I Love Alysa Liu Even More If She Is Woke
She left her personal politics at home so her whole country could root for her at the Olympics.
There’s a funny sentiment circulating on the Left: #Resistance folks are mocking conservatives for praising women’s figure skater and Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu. The daughter of a Chinese immigrant who was persecuted by the Chinese government for participating in the Tiananmen Square protests, Alysa and her dad were later spied on by China; the CCP tried to recruit Alysa to compete for them, Eileen Gu style. But father and daughter refused, choosing instead this great nation that gave her father freedom and refuge, and in a gorgeous moment of divine justice, Alysa took home the gold in women’s figure skating this week—for the United States of America. She is the first American to win gold in the women's figure skating event in 24 years.
There’s a lot to love about Alysa. She’s quirky and adorable, has great style, and is just so full of joy, both on and off the ice. When she completed what turned out to be her gold-medal winning performance, she skated right up to the camera and said, “That’s what I’m f—-ing talking about!” — just totally blissed out by what she’d accomplished.
And later, when she took the podium for the star spangled banner, she did so with honor, dignity, and pride, making sure she had her right hand over her heart.
What’s not to love?
Many on the Right posted ebullient tributes. A typical sentiment was in a world of Eileen Gus, be an Alysa Liu—a patriot, a symbol of freedom and excellence and pride in your country.
And it’s then that the Left began their mockery: Don’t you know she’s woke?
She may very well be. Their evidence seems based on the fact that Amber Glenn, Liu’s teammate who identifies as bisexual and “pansexual,” posted a photo of the two of them with the caption, “They hate to see two woke bitches win.”
Glenn was responding to a backlash to her own ridiculous comments early on in the Olympics at a press conference, that the LGBTQ community was facing persecution under the Trump administration.
Glenn was one of a handful of American athletes who used the the world stage of the Olympics to trash the country they were representing, the country that has given them everything. Others, like skier Hunter Hess, complained about how hard it is to represent America. “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S. I just kind of want to do it for my friends and my family and the people that support me getting here,” said Hess.
Liu was not one of them—though she did express her political views in an interview with ABC back in October. Liu said that like her dad, she had attended political protests. “I definitely do really care about what our county is doing, and I think it is really important also to notice the faults in our own government—very similar to my dad. Things are a little rough in our country, but I think every government has its issues,” she told ABC. “There are so many protests that are going on and I’ve attended. Coming from a family of immigrants, I think immigrants deserve rights. I think it’s a little silly, especially in America.”
This is apparently the discovery that has MAGA “crashing out,” according to the Left.
I hate to break it to them, but nothing could be further from the truth. I haven’t seen a single Right-wing account say, “WHAT? She’s pro-immigration? I’m out!” I’ve seen the exact opposite—conservatives loving on her despite her views.
Because unlike for hardcore Leftists, political views aren’t synonymous with character on the Right. its pretty normal on the Right to be able to like people you disagree with, as many have been pointing out this week. That’s kind of built into patriotism: More unites us than divides us, and that’s worth celebrating. This country is great in part because we don’t all agree—that’s certainly what the Founding Fathers thought. After all, you can’t be united if you are uniform.
People weren’t upset with Amber Glenn and Hunter Hess because they had views we didn’t agree with. They were upset because they chose to trash their country and separate themselves from an America they expressed shame for and disgust with. They were at the Olympics to represent us and instead they trashed the greatest country on earth in front of our adversaries.
Gross.
And this is exactly what Alysa Liu chose not to do.
In fact, for me personally, learning that Alysa Liu might have woke views made me love her even more. You know why? Because she checked them at the door to the Olympics—so that her entire country could root for her.
Watching that ABC clip from October, what’s notable is not that the daughter of an immigrant is pro-immigrant. It’s that the daughter of an immigrant with probably Left-wing political views kept them to herself and competed not for her own glory but for her country—for her whole country. She didn’t use the Olympics as an opportunity to elevate her own personal political views, the way Amber Glenn and Hunter Hess did. She didn’t use her platform to get social media plaudits from people who hate America, who are always shrinking their coalition because their politics is about proving how much more righteous than everyone else they are.
Alysa Liu used the Olympics to showcase her God-given, nation-nurtured talent, her joy in her sport, and ultimately, her love of her country, in her own way.
When the Left came out mocking conservatives for praising Liu, they were telling on themselves. The Left cannot fathom a higher value than a divisive political act that separates the loathsome uninitiated from the anointed elite.
But despite their best efforts, Alysa Liu turned out to be a great unifier; the Left loves her for being woke, while the Right loves her for being a patriot. In the end, she brought us together, perhaps despite our best efforts.
Love your work Batya. Your sincerity and love for your country are a beautiful thing. Yes to Alysa Liu and pity for those who don’t have the manners and class to be able to disagree without making everything about themselves. Keep up the great work. It is appreciated.
Interesting that the tenor of the comments here - supportive or vile - illustrate the point Batya is making perfectly.