(speaking as a Chinese-Canadian observer)
From what I’ve seen online, it’s not so much Chinese-Americans that are divided (in fact most Asian Americans I know are just happy that Asians are doing so well at the Winter Olympics particularly Asian females and Asian American females like Chloe Kim, Eileen Gu, Alysia Liu etc)
It’s more Americans in general and in particular the right and MAGA that’s been quite vocal about the split.
I often heard this said about them
In a world of Gu’s, be a Liu
(yes they mispelled Alysia’s last name here, it’s Liu)
They often contrast the two against each other – Gu as this ‘priviledged’ greedy traitor who defected to China for money and Liu as the ‘All-American’ patriotic daughter of a Chinese dissident who chose her country over wealth.
It’s not quite this black and white and it’s very exagerrated. In fact, they have quite a bit in common with each other:
- Both are obviously child prodigies at their sport who were world class athletes by the time they were teens
- Both were raised by single Chinese parents – Gu by a single mother, Liu by a single father
- Both are mixed Caucasian / Asian
- Both are from the San Francisco Bay Area
- Both are contemporaries and differ by only 2 years
- Both are from all accounts, on friendly terms with each other
The only reason why Conservatives online have pitted the two against each other is almost soley due to Eileen choosing to compete with China, a country they see as ‘evil’ and ‘anti American’. But Eileen shouldn’t be singled out like this.
Didn’t Becky Hammon play for Russia for 2 Olympics? And nobody had an issue with it? Despite it being Russia, a historically anti American country?
What’s the big issue with China? I am willing to bet the people who dislike or hate China so much have never set foot there and actually been in that country. I was in China traveling just a few weeks ago and it has far more freedom than people think. Seriously Americans think China is like North Korea or something. I could drink beer outside on the street in China – something I couldn’t do in Vancouver, Canada where I live. I could sit anywhere outside – something I couldn’t do when I was traveling in Tokyo (officers warn me if I try to do). So I think people’s impressions of China being some sort of dictatorship like country is totally off the mark.
So what’s the issue with Eileen playing for China anyways? Doing it for money – well isn’t that the most capitalist / American reason possible?
The real irony of Alysia being so worshipped by MAGA is that she fits the stereotypical California liberal they often make fun of in memes to a T with that dyed hair and piercings and ‘rebellious’ look. Conservatives are literally gaslighting themselves to like Alysia due solely to the fact that they hate Eileen more which is ridiculous and comical.
My personal thoughts: Both deserve their praise, both deserve their respect, they are both equally talented ahletes of their generation. Don’t hate or single out Eileen just because she chooses to play for a country you dislike (for irrational reasons I would say).
