Manzano and the flags. An opinion from a Mexican American

nobody gives a rats ass if your'e an ex-miltant or not. if you don't like what leonel has done you can leave the united states today and see how you like it it some fascist country like syria, ukraine, or israel.

From the article: "Some people will insist that this is Manzano's choice to make, that it was his sweat and sacrifice that got him to London, and this was his victory to celebrate however he saw fit. Those people are wrong. They're focused on the individual. But the last thing the Olympics is about is the individual."

I disagree with this 100%. It IS about the individual. It was HIS blood and sacrifice (I personally sat on my ass and watched, what the f did I contribute?) so let him do as he pleases. Would I have done the same? No. But why can't I let him celebrate how he feels he should?

The US is great because of the amazing individuals of which it is comprised. If you want to berate the individual for the whole of the country, North Korea is a great option.

Go Leo

I think it's cool that Leo did this, although I really wish there were less flag-waving overall. I usually root against Americans (except when they're underdogs like Rupp and Leo) because I'm so sick of arrogant nationalism. That othering of everyone else spills over into the rest of life too. It's why Americans feel the 3,000 deaths of 9/11 were such a tragedy but are pretty much fine with a war in Iraq that killed 500,000.

I think the Olympics sometimes do a great job of showing people around the world coming together to do something other than kill and exploit one another. I'd like more of that internationalism/human solidarity and less nationalism. We'll never solve the world's problems if we don't cooperate internationally...sports should be an easy place to start. Also, I'd love it if NBC did more of its profiles on non-American athletes because their lives are so different from ours and we can definitely learn more about the human experience from them.

Manzano is deeply entrenched in two cultures. I fully support his honest, heartfelt gesture of celebrating with two flags. The border between Mexico and the U.S. can't erase the fact that there are huge zones of California and the southwest US where the cultures and people blend and co-exist.

Yeah. Leo rocks. Nuff said. The criticism of Leo is just dumb. I can't believe this Navarette guy is knocking him.

Organizations like CNN can always find a tool to promote the opinion that the top brass want to get across.

Take anything you see on these major news organizations with a grain of salt. Do you trust what Fox says about the left? No. Does MSNBC get everthing right about the right? No.

The writer is an idiot. His "argument" is all just emotional "I don't like how it makes me feel" garbage. Bored.

Manzano holding both flags, the pure joy on his face, the pride he had in his country and his roots -- one of my favorite moments of the Olympics.

As a Mexican American who immigrated to the United States as an infant, what a completely garbage article. I applaud Manzano's choice to do what he did.

G wrote:

From the article: "Some people will insist that this is Manzano's choice to make, that it was his sweat and sacrifice that got him to London, and this was his victory to celebrate however he saw fit. Those people are wrong. They're focused on the individual. But the last thing the Olympics is about is the individual."

I disagree with this 100%. It IS about the individual. It was HIS blood and sacrifice (I personally sat on my ass and watched, what the f did I contribute?) so let him do as he pleases. Would I have done the same? No. But why can't I let him celebrate how he feels he should?

I disagree. It's American society that paid for the majority of his education at a world-class *public* university, allowed him to compete in a sport in college, and funded his post-collegiate training. He never would have had the same opportunities in Mexico.

While I do cheer for Manzano, he is a product of American society and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth when he claims to represent both countries. Has Mexican society really had an equal role in the opportunities he's been given?

I think it's fine to acknowledge or even celebrate your heritage, but I don't think carrying the Mexican flag is the best way to do that. His parents took him away from that country for a very good reason, and his primary residence remains in the US for a very good reason.

Why are Americans so insecure?

His carrying both flags is a tribute to all.

USA does shi!t totruly support runners so all this team stuff is just BS.

But the US has been a real Mecca for all kinds of people who are proud of their heritage AND proud to be American - this is the power of the American dream around the world.

For those too insecure about Leo carrying another flag perhaps you would be more comfortable in other flag waving societies like Nazi Germany or the USSR!

I don't give a hoot what flag he ran around with.

Leo Manzano is THE BEAST.

Whatever flag he wants to wave is fine with me. I don't care if it's a USSR, North Korean or Chinese flag. He's an American citizen and he made me very happy and proud to be an American runner.

Does Mexico get credit for the medal or does it contribute to the USA medal count?

If it's about who paid for his education, perhaps you would argue he should have carried a UT Football pennant.

aldd wrote:

Very well put.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/10/opinion/navarrette-olympics-flags/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

What a jerk. Textbook example of concern trolling if there ever was one.

orbitboy wrote:

aldd wrote:

Very well put.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/10/opinion/navarrette-olympics-flags/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

What a jerk. Textbook example of concern trolling if there ever was one.

Agree the writer is a straight up dirt back chicano.

filthy low-life

While certainly a little beside the point (but interesting nonetheless), I watched the race live online, and then later on NBC. I never saw Manzano celebrating after the race at all. With either flag. Perhaps I went to bed too early or something, but I question how many people really saw his actions in the first place. I'm not questioning whether he did it or not--I've seen the photos. I just think the whole thing is overblown if so few people ever saw it.

I think it's pretty clear that Leo wanted to represent the USA: I'm sure he could've gotten eligibility to run for Mexico, and would have had a much surer of a bet of even making an Olympic team.

But instead he went the tougher route to represent his naturalized homeland. Great for him. In a country of immigrants like the USA where (almost) everyone is a "hyphenated American", his love and respect for his country of birth (and home to much of his family) but simultaneous desire to represent the USA at the highest echelon of his profession should indicate that he is the type of person Americans should be the PROUDEST of.

Is everyone who has an opinion you disagree with a jerk?

Is that how you handle every opposing opinion in your life?

rcna wrote:

Is everyone who has an opinion you disagree with a jerk?

Is that how you handle every opposing opinion in your life?

Do you apply such faulty logic every time you debate someone? Of course I don't think everyone I disagree with is a jerk. The only people I call jerks are people who I think are jerks. (Whether I agree with them or not is another issue.) I could type out a nice long explanation detailing why I think he's such a jerk, but it's pretty self-evident to any reasonable person capable of critical thinking, so I didn't feel it necessary to belabor the point. Got it?