I think it’s unfortunate that Chip Ainsworth chose to include Phil Mushnick’s bashing of Megan Rapinoe in his Aug. 13 column. It’s Ainsworth’s column, and Mushnick is entitled to his opinion, but his contention that Rapinoe’s decision to kneel during the national anthem “demonstrat[ed] … her contempt for her country” is just plain ignorant. Rapinoe has talked about why she did it, and agree or disagree with her decision, contempt for our country was not a factor. These days, when genuine contempt for our country’s founding principles is being shown almost daily by people who should know better, amplifying Mushnick’s commentary seems unhelpful at best and dangerous at worst. Was there really nothing else that might have filled that column inch?
Mike Naughton
Millers Falls