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Connie Chung vs. Martina Navratilova

Connie Chung interviewing Martina Navratilova, former tennis legend, on December 26, 2002 on "Connie Chung Tonight", CNN:

CHUNG [quoting Navratilova's statement to a German newspaper]: "The most absurd part of my escape from the unjust system is that I have exchanged one system that suppresses free opinion for another. The Republicans in the U.S. manipulate public opinion and sweep controversial issues under the table. It's depressing. Decisions in America are based solely on the question of how much money will come out of it and not on the questions of how much health, morals or environment suffer as a result."

CHUNG: "Can I be honest with you? I can tell you that when I read this, I have to tell you that I thought it was un-American, unpatriotic. I wanted to say, 'go back to Czechoslovakia. You know, if you don't like it here, this a country that gave you so much, gave you the freedom to do what you want.'"

NAVRATILOVA: "And I'm giving it back. This is why I speak out. When I see something that I don't like, I'm going to speak out because you can do that here. And again, I feel there are too many things happening that are taking our rights away."

CHUNG: "But you know what? I think it is, OK, if you believe that, you know, then go ahead and think that at home. But why do you have to spill it out? You know, why do you have to talk about it as a celebrity so that people will write it down and talk about what you said?"

NAVRATILOVA: "I think athletes have a duty to speak out when there is something that's not right, when they feel that perhaps social issues are not being paid attention to. As a woman, as a lesbian, as a woman athlete, there is a whole bunch of barriers that I've had to jump over, and we shouldn't have to be jumping over them any more."

CHUNG: "Got you! But sometimes, when you hear celebrities saying something, do you ever say to yourself, 'I don't care what so and so thinks, you know. Yes, go ahead and say whatever you want to say. But you're not a politician. You're not in a position of government power or whatever.'"

NAVRATILOVA: "No. And I just might do that. I may run for office one of these days and really do make a difference. But..."

CHUNG: "Are you kidding me?"

NAVRATILOVA: "No, I'm not. One of these days, hopefully. But when you say go back to Czech Republic, why are you sending me back there? I live here. I love this country. I've lived here 27 years. I've paid taxes here for 27 years. Do I not have a right to speak out? Why is that unpatriotic?"

CHUNG: "Well, you know the old line, 'love it or leave it.'"

NAVRATILOVA: "I love it and I'm here and I'm trying to do my best to make it a better place to live in, not just this country, but the whole world. And, you know, I'm doing my little part. And I'm just a tennis player."