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    <title><![CDATA[Discussion on Double amputee to represent South Africa on 'Cheetahs' ]]></title>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-11009]]></link>
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        <title><![CDATA[Really TCIA001?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-11009-74085]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[You lost me at the no child left behind statement. What does this have to do with handing out trophies? Are you suggesting that a guy who's missing both lower legs hasn't worked to be able to run as fast as he does on his carbon fiber prostheses?  Do you think he doesn't train as hard as normal athletes?  Do you think he sits back swigging his beer while others train?  Are you suggesting that kids with infirmities of their own wouldn't see him as a can-do example? Are you telling me that the other runners will let him win out of pity?  Are you suggesting someone is handing him a victory before he runs?  He'll be competing with fully able bodied runners and if he loses, he loses, and if he wins, he wins.  Perhaps you are a bit naive/ignorant of the mechanics of running and prosthetics?  No prosthetic limb will ever be better than one's own limb with it's 7 million years of evolutionary R&amp;D behind it. No matter how fast he runs, he's still awkward on prosthetic limbs. The six million dollar man, even if he was 'bionic' didn't run well because he had bionics/mechanics installed, he ran fast because he was a fictional character on television. A real 'six million dollar man' would likely clomp around awkwardly and might not be able to run at all.I say that as long as there are no active mechanical component aids in the prosthetic limbs, that any athlete that can compete should be able to do so at the level s/he fits into.  If we find in the future that we are able to give an advantage to an athlete with passive prosthetics, then revisit at that time.  Until then, let's see what happens.]]></description>
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        <dc:creator><![CDATA[afrancis99]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jul 2012 05:17:36 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Man vs Machine]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-11009-74057]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Personally I applaud the athlete for his achievement. That being said, competing against other athletes without the same &quot;equipment&quot; seems unfair at best and not a proper match.This smacks of the &quot;No Child left behind&quot; movement where every child gets a trophy because they competed. What does this teach our children about competition? Nothing. When they're faced with competing with their peers for jobs or anything else in life they expect that they will get a reward REGARDLESS of their efforts.This is not the way to promote competition among our youth. There has always been and always will be competition among any animals, humans included. We compete for resources, mates, and anything and everything worth having. How about we try and insure an even playing field and start by giving everyone the example we have here.]]></description>
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        <dc:creator><![CDATA[TCIA001]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jul 2012 12:11:11 -0700</pubDate>
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