Use this button to switch between dark and light mode.

Cyrus D. Mehta on Immigrant Power: Naturalized American Wins Boston Marathon

April 22, 2014 (1 min read)

"Today is a day to celebrate.  One year after the devastating bombings at the Boston Marathon, Meb Keflezighi won the Boston marathon.  Keflezighi is a naturalized American.  "I'm blessed to be an American and God bless America and God bless Boston for this special day," Keflezighi said. ... [A]fter Keflezighi's spectacular win, against all odds, no one can and should link immigrants to terrorism.  Most immigrants are like Keflezighi, who aspire success for themselves and their families.  This is the story of immigration, which is also an Americans story, told over and over again. ... In this context, Keflezighi's win is most powerful.  An American, who was born in Eritrea, has won the Boston marathon after Lisa Larsen Weidenbach won in 1985 and Greg Meyer in 1983.  While an immigrant has won for America today, millions of immigrants, through their achievements big and small, win for America all the time." - Cyrus D. Mehta, Apr. 21, 2014.