My Ryder Cup is Half Full

As a big fan of golf, both as a game to play and to watch, the Ryder Cup matches have always been something I have looked forward to. For those unfamiliar with this event – those who have more productive ways of spending their time – the Ryder Cup is a match played by the best US players against the best players from Europe. It is an affair as raucous as golf gets. Fans from both sides of the Atlantic scream and shout for their respective teams. They waive flags and sing patriotic songs. 

Those matches were held this weekend. I watched. This time, my perspective while watching was vastly different. 

Years ago, I avidly rooted for the US. I recall the matches of 1999 in particular. On the last day of the matches, the US was way behind. My wife and I were on our way to the Bahamas for a legal convention. When we arrived, we learned from our friends who were already there that the US was coming back strong. We all abandoned whatever cocktail parties, or the like, that were scheduled, and we retired to our rooms to watch the finish. The US won in dramatic fashion and when we all got together again, we drank to the victory. Actually, this group drank to just about anything, but the Ryder Cup win was a really good reason.

That’s how I felt then. Here’s how I feel now.

I am ardently rooting for Europe. I had been moving in this direction for a while, but, this year, it really kicked in. There were two reasons for this.

First, I wanted the matches to be close. The best part is the drama. The US began by running away with it. So, one of my reasons was to make sure that the final round would be intense. 

My second reason, though, had less to do with golf and more to do with the direction of our country. Whenever I hear the crowd chanting “USA”, “USA”, all I can think about is the flag waving mental midgets who equate Old Glory to Old Orange – their idol – Donald J. I hear those cries and I see their conduct and my mind takes me back to January 6 and to the sycophants who think devotion to country requires devotion to their Dear Leader, the ones who continue to pack his rallies and sing his praises.

There is a good chance that I am mistaken. Not all flag waiving “USA” chanters believe in the perverted Trump view of what America means. But I can’t know that. I am still a patriot. I adore what our country stands for. But, of course, those principles have nothing to do with what Trump stands for. In many ways, Trumpianism has perverted patriotism. It’s like a food you used to love but then once got sick eating. Can you ever look at that food the same way again?

So, among the tragic impacts that our 45^th President has left me, is my reluctance to express my appreciation and adoration for the country that has given me everything I have. I am very sorry about that, but I just can’t help it.