What is everyone's problem with the US Army runners being Kenyan?

Last time I checked you had to be an American citizen to run in our Olympic trials, so all those runners out there were American citizens. No Kenyans in that race.

There is a thing called dual citizenship.

P.S. That Droody dude looked kind of suspect to me. Was he from this planet?

1. They don't look American.

2. They speak Kenyan, not English.

These "Kenyans" are more American than any of the racist bigots on these boards will ever be. The worst part of this country is the constant whining, b*tching and moaning about every goddamn thing. It just wears on you.

fogremover wrote:

1. They don't look American.

2. They speak Kenyan, not English.

0/10

Ahem, in the U.S. Army everyone is required to speak English.

Some of us like to see athletes who grew up in America, e.g. are products of domestic programs compete for us internationally. As fellow Americans most of us have very little in common with Kenyan born athletes, and we like to see people with similar backgrounds as us succeed.

sdfghj wrote:

"They are taking the easy way out to make an Olympic team" (Used against American runners as well)

Something like that.

Trumpisgod wrote:

As long as they're not muslem or mexican

Awesome response!!!

Yeah, they are soldiers and citizens of the US, show some respect.

I freaking hate that US sends it's soldiers around the world in the name of Freedom, but I always respect the job they have chosen to do.

These young men are what the American dream is all about.

So you'd rather we allow despots like Hitler etc to run roughshod over everyone?

They are more "American" than other naturalized citizens that have competed for us. Joining the Army and abiding by their rules of conduct and appearance is not something most people are willing to do.

Alan

No problem. I think some of us are kind of lost in the irony that the state of distance running has sunken again in US to this level. These are the guys we couldn't even think about beating back in 90s and 00s. Then there was some hope. Now it go so bad again that we have 2nd tier Kenyans on US team. Let's be clear. These Kenyans are just good enough to make it to the US team but they won't make a dent at the Olympics.

where was he born? wrote:

Some of us like to see athletes who grew up in America, e.g. are products of domestic programs compete for us internationally.

^this

As long as the games are about nations that compete against each other, I don't see any reason to care about people who have spent most of their lives abroad.

I have no issue. As an Army veteran and former Army Ten Miler guy, I really was excited about last night's race. Great day for Dan Browne. Great day for the US Army and the WCAP. Haters are gonna hate. Oh well. Bottom line is Korir and Kipchirchir were BETTER than the rest of the field -- Rupp excluded of course. I'm proud of them and will be rooting for them!

There's a difference between people who come here two years before the Olympics and people who come here for college. Many international students come to the U.S. for higher ed and stick around to the advantage of the country and themselves. If they plan on making their life here, like Lagat did, they are just as much citizens as some engineering student who comes for grad school and stays forever.

I had the good luck to randomly happen to be born in the US through no thought or effort of my own. These guys uprooted their lives to move half way around the world and complete the process of becoming citizens. If my dumb luck gives me the right to call myself American and compete for this country, their sacrifice and effort sure as hell earns them the same right.

America should be about competition from all-comers. We're all made better when we say "let the best in the world come here and we'll all fight like dogs to be the best at what we do."

Go Army (right behind Navy) wrote:

Last time I checked you had to be an American citizen to run in our Olympic trials, so all those runners out there were American citizens. No Kenyans in that race.

You win the award for being the most cucked PC poster of the day, hands down!

Most Americans don't even know where Kenya is.

where was he born? wrote:

Some of us like to see athletes who grew up in America, e.g. are products of domestic programs compete for us internationally.

Nailed it. It's hard to stand behind a group of Africans who were recruited (paid) to go to college here and run and without that, they wouldn't be here.

Frankly, it's something I've been against for a long time, starting with college. Public funded scholarships should NOT go to international students (Yes, I realize that Iona where Korir went is private).

If they came here as children, grew up here, went to high school here, etc I could care less. I just think it's a loophole in the system against true born Americans.