The article contrasts the author’s upbringing, which emphasized personal responsibility for academic failures, with the modern conservative movement’s approach. It highlights the cases of Riley Gaines and Samantha Fulnecky, who gained notoriety after not succeeding in their respective fields. Gaines’s failure to win a swimming competition and Fulnecky’s failing grade on an essay about trans people led to both women becoming famous on conservative media, along with their parents. The author argues that this behavior contradicts conservatives’ stated values, portraying them as entitled and unwilling to accept blame for their shortcomings, which have since become a trend.
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Following a weekend rally in New York featuring Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), a social media clash erupted between AOC and transphobic activist Riley Gaines. Gaines criticized the event on X, prompting AOC to respond with a sharp comment referencing Gaines’ swimming career. Subsequently, Gaines proposed a debate on various political topics with AOC, which was met with another witty retort from the congresswoman. The online exchange sparked widespread reactions, with many users praising AOC’s response while others, including conservative and transphobic users, offered opposing views.
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Simone Biles’s recent public disagreement with conservative activist Riley Gaines highlights a growing tension surrounding the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports. Biles, a highly decorated Olympic gymnast, has openly voiced her support for transgender women athletes, directly challenging Gaines’s criticisms.
The core of the disagreement centers on fairness and competition. Gaines, who tied for fifth place in a swimming competition with a transgender woman, has become a vocal critic of transgender inclusion in women’s sports, arguing it creates an unfair advantage. Biles, however, counters this argument, implicitly suggesting that Gaines’s focus on this single event overshadows her overall performance and that her complaints demonstrate a lack of graciousness in defeat.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood