Prior to this year, I had never watched the Olympics. I had never watched sports in general, really. But for some inexplicable reason, there was a part of me that was drawn toward the TV screens, even despite my complete lack of knowledge on athletics. Maybe it was the charming interviews done by many of the athletes beforehand. Maybe it was the widespread excitement that carried beyond borders. Or maybe it was because, deep down, I longed for a sense of hope – hope that people could continue to live together, to face victories and losses, to cheer alongside one another. And by watching the various events unfold, I saw that in spite of the newest additions to the ‘Donroe Doctrine,’ people from all over the world found a sense of community that stretched past the invisible walls separating them back home.

      There was one moment in particular that stuck out to me, though: when Alysa Liu, an American figure skater, won a gold medal for her individual performance. The moment had been anticipated since before the games had even begun, with the Team USA figure skaters quickly becoming stars on and off the ice. Liu in particular, though, not only became the first U.S. female to win individual figure skating gold in 24 years; she also represented children of immigrants all over America.

      Liu’s victory was televised globally, and throughout it all she demonstrated such strong sportsmanship – as impressive as her skating. Medalists Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai, both a part of Team Japan, stood alongside her in the Kiss & Cry, an area where athletes go to anticipate their results. In a moment of excitement and triumph, Liu embraced her opponents, sharing her victory with those she competed against. Their shared celebration became a heartfelt moment, with fans from America and Japan alike feeling the impact. Particularly, this exchange served as a broadcast opposition to recent U.S. immigration policy, an open contrast to nationalist sentiment. The Olympics even posted about the interaction on their Instagram, with the caption “Alysa Liu won the gold medal and also everyone’s hearts, for the way she celebrated with Sakamoto Kaori and Nakai Ami at the Kiss & Cry.” Even when watching from a screen, their laughter was contagious.

      It was this moment that fulfilled that sense of hope I had been searching for.

      It was the ability of people from opposite sides of the world, each representing their own country, to come together and exchange smiles. It was the ability of Americans watching to celebrate Liu’s historic victory, while simultaneously recognizing the success of Sakamoto and Nakai. It was the fact that – in the face of fear, in the face of Minneapolis and the cities before it – humanity did not completely lose its ability to unite.

      Before watching the Olympics, a part of me began to lean into that distinct fatalist mindset, slowly losing any optimism for the future of the country. But losing hope is a dangerous thing. The Olympics taught me that, and in doing so, restored my faith in the concept of community.

      Now, more than ever, it is important for America to participate in this global community – not just through sports, but through policy. In early 2025, after Donald Trump’s second term began,

      U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began to carry out raids on various cities labeled as “sanctuary cities,” or cities deemed uncooperative in carrying out national immigration law. Places of worship, schools, and other sensitive locations were raided by ICE after given permission by the Trump Administration.

      More recently, in December of 2025, agents were sent to Minneapolis during Operation Metro Surge, in which they were given orders to find and detain immigrants. This operation is still ongoing, and the raids have become more violent as time progresses, with two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, killed. Outside of Minneapolis, and in ICE custody, six other detainees have died, as stated by the American Immigration Council.

      These raids have given rise to a deep divide within the country, creating restriction and isolation in a country that once prided itself on freedom for all. However, when governments fail to unite, culture is the thing to bring people together once more. Food, music, entertainment, and hundreds of other aspects of our daily lives are constantly influenced by countries beyond borders. In fact, according to Regina Widjaya and Sono Shah, authors of an article published in Pew Research Center, “85% of U.S. counties have at least one Mexican restaurant.” That is not even accounting for the thousands of other cultures that reside within the United States. It would be irrational, then, to see America as a solid state, to push back against the very thing that makes it whole.

      The Olympics is just one of many instances in which the country has united under involvement with other cultures, and in serving as one of the largest sporting events in the world, it reminds us to embrace the livelihood of others. It reminds us to fight the hate that runs rampant within political spheres, to advocate for change. Most importantly, it reminds us of what it is to be human.