NY Times Article on Meb's "Americanism" debate

Maybe there is some misunderstanding about the discussion.

Please, let's not put in doubt the athlete citizenship. We would be debating about issues beyond sports. We will be talking about humanity, politics and other subjects thats we must be discussed very carefully.

Maybe we are mixing the points. One, the fact that Meb is American or not. And could not be any doubt about that. He is American.

But if we talk about running school, methods and race... I am sorry, but I think is another Eastern African win.

And don't come with the 'American method' talk. Meb runs 15 miles/day. Even a Lydiardist can claim the winning method.

I suppose the US should return about 1/3 of its Nobel Prizes as about 1/3 were won by Americans born in other countries..an even higher percentage were won by foreign born or 1st generation Americans....thrown in Kissenger, Andrew Grove, John McCain (born in Panama), Sergey Brin, Jerry Yang, John Malchase David Shalikashvili

as far as who is keeping the USA strong economically, academically, scientifically and athletically, I'll take a foreing born American or a first generation American over Mayflower descendent any day

Nuff said. Everyone needs to shut up.

I don't think that an east african.. regardless of when they arrived here will be considered "all american" as a champion.

Its a sad fact! But if we embrase and cultivate enough eritrean, somali, ethiopian and kenyan kids that are born here or emmigrated here recently... instead of ignoring them then it will be a norm for us to compete and win against the african nations.

Take fasil bizuneh, he is the only american ethiopian that is running right now for the US. there are over 100 ethiopians and kenayan residents running road races and USATF does not even give them $1 of support. Instead they (USATF) put money into road race prize money for 42 year old Dereuk and Isla Paulson and call it a US Championship.

Its mindless!

I do not expect US running to get anywhere with the status quo. They should fast track citizenship for great road runners and you will see the cream rise to the top. There is no use trying to run with the africans. they africans are here in america. right in your back yard!!! wake up

There are 500000 kenyan, somali and ethiopian, Eritrean kids in the US at a minimum.

You forgot the Nobel Peace prize won by Obama (born in Kenya).

Sick of outsiders like Meb taking scholarships from American's.

Meb is a pile of crap. I hope he chokes on that Eritrean flag he is waving right next to Old Glory.

Colbert is awesome. He shreds Meb and the morons who think the guy is really an American.

Hayduke wrote:

everyone knows that the real question is can anyone who is not from africa win a major distance race.

God, the answer is an obvious yes, unless "anyone who is not from africa" (sic) really means "anyone who is a white American male".

Over the last five years:

2004 - Mizuki Noguchi wins women's Olympic marathon, Deena Kastor is third; Stefano Baldini wins men's Olympic marathon, Yuri Borzakovskiy wins men's 800

2005 - Paula Radcliffe wins London and the World Championships marathon, Deena Kastor wins Chicago

2006 - Deena Kastor wins London Marathon, Marilson Gomes dos Santos wins New York Marathon

2007 - Lidya Grigoryeva wins Boston Marathon, Paula Radcliffe wins New York Marathon, Zhou Chunxiu wins London Marathon, Viktor Rothlin is third at World Championships in the marathon, Kara Goucher is third in 10,000

2008 - Irina Mikitenko wins London Marathon, Marilson Gomes dos Santos and Paula Radcliffe win New York Marathon, Russian women take first and third in Olympic steeplechase, Shalane Flanagan is third in Olympic 10,000, Nick Willis second in 1,500, Constantina Dita-Tomescu wins Olympic marathon, Zhou Chunxiu is third

2009 - Bai Xue wins World Championship marathon, Yoshimi Ozaki is second, Lisa Dobriskey and Shannon Rowbury medal in the 1500, Irina Mikitenko wins London Marathon, Lilya Shobukhova wins Chicago Marathon

So, this list is largely female but does include white men. It's just that they're the wrong kind of white men since they're not American.

Colbert Rocks wrote:

Colbert is awesome. He shreds Meb and the morons who think the guy is really an American.

You're the "moron" for listening to Colbert. if you believe that Meb isn't an American, then pretty much no one after colonization of this country is "American." This country was FOUNDED by immigrants. Meb is an immigrant. He has also been here longer than he was in Eritrea, so even if you tried to argue he is "more Eritrean", the reality is he grew up here. Same with Salazar. You cannot be that ignorant.

People like you who are calling Meb not American are either uneducated, racist, or jealous. Please, learn a little before being so rude and hateful. There is no reason for you to say Mebsucksballs. It's not like he hurt you in any way. Why don't you grow some balls and give the man credit for running 2:09 and winning the damn race.

Meb is a tough situation to deal with because he was relatively young when he came over. I regard him as fully American and do not think their should be any asteriks used in any of the media or running sites in regards to his records. However, based on his achievements we can't claim that Americans at large are able to compete with the world. When people use that term "Americans" they are more often than not referring to American born runners. During the first twelve years of your life alot goes on in terms of development and shaping values and beliefs. We cannot ignore that the culture he grew up in was that of an African nation. Their customs and beliefs are different than ours and they may have had one of the biggest influences on the way he approaches life. Even though he didn't train alot of those years he probably did in fact partake in some form of running as most Africans do.

I don't care where athletes are from. I enjoy tremendous performances.

I don't care who the first American is.

I don't care who the first person not of African decent is.

If you have a great run, competed hard and with respect for your opponents, stayed within the rules, and did something electrifying... that is compelling, and that is what is interesting, exciting, and entertaining to me.

If you are interested, I was born and raised in the USA.

Jammin Kyle wrote:

Double Standard this NYT.

http://runmeb.com/multimedia/news_images/Keflezighiwithbothflags.jpg

I've never seen any guidos on the Jersey shore draped in an Italian flag or a bunch of stores and pubs with Irish flags in their windows in the northeast.

Meb is a traitor to his homeland! Eritreans hate you Meb!

The analogy of Meb as "a ringer on the company softball team" is certainly not the best analogy. In distance running countries serve as sort of "teams" just as the Yankees or Red Sox are baseball teams. Some Yankees fans will say that Derek Jeter is a real Yankee and Alex Rodriguez is not because he hasn't always been a Yankee but if ARod hits the World Series winning home run tonight they will all celebrate a World Series win. Players in other sports tend to be dismissed as not true members of a team when they do poorly like with ARod in past playoff experiences. However, guys like Meb are dismissed as not truly American when they do well. I am American and Meb now runs for my favorite team(and has for some time) so I will cheer him on and be happy for his acomplishments when he runs well and promotes American distance running.

your all idiots

"We cannot ignore that the culture he grew up in was that of an African nation. Their customs and beliefs are different than ours and they may have had one of the biggest influences on the way he approaches life. Even though he didn't train alot of those years he probably did in fact partake in some form of running as most Africans do."

Do you picture all kids in Africa running around after lions and Zebras. I never realized how ignorant "Americans" born in America are. I think I would prefer smart "Americans" like Meb to handle and questions and comments like yours.

What if Santa Claus was not born in the US would his gifts be equally recieved?

Maybe the toothfairy is an illegal immigrant.....should we arrest her

or What if the Billy Mills was born in an area called a reservation, shunned by the American public until he won a medal should he give his back because all the LRC posters grandparents didn't like him. You guys are racists

I have to go I am doing a paper on how peter pan trained as a child to fly.

It's funny that everyone screams that people posting on here are racists, yet you know when someone at an Airport sees 'Mebrahtom Keflezighi' at an airport, they are all over him. Yet, everyone is fine with that!

In summary... Making a comment about his African heritage on a running message board is horribly racist! But, assuming he's a terrorist based upon his name at airports is just fine and dandy!

How can Meb not be looked at as a true American? What ideals has our country been founded on? And what is truly American?

A true American is someone coming from impossible circumstances to the United States in order to have a better life. A true American is someone who would never take the freedoms he or she is given, because they know how truly sacred they are. I guarantee Meb does not take what he has for granted, escaping from a war-stricken country, and coming to the United States at the age of twelve. Our forefathers would be disgusted by this argument, considering their whole basis on our country is that everyone is welcome, and everyone is free.

In a time where American distance running is making some real noise for the first time in my life, Meb should be praised for what he has done. Meb should be congratulated not told he is not what America is, because he is exactly what a true American is.

So, congrats Meb, seeing you cross the line in that USA singlet is a moment I will never forget.

Mebrahtom Keflezighi sounds like something you would say to someone who has sneezed. Meb = African Marathon Winner Flavor of the Month. Next month it will be some other African.