Tonights gold medal winning US gymnastics team:

One of the girls is black, one of the girls is of Lebanese descent, one of the girls has parents that are black/Japanese and Philipina/Puerto Rican, one of the girls is jewish.

The coaches are from Romania and China.

Maybe I'm drawing too much from this, but when you see something like this, it's hard not to have faith in this country.

There's no one in a wheelchair, diversity attempt a failure.

/Burger King Kid's Club circa 1995

No but seriously, that is pretty cool.

I would have more faith if any of them were conservative politicians. Unfortunately, all that's going to save America is a whole lot of conservatism, and I doubt any of those girls has what it takes.

I've been thinking about the same thing during the Olympics this year. It's interesting to see these largely homogenized teams go up against our melting pots.

Not even Canada or Latin America can boast the kind of diversity that makes up our foundation. It's definitely something I'm proud of.

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Unfortunately, all that's going to save America is a whole lot of conservatism, and I doubt any of those girls has what it takes.

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I think you're wrong about that.

There was an article I posted on the 4th of July about immigrants here. Maybe someone can pull it up.

One of the stories in it was about a Muslim American who came here with a chip on his shoulder, and a lot of anti-American sentiment. But he realized ultimately how much better his life was here than where he came from because no one but him would write his life story here. Not that way where he came from.

It's just possible that our BEST chance to stay free is our immigrant population.

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I've been thinking about the same thing during the Olympics this year. It's interesting to see these largely homogenized teams go up against our melting pots.

Not even Canada or Latin America can boast the kind of diversity that makes up our foundation. It's definitely something I'm proud of.

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I don't think that's lost on people watching overseas, either.

There's so damn much America-bashing out there. But if this country is so bad, how can a team that looks like this get along? how can they succeed? How did they get put together to begin with?

This is the kind of think that can make scales fall from people's eyes--why wasn't our team all white?

I think a lot of the diversity we have in this country is taken for granted by Americans. We're constantly being told race relations are bad, etc. We're constantly being told we have to have it forced on us. I think Americans tend to buy a lot of that, but it's just wrong. I don't think it will be lost on folks overseas (including a lot of Europe).

Diversity kills the melting pot, it is a "salad."

And Im glad Diversity is finally back in America, I hope they put it in the Smithsonian.

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I don't think that's lost on people watching overseas, either.

There's so damn much America-bashing out there. But if this country is so bad, how can a team that looks like this get along? how can they succeed? How did they get put together to begin with?

This is the kind of think that can make scales fall from people's eyes--why wasn't our team all white?

I think a lot of the diversity we have in this country is taken for granted by Americans. We're constantly being told race relations are bad, etc. We're constantly being told we have to have it forced on us. I think Americans tend to buy a lot of that, but it's just wrong. I don't think it will be lost on folks overseas (including a lot of Europe).

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This idea that we have some sort of "race problem" in this country, or a lack of diversity, is some sort of foreign media invention. There are places in this country that I'm absolutely ashamed of regarding their attitude on race, but I've been a lot of different places and NOWHERE is there more diversity or racial equality than in the States. Same goes for religious tolerance.

Diversity makes you proud? Are you embarrassed of the 4x200m free relay team for being all white males? Tell me, how long have you had this problem where you judge people by their skin color?

Questions for all to ponder, what made these girls good? Hard work? Amazing skill? Performance under pressure? Their skin color? Their religion/ethnicity? The 99%? Someone else?

Diversity, in and of itself, is not what made this country great. Upward mobility for any who would apply themselves is what did that - the fact that no matter what your socioeconomic or racial background, if you'll work hard and stay out of trouble, you have a good shot at living a great and very comfortable life here. Liberty and capitalism provided for that here. Not diversity. People of diverse backgrounds have benefited from our lack of a class system and our lack of punishment for success...and a general lack of rewards for failure...if they will work hard and stay out of trouble. We reached the pinnacle of that successful system probably forty or fifty years ago, in my opinion, and we're backsliding now with the welfare system and political correctness. We had a good thing going here. It could all change again for the better or for the worse.


[This message has been edited by Smooth Alligator (edited 8/1/2012 7:01a).]

I don't see what an old, old wooden ship has to do with multiculturalism.

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Maybe I'm drawing too much from this, but when you see something like this, it's hard not to have faith in this country.

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Diversity < Quality.

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Diversity makes you proud? Are you embarrassed of the 4x200m free relay team for being all white males? Tell me, how long have you had this problem where you judge people by their skin color?

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No ther country on earth has ever faced racial integration like the US has in the last 100 years.

Amazingly, you appear to think its stupid to be proud of a nation that is so stridently overcoming that challenge.

So it's racial integration that makes you proud? I guess if your ancestors had beef with your neighbors ancestors and y'all are of the same race, that friendship is less noble.

What would make me proud is not having these discussions about race, period. Unfortunately with Obama and the libs, we've taken a big step backwards on that front.


I do find it funny that a black gymnast moves to west des moine iowa to train with a chinese coach and wins an olympic gold. How unlikely is that? Good for the ladies for performing under pressure.

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This idea that we have some sort of "race problem" in this country, or a lack of diversity, is some sort of liberal invention to buy votes.

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fify

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Diversity makes you proud? Are you embarrassed of the 4x200m free relay team for being all white males? Tell me, how long have you had this problem where you judge people by their skin color?

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No ther country on earth has ever faced racial integration like the US has in the last 100 years.

Amazingly, you appear to think its stupid to be proud of a nation that is so stridently overcoming that challenge.

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No, I think it is stupid you still judge people based on skin color and haven't embraced MLKs dream of judging not by skin color.

You trolls can literally derail any thread

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No ther country on earth has ever faced racial integration like the US has in the last 100 years.

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Please mail back your aTm degree.
Ever hear of this place?

The last aparteid laws were repealed in 1990.

I know people from South Africa and they won't go back. It still has horrible racism. Just like in this country when some had owned others for years, you don't just go to being friends. Then on the other side, the blacks in South Africa are exerting revenge on whites. It's a horrible situation that doesn't get publicized here. South Africa has not truly integrated, its just changed who has the official power.

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We reached the pinnacle of that successful system probably forty or fifty years ago, in my opinion, and we're backsliding now with the welfare system and political correctness.

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While I don't disagree with you, centralization of wealth isn't helping things either.

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Diversity, in and of itself, is not what made this country great. Upward mobility for any who would apply themselves is what did that - the fact that no matter what your socioeconomic or racial background, if you'll work hard and stay out of trouble, you have a good shot at living a great and very comfortable life here.

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This.

I'm proud that the United States doesn't care who your parents are and where you were born. I'm proud that Germany doesn't care, and I know they're proud in London/the UK and Toronto/Canada, etc..., etc...

[This message has been edited by TXAggie2011 (edited 8/1/2012 11:34a).]

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Questions for all to ponder, what made these girls good? Hard work? Amazing skill? Performance under pressure? Their skin color? Their religion/ethnicity? The 99%? Someone else?

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I wonder if you are this dumb and this is the point you think anyone was trying to make or if you are just trolling. In the event you're being serious...

There is nothing at all wrong with being proud of the fact that when you see the Americans out there what you see is athletes of different races. Different religions. Different national origins.

Though we're often lectured to about the problems we have and how intolerant we are and racist we are and unfriendly to immigrants, etc...

That's not the way things look from the look of our team. What you see when you see our team is what America really is: diverse.

Why does anyone noticing that piss you off so much?

I for one, am happy to see Americans of all origins excel in sports. Many of these sports are not widely accessible to non-white non-upper middle class families. That some not in these demographics groups find a way is very satisfying to me.

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centralization of wealth isn't helping things either.

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Maybe true but why is centralization of wealth happening?

Subsidizing sloth makes more people dependent on government, not industrious, and poor;

keeps the middle working class from achieving true wealth, basically just getting by, and not so upwardly mobile;

and makes real wealth creation / accumulation very difficult for anyone other than those who've already arrived.

[This message has been edited by Smooth alligator (edited 8/1/2012 7:43p).]

I'm so glad that affirmative action worked out this time.

Of course, this is about selection based on merit - which is the opposite selection criteria from affirmative action. The gymnastics team did not go out looking for 3 white, 1 of lebanese decent, 1 black, etc. The went out and got the based based on their talent and hard work.

Spicewood: good point. I've heard gymnastics is insanely expensive, and definitely more expensive than year around swimming!

To make a comment germane to this thread, from a diversity standpoint, I hope USA Swimming takes advantage of Cullen Jones winning the Silver medal!

Roboag - I think most elite gymnasts are either home schooled or attend private schools attached to their gym. They do this because of the time requirement for training. Training expenses are significant. My daughter quit the sport when she was moving from level 7 to level 8 - mostly because we mutually agreed the time requirement (25 hours/wk) was too much.

FWIW - diving costs more than swimming. Training fees are a bit more, and many more travel meets.

Cullen Jones has been working hard since 2008 to increase swimming rates amongst African American. Big cultural barriers have been identified as the primary factor (such as very low swimming rates by the parents of AA kids).

Spicewood, regarding the barriers you cited, we are the exception to the rule!

Most of these Olympic sports require an obscene time commitment.

Spicewood referenced the cost and time of gymnastics...

With respect to swimming, I have a nephew that's very competitive. They're at weekend long meets all over the state all the time. 8 hours a day at the pool during those meets. On top of morning and afternoon workouts during the summer. Every day (yes, x2 a day on Saturdays and once on Sundays when there's no meet).

It might translate into an athletic scholarship for my nephew (and at a good school, because he's pretty damn good), so I suppose it's worth it. For him. But I'm not so sure about a lot of these kids.

It really puts a crimp in things family-wise. When I go back home, there's a better than even chance there will be a swim meet. So that's 16 hours at a pool for that. On vacation. And naturally, they can't visit because it's impossible to miss two straight days of practice or any meets.

[This message has been edited by Jacques (edited 8/5/2012 10:47p).]

[This message has been edited by Jacques (edited 8/5/2012 10:50p).]

Interesting news today, too hearing that Gabby's mom just filed for bankruptcy in the year before the Olympics. I guess this will all work out for them now, but wow. You're bankrupt and still funding an Olympic training program?

Regarding the time and cost commitment, this is probably what it takes to be competitive with a country like China, that will simply kidnap kids from parents and work them like slaves. But I think it evidences an extreme lack of priorities for most people to chase these dreams.

The time and money parents spend on these things is really incredible.