On the Coca-Cola Ad (and the Reactions to It)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8iM73…

This country has no National Language. Control of the English language, contrary to what seems to be popular belief, is not a mandatory requirement for citizenship (which is a very good thing for you, considering most of the people who hold this belief don't also hold a grip on how to properly speak English). People who speak other languages are not automatically "terrorists". "American" is not a language, although it could be argued that it is a vernacular. "God Bless America" (the song for which some people mistook "America the Beautiful") was actually written by a Jewish man. The "American Dream" most often refers to a foreign person escaping an oppressive situation in his homeland to find freedom and opportunity in America. Without Spanish or French speakers, America would quite possibly still be a British colony today (or "even worse", a Spanish colony).

The zeal for which Americans are verbally persecuting people of other nationalities is beginning to scare me into thinking we're slowly headed towards Nationalism. With that thought, I give you a quote which sums up how this "unamerican" talk makes me feel:

"Nationalism is militant hatred. It is not love of our countrymen: that, which denotes good citizenship, philanthropy, practical religion, should go by the name of patriotism. Nationalism is passionate xenophobia. It is fanatical, as all forms of idol-worship are bound to be. And fanaticism—l'infame denounced by Voltaire—obliterates or reverses the distinction between good and evil. Patriotism, the desire to work for the common weal, can be, must be, reasonable: 'My country, may she be right!' Nationalism spurns reason: 'Right or wrong, my country.'" -Albert L. Guerard

In short, please keep in mind the most American thing possible is someone from another country making headway here in the states, legally and freely. The language they speak is only a marker for where their life began, not where it is now, and is not an automatic representation of illegal status. Be respectful of all people and this country could be a much better place.