American wins NYC Marathon
Some years ago I ran a marathon. I wasn’t fast, but I wasn’t near the last one either. I want to run one again too so I have an interest in marathons. Many American runners are, in a more competitive way, like me in that they’re not fast. Or not fast enough.
But for the first time in quite a while, an American has won the NYC marathon in 2 hours 9 minutes and 15 seconds. There were also more Americans in the top ten that in a very long while too.
But a CNBC commentator referred to this as an “empty win” saying that Meb Keflezighi is a “ringer” because he’s a naturalized American instead of native born. The next day the commentator backpedaled and tried to correct himself.
Let’s get in straight: By constitution, law, and tradition, you’re an American if you’re either born here or if you take the oath of citizenship. That’s it. Keflezighi is as American as anyone is. The sole difference is a legal one having to do with the ability to become President, this is limited to native-born citizens. And that was muddied by the last election in which Sen McCain was unchallenged in this despite being born outside US boundaries.
Frankly, it was no effort for me to become American. As I was born here it was a birthright. But for Keflezighi and many others citizenship is an earned right.
Changing countries isn’t easy and it can be a one-way street. It requires a willingness to start over and create a new life for yourself in a strange and foreign place. It means you will understand your children even less than most parents do, and it means you may always feel you don’t fully fit in. You will have a foot in two countries and two cultures. But you do it anyhow for your future and your family’s future. So in many ways a naturalized citizen is one who’s made a real choice and commitment and is in many ways more an American than a native-born citizen who can take it all for granted.
So yes: Meb Keflezighi is a real American. And he averaged 4 minutes 55 seconds per mile for 26.2 miles. He has my respect on both counts.