IQs) and not a single one if them is a malicious, arrogant, racist, misogynist, war mongering, tacky buffoon like this pinche pendejo president.
I think it’s just a response to his repeatedly saying that he’s “like, really smart” with “the best words” and a “stable genius” with a “very good brain”
I do see your point and I apologize.
@Busybody…
Pinche pendejo….
I.Am.Dying.Here.
spit my toast out all over my kindle…
Pinche Pendejo!!! DEAD!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I see you point and apologise.
He often uses terms like ‘low IQ’ etc.. when talking about others, so its has been turned around and used back on him in this negative way. He is obsessed with his own and others IQ.
@Digital Unicorn—yeah, I know the reference and that other people use it. I was in a bad mood this morning and there really was no reason for me to comment in the first place. Sorry! My point is that Trump’s a total loser (to use another of his favorites) who is actively dismantling our country out of cruelty and selfishness. His cognitive deficits are the least offensive things about him.
She is awesome!
I love it when people of a certain power and visibility not related to politics give Trump the middle finger and a resoundingly loud F you! It gives me hope that this country can recover once we oust him.
(On another note, 33? She needs to wear more sunblock, her skin looks aged which means damaged which means increased risk for skin cancer. I’m the sunblock sheriff in my family, and being a pale redhead I’m fastidious about it. She obviously takes great care of the rest of her, but everyone always forgets about the skin!)
I’m in awe how titian Voldemort manages his time in office.
Awesome woman. I never put my hand on my heart during anthem. My Dad was retired military and he took his hat off and placed it over his heart. Told me to just stand straight and look at the flag.
I did a little cheer when I saw the clip of her saying that yesterday. Love, love, love her.
Met her a few years ago at Rentschler Field, she’s a class act through and through.
Another BAMF…love you Megan, keep kicking ass and taking names!
👑👑👑👑
Love it and her. That response was beautiful.
Amber Ruffin tweeted about Megan yesterday and I saw no lie in it. I love Megan.
I love her, and her hair is amazing. How does it always look so GOOD?? Before, during, and after games– still stunning.
I don’t really get into soccer unless it is the World Cup, but Megan is inspiring me to follow it more closely. I just adore her and I’ve been crushing on her throughout the tournament. She is so talented & engaging. On a shallow note, I love her hair. The violet-lavender color is lovely. I’m a bit envious. My hair is naturally black & I can’t pull off light colors. Besides ruining my hair, they make me look sickly. She is rocking it though.
This is why I will be cool with going grey someday! Freedom to color without stripping!
I love these women so much! I have the biggest girl crush on Megan…I would switch teams for her in a heartbeat!
Franklin Graham got in on the act yesterday and called her out on Twitter. I’m not a student of theology, but this Bible passage came to mind.
“But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?”
I love her and all that she does. But yeah, my hubs and I have had two arguments about her protests (we’ve also argued many times about Colin Kaepernick, too.) He’s by nature a conservative but has voted Democrat for the past fifteen years because Republicans turn him off and he also grew up an Air Force kid. He’s truly offended when someone protests during the national anthem and there’s no First Amendment argument I can make to convince him otherwise. And he’s a huge women’s soccer fan and watches all the games, not just the US ones, but this just chaps his hide.
I was also never taught to put hand over heart in the national anthem and won’t bend to the post 9-11 military/nationalistic fetish that we have to worship the flag/ troops/ Uncle Sam. None of it’s worth anything if we don’t have the Constitution, anyway.
@sassafrass THAT LAST PART THOUGH!
that was awesome. every girl deserves to develop and exude THAT confidence.
Good on her. She is a goddess.
Now this is a role model!!!
There’s going to be a time (and I hope it’s soon) when professional athletes are going to be asked what they were doing when Colin Kaepernick was being hung out to dry. Ms. Rapinoe can hold her head up.
Admittedly, I never cared about the World Cup in my life. Until now. Megan rocks and I hope she and her team do win just to tell trump to shove it.
The Flag Code does say to put your hand over your heart during the National Anthem and face the flag. It also says it shouldn’t be used in advertising, shouldn’t be embroidered or printed on anything and you shouldn’t wear the flag — only the flags found on the uniform shoulders of service people and first responders. Do the individuals up in arms about Rapinoe’s choice also enforce these rules? Doubtful.
Also, I love her hair and her cool style. She and Alex Morgan were on the pre-game show and she just radiated cool.
@(THEOG): Kidney-wife. Snort. Love it.
That’s all very nice and all but… is she single?
Sorry for being a thirsty bitch but I gotta ask. She’s so my type. I love athletic butches, make my heart go 😍
I’ve lived in the US my entire life, and I have never once sang the national anthem, let alone put my hand over my heart. Never even stood up for it. I don’t even know all the words! Never once said the Pledge of Allegiance, either – found it creepy even as a child.