There has been a lot of discussion since Athens about foreign swimmers training in the United States. Most of them attend U.S. Universities, receive athletic scholarships, and compete at NCAA's. Some notable examples include Duje Draganja (Cal), Fred Bousquet and Kirsty Coventry (Auburn), Markus Rogan (Stanford), and the South African sprinters (Arizona). Some train in the U.S., but don't compete for a university (Inge de Bruijn). All of these athletes benefit from U.S. coaching, from training with U.S. swimmers, and in some cases, from financial support provided by U.S. entities (athletic scholarships). They all turn around and then win medals for other countries.
A couple questions: 1) What do you think about this arrangement generally? 2) Is it of benefit or detriment to U.S. swimming to have these foreign athletes training and competing here? 3) Should we be giving athletic scholarships, which are a scarce resource in swimming, to foreign athletes who will represent their own countries internationally instead of U.S.-born swimmers who will represent us internationally?
I'm sure there are other issues, but these come directly to mind.
Parents
Former Member
US Citizenship is much more than just paper work, and I take great offense to that statement. Unfortunately, many immigrants probably have similar feelings and is the reason for many of the problems in America. America is built upon specific principles and beliefs and it has made this country great. Immigrants that have bought into these principles and beliefs have made this country great. Immigrants that seek to turn America into just another country indistinguishable from the rest of the world will be its downfall.
My grandfather's (my mother's father) family came here from Poland and Russia, but became proud Americans that readily assimilated into this country. They came here because this is the greatest most compassionate country that has ever existed. Does America have its problems? Of course it does, but I am sick and tired of America supporting the rest of the world while watching others attacking our country trying to bring us down instead of trying to climb up to our level.
As far as the US needing brain power, that is laughable. If it wasn't for America all of these people you refer to would not have the opportunities before them. It is not as if they would create the resources that they have out of thin air and poof it would all go to the country of their origin. Sorry, it just doesn't work that way.
Hook'em
Blue
US Citizenship is much more than just paper work, and I take great offense to that statement. Unfortunately, many immigrants probably have similar feelings and is the reason for many of the problems in America. America is built upon specific principles and beliefs and it has made this country great. Immigrants that have bought into these principles and beliefs have made this country great. Immigrants that seek to turn America into just another country indistinguishable from the rest of the world will be its downfall.
My grandfather's (my mother's father) family came here from Poland and Russia, but became proud Americans that readily assimilated into this country. They came here because this is the greatest most compassionate country that has ever existed. Does America have its problems? Of course it does, but I am sick and tired of America supporting the rest of the world while watching others attacking our country trying to bring us down instead of trying to climb up to our level.
As far as the US needing brain power, that is laughable. If it wasn't for America all of these people you refer to would not have the opportunities before them. It is not as if they would create the resources that they have out of thin air and poof it would all go to the country of their origin. Sorry, it just doesn't work that way.
Hook'em
Blue
