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He is the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, with 19 gold medals and 23 medals overall—including his first gold at Rio in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay on Sunday night. At 31, he is swimming’s biggest star and a household name all over the world. And Michael Phelps is also the first male swimmer in U.S. history to compete in five Olympic Games.
Plus, He is about to retire. Such shameful behavior from these two writers. Madness is what it is.
He's also a two time drunk driver. Well, he was caught two times. There are arguments against him being the flag bearer as well. But since the rest of the Olympians chose him, that should be good enough.
I didn't say he wasn't a part of American culture. But I wonder how many white men have carried the American flag in the Olympics compared to men and women of colour? My point is that it would be an excellent opportunity for America to remind the world that it is a nation of diverse races, ethnicities, religions, and cultures. To have a black Muslim woman carrying the flag would make a much stromger statement about Amercan values of pluralism than Phelps. That was my point.
To "remind the world?" I'm sorry, the 550 people behind the flag bearer of all colors and ethnicities isn't enough to "remind the world" of that fact?
Here's what I don't understand - why the outrage at someone's opinion? For those of you who disagreed with the suggestion that someone other than Phelps carry the standard for the US, why does it upset you that someone else aired a differing opinion? In the end, Phelps got to carry the standard because of his record and seniority. That doesn't mean a discussion of how and why we select the standard bearer isn't a good thing to have.
Because selection standards wasn't the topic being discussed. The topic was X shouldn't do it, Y should.
Here's what I don't understand - why the outrage at someone's opinion? For those of you who disagreed with the suggestion that someone other than Phelps carry the standard for the US, why does it upset you that someone else aired a differing opinion? In the end, Phelps got to carry the standard because of his record and seniority. That doesn't mean a discussion of how and why we select the standard bearer isn't a good thing to have.
No outrage here, thanks.
I'm not even upset that someone aired a differing opinion.
I'm just trying to understand the basis of that differing opinion.
just one look at the US marching in at the opening ceremonies will tell the world how diverse we are.
and how convenient that there is no mention of the women's gymnastics team which has 2 whites, 2 blacks and 1 Hispanic.
Every four years I'm reminded of how great this country is because of its diversity. You look at so many countries in the parade of nations, and large swaths look exactly like one another in terms of skin color. There isn't a skin color that exists that isn't in the American parade. It is the greatness of this nation - - which is why I get so upset when people are tying to exclude rather than include who it is that are true Americans.
He's also a two time drunk driver. Well, he was caught two times. There are arguments against him being the flag bearer as well. But since the rest of the Olympians chose him, that should be good enough.
... and athletes are not moral leaders. Don't expect them to be.
Good for Phelps. Its his honor, why should he hand it off to ANYONE.
Anybody else can go earn that right, he certainly did.
He's also a two time drunk driver. Well, he was caught two times. There are arguments against him being the flag bearer as well. But since the rest of the Olympians chose him, that should be good enough.
“No offense, but right now America has enough tall, successful, rich white guys..."
No offense? It sounds like he's trying to be offensive.
I'm glad the right thing prevailed, but I think it'll take just another 5 or 6 years before the Regressive Left is able to have its way and this kind of thing would be politicized and controlled the way Bell wanted it to be.
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