Controversial Coke Ad

[Kamaduck]

I don’t drink Coke (I hate soda), but I think the commercial’s pretty cool. I can understand encouraging new Americans to learn English (after all, it will make things easier for them and for others), but there’s no reason they shouldn’t keep using their other languages, too. That’s a skill they have. Why should they not use it just because I don’t know what they’re saying?

The way I see it, America is a country that is united by the ideals of freedom and self-government. We’re not like European nations with long histories and populations that lived in one place for millennia. The people who built this country were living in a land not their own. Most of my ancestors didn’t rebel with the 13 colonies- many arrived from Europe in the 1800’s, and others lived in Canada first. The first and second-generation immigrants of today may seem like foreigners to us now, but they have just as much right to be here as I do- and maybe more, since they had to give something up to call themselves American. The immigrants of today aren’t any different than the immigrants of the 1900’s, 1800’s, 1700’s, or 1600’s. They’re joining us here because they believe that this is a place where people can prosper and make a life for themselves if they work hard, or because they want freedom- the very same reasons why the original colonists left Europe. What could be more American than wanting life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and sugary drinks that rot your teeth?

As for the gay couple… I honestly didn’t notice them until someone pointed it out, and even then, I don’t think their relationship was particularly obvious. They exist, so I guess they’re going to be featured on TV.

 

[brinkman2310]

What makes this commercial confusing and dangerous is that it apparently equates the permissiveness on cultural diversity with that on same-sex relationships.

Permissiveness on cultural diversity? What does that even mean?

 

[Phemie]

It good for cleaning toilets too.

So is Tang, the drink of astronauts.

 

[Phemie]

Do you live in the U.S.? If so, you should speak English; especially in public.

Oh for the love of Pete! Only in North America, where anglophones are proud of saying they can’t speak another language, are such ideas expressed.

If I’m speaking to my family members it’s nobody’s business what language I speak.

 

[retire_early]

My father (WWII vet) once made the comment that people should speak English, if they know how, to others in public. I asked him why and he explained that was more polite because it was equivalent to not whispering or telling secrets to someone in front of other people. (Growing up, we were taught to never whisper or tell secrets in front of other people–maybe that was just us).

I normally just ignore conversations and people who speak in a language I don’t understand. I suppose that the more people do that, then the more people will disassociate themselves from others around them. Speaking a common language in public might be a way to strengthen human bonds in our society, whereas continuing to speak the native tongue at home will encourage family and historical continuity.

 

[Phemie]

My father (WWII vet) once made the comment that people should speak English, if they know how, to others in public. I asked him why and he explained that was more polite because it was equivalent to not whispering or telling secrets to someone in front of other people. (Growing up, we were taught to never whisper or tell secrets in front of other people–maybe that was just us).

I normally just ignore conversations and people who speak in a language I don’t understand. I suppose that the more people do that, then the more people will disassociate themselves from others around them. Speaking a common language in public might be a way to strengthen human bonds in our society, whereas continuing to speak the native tongue at home will encourage family and historical continuity.

My mother tongue is French and I’m married to an Anglophone. It would drive my grandmother nuts if we spoke French in the house when he was there. How was he supposed to learn the family language if he never heard it??

He could speak it and understand it to a degree and when we had kids he made a point of always speaking to them in French. It was the only way to ensure our kids would be bilingual. And you speak it outside the home so that the kids don’t think that speaking something other than English is something to be ashamed of.

 

[VanSensei]

It shocks me sometimes that people can be so xenophobic. I mean, did their ancestors come to the United States speaking English? Even if they came from the United Kingdom, probably not. (Scotland, Ireland and Wales have their own language)

 

[retire_early]

My mother tongue is French and I’m married to an Anglophone. It would drive my grandmother nuts if we spoke French in the house when he was there.

I didn’t get the point about grandmother. Is she a native French-speaker? If so, why would she not want to hear French in the home?

 

[VanSensei]

My guess is that maybe she was Anglophone/from a different part of Canada than the rest of the family. French is really only a big thing in Quebec, and even then, there’s majority-English speaking parts of Montréal.

 

[Phemie]

I didn’t get the point about grandmother. Is she a native French-speaker? If so, why would she not want to hear French in the home?

Oh, she was French, she just didn’t want us to speak French if my husband was present. She thought it was rude.

 

[retire_early]

Oh, she was French, she just didn’t want us to speak French if my husband was present. She thought it was rude.

Ah-ha! I get it. Just like my dad. Maybe a generational thing. A century ago, it was probably important to be inclusive to everyone within earshot. Now, maybe less consideration that way.

 

[Joie_de_Vivre]

I didn’t notice this claimed gay couple on the first couple viewings of the ad. I don’t get why people get so riled up about this commercial. The US was founded by immigrants and has been populated by immigrants.

Do these people also get riled up by Disney releasing a multilingual version of “Let It Go”?

I admit regarding the Cheerios ad I barely even registered that it was an interracial couple, perhaps because I am mixed or because in my hometown, aint nobody got time for that. When people started complaining about that ad I became offended because in some ways it was an attack on all multiracial people.

 

[pnewton]

I didn’t notice this claimed gay couple on the first couple viewings of the ad. I don’t get why people get so riled up about this commercial.

Maybe because others are more observant. It sure jumped out at me! CC wanted shock value. They got it, along with associating their brand with distaste.

 

[Midwest88]

I don’t get what’s necessarily wrong with it, nor am I aware that this commercial was “controversial.”

Those that complain about it being multicultural have stick up their buttocks and they obviously miss the point of the commercial let alone are aware that America is made up of many immigrants (hopefully legal).

As with the homosexual couple, I didn’t notice them at first, but on the second watch and with a more focused eye, I did. I do see where one would have issues with it – it paints a very romantic view of a same sex couple, having a fun time with their adopted daughter (or maybe one of the guys is her biological father). In that way it is pro-SS"C" (couple).

BUT if you if an issue with say, Mexicans, or people of different religions, then you can raise the same concern. It being pro-[insert whatever].

It’s a sugary commercial that’s mostly harmless. Like with most things that want to grab our emotions, especially ones that blurs lines, you need to be critical but take it with stride. I don’t drink Coke - I’m a Pepsi person - so I won’t be buying Coke anytime soon unless it’s necessary. Also, I don’t fall for such emotional folly easily … I take it for what it is and if I choose to, to be critical of it and/or praise it.

 

[migueltojose]

Generally we often confuse tolerance and acceptance.

Sometimes we’re intolerant because we think it would otherwise be seen as accepting. Not so.

OR conversely, sometimes we are tolerant and unwittingly mistakenly become accepting… when we shouldn’t. Don’t.

We need to learn to be tolerant, merciful, forgiving while at the same time never accepting inherent evils against Church teaching.

It’s hard enough to do alone, but really hard to do in mixed company. Admittedly, we are statistically a minority. In fact, practicing Catholics are a very small minority. Maybe 3%.

Our family and friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. are mostly following along the path of more and more secular relativism. Lured by temptation, enabled by narcissistic individualism and permissiveness and funded by leisure time and disposable income.