The Weaponization of Citizenship
When Team USA skiers at the Winter Olympics voiced concern over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, the Newsweek article framed it as athletes 'calling out' operations (Newsweek, 2018) . This public commentary from individuals representing the United States on an international stage drew attention not just to the athletes' statements but also, by extension, to the policies they
criticized. The implication, often subtle, is that such public criticism, especially while representing the nation, is a 'betrayal' or a distraction from national unity. CASE A: The Athlete's Dissent (2018) The Newsweek article reports on Olympians expressing concerns about ICE activities. The subtext is that these individuals, as representatives of the American nation, are creating a 'bad look'
or undermining national unity by criticizing their own government while abroad. This perspective implies that national representation demands uncritical endorsement of government policy. CASE B: The Domestic Dissenter (1968) Compare this to the treatment of Olympic athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Their silent protest against racial injustice in the US led to
immediate expulsion from the Olympic Games and widespread condemnation back home, with references to their actions as 'nauseating' and 'disgraceful' (Smithsonian Magazine, 2008) . The framing consistently emphasized personal failing and unpatriotic behavior, rather than highlighting the systemic issues of racial inequality they aimed to address. THE FRAMING: A Question of Loyalty In both