The Cheerio's commercial wasn't the only controversial ad during the Superbowl. If you don't know about it you should definitely check out a very thoughtful blog by Hannah Abbe on the topic. The Coca Cola commercial was also bringing out some disturbing reactions from Americans. The commercial sings "America the Beautiful" in several different languages and paints a beautiful picture of diversity in America.
I was shocked at the harsh reactions I saw all over Facebook by people I call friends and even some of my family (distant relatives but still those who proclaim to be Christian). One of which said, "Thanks Coca Cola, we just HAD to hear America the Beautiful in foreign languages. You just made everyone a Pepsi fan."
Is this really so offensive in a country that actually does not have an official language in the first place?
These reactions scare me a little, especially in light of the extreme actions taken in this article about Central African Republic and the "ethnic cleansing" going on there of Muslim. Not to mention what I guess we can call "lesser forms of discrimination" like in this article about hate crimes going on in Britain right now against Muslims. People are becoming more and more afraid of each other. This is a problem!
I'm sure you're thinking that those are extreme examples and not even happening in our country. Well, discrimination, prejudice and persecution is definitely still happening. I grew up in a suburb outside of Houston, that was booming with people from all over the place. A mosque was built in a nearby neighborhood next to a farm. Well, the owner of the farm held pig races every Friday night ( a holy day, like our Sunday in the Islamic Faith) trying to send a message that they were unwanted here. While no one died, is that not the same motivation as ethnic cleansing? Doesn't Jesus say in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5)
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people
long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who
murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell
you that anyone who is angry with a brother or
sister will be subject to judgment.
Don't we need to reflect on our motivations? Still not convinced we may be guilty?
Take a look at this article about the case of Jordan Davis, an African American teenager killed for his music being played too loud in Jacksonville, FL. If you don't think this relates to racial distrust, read the article and you will see that it was a senseless death based on unfounded fear.
We don't know each other.
And that is vital to any community because it unifies and wipes out fear. We need to be intentional about getting to know each other. To recognize that we all have stories to tell. The dignity and worth of a person should be celebrated but we can only celebrate what we know. Are we making it a point to get to know each other?
A writer with immigrant parent's perspective on the Coca-Cola commercial...
"We come to America, in other words, and we become American–but we don’t erase everything else that we were before, we don’t forget our cultures and languages as if they never existed, and we don’t hide them as if they’re shameful or less than patriotic. We bring them out and share them, and they make this country better and stronger. America isn’t weakened because people don’t submit to a monoculture; it’s strong because it can absorb the peoples and aspirations and talents of the rest of the world without erasing their cultures".
Read More Here
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