ranga muffin wrote:
do the kids who saw Meb on letterman feel like one of their own has just won New York? Is it going to inspire them to give it a crack.... or will they think... "that is what the africans do"
I think your rhetorical question is implying "do the White, Aglo-Saxon Protestant kids or the kids whose families have been here for more than 70 years who saw Meb on Letterman feel one of their own just won New York?" Maybe not...but that should not determine the answer to whether or not an American runner truly won the NYC Marathon.
Meb's appearance on Letterman may inspire hundreds of thousands of immigrant and first and second generation American children whose families have very little or may be having trouble finding their niche. It may inspire them to not give up on that dream that their parents had for them in coming here that maybe one day they can achieve something so great in (and for) a country that provides them such opportunities.
Remember, Meb does not have to represent white America to fully represent America; he represents many important demographics and subsets of our country.
I don't think a bunch of heavy-set or even average weight little girls would be inspired by Deena Kastor...they will think..."that is what skinny people do"...does this mean Deena does not truly represent America because she is not identified with by every demographic.
Does LeBron James not qualify as an American because short, white kids will not identify with him because he is tall and black and a descendant of a West African nation?
Your point is that because WASP America does not identify with him, America cannot claim this victory. Spin it any way you want...that's floating dangerously close to racism because it is very dangerous to determine what demographics have to identify with you (your words were..."one of their own") before a person can represent America.
I am white, but I went to UCLA and I grew up in a poor part of San Diego; I identify with Meb more than I do Ryan Hall because my American experience is more similar to Meb's; I do feel that "one of my own" has just won New York.
If the question is about race (can a Caucasian win NYC?), then Meb did NOT answer it, but if the question is about whether an American runner (100% american schools, american towns, american coaches, american training and resources), then Meb did answer it.