It starts with a child’s voice. Then, alternating children sing the words most Americans have memorized: “America, the Beautiful.” It’s uttered in multiple languages and gorgeous scenery flash before a viewer.
In one minute, Coca-Cola exposed the world to the beauty and horror of a nation at war with itself.
Activists clapped at the acceptance of mixed races, cultures and sexual preferences. Conservatives condemned the notion of a nation that does not speak English.
Wasn’t the first language in America a native dialect?
English, if we are to be literal, was founded and is spoken in England. The thoughts of #speakAmerican and #f***coke echo a series of individuals who have lost touch with their history lessons.
So these are the people my history teacher in high school rolled his eyes and stomped his feet at.
The English were not the first to conquer America. In fact, it was the Spanish. Christopher Columbus represented the Spanish Empire in 1492. Hernan Cortes would seize the modern area known as Mexico. The Dutch would arrive later to seize parts of Canada, and the English were the last to buy into the whole colonization of America game.
Why is it that our vocal minority of anti-Coke ranters exactly loathe the notion of a language aside from English? Don’t they realize that, in fact, their portion of the population is on the decline?
The Pew Research Center indicates more than 37 million Spanish speakers in the United States. By 2020, the nation is projected to house a total of more than 40 million. Ladies and gentlemen, I recommend you start to take your Spanish courses seriously.
Why is the notion of different people living in one nation so horrifying? What does an atheist do to harm a Christian or Muslim? What does a gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual do to endanger a heterosexual? What does a facial feature, a skin tone or hair garment do to threaten the sanctity of life?
Those who hate, in America, in Africa, in Asia, in Europe, all who hate, are the real terrorists.
Coca-Cola did not take aim to attack conservatives but to showcase that “people make America beautiful.” Instead of striking back at the opponents, Coke showed videos of the American girls who sung and starred in their video.
Brenda Wood, a reporter for NBC Channel 11 in Atlanta, responded to the firestorm with a series of poignant reminders, including the actual purpose of the Statue of Liberty and that, indeed, “America the Beautiful” was penned by a historically lesbian writer, Katharine Lee Bates. Her intention then, and her intention now, is reflected by Coke’s call for diversity.
Look into the eyes of young children, of middle-aged couples of any kind, of individuals who practice different religions, of people of different skin. If you closed your eyes and just listened, to any language, you could never deny the beauty in their voices.
Amanda Starling is a senior majoring in mass communications and news editor. She can be reached at astarling@mail.usf.edu or on Twitter @starlingaj.
