peter snell wrote:
he is not american. he became an american 2 years ago. HE IS KENYAN!!! DON"T BE STUPID, PLZ!!
Not only that, he’s already represented his country, Kenya, in the Olympics and World Championships and been proud enough of his heritage to run around waving the flag of that country.
Still, the Kenyans are now the mercenaries of the running world and end up representing countries ranging from Denmark to Bahrain.
People can try to compare Ramzi and Bahrain and teh Qatari Athletes with Lagat in the US....the comparison is absurd. There is no no country in the World that has an easier route toward citizenship than the USA. throw in teh fact that the only thing that differentiates a Naturalized and a Native born is that the Naturalized can't be President....and you realize that comparing the countries Kenyans are goin gto is absurd
Personally I think the whole carrying of the flag is way too gratuitous. Everyone can tell who you're representing, especially at USATF championship races (waaaay overdone there). The flag should be honored. Too often it gets trivialized by being improperly displayed and treated during these victory laps. When the national anthem is played, then the flag gets honored. There are certain rules for display and treatment of the flag, here is the section about respect for the flag from
http://www.usa-patriotism.com/reference/flag_display.htm
( I deleted non-pertinent sections to keep it somewhat short).
§ 176. Respect for flag
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free.
Bunting of blue, white, and red always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.
(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
911 was the worst thing that could have happened for the flag. Patriotic but uninformed citizens displaying flags inappropriately, the worst being the car window flag thingy. Where inevitably Jr rolls down the window and whoosh there goes the flag into the ditch as daddy speeds down the road. I have a box full of flags that I've carried home from runs.
Sorry if this is too drawn out, but it is the flag and should be respected.
Check out the temporary new logo on the homepage ... Lagat and the flag!
No to 2012 wrote:
peter snell wrote:he is not american. he became an american 2 years ago. HE IS KENYAN!!! DON"T BE STUPID, PLZ!!
Not only that, he’s already represented his country, Kenya, in the Olympics and World Championships and been proud enough of his heritage to run around waving the flag of that country.
Still, the Kenyans are now the mercenaries of the running world and end up representing countries ranging from Denmark to Bahrain.
If you want to call the Bahraini and Qatari-Kenyans "mercenaries", fine but Wilson Kipketer blew off what would have almost certainly been his Olympic gold medal because competing for Denmark meant that much to him.
And please show me how USATF actively recruited Lagat and helped fast track his citizenship.
scotth wrote:
You forgot the Easter Bunny. The EB wouldn't stand a chance on this board.
i can't stand that guy. always peaking early, way before the summer international season. must have a terrible coach.
We in America are now outsourcing to get medals. What is the US coming to?
Outsourcing?!?
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/outsourcing
Just when I thought this thread had only intelligence.
We (the US) did not 'purchase (goods) or subcontract (services) from an outside supplier or source.' It was Lagat's decision to gain citizenship.
Please be respectful
peter snell wrote:
he is not american. he became an american 2 years ago.
Besides the fact that--as already pointed out--you have contradicted yourself, I wonder whether you are aware of the irony that the real Peter Snell is now an American citizen and has won an age-group national championship in orienteering.
http://www.baoc.org/results/r03/r030914.htmlWe did outsource,because we did ask him or subcontract him to go to college here in the United States.
We will be seeing Lagat proudly displaying the flag again this weekend.
here we go again!
bump for the whiny bitches who think Bernie is non-USA...