Opinion: Goal celebration that demanded Congress act against gun violence was patriotism at its best

On Sunday night, Philadelphia Union winger Alejandro Bedoya scored one of his team's five goals against D.C. United. That isn't noteworthy. D.C. United had a player get sent off and Philly pretty much dominated the game from beginning to end, and with or without Bedoya's goal, Philadelphia was going to win that game.

What was noteworthy was after Bedoya scored the goal he ran over to one of the on-field microphones, picked it up, and demanded that Congress do something about gun violence.

His exact quote: "Congress, do something now. End gun violence. Let's go."

After a weekend that saw multiple mass shootings across the United States, it was a desperate plea from someone who cares deeply about the topic: Please, do something.

It was also one of the most patriotic things I've seen on a sports field in some time.

NFL'S 100 GREATEST TEAMS OF ALL TIME: Which squad is best in league history?

Bedoya, who grew up not far from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florda, was in our nation's capital. While there, he used his platform to speak out and demand our elected officials do something, anything, to stem the tide of gun violence in our country.

This is where the stick-to-sports crowd will crawl in and say that Bedoya shouldn't use a game to talk about sports. That he shouldn't let his personal politics enter the field where he is employed to play soccer.

But look at what Bedoya said. Honestly, look at the quote. Bedoya didn't call for a repeal of the second amendment. He didn't demand that guns be taken away from Americans. He called on Congress to stop its inactivity and do something to end gun violence. If that will be viewed as controversial, you have to ask: Who is for a Congress that doesn't do what it's elected to do? And: Who is for gun violence?

Of course, someone later on Twitter would then demand Bedoya offer solutions to the problem, because apparently, we need high-work-rate attacking midfielders to write our gun policy. To be fair, Bedoya did offer his suggestions, with a caveat — that's not his job.

Bedoya came into our nation's capital, and using his platform, demanded that our elected officials wake up and do what they were elected to do. He didn't hurt anyone. He didn't even suggest one policy over another. He spoke out and asked our elected leaders to lead. I can think of no things more patriotic than that.