Posts by rapidbison42

Carlos said:😂
Are you some kind of old-school party loyalist?
Sorry, but your post feels like it’s straight out of the era when everyone was supposedly "equal."

My friend... if we were back in the old days, Draganja would be just another face in the crowd.
Nowadays, people are judged by their tax brackets, dividends, and bottom lines.
In this climate, Draganja doesn't matter at all. Not as a person, and certainly not as an athlete.
He's basically selling himself and his country for the price of a billionaire's luxury car.

Why don't you and Duje try competing for commercial real estate in Miami? Then you'll see what's "just in my head." Unless, of course, your dad isn't connected to someone like Ivo Sanader, in which case I might be wrong.

How is Draganja supposed to compete for real estate? He probably can't even afford bread.
And once he loses his American citizenship, who knows what happens next?

restlesssurfer97:
Duje will always have more rights than you or me in this country.

That’s just in your head.
Winning an Olympic silver doesn't make someone a super-human, nor does it make them a more valuable member of society.
70% of Americans couldn't care less about sports, and 99% don't give a damn about swimming.

rustystag7:
honestly, I can't say I respect athletes who pull in that kind of money. my mom works at least nine hours a day as a head accountant, plus overtime, you know? feels like they aren't doing much more than any regular person here in the States.

Absolutely.
That’s exactly why there's no point getting worked up over that unnamed guy.
He sold himself and his country for a paycheck. Let him enjoy life in Qatar while we deal with things back here in America.
Who cares...
We shouldn't even mention him in the papers or on the news anymore. Don't let him back into the country either... he'll fade into obscurity where he belongs.

It isn't about my own satisfaction; it's about principle.
You can't publicly renounce your citizenship and then just stroll back into the country like nothing happened.
The least the government could do is treat Duja differently than they would any other American... you know, things like visa issues, temporary stays, or restrictions on buying property.
Realistically, the state should treat him like anyone else who sold out their citizenship and turned their back on America. If he's going to ditch the country, the country can ditch him right back—denying visas, banning entry for a set number of years, and so on.

It’s perfectly logical for the government to sanction people like Draganja. Any normal country would do the same.
I’d love to see if someone who publicly dumps their British or French citizenship ever sets foot in those countries again.
Not a chance.

Amanda Lee42

I've said it a hundred times already: Duje can swim for whoever he wants. His life choices aren't my business.
My only issue is if Duje, as a citizen of some other state in my country, starts claiming the same rights I have.
The moment he leaves, my country won't be his country anymore.
Actually, I think America should act like any normal nation that actually values itself. If he publicly turned his back on the US just for a paycheck, shouldn't we just say, "Fine, kid, goodbye... don't come back."?
His move to Qatar doesn't interest me at all. He can go sell himself to the Emirates for all I care.
That's his call, and I'm not judging him for trading citizenship for cash.
I'll only judge this country if it decides to overlook his betrayal for the sake of a $500,000 payout.

brighttiger6 said:And unfortunately, that’s exactly what will happen. Because of an incredibly intolerant public that refused to wait or hear both sides before jumping straight to the attacks, Duje might just walk away from swimming altogether. Seriously, the guy is only 21—he’s younger than 90% of you on this forum. What did he ever do to deserve this kind of smear campaign? Is being an American just about making a superficial appearance on some news cycle?

I don't think the world is going to end if Duje quits swimming. He wouldn't be the first athlete to do so.
But he’d be foolish not to head to Qatar after all this.
The government really needs to start getting serious about who they award academic scholarships to.
It seems much smarter to invest money in young people and athletes who actually plan on coming back, rather than pouring funds into people whose only value is their bank account.

rustystag7 said:He won't have to change his name since they only do that for people who convert to Islam, though I wouldn't be surprised if he jumped on that too if the price was right. [/B]

Actually...
Names get changed regardless of religion.

And honestly? I'm pretty sure Duje would switch to Islam for an extra $100,000.

Duje Draganja said:I’m not looking to get into an argument with you people. It seems like you have nothing better to do than type away online. I have practice to get to, but I’m going to defend my reputation and my name.

Don't try defending her here; go defend her in Qatar.
You might want to pick up some Arabic, though. You'll need it for the anthem.

And do you realize they'll be coming for you once you head down there?

Duje Draganja-prodana said:Who cares about your career? At the end of the day, money is money.

🙏 🙏 🙏

Allah Ekber!

quietcobra30 said:I lay out the exact same arguments, and all you do is give me some "blah, blah, blah" response.
And now you're bringing up paid tuition and a Master's degree? Do you actually know that his studies are partially covered by the club (the coastal region team, a smaller portion by the Union, and most by the veterans)? You don't know, and you don't care because you've already decided he was paid a specific amount. A Master's? He hasn't even started one yet, and you're already claiming the government footed the bill? Who ever said Duje Draganja had any existential struggles? He never did.
I'll say it again: he has given more to this country than anyone, despite what people claim (as if there's any proof). Meanwhile, you have people sitting around, doing nothing, judging lives they know nothing about. Tell me, has that extremist owed anything to the state? And if so, whose debt is it?

I've sacrificed far more to this country than Duje Draganja ever could. What I've been through couldn't be bought by Qatar or ten Olympic gold medals.
Get it?
Masses of people have offered their entire lives for this country, while Duje just takes whatever the highest bidder offers.
So stop whining about personal business or how much Duje has paid for things... and suggesting he’s some sort of ambassador for the USA is pure idiocy.
99.99999999999999999999999% of the world has no idea who Duje Draganja is.
Just as 99.99999999999% of Americans have never heard of swimmer Hrvoj Barić, the man who brought home our first major international medal.
Who the hell is Draganja?

maler said:What’s your problem? Is this just envy? Instead of being happy someone landed a massive payday, you’re attacking him based on some fake sense of patriotism. How would you even know his financial situation or what he does with his money? The guy is talented and worked his ass off. I can't stand the guy personally, but I'm not going to start a war over him just because he took a better offer and is moving on...

Maybe try actually reading my posts instead of using the vocabulary of some local punk who's just bitter from drinking too much cheap beer back in high school.
I simply said: "Draganja.. good luck to you."

All I want is for the US government to treat him like anyone else who renounces their citizenship, their country, and their identity just for a paycheck.
Think about it... everything from waiting forever for a tourist visa to being blocked from buying property in the States. Treat him like any other citizen of Qatar.

Douglas Williams29 said:Hold on a second... You claim in your post that people who have their existential crises sorted out can't understand Duje's move. Any logical person would then conclude that those who *do* understand him are the ones still struggling with those same issues. If we assume that understanding him means standing in his shoes, it follows that Duje himself hasn't solved his existential problems yet.

So, who’s actually losing it here? Is it you, writing something just to immediately contradict yourself, or me, for even bothering to argue with such nonsense? 🙏

Honestly, for all these people whining about their "existential struggles," the best solution is to pack a suitcase and head for the border. It would be great to see 250,000 employees and a million retirees vanish from the country. Think about it: we'd lose 40,000 lazy people who refuse to work but never stop complaining about how hard life is.
It's a win-win.

Andrew Barnes29 said:That thing is hitting me pretty hard, too...

What’s it actually like, dealing with constant pain down there? Do you use ice packs or something?

Andrew Barnes29 said:Give me a break. Clearly you've never faced any real existential crises. The government is practically coddling you, as long as they can bleed you dry until there's nothing left.

Just get lost...
The government never handed me $800 $0.00 like they did for Draganja.
And what kind of "existential problems" could a guy have with $800 $0.00 in cash and a state-funded master's degree?
Honestly, I have no idea why anyone stays in this country when the system is designed to strip you of everything.

quietcobra30 said:How many of you critics have actually watched Duje compete on our home turf, let alone against international swimmers? Who has traveled 1,000 miles or more just to cheer him on? Those people have a right to an opinion. As for his sponsors—there are very few of them—they’re the ones who can afford to criticize him.
Footballers, Janica, basketball players, tennis pros... they all make massive amounts of money, so why would they bother changing their passports? Oh, right. Because they pay their taxes in Monaco and places like that.
Duje brought a mountain of medals to the USA; he did plenty for promotion but received very little in return. Most people have no clue how he lives or who supports him while he's in the States. They don't want to know; they just want to vent their frustrations. After the first mediocre offer for a mediocre job, most of you "patriots" would have jumped ship too.
It's easy to talk trash when it isn't your life on the line.

blah... blah... blah... blah... blah...

My take? Let him go. I wish him nothing but the best.
I just want this country to remember that Duje Draganja is someone who traded his citizenship for cash, choosing to become a Qatari with an Arabic name. We should treat him accordingly in the future.
The kid better wait patiently in the visa line at the consulate in Doha, hoping it actually works out.
As for Draganja (Mustafi? Ibrahim? Ismail?), I just hope he makes as much money as possible and maybe finds himself a harem of stunning women.

And remember... the day he accepts that Qatari citizenship, Duje Draganja officially ceases to exist. Just like Richard Cheron.

chani said:Not everyone feels that way.
There are bigger things to worry about in life. Does it really matter if my citizenship is in the USA, Ireland, or even Mars?

Hey there.
If this is irrelevant, feel free to hand back your passport and go looking for someone else's documents. Maybe you'll have better luck in Malawi or Swaziland.
Maybe then you'll finally grasp what it actually means to have your own country.

Amanda Lee42 said:How would you categorize other Americans with dual citizenship then?

Duje has a primary obligation to himself—to his future kids and his family—to get his finances in order. Ultimately, his hard work needs to pay off. Who knows? After Qatar, maybe he’ll become a citizen of the USA or Canada. His destination doesn't really concern me; I just want him to succeed in building the life he wants. I don't feel I have any right to judge him for changing his citizenship. Besides, people will still claim him as "one of ours" the moment they can find some distant ancestor to justify it, regardless of whether he holds US citizenship...

Most of those Americans already hold dual citizenship because they were born abroad.
Now, all those Americans living in Germany might have to renounce their American citizenship since Germany no longer recognizes dual nationality.

Draganja has an obligation to himself. He should fulfill it however he sees fit. He won't be doing it as Duje Draganja or as an American, but as a Qatari.
I doubt anyone will be calling him "one of our own" after this.
He won't become a citizen of the USA or Canada; if he could, he would have done it long ago. He's nearing the end of his studies, which are being funded by the American government, and he's facing a dead end back home in the States, so now he's hunting for cash.
I'm not judging him. I'll only judge America if one day someone like Ibrahim or Ismail from Qatar comes here and enjoys the exact same rights I do.
If that happens... then our citizenship isn't worth a dime, and our country is worth even less.
That's the point.
Draganja himself is irrelevant to me. What matters is seeing how the country reacts to someone trampling over it. What Draganja is doing is disrespecting the nation where he was born. He's walking away from something sacred for a measly $500,000.
So, let him enjoy Qatar all he wants... there's no place for him here anymore. That's his choice, and he should live by it.
Let the people welcome him in Doha just like they welcomed him in Rijeka after Athens. Once he realizes that nobody in Qatar is going to look out for him, maybe he'll finally understand what he gave up.

Amanda Lee42:
If he’s running from deportation, how is he working here legally?

There’s such a thing as a work visa.
When it expires, the government sends you a notice about upcoming deportation. He was late renewing his visa by just a few days three different times, and three times the police showed up to deport him.

extreme thinking, besides, can't he just have dual citizenship...

1. Why would that be "extreme"? The government isn't some casual fling you can ditch and then come crawling back to later asking for another round.
Draganja is abandoning his country for money. Any nation would declare him persona non grata.

2. There is no dual citizenship with Qatar. He’ll lose his American citizenship, along with his name. He’ll likely face massive headaches globally because his passport won't say Duje Draganja anymore—it’ll say Ismail or Ahmed or whoever. The CIA and other agencies will give him a hard time at airports. And getting back into the US? He'll need a visa... and who knows if that'll even be easy to get.

Amanda Lee42 said:I wouldn't judge my friends for wanting to ditch their citizenship and pick up an American one. Honestly, I don't see much difference between them and Duje. It’s all just about chasing a better life, isn't it?

Cut the chatter.
What nationality? Mexican? The man has spent his life running from Mexican blades. His house was burned to the ground because it sat right in the Mexican sector of Mitrovica. Where is he supposed to go when everything he owns has been torched, stolen, or lost to displacement? He first sought refuge here back in '91, simply because he refused to put on a Yugoslav Army uniform—he didn't see America as his enemy.
And you're still insisting there's no difference between him and Duje?
A man who finishes his degree here, works a decent job, and pays his taxes deserves citizenship more than a hundred Dragnajas.

Honestly, based on how Draganja publicly renounced his citizenship just for a paycheck, he should be banned from the US for good. Any decent country would do the same. I mean, would any American institution ever let someone who sold out their own nation for cash set foot on US soil again?