Baku Olympiad, 2016. The Americans take the first place. Russia and Ukraine are amongst the top finishers too. These people proudly displayed their flags while Americans did not. As a result, we hat the following picture:

So we have the American players flanked by Russian and Ukrainian flags with the flag of the United States nowhere to be seen...

On one hand, we can say that this is quite ridiculous, and that it ain't right for the American players not to display their flags...

But on the other hand, we can perhaps ridicule other nations for an excessive national pride...

Still another dimension of the issue is that some of the US players may not feel themselves excatly American and they agreed amongst themselves not to display the flag.

So, in some ways, it does seem like there's something wrong with the picture...

But in some other way, it looks like there is nothing wrong with it and free men do as they please.

To me personally, while I see the issue from multiple angles, I lean towards displaying the US flag. I think that the picture would be a bit better, more complete, so to speak. And it would be nice to see the players show respect and appreciation for the country that they represent.

And perhaps if the US flag was in the picture, it would have generated more traction in the media and more people would have cared.

While I understand that a good part of the American population is a good deal cosmopolitan, and for a good reason, there is also the majority that maintains a good deal of healthy nationalism.

Who cares? Lets not make this about religious patriotism. Nationalism is a disease that causes many conflicts and war. Very far from healthy. 

They were too busy holding the trophy.

“Pride should be reserved for something you achieve or obtain on your own, not something that happens by accident of birth. Being Irish isn't a skill... it's a genetic accident. You wouldn't say I'm proud to be 5'11"; I'm proud to have a pre-disposition for colon cancer.”

― George Carlin

I do see some of the points Dan from New York is making. Be that as it may, Dan, nationalism - and I'd like to stress this - that is present in a healthy degree (such as, in that instance, in sports competitions) can be a good thing. While there are dark pages in the history of any country, there are also great shining moments that justify the pride of supporting the country's flag.

And further to the point, CoffeeAnd420 is making, I agree with is that players can simply also show appreciation for the country that supports them.

Well, maybe Ukranian and Russian federations gave the flags to their players before the ceremony while the US one did not, who knows. 

That is an undeniably good point and I like Mr. Carlin but it's still a comical point though. Great for the laughs but not good enough for the real life. If we treat everything as a laughing matter we will have to throw our hands up and say that it's all pointless since we can find ridiculousness and hypocrisy in pretty much any idea if we look long enough.

Mr. Carlin ridiculed the founders of the United States by correctly pointing out that it was founded by slaveowners who wanted to be free. While it was again a good point and he made a lot of other good points they were still a good comedy that doesn't help much in the real world. Such a ridicule neglects the ills that happen elsewhere and that ultimately the creation of the United States was a good thing since the country did a lot of good things too. I may name just a few such as the many inventions that enhanced human freedom and prosperity worldwide, space missions that usher in the positive future, transfer of capital and technologies that uplifted billions of people out of poverty. So, similarly, when one analyzes history of countries and does so in a serious manner, one can see why others have pride in their countries and why they proudly display their national flags. So, perhaps American athletes should too?

And here we are in 2018, and we are still slaves.  Just to different things.

The carpet is awful.

Bob over there wins a chess tournament and gets a big trophy. Ivan wins a tournament and he gets one of those big cups. Me, I win a tournament and get a cookie sheet.

Well played, lol.

In my head I imagine whoever paid for it walking in after all the work is done, jerking to a stop in the doorway as soon as the carpet comes into view, and thinking "oh my god, what have I done"

Pulpy's posts are pure gold on this thread!!   The bunny has little more to add.   But then bunnies are more about multiplying anyway  ...