Leo Manzano Waived Both USA & Mexico Flags after Winning Silver Medal in 1500-meters in London Olympics … Um, Which Country Did You Represent?

I’m sorry, at some point Mexicans who have entered the United States illegally to search for a greater opportunity and have prospered, need decide just what country they represent. They can always go back to Mexico, they are adults now, no one is forcing them to stay.

Following USA Olympic medalists Leo Manzano’s second place effort and silver medal in the 1500 meter race in the London Summer Olympic Games, he did something that was questionable and misguided. The USA athlete ran around the track with the American and Mexican flag. Huh? Why is it that you only hear of hyphenated Mexican-Americans these days? You never hear of any athlete as Irish-American, etc. Oops correction, we have African-American as well even though they may never have set foot on the continent of Africa. However, it is not like there are no athletes who were born in other countries that have become American.

Now, thanks to U.S. Olympic medalist Leo Manzano, and what I consider to be the misguided and ill-mannered way he chose to celebrate his silver medal in the 1500-meters final, I get the chance to think through the subject of flag-waving once again.

After Manzano finished his race and secured his medal, he did what athletes typically do at the Olympics. He held up his country’s flag — the Stars and Stripes.

The 27-year-old was born in Mexico, but the United States is his country now. His father migrated here illegally from the city of Dolores Hidalgo. Manzano was brought here when he was 4. Like most immigrants, they came in search of greater opportunity. And they found it — for themselves, and their children.

That little boy eventually became a U.S. citizen. And then, after a lot of hard work and thousands of hours of training, he got the chance to represent his country and compete in the Olympics. And, to put the cherry on the sundae, he actually wins a silver medal. The last time an American won a medal of any kind in the 1500 meters was 44 years ago.

I am sorry, I must have missed what three letters were on the front of Manzano’s shirt. I believe it read U – S – A. Exactly what country was the one that made it possible for this Olympic athlete to make his dream come true? When was the last time you saw an Italian-American, Irish-American or any other athlete the immigrated to the United States carrying both flags after winning? Maybe this is exactly the reason why illegals should never be given citizenship to the US. It would appear that they can’t seem to grasp what it means to be an American, so why make it that easy and every give any form of amnesty to illegals.

You can’t help but be proud of Manzano and the country that allowed him the opportunity to fulfill his potential.

So why did Manzano carry two flags with him on his victory lap? As the world looked on, he held up both the U.S. flag and the Mexican flag. Not a good look. And not a good idea.