I realize, as Americans we love English as our one and only language. I also realize this is because many of us don't know other languages. This due to the fact that It's frustrating and hard as hell to learn one. I've been working on Spanish for the last five months and probably couldn't carry on a conversation with a three-year-old child whose first language was Spanish.
Many American people were, and still are, upset that "America, the Beautiful," was sung in multiple languages in the Coca Cola commercial. Many say they don't appreciate it because it was an "American song/anthem" sung in multiple languages and they would've appreciated it more in English.
Many American people were, and still are, upset that "America, the Beautiful," was sung in multiple languages in the Coca Cola commercial. Many say they don't appreciate it because it was an "American song/anthem" sung in multiple languages and they would've appreciated it more in English.
That's where the controversy comes (and the ignorance in my opinion.)
This is where, I as an American, get upset. I was almost in tears at how beautiful the commercial was. Growing up, in school and even in church, we would sing "America, The Beautiful," on certain patriotic occasions or at school assemblies and I only ever heard it in English. When I heard the rendition on the Coca-Cola commercial I was speechless. How beautiful that an anthem to our great nation can be just as inspiring when sung in multiple languages by fellow Americans.
People, get over yourself. There is no one true American. George Washington was British by birth and he was our nation's first president, but he spoke English so it's okay. Aside, from that, Native Americans were here before and if I had to guess, I wouldn't say English was their native tongue.
We have to get beyond the frustration of language barriers and appreciate how beautiful each language is.
I spent the summer in Europe in twelve different countries and at least eight of those countries had a different language. Sure, they were frustrated when I didn't comprehend their Italian, Spanish, Dutch or German, but they didn't bitch about it. I mean maybe they did after I left, but the point is, I knew I didn't understand them and that was my problem, not theirs.
Someone told me today that people go to different countries to gain citizenship because they love that countries laws, religion, language, etc. That isn't always the case. Many, non-English speaking Americans (as their first language) may be here because of exile, persecution, immigration (not by choice,) family, jobs and a million other reasons. We do not know people's life journeys.
Should they learn our language? Of course! But not for us, because it's easier on them. And because we should all know multiple languages. Should we never branch our minds out and attempt to at least learn phrases of other languages? Absolutely not.
Language is one of the most beautiful and unique characteristics a human beings could possess.
There are 6,912 languages in the world and more than 500 of those are extinct. English is in the top 10 spoken languages, but it isn't number one. Let's remember there are roughly 190 countries in the world and America isn't the largest. There is the geography portion of this blog.
I know I have had more experiences traveling and seeing the world than many have or ever will. However, from personal experience, take my word that it isn't easy. I'll give you a brief story on my first hand experience with the burden of language and why I believe we should be more accepting.
In Rome, we were leaving an opera show and split into two groups to catch a cab back to our hotel. Rule number one about traveling in a country where you don't speak their native language is to always carry a hotel business card so you can simply show it to your cab driver. Well, of course this night we did not. We wound up getting lost, meanwhile, a fellow friend was gripping about the fare steadily increasing as we continued driving around lost. The cab driver was frustrated right along with us and I'm sure all he wanted was these obnoxious American girls out of his cab. He didn't speak a lick of English and we didn't speak a lick of Italian. The only thing I knew to say was, "mi dispiace." This means "I'm sorry," in Italian. The situation was scary, yet eye-opening. I now know how every Spanish speaking person I bitched about for not knowing English felt when I was rude to them.
I'll end by saying we (Americans) should remember that in the beginning, America was the place to come to escape persecution. Now it appears to be the number one country for ridiculing people who stand out. We have it in our minds that America means English. That isn't true. We are a melting pot, at least we were at one point. Let's try to remember that the next time some one says "si," instead of " yes."
And take note that Coca-Cola was simply saying everyone one enjoys a nice, refreshing Coca-Cola; regardless of who you are. :) And maybe, just maybe, it was encouragement to be more open minded. I mean, other than baseball and apple pie, there isn't anything much more All-American than Coca-Cola. It's a classic, after all. ;)
People, get over yourself. There is no one true American. George Washington was British by birth and he was our nation's first president, but he spoke English so it's okay. Aside, from that, Native Americans were here before and if I had to guess, I wouldn't say English was their native tongue.
We have to get beyond the frustration of language barriers and appreciate how beautiful each language is.
I spent the summer in Europe in twelve different countries and at least eight of those countries had a different language. Sure, they were frustrated when I didn't comprehend their Italian, Spanish, Dutch or German, but they didn't bitch about it. I mean maybe they did after I left, but the point is, I knew I didn't understand them and that was my problem, not theirs.
Someone told me today that people go to different countries to gain citizenship because they love that countries laws, religion, language, etc. That isn't always the case. Many, non-English speaking Americans (as their first language) may be here because of exile, persecution, immigration (not by choice,) family, jobs and a million other reasons. We do not know people's life journeys.
Should they learn our language? Of course! But not for us, because it's easier on them. And because we should all know multiple languages. Should we never branch our minds out and attempt to at least learn phrases of other languages? Absolutely not.
Language is one of the most beautiful and unique characteristics a human beings could possess.
There are 6,912 languages in the world and more than 500 of those are extinct. English is in the top 10 spoken languages, but it isn't number one. Let's remember there are roughly 190 countries in the world and America isn't the largest. There is the geography portion of this blog.
I know I have had more experiences traveling and seeing the world than many have or ever will. However, from personal experience, take my word that it isn't easy. I'll give you a brief story on my first hand experience with the burden of language and why I believe we should be more accepting.
In Rome, we were leaving an opera show and split into two groups to catch a cab back to our hotel. Rule number one about traveling in a country where you don't speak their native language is to always carry a hotel business card so you can simply show it to your cab driver. Well, of course this night we did not. We wound up getting lost, meanwhile, a fellow friend was gripping about the fare steadily increasing as we continued driving around lost. The cab driver was frustrated right along with us and I'm sure all he wanted was these obnoxious American girls out of his cab. He didn't speak a lick of English and we didn't speak a lick of Italian. The only thing I knew to say was, "mi dispiace." This means "I'm sorry," in Italian. The situation was scary, yet eye-opening. I now know how every Spanish speaking person I bitched about for not knowing English felt when I was rude to them.
I'll end by saying we (Americans) should remember that in the beginning, America was the place to come to escape persecution. Now it appears to be the number one country for ridiculing people who stand out. We have it in our minds that America means English. That isn't true. We are a melting pot, at least we were at one point. Let's try to remember that the next time some one says "si," instead of " yes."
And take note that Coca-Cola was simply saying everyone one enjoys a nice, refreshing Coca-Cola; regardless of who you are. :) And maybe, just maybe, it was encouragement to be more open minded. I mean, other than baseball and apple pie, there isn't anything much more All-American than Coca-Cola. It's a classic, after all. ;)
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