British Hero

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I can't believe that this guy (Amir Khan) is fighting in the Olympic boxing final on Sunday for Britain. I mean c'mon, this guy is no more British then a vindaloo His family from Pakistan or where ever it may be who probably can't speak a word of English are there parading around in Union Jacks PLZ

woops, wrong forum

 

Jeez! The dude lives in Britain and he has a British citizenship? What else do you want? I wouldnt be surprised if he is born there as well. Also I think he himself wouldnt mind competing for Pakistan but he lives and train in the UK and thus compete for them. I also dont think most British really mind to have the most promising boxer ever fighting for them.

I have to admit that to me this sounds like a xenophobic rant.

 

He is not British no matter what way you look at it, end of story. He shouldn't be allowed on a British Olympic team. Forget about the xenophobic rant part.

 

He isn't British, so what? Do you know how many athletes are competing for countries that are not their fatherland? Otis was running for Slovenia, the guy who won the gold medal in Judo for Greece is from Kazakstan, Olajuon (sp?) was playing basketball for USA and these are just from the top of my head. Even in last football EC Deco, who comes from Brazil, was playing for Portugal. Especially as far as the Olympics are concerned, this isn't a new phenomenon, it happened in ancient Greece as well. I remember that there was an athlete from Crete, who became an olympic winner and in the next games he was competing for Ephesus because the Ephesians gave him more money.

 

Ah I see

 

I guess New Zealand should not be allowed to have any non-Maori participants in the olympics considering that almost all New Zealanders are migrants.

It's not like they're running for President in America, you don't have to be born in the country to represent them. It's the athlete's choice of which country he/she thinks he/she should represent.

 

So what does it take to be 'British' then? How long does your family have to have lived in the UK before you think they are 'British' enough? 10 years? 100 years, 1000 years?

No Abomination, we wouldn't even be able to have any Maoris in the NZ team. They're immigrants too. The USA wouldn't be able to have any of their team either. Maybe the Ethiopians would be the only country able to field a team in the Olympics.

Sarevok isn't being xenophobic. Xenophobia is fear of foreigners. Amir Khan is the same nationality as Sarevok so isn't a foreigner.

 

I have to agree with HB's point, very few nations would be able to have a team. But for some debate, what if he were black, or he had been born in say France then moved to the UK? Would you mind then, or is it becouse he is looks Arabic?

 

How is it that you could accept someone who is negro representing the UK but not someone who is arabic? I hardly see much of a difference, they're both from foreign countries.

 

By the way...

Most 'Indian' food served in England is actually not very Indian at all and has usually been invented in Britain somewhere. Vindaloo turns out to have Portuguese origins and came to England via Goa many years ago. But it has become such a staple item on English menus for so long that you could almost call it a classic English meal.

 

Just read some more, Khan is born in Britain. His parents and family have been there since the 70's. What else it takes to be British I do not know.

 

There is a guy who runs for Portugal, Francis Obikwelu, but he born in Nigeria and he won a medal for Nigeria in Sydney, he can't even say "hello" in portugues (sp?). By the way, he won the silver with Portugal now.

 

Well, actually, when it comes to people like Obikwelu, Ottey, Kipketer and Engkvist for example I am a bit peeved. However I think there are mitigating circumstances in the Obikwelu case, I dont remember what it was but I heard some talk about serious problems for him in Nigeria. For the others they are pure transfers as a football player changing club. That is something I cannot understand being allowed. If you have competed for one nation you shouldnt be able to compete for another later. That is how it is in football and that is how I think it should be. A rich country shouldnt be able to "buy" some athlete from a poor country by tempting with money and benefits in return for medals. If someone moves to another country for other reasons and havent competed for their old there is no problem but those pure buying of track and fielders and skiiers and some others really annoys me.

Khan is as far from being one of these it is possible to be, he is as British as Paula Radcliffe in my eyes.

 

How about Greg Rusedski? He gets lots of cheers when playing for GB, yet he's canadian. My God! what have we become??? sheesh. Give the guy a break. I'm cheering for Khan, and I think you should too.

 

Raises a question - to whom does an athlete owe his aliegence? To his country of birth or his country of training?

 

I can understand Sarevok in a way. So he doesnt feel that the people of Britain have much in common with the immigrants living in his country? And therefor are ill-suited to represent his country? I will second that.

I got curious because of all the debates of failed integration in Germany. There are the warnings of experts who claim that in the event we dont manage to achieve a status where all think themselves a part of one society we will face severe consequences in the near future - much like is the case in France already. Some 10 years, actually.

When I got into conversation with non-germans (mainly Turks) I asked how they felt about the matter.
Even Turks who were born in Germany said they werent Germans, but Turks living in Germany. Even those who didnt intend to be offensive said they dont want to be Germans. Their point: Home is where the heart is... or something to that effect. They are proud to be Turks - that much is obvious - and 'being german' could never be a replacement for it. Their own words. I found that to be pretty sad and fatal for future developements.

Things may (or may not) work out better in countries that dont have a grown ethnic unity, like the USA, Australia etc. But when I think of Europe and others like us I fear it just wont happen. Even worse: With our mislead expectations we reach for something that is not possible. Integration. By trying to force it on both, the Europeans and the immigrants, we create tensions and resentment. Just my thoughts, mind you.

Now, were someone to ask me if those who dont think themselves Germans, who have in fact nothing in common with us, could ever represent Germany in any way, I would have to say: No! No matter if they are Germans by law. It takes a little more to be part of a people than just living in the same country. More to experience a sense of 'we'.

If a foreigner tries to adapt to the culture that has taken him in, however, I will say: Yes!! That person doesnt have to succeed in all aspects. Thats impossible. The attempt counts for me. He recognizes and appreciates the values or ways of his nation? I would be all the more proud of him and grateful if he/she were to win a medal in Olympia or whatever.

It depends, really.

 

The immigrants from Pakistan, India, South Africa etc are not suited to represent Britain in athletic events but their ancestors were suited to fight and die for the glory of the empire and the King/Queen?

 

I was speaking from our, the german, perspective, rather than the british. That they ruled most of our world once and now have to deal with the legacy and moral implications of it makes things more complicated. Its their business. Not mine.

 

I fail to see the problem here. Britain is a multi-cultural society, Amir Khan has a British citizenship; therefore he's British. This topic seems to have echoes of racism and predjudice through it to me