Immigrants are the ones who appreciate what this country is all about
Posted on 01/24/2007 10:18:10 AM PST by presidio9
Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo, seated next to first lady Laura Bush and proudly flashing his familiar broad smile, was honored by President George Bush Tuesday at the State of the Union Address in Washington.
Mutombo, working almost daily, raised $29 million (donating $15 million himself) for the construction of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mutombo plans to open the hospital — Kinshasa's first new one in 40 years — this summer. It is named for his mother, who died nine years ago when civil unrest and a curfew prevented her from getting to a hospital.
Mutombo was honored during Bush's speech as an example of "heroic kindness, courage and self-sacrifice."
"When America serves others," Bush said, "we show the strength and generosity of our country.
"The greatest strength we have is the heroic kindness, courage and self-sacrifice of the American people. You see this spirit often if you know where to look — and tonight we need only look above to the gallery.
"Dikembe Mutombo grew up in Africa, amid great poverty and disease. He came to Georgetown University on a scholarship to study medicine, but coach John Thompson took a look at Dikembe and had a different idea. Dikembe became a star in the NBA and a citizen of the United States. But he never forgot the land of his birth — or the duty to share his blessings with others. He built a brand-new hospital in his old hometown.
"A friend has said of this good-hearted man: 'Mutombo believes that God has given him this opportunity to do great things.' And we're proud to call this son of the Congo a citizen of the United States of America."
Said Mutombo in a phone interview afterward: "My heart was full of joy. I didn't know the president was going to say such great remarks. He raised me so high. I'm so happy. I'm so proud to be a citzen of the United States of America and to be recognized for my work. God is good to have put this work in my heart."
I should have clarified my comment but I thought it was obvious. I don't what you meant by 'real', I was refering to inner city youth--drug addicts, gang bangers, the unemployed(by choice), freeloading single young mothers, plus the worshippers of Jesse Jackson, Sharpton,etc, which represent a significant percentage of the African American population
Immigrants are the ones who appreciate what this country is all about
The man speaks NINE languages and has two degrees from Georgetown, but he will be always remembered for using the world's greatest pickup line, "Who wants to sex Mutombo?"
And you thought they were all trash, right? Who knew?
I'd like to see the law changed and allow a guy like this to become our President
A president Mutombo would certainly present logistical problems if some of our more vertically challenged foreign adversaries ever required face-to-face diplomacy.
See Post #5.
My immediate reaction to last night's speech was "that's the thing with this guy: When expectations are lowest, that's when he morphs into a rock star."
I guess you saw that pic of him and Laura.
Yoi!
Not in this lifetime....
also
Tell the folks at La Raza that this is what we have in mind when we think about good immigrants
To be honest, when the camera closed in on him standing to be recognized, I figured the First Lady was still seated for a couple of seconds. It looked like she didn't come past his belly-button at first. Now I look at the photo, and see that it was mre like mid-chest. Maybe she was standing on her chair at that point. What is he, like 7'4"?
I'd like to see Mutombo swat away some of the Democrat proposals and do his famous finger wave in their face.
A woman from Mali (religious Muslim also) worked for me for several years. A "joy to be around" is an apt description of her.
I frankly don't get why you can't get off your Oprah "jag" for just one day. Are you two real close?
Go to her crumby, meaningless show and get her autograph. Maybe that will make you happy.
This is news? What rock have you been living under for the past 150 years?
You were the one who mentioned his race, not me. Mutombo is exceptionally generous by any measure, not just compared to other black people.
7'2". Close enough. ;)
I'm not the one who brought Oprah up...Of course, since you're obsessed with me, it was a fine excuse to make contact. Don't worry, I understand.
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