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What would a World Cup event be without constant controversies overshadowing an event that is supposed to unify the world with the love of sport?
Ever since the announcement that Qatar would be the host country, where homosexuality is illegal and accusations of human rights violations abound, commentators have spoken out against the selection.
But no comment section would be complete until the U.S. has had it’s say, and the Men’s U.S. National Soccer Team (USMNT) has spoken loud and clear.
In a stunning and divisive move, the USMNT has replaced the red, white and blue shield for a rainbow-themed crest in protest to Qatari culture.
“When we are on the world stage and when we are in a venue like Qatar, it is important to bring awareness to these issues and that is what ‘Be the Change’ is about,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said Monday.
“It is not just stateside that we want to bring attention to social issues, it is also abroad. We recognize that Qatar has made strides and there has been a ton of progress, but there’s some work still to do.”
Instead of realizing that the red, white and blue shield represents all Americans, the short-sighted decision now divides soccer-loving Americans on an international stage.
Alienating half of their fans from the U.S. does not seem to matter much to those in charge of U.S. soccer however. What matters to them is pushing a message and a narrative at all costs with their ‘Be the Change’ social justice initiative.
When the team takes to the field to actually play the sport, they announced the jerseys will have the red, white and blue shield.
Goalkeeper Sean Johnson says this decision is to spread inclusivity, yet is blissfully unaware how it divides instead.
“We are a group who believes in inclusivity and we will continue to project that message going forward,” Johnson said. “We have chatted and continue to have discussions as we lead into the games. We have leaned on the message of ‘Be the Change.’
“That is something that we have been proud of and continue to work toward, be impactful with ourselves, our presence and our platform, and we will continue to be so here in Qatar.”
But Johnson, or anyone on the team for that matter, does not realize they are not pushing an inclusive message. That is the big lie. They are pushing morals and ideologies that are harmful and separate them from God, their Creator. And in pushing that message they are harmfully influencing an entire generation of young athletes who will see this on soccer’s largest stage, and that is the point. Team spokesman Neil Bluthe confirmed to the media that the American team is going to display the rainbow shield wherever they went as a team.
“As part of our approach for any match or event, we include rainbow branding to support and embrace the LGBTQ community, as well as to promote a spirit of inclusiveness and welcoming to all fans across the globe,” Bluthe said.
“As a result, locations that we will manage and operate at the FIFA World Cup, such as the team hotel, media areas and parties, will feature both traditional and rainbow U.S. Soccer branding.”
Qatar, being a Muslim country, has very conservative views when compared to the United States. Yet in their announcement that all peoples are welcome to their country for the World Cup, even members of the LGBT community, all they asked was that those visiting their country respect their laws and culture.
But that is impossible when it comes to the redesign of American culture and society. The goal for the spiritual forces at work in the U.S are to turn the nation against God. Believers see this at work in every major sport and entertainment outlet in America. Now, that stage is amplified even more as the whole world pauses to watch the World Cup take place. And during this time, they will see those representing America reject God, and cave to the same false gods that led Israel astray before it’s eventual destruction.
The U.S. National Soccer teams seem to have forgotten that they are supposed to represent all of America. Not just those who agree with their politics and ideologies. They send a clear message where they stand on morality, and that there is no place for the Judeo-Christian values that the United States were founded on in their organizations. {eoa}
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James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.
