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Mutombo stands tall with Bush
Houston Chronicle ^
| 01/24/07
| JONATHAN FEIGEN
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."
TOPICS: Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: africa; dikembemutombo; einstein; fox; gretzky; hamilton; huffington; iimgrants; immigration; krauthammer; realamericanheros; schwarzenegger; soros; stateoftheunion; takealessonoprah
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To: Marysecretary
My friend had a beautiful blonde daughter when they went to Africa as missionaries and young boys were always asking if they could 'have' her. Common there. I'm not African, and I'm not black, but can I 'have' her?
81
posted on
01/24/2007 11:56:00 AM PST
by
presidio9
(Islam is as Islam does.)
To: presidio9
Are you calling him Jesus or just using His name in vain????
82
posted on
01/24/2007 11:56:12 AM PST
by
Marysecretary
(GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL.)
To: Marysecretary; beyond the sea
I'm using the His name in vain. I'll settle up with him later. For all you know, BTS is Hispanic.
83
posted on
01/24/2007 12:00:53 PM PST
by
presidio9
(Islam is as Islam does.)
To: presidio9
I was more impressed with the Silver Star recipient sitting beside him.
To: sofaman
I screwed up my earlier post, and it didn't include the second most important immigrant in Us history (IMOHO).
85
posted on
01/24/2007 12:07:51 PM PST
by
presidio9
(Islam is as Islam does.)
To: twigs
I'm extending my likes and dislikes to cover her show.twigs............... you have made an excellent extension.
Please be well!
86
posted on
01/24/2007 12:39:24 PM PST
by
beyond the sea
( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest)
To: verity
Rotator cuff injuries from smacking wise asses like you around. LOL......... rotator cuff...... apparently you have no idea where that is, do you??? Well it's out there on the outside of the shoulder.
And apparently you missed what I was trying to say. No problem.
Anyhow.................... if you missed the REAL essence (not to be redundant) of my post................ it was that I LOVE LAURA BUSH. I don't care that she applauds like a trained seal ......... actually I find it very endearing!
One more time........ I love Laura. She is a sweet and lovely LADY!!!! UNDERSTAND, verity?
;-)
87
posted on
01/24/2007 12:46:58 PM PST
by
beyond the sea
( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest)
To: presidio9
I have NO idea of what you are speaking in that post.
But................ who cares?
****
"When its time for me to get whacked, just tell me which street corner to be on." -- Liddy (what a guy!)
88
posted on
01/24/2007 12:51:27 PM PST
by
beyond the sea
( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest)
To: Alter Kaker; All
Me:It's shameful that Demoncrats get the BLACK vote.
You: And if people of your ilk don't see how statements like your post drives black people away from the GOP, we never will get the black vote.
LOL!
The GOP has a nasty self serving habit of running someone UP the ladder for simply being black. Powell comes to mind. Strictly a token black that was pushed along. He is everything you don't want to have blacks emulate ... getting ahead soley on color.
This other guy is a hero. He didn't use his color to accomplish anything. He simply did the right thing and happens to be black - there is a DIFFERENCE, but racists like yourself don't note that - you just want promoting based on color; not MERIT.
89
posted on
01/24/2007 1:04:54 PM PST
by
nmh
(Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) .)
To: presidio9
Dikembe for President......................
Wait................. is there a height qualifier for the Presidency?
90
posted on
01/24/2007 1:15:47 PM PST
by
beyond the sea
( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest)
To: Marysecretary
91
posted on
01/24/2007 1:20:19 PM PST
by
JZelle
To: Hildy
I think that Oprah does not necessarily alert the entire MSM when she is going to be in Africa, but she does take her camera crew with her to film events for use on her show. I think it is just hard for her to slip "under the radar" due to her celebrity. She was the most popular woman in America in somebody's recent listing.
I actually knew about Mutombo because of an appearance that he made on The 700 Club. He is a very strong Christian so that is one reason why he was featured on that particular show. Despite his height and the fact that he was a great basketball player, he was able to build his hospital without much fanfare.
BTW, I'm with you about Rudy!
92
posted on
01/24/2007 1:24:56 PM PST
by
srmorton
(Choose life!)
To: nmh
Now how would you know the precise reason why GW decided to introduce Motombo? I thought that it was just as much because he is an immigrant that has become a US citizen. Moreover, he has not forgotten those in need from his native country and was willing to spend millions of his own dollars (not our tax dollars) to help them.
93
posted on
01/24/2007 1:32:52 PM PST
by
srmorton
(Choose life!)
To: presidio9
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've got tears in my eyes at this. This and the man who saved the kid who fell on the subway tracks in NYC. They are both humble greatful people. Makes me proud to call them fellow Americans.
To: presidio9
That's a bit extreme, don't you think? Oprah understands that her capital is increased (and thus her ability to give generously for the benefit of others) by publicity. I dare say there are many many acts she does that are not meant for publicity and are not reported to the public, but they are meant to help others just the same.
95
posted on
01/24/2007 1:42:32 PM PST
by
MHGinTN
(If you can read this, you've had life support. Promote life support for others.)
To: eyespysomething
Ditto on the tears of joy ... the guy who jumped down into the tracks to save a fellow human being is a giant of goodness who acted on love, not race or creed or color or greed, and that's the same for Mutombo ... God's Spirit seems to have that effect upon folks don'tchaknow.
96
posted on
01/24/2007 1:54:07 PM PST
by
MHGinTN
(If you can read this, you've had life support. Promote life support for others.)
To: presidio9; sofaman; Hildy
Lightening it up ....... just a little. I'm all snowed over by all of this.
****
****
97
posted on
01/24/2007 2:09:25 PM PST
by
beyond the sea
( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest)
To: All
"Wipe your feet before you come into this room!"
98
posted on
01/24/2007 2:10:51 PM PST
by
beyond the sea
( All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest)
To: MHGinTN
SEE! I knew the day would come when we would agree! And they say miracles don't happen! ;)
99
posted on
01/24/2007 2:31:29 PM PST
by
Hildy
(RUDY IN 2008)
To: beyond the sea
Wait................. is there a height qualifier for the Presidency? If there is, little Tommy Daschle is soooo screwed!!!
100
posted on
01/24/2007 2:36:14 PM PST
by
presidio9
(Islam is as Islam does.)
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