Taking down the winners and the losers: America's National Pastime

Late summer is traditionally a bit slow in terms of big news, and this summer there are only three big issues: the pandemic, the Olympics, and culture wars pitting Republicans vs. Democrats.

I am exaggerating slightly, but I click on almost any news website and you will see what I mean. 

The Olympics are designed to bring the world together but seldom do. This edition is no different and maybe worse than most years. We have gotten to the point that occurrences such as Simone Biles choosing her personal health over competing can combine BOTH the Olympics and the culture wars.

After all, she is a woman and she is Black, so of course old white men feel free to take shots at her. And plenty of other folks feel free to chime in praising her or defending her or using her to get into something else they want to argue about.

She is also a gymnast, a sport that only an incredibly small percentage of humans ever partake in. It's difficult and dangerous and most people might avoid a sport like that for EITHER of those reasons. So logic might suggest that most of us would not get tightly wrapped up in how gymnasts do (we could care less outside the Olympic Games).

But then comes the daughter of a Hmong immigrant, settled in Minnesota, of all places, to eek out the All-Around gold medal that everyone assumed Ms. Biles would claim.

Suni Lee is only 18 and already a superstar. There is near universal praise and applause.

But now that she has reached the pinnacle in her sport, it's only a matter of time until she manages to tick someone off or fail to meet some predetermined standard or not meet some vague level of beauty, and the trolls will attack. Does that sound cynical?

Here is one trait that really DOES bind Americans off all political parties, genders, ages, etc.: we all love to see anyone who is celebrated, on top, elected, etc., taken down a notch. We love to attack the successful.

We also like to attack the extremely "unsuccessful." For instance, what's the deal with all the homeless people? And why can't people pay their rent? And why not just move to a better place when your city or state does not provide support?

Our thinking as a nation must be that the mighty will always land in a good place, not matter how much they falter and that the lowly have no power, so who cares if they don't like being picked on?

We are not a very attractive nation right now. Perhaps that is another thing we can all agree upon.