Two different reactions to controversy

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Three weeks ago, many people, myself included, predicted that the most significant talking points to come out of the Rio Olympics would involve controversy, scandal and deception.
While we weren’t wrong. Nobody could have predicted the two controversies that grabbed the most headlines in the United States. Both involved American athletes behaving in ways that garnered responses of anger and disappointment from the public. However, the way the two athletes have been treated is troublesome and raises questions about what our society perceives as important.
Four years ago, gymnast Gabby Douglas was America’s sweetheart, winning the all-around individual gold medal and part of the gold medal-winning American team. Expectations were high for Douglas heading into Rio. Once again, she and the other American gymnasts captured team gold. However, Douglas did not qualify for the finals of the individual competition. Douglas’ teammate Simone Biles won the individual gold.
The five American gymnasts stood on the podium, gold medals around their necks, as the American flag was raised. As The Star-Spangled Banner began to play, four of the five gymnasts placed their hands over their hearts. One of the five stood at attention with a small trophy in her hands.
Whether she was still frustrated at her own performance, slightly bitter at the scoring system that did not allow her to qualify for the finals despite high enough scores or whether she just forgot, Douglas immediately found herself in the center of a firestorm. The 20-year-old received backlash for behavior that some described as “disrespectful,” “appalling” and “un-American.”
Ten days later, Americans Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs earned gold and silver, respectively, in the shot put. Neither put their hands over their hearts when Old Glory was raised and the anthem was played. Their Twitter feeds contained a decidedly lower number of threats and insults than Douglas’.
The other controversy, that is still being talked about, nearly two weeks after it occurred, is one of the strangest things we’ve seen at an Olympics in a while. On Aug. 14, U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte claimed that he and three teammates had been robbed at gun point by men disguised as cops while returning to the Olympic Village in a taxi during the early morning hours. But an investigation, as well as testimony from teammates, contradicted Lochte’s story. Apparently he forgot about our good friend, the surveillance camera.
Surveillance footage from outside the gas station showed Lochte and his teammates intoxicated, relieving themselves on the building and tearing signage off the wall. While some of the damage to the inside of the gas station was exaggerated by Rio police, it doesn’t change the fact that Lochte not only behaved stupidly, but lied about it to make himself the victim.
When your own teammates don’t stand beside you and say they too were robbed and forced out of a taxi, it means you’re probably the only one who believes that happened. The controversy cost Lochte endorsement deals and he faces further disciplinary action.
Lochte has been teased, made fun of and lampooned in the media. But I don’t sense the same level of of outrage as when Douglas didn’t cover her heart. I’m not giving Douglas a free pass for not adhering to tradition. However, through all the sporting events you’ve ever attended, were you completely reverent and respectful? Have you always removed your hat, kept your mouth shut and covered your heart?
If you have, that’s great.
My point is, I highly doubt Douglas was intending to make a statement or be disrespectful.
My other point is many of us have done something similar to what Douglas did. She didn’t spit on the flag. She didn’t turn away from the flag. She didn’t give an obscene gesture to the flag. She stared attentively at the flag, and that should have been enough.
Lochte damaged public property, lied about it and is currently in discussions with ABC about being a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.
What a country.

Glen Brockenbush is a staff writer for the Snyder Daily News. Comments about his column may be emailed to news@snyderdailynews.com.