From pinky promises to secret handshakes, when we are young, we learn through various fun ways the meaning of loyalty, value, respecting others. Perhaps the most profound lesson we learn is that we must put our faith in others, learn on our friends and family for support, and accept and appreciate the opinions and feelings of others, no matter how dissenting they may be from on our own, because after all, there is no "I" in team.

Or at least that's what I had thought for 19 years, prior to reading the news today.

As the 2016 Olympic games commence in Rio, countries from all over the world prepare to showcase their skills in front of their global counterparts. While the games are a competition, they are also a celebration of international unity and the coming together through a shared love for physical activity. The Olympic's inherent purpose is to bring people together and to instigate patriotism and national pride. It is assumed that countries will treat their neighbors with at least minimal regard, but unfortunately, the Lebanese team was unable to accomplish such a feat. Instead, these individuals chosen to represent their nation proved that, according to Lebanon, there is no "I" in team; Israel, that is.

Upon discovering that they would be sharing a bus to Maracana stadium with the Israeli delegation, the Lebanese team physically refused the Israelis entry onto the bus. In fact, their team leader urged the bus driver to shut the bus doors and aid them in their effort to block the Israelis. Of the fact that an organizer then got involved and tried to split the teams into separate buses, Sailor Udi Gal, a member of the Israeli delegation, writes in a Facebook post, "I insisted that we insisted that we get on the intended bus, and if the Lebanese don't want (to ride with us), they are welcome to get off (of it). Gal then explains that the bus driver decided to open the door, but the head of the Lebanese delegation then took it upon himself to use his body as a barrier, making it impossible for the Israeli delegation to enter. The Israelis were then escorted to a separate vehicle.

This rude behavior exhibited by a professional sports team is completely unacceptable. The prejudice that the Lebanese team exuded must be condemned. No matter what a certain country's view of another may be, the Olympics is meant to be a peaceful playing field, and the Lebanese team's actions resort back to the most horrifying days of the 1972 Munich Olympics. Israel has remained respectful, neutral, and extremely polite after how horribly they were treated, because they are no strangers to injustice in their own country, and abroad. Gili Lustig, head of the Israeli delegation, responded to ridiculous claims from the Lebanese team that the Israelis were attempting to purposely initiate a problem. Lustig states that, "The organizing committee was the one that determined the travel arrangements, and which bus we would take to the ceremony. The organizing committee saw the rude behavior of the Lebanese delegation head and immediate provided an alternate bus. The behavior of the Lebanese delegation is in conflict with the Olympic truce. As far as we are concerned, the whole thing is behind us and we're reading for the competitions."

Despite Israel remaining poised and dignified, happy to place this issue in the past and move ahead with the exciting games ahead, Lebanon was unable to do so. Perhaps what is even more surprising is the praise that the Lebanese delegation has been granted by their own country, and the internationally regarded terrorist organization in control of the region, Hezbollah. The Lebanese Minister of Youth and Sport Abdel Motaleb Hannawi says that the team member who blocked the door is to be celebrated as a hero, for "his stance was principled and patriotic." Likewise, Hezbollah officials and followers took to social media to honor the team, tweeting that, "The Israelis were sent away from the bus because normalization (with Israel) is not to be had in any form, and because the Lebanese identity (is that of) resistance. Be proud to be Lebanese."

Why must having patriotism be directly associated with being anti-Israel? Is it not possible for a Lebanese citizen to be proud of his country while simultaneously respecting his Israeli neighbors? Through their gross and despicable actions, the Lebanese delegation says that it is not.

Not to mention, since this occurrence, a Saudi player has forfeited a match in order to avoid playing against an Israeli, and a Palestinian swimmer lied to the media, saying that she could not practice in an Olympic-sized swimming people because Israel prevented that from happening. Talk about sportsmanship. Read more here: http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/210375/the-palesti..

It is far past time that we stand up against instances such as these. Where is the world when Israel is the victim of bigotry and xenophobia? Where are self-proclaimed social movements, defenders of those mistreated, when Israel is the target? Why are we so afraid of being politically correct that we can't speak out against bullies? Where is CNN reporting this incident at the scene? You won't see such support, because you hardly ever do when it comes to Israel. Its the way things are, its the way they have always been, but that doesn't by any means make it okay. Because its not. Its completely unacceptable.

The bottom line is that countries competing in the Olympics who don't recognize and accept the existence of fellow countries competing should not be allowed to participate in the games. Period.

Israel is no stranger to blatant disrespect at the Olympic Games. In 1972, 11 team members were slaughtered by a Palestinian terrorist group, and only now, 44 years later, the Olympic committee is hosting a memorial service in their honor. Let us never forget that there is no place in this world for anti-Semitism and intolerance, especially at an event such as the Olympics. Anti-zionism and anti-Semitism are one in the same, and I pray that when Arab countries are being hateful towards Israel with the world watching, on a global arena, at the Olympics, the world won't sit back. I pray that people realize this is not okay. America prides itself on being open to everyone, and this must not only include minority groups being discussed in politics right now. It must also include Israelis and Jews.