The Coca-Cola America the Beautiful commercial last night bothered me, but I couldnt decide exactly what about it was wrong or if it was prejudice I was fighting back. I am proud of the diversity of this nation, and honored to know that so many see us as a land of opportunity and freedom and can find safe haven here. The different cultures and races portrayed by the commercial didnt bother me, but the song, about America, being sung in different languages struck me as off-key and borderline offensive. If you want to come to America and become a citizen, to enjoy the opportunities and freedoms afforded Americans, you should be prepared to dedicate yourself wholly to America and hang up the pride and allegiance for the country you left. If it was good enough to remain so loyal to, why did you leave? The more I think about it, the more I agree with Teddy: In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the persons becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American ... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isnt an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people. -Theodore Roosevelt (1907) In 1916, he stated the following at a luncheon for the National Americanization Committee: Let us say to the immigrant not that we hope he will learn English, but that he has got to learn it. Let the immigrant who does not learn it go back. He has got to consider the interest of the United States or he should not stay here. He must be made to see that his opportunities in this country depend upon his knowing English and observing American standards. The employer cannot be permitted to regard him only as an industrial asset. We must in every way possible encourage the immigrant to rise, help him up, give him a chance to help himself. If we try to carry him he may well prove not well worth carrying. We must in turn insist upon his showing the same standard of fealty to this country and to join with us in raising the level of our common American citizenship. #AmericaIsBeautiful The commercial, the people, and the idea is a beautiful statement about this Country. I just think it was inappropriate to take something so American and mix it with languages from other countries. If it was an international statement, that would be one thing - but this was specifically about America. I do not take kindly to our Country being used like a cheap whore, rode hard and hung up wet. Its not about skin color or birthplace, but if you come here and claim to be an American for the sole purpose of only benefiting yourself or your family, but give nothing to America in return, and instead continue to pledge loyalty to your parent country, I do not consider you an American. BTW, yes I did notice the presumably gay couple in the ad, the first GLBT couple in a Super Bowl ad - all 4 seconds of it. At least it was a tiny step forward. https://youtube/watch?v=Z8uSVUiniWQ
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 14:40:27 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015