Giovanni Lanaro wants to hear Mexican National Anthem played, not the US anthem, even though he is a US Citizen

marijuologist wrote:

why do you assholes even care? i have no problem with it

maybe the marijuana had a damaging effect on the part of your brain that allows you to think. instead of contributing a developed argument, you resort to name calling.

with that said, and going back to the original topic at hand: i do not know the tax situation of his parents, but i do know that he grew up, lives and continues to train year-round in the US with all the inherant benefits as a citizen of the US. it would seem to me that with dual citizenship, the appropriate act to take would be to represent the country of his birth, growth and development. a traitor is someone who betrays a cause; in this case, the USATF, and the development of the United States Track and Field Team. Gio chose to betray USATF by representing a team of another country, therefore, he is a traitor.

i guess the biggest problem i have with all this is that i cheered for him at several meets and i feel betrayed, since i supported his efforts. he is an incredible talent, and i would like to see him promote the USATF in the same way that i do. even though i have not competed for USATF in the pole vault, i have competed in US National Championships with the desire to represent my country. i will continue to support the USATF and the athletes--i hope that the athletes will do the same.

Avocados Number wrote:

I like the idea of doing away with national anthems at medals ceremonies and sporting events. Great writers, actors, ballet dancers, musicians, and scientists don't have to "stand tall on the podium proudly representing our country" in order to be acknowledged for their accomplishments. Why should athletes? And, conversely, why should a national anthem be played as an implicit national endorsement of whiny thugs who happen to run fast, jump high, hit hard, or rebound well?

Uh, maybe because your country selected you to go represent us? Not everyone goes to the World Champs, the Olympics, the Pan-Am games, etc. Your country selects you for the national team.

Does an athlete have a choice as to the song played? He is a Mexican Team member after all.

It's o.k. Mexicans or Mexican-Americans can do what they want in the United States or in Mexico. We're the same people on both sides of the border, Mexicans. We don't deny our heritage to anyone, to you, to us, nor to God. We are Mexicans and we are proud. La Raza. That's the way it is. You have no choice but to live with it. We don't care what you think. Why should we. California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Utah is our country. You stole it from us. The Palestinians are fighting for their stolen land back too that Russian refugees took. We pay our taxes. While you anglos talk a big game, we Mexicans are in Iraq fighting. When there was a war going on, where was Bush, Cheney, Fred Thompson, Schwarzenegger, John Wayne, Toby Keith, Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Trent Lott, Lee Greenwood, Rush Limbaugh, etc. They were evading the draft, and they never fought, while we Mexicans were fighting for America and for Mexico.

Um, there are plenty of white boys in Iraq, too. For your argument to hold water, you'd have to have your president over there fighting our war.

California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Utah is our country. You stole it from us.

There was a war; you lost. Get over it or start an official war to fight for it back. Though why should you; the US is GIVING the whole damn country to you anyway.

HE HAS DUEL-CITIZENSHIP.

Here, in the United States of America, he will always have the freedom to choose as he pleases.

You, on the other hand, will always be a crying little b*tch.

wjw0006 wrote:

Why do people bow to the queen of England? Why do muslims kneel towars Mecca and pray? Why do Grooms have bachelor parties?

TRADITION

It's a significant event to be on a podium REPRESENTING your country for athletic acheivement. If you take away the playing of the anthem, then take away the whole competition too....

You are probably the same asshole that sits during the national anthem at a baseball game.

Why did athletes dip their flags in front of Hitler at the 1936 Olympics? Why do some cultures engage in female circumcision? Why have schools in the United States required students to pledge alligiance to a flag, and to affirm their belief in a supernatural creature who allegedly rules over our country? I suppose you can justify all kinds of cultural, religious, and governmental coercion by appealing to mindless tradition.

Personally, I prefer to celebrate sport by, well, celebrating sport. If national anthems are so important to you, then you are free to play CDs of overwrought band music in your own house. But don't clutter up good athletic contests with bad marching tunes.

And I'm not the guy who sits during the national anthem at a baseball game. That might cause stupid people to conclude that I'm anti-American, whereas anyone who knows me realizes that I've spent much of my life fighting for really important American values, like liberty and the rule of law.

Besides, who goes to baseball games, anyway?

Avocados Number wrote:

Besides, who goes to baseball games, anyway?

I do. I live only 2 blocks away from Camden Yards. Good times.

(although I agree wholeheartedly with your entire post. i could do without the national anthem before watching the O's get beaten again. not standing during the anthem, however, risks a bottle to the head by some troglodyte from glen burnie - and i value my brain too much. small sacrifices.)

Sub Chaser wrote:

It's o.k. Mexicans or Mexican-Americans can do what they want in the United States or in Mexico. We're the same people on both sides of the border, Mexicans. We don't deny our heritage to anyone, to you, to us, nor to God. We are Mexicans and we are proud. La Raza. That's the way it is.

wow, well thanks for showing your true racist colors. LaRaza, The Race, a race of people superior to other races. sounds a little insecure to me.

Avocados Number wrote:

wjw0006 wrote:

Why do people bow to the queen of England? Why do muslims kneel towars Mecca and pray? Why do Grooms have bachelor parties?

TRADITION

It's a significant event to be on a podium REPRESENTING your country for athletic acheivement. If you take away the playing of the anthem, then take away the whole competition too....

You are probably the same asshole that sits during the national anthem at a baseball game.

Why did athletes dip their flags in front of Hitler at the 1936 Olympics? Why do some cultures engage in female circumcision? Why have schools in the United States required students to pledge alligiance to a flag, and to affirm their belief in a supernatural creature who allegedly rules over our country? I suppose you can justify all kinds of cultural, religious, and governmental coercion by appealing to mindless tradition.

1) The US delegation does not dip the flag to any foreign dignitary.

2) The reason behind female circumcision is to prevent girls from enjoying sex (at least that is one reason I have heard).

3) I did not think schools require the pledge of allegiance any longer.

LOL

Truth is, I envy your capacity to enjoy watching a baseball game. I imagine it's similar to the joy I experience when I'm in my backyard with my two cats, Wilbur and Alvin, watching the grass grow. Just not quite so fast-paced. : )

It doesn't matter what you think or what you imagine. Get used to not being a factor. Mexicans are here and we decide for ourselves what is best for us. If you don't like it, you can go back to New York, Europe, the Reservation, China, Africa, or whereever you came from.

The Race, a race of people superior to other races. sounds a little insecure to me.

The U.S. is the most racist nation on earth. The U.S. funds the Zionists whom use racial superiority myths as justification for the genocide and extermination of Palestinians, when in fact Jews and Palestianians are the same Semitic race of people.

You say the US stole from Mexico? Who the hell displaced all the indians in Mexico starting about 500 years ago?

L.A. is Mexico. It's temporarily occupied by gringos. We're taking it back right now. Stay tuned.

Tu Hermano

You can see the GOP is well represented here. He grew up in a proud immigrant family and while a US citizen has aspirations to represent Mexico. Believe it or not a lot of first generation people feel the same way whether they are Italian, Irish, Greek, Israeli etc.

God ! Don't bring the Israeli's into the argument. You lose any argument, whenever they are mentioned. Israel is the most racist, genocidal, and criminal occupation administration in history.

It's an easy choice when you can't make the US team, you choose an easier path to the major championships.......if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen

funny you should say that cause mexicans are always in the back kitchen cooking, i would assume he can take the heat.