NY Times Article on Meb's "Americanism" debate

lol....ROFL A tissue. "I'm American and I'm from Texas. That guy is not white, he's a terrorist let's get em....." Only you and other racists would think that....I am American and I really and honestly don't judge people at airports in that way. You're probably just a panzy and afraid to fly.

The post prior was referring to some sort of magical potion derived while he was a child in Africa, yes there are gentics involved but c'mon implying that he grew up somewhere else would not be any different than if he had been born in San Diego. His genetics for endurance sports would be the same even if he was born in the North Pole with "Buddy" the Elf. As far as I'm concerned anyone who goes to middle school, high school and college in the US, Is a legal citizen and has 10 brothers and sisters who have all acquired degrees or are on track to do so. Meb is spnsored by Gatorade not Hatorade so quit your hatin' awight!

I understand that, but the ideals of our nation are based on everyone from anywhere, of any background being able to flourish.

What ever happened to the American Dream?

Because I am sure Meb is a perfect example of exactly what this dream is.

"Never Mind." Darren Rovell = Rosanne Rosanadana

Meb is every bit as American as a Volkswagon made in Germany and owned by a German for 12 years, which was then sold to an American, who's owned it for 22 years.

Meb is absolutely an American. Meb became the runner he is through the American system. Meb proved that an American can still win a major marathon. It was a great result for America.

What Meb can never do is prove that a caucasian can win a major marathon, and unfortunately, that is what I think so many people are really arguing about.

There can be a very fine line between racial pride and racial prejudice. While one is OK, the other is certainly not. America was founded on the idea that all men are created equal and that is the way it should be. Reality dictates that not all men are the same though, so if you are bothered by an "Eritrean-American" winning, just have the guts to say so.

I'm just proud ANY American won!

What about the case of Stephen Cherono--formerly of Kenya--who runs now as Said Shaheen of Qatar? How much pride does Qatar--or Kenya for that matter--feel for Cherono/Shaheen when he wins? Is it a Kenyan victory or a Qatarin victory?

Or consider Alistair Craig? He is from South Africa. He trains in the US. (And I think his mother or father is from Ireland). And he represents Ireland when he races. How much pride do the Irish have in him?

Also, what about Michael Bingham? His father is from Great Britain. Bingham was born and raised in the US. And he represents GB when he races. Yet, I still take notice and support him in races because he is American by birth.

I don't see the problem favoring one athlete over another. When I do this, I do not want others to have bad races. I can merely relate more to some people more than others--whethers it is racially, legally, in mindset, genetically (who knows what this is worth?), historically, etc. The point is that it is not bigotry (although it can turn into it). If favoring one athlete over another is bigotry, then we shouldn't favor anyone and we shouldn't have competition to see who is the better runner (since that apparently means the better person).

The point is that MOST in the American running scene will relate more to a runner like Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein, and (even) Jorge Torres more than to Meb (or Lagat for that matter). But this makes them no less American (in the legal sense).

But Krummenacker is no source of inspiration?

funny wrote:

Meb is American enough for me. In regard to athletics, someone that comes up through the American educational system and competes through the US HS& College systems is an American Athlete.

Well, that's genius, then "Americans" have been kicking ass from Henry Rono to today. Strange that almost all those "Americans" are from east Africa, despite their numerical drop in the ocean.

Bruce lee was at first not accepted as an American even though he was born in America

So if an East African immigrates to China, or India, or Nepal, and wins a major world marathon, we will all celebrate the birth of long distance running in that country?

I agree that the real debate here is not whether Meb is American or not - of course he is American. That is not the issue.

The real debate is why male runners of East African descent continue to dominate long distance running events, whatever country they live in. Sure there are some exceptions, but no one can question their dominance. We don't see West Africans dominating either, or orientals. So it not just whites from USA or western Europe. I don't think it is racist to investigate this issue. And just because some scientists say there is no genetic basis for the difference is meaningless. The human genome is immensely complex and no one can presume to fully understand its functionings. I'm not saying the difference is genetic, but it can't be ruled out.

And I don't think I can be accused of racism. I am African and was born in Tanzania.

As an Eritean-American who came to the States at the age of 10 and right now few years older than Meb, I am shocked that either I or Meb have to defend our Americaness. It is all non-sense to me. America is what we call home because for the most part America is all we know, the old country, like the old country of most Americans is a distant memory. And Meb's victory does represent a resurgence of American long distance running. Meb like me is first generation Eritrean-American who game to America at the age of pre-teen. There are close to 30,000 Eritrean Americans. A lot of young Eritrean in grade school and high school most born in the States are dominating long distance running and Meb's victory is a sweet inspirational victory to all the young Eritrean runners. In 10 years, expect Eritrean Americans going head to head with East African long distance runners. There are a lot like Meb who are going through the American system right now, some of them are cousins to Meb.

From an Eritrean American