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Coke Heads
Author: BobR
Date: 2014-02-05 11:31:17
For the football-challenged readers, there was this fairly important game this past Sunday called the Super Bowl. It's the final championship game of the year, so it garners a lot of attention. Because there are so many people watching it, commercial ad time is at a very high premium, so companies pull out all the stops to make their ad spots memorable. In recent years, there is as much anticipation and post-game discussion about the commercials as there is about the game, which I can only describe using a phrase of a previous occupant of the White House: "uniquely American".
This year was no different. For the purposes of this blog, however, there is only one commercial that has really set tongues wagging, and not in a good way. I am referring, of course, to the Coca Cola commercial, in which the song "America the Beautiful" was song by people of a variety of colors, nationalities, and sexual orientation. Oh yeah, parts of it were sung in languages other than English.
The reactions by the neanderthals in the right wing has been loud and nauseating. Between all the tweets and blog and Facebook comments, you'd think the Aryan Brotherhood was on the rise. Apparently, anything with the word "America" in it MUST NEVER BE SPOKEN OR SUNG IN ANY LANGUAGE EXCEPT ENGLISH. It says it right there in the Constitution... or so they must think. Can you imagine the outrage if someone sang a favorite American Christmas carol (like "O Tannenbaum") in another language, like German or something?
The anonymous internet idiots are bad enough, but then you get people who were (once) elected to office saying things like
This from a guy who has a drop-down in the bottom of his website front page that allows you to read his site in another language - like Spanish! Here's the Spanish version from his site:
Hmm - I don't think that's quite a literal translation. Methinks he's soft-selling the xenophobia to the Hispanic crowd.
There's also the paranoid conspiracy types who can weave a conspiracy out of anything. In their minds, this was all just a plot to push immigration reform. Oy...
One of the best responses to all this was from one of my favorite news anchors in Atlanta - Brenda Wood - who had this to say in response to the haters:
Can you imagine if they put out a commercial about wanting to "teach the world to sing" nowadays? They'd be accused (ironically) of pushing communism. Idiocracy was supposed to happen 500 years in our future, but I have to wonder if that movie was off by 400 years.
This year was no different. For the purposes of this blog, however, there is only one commercial that has really set tongues wagging, and not in a good way. I am referring, of course, to the Coca Cola commercial, in which the song "America the Beautiful" was song by people of a variety of colors, nationalities, and sexual orientation. Oh yeah, parts of it were sung in languages other than English.
The reactions by the neanderthals in the right wing has been loud and nauseating. Between all the tweets and blog and Facebook comments, you'd think the Aryan Brotherhood was on the rise. Apparently, anything with the word "America" in it MUST NEVER BE SPOKEN OR SUNG IN ANY LANGUAGE EXCEPT ENGLISH. It says it right there in the Constitution... or so they must think. Can you imagine the outrage if someone sang a favorite American Christmas carol (like "O Tannenbaum") in another language, like German or something?
The anonymous internet idiots are bad enough, but then you get people who were (once) elected to office saying things like
I am quite sure there may be some who appreciated the commercial, but Coca Cola missed the mark in my opinion. If we cannot be proud enough as a country to sing “American the Beautiful” in English in a commercial during the Super Bowl, by a company as American as they come — doggone we are on the road to perdition.
This from a guy who has a drop-down in the bottom of his website front page that allows you to read his site in another language - like Spanish! Here's the Spanish version from his site:
Características comunes del lenguaje une y permite el paso de un carácter nacional a las generaciones posteriores y para todos aquellos que - legalmente - vienen a nuestras costas.
Pero, de nuevo, tal vez incluso Coca-Cola es la compra en la "transformación fundamental" de América.
Hmm - I don't think that's quite a literal translation. Methinks he's soft-selling the xenophobia to the Hispanic crowd.
There's also the paranoid conspiracy types who can weave a conspiracy out of anything. In their minds, this was all just a plot to push immigration reform. Oy...
One of the best responses to all this was from one of my favorite news anchors in Atlanta - Brenda Wood - who had this to say in response to the haters:
Can you imagine if they put out a commercial about wanting to "teach the world to sing" nowadays? They'd be accused (ironically) of pushing communism. Idiocracy was supposed to happen 500 years in our future, but I have to wonder if that movie was off by 400 years.
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
Raine on 02/05/2014 13:12:57
good morning.
Raine on 02/05/2014 13:12:57
good morning.
Comment by 
Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 13:59:53
Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 13:59:53
I am drinking a refreshing, multicultural embracing Diet Coke even as we speak. Salute!
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 14:07:39
Oh yes, I heard/saw something bout this yesterday. They are going to be...fun.
Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 14:07:39
Quote by Raine:
Sochi already appears to be a mess.
Oh yes, I heard/saw something bout this yesterday. They are going to be...fun.
Comment by 
BobR on 02/05/2014 14:12:36
BobR on 02/05/2014 14:12:36
We had a bit of an ice storm overnight, but the office is open. I did get an email, though, that our Boston office is closed due to snow.
You know - Boston...
You know - Boston...
Comment by 
TriSec on 02/05/2014 14:12:40
TriSec on 02/05/2014 14:12:40
Morning, comrades.
Sitting at home today - everyone around us called the ball at around 5am.
I've had a few conga lines go down my sleepy side street already. Looking at a popcorn and movie day, methinks.
Sitting at home today - everyone around us called the ball at around 5am.
I've had a few conga lines go down my sleepy side street already. Looking at a popcorn and movie day, methinks.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 14:16:30
:rimshot:
Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 14:16:30
Quote by BobR:
We had a bit of an ice storm overnight, but the office is open. I did get an email, though, that our Boston office is closed due to snow.
You know - Boston...
:rimshot:
Comment by TriSec on 02/05/2014 14:26:03
TriSec on 02/05/2014 14:26:03
Well, with 5 inches on the ground already and another 12 due by sunset, we know better than to try.
Besides, this city owns something called "snowplows", and they work better when the roads don't have hundreds of cars stuck on them.
Besides, this city owns something called "snowplows", and they work better when the roads don't have hundreds of cars stuck on them.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 14:35:41
Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 14:35:41
Bob and Raine, no shooting apples off each others head for the Burroughs centenary, mmkay?
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 14:37:00
huh?
Raine on 02/05/2014 14:37:00
Quote by Mondobubba:
Bob and Raine, no shooting apples off each others head for the Burroughs centenary, mmkay?
huh?
Comment by 
clintster on 02/05/2014 14:38:21
clintster on 02/05/2014 14:38:21
Just goats to shard, you shoulder Mexican with autocorrect when writhing a headless for tennis vision.
Comment by clintster on 02/05/2014 14:39:57
Allow me...
clintster on 02/05/2014 14:39:57
Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Bob and Raine, no shooting apples off each others head for the Burroughs centenary, mmkay?
Allow me...
Comment by 
wickedpam on 02/05/2014 14:42:22
wickedpam on 02/05/2014 14:42:22
Morning 
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 14:42:43
Well then....
It wasn't in the plans for today -- but I'll keep that in mind.
Raine on 02/05/2014 14:42:43
Quote by clintster:Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Bob and Raine, no shooting apples off each others head for the Burroughs centenary, mmkay?
Allow me...
It wasn't in the plans for today -- but I'll keep that in mind.
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 14:44:45
the gifs at that link are AWESOME!
Raine on 02/05/2014 14:44:45
Quote by clintster:
Just goats to shard, you shoulder Mexican with autocorrect when writhing a headless for tennis vision.
the gifs at that link are AWESOME!
Comment by BobR on 02/05/2014 14:46:05
Do you have your dates a little mixed up?
BobR on 02/05/2014 14:46:05
Quote by clintster:Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Bob and Raine, no shooting apples off each others head for the Burroughs centenary, mmkay?
Allow me...
Do you have your dates a little mixed up?
Comment by 
Scoopster on 02/05/2014 14:48:08
Scoopster on 02/05/2014 14:48:08
Mornin' all.. 
live from the homestead today!
This grudge match gon' make me lose my mind.. up in he-a, up in he-a!
live from the homestead today!This grudge match gon' make me lose my mind.. up in he-a, up in he-a!
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 14:51:07
William Burroughs' 100 birthday is today. See what Bobber posted
Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 14:51:07
Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Bob and Raine, no shooting apples off each others head for the Burroughs centenary, mmkay?
William Burroughs' 100 birthday is today. See what Bobber posted
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 14:53:44
I'm still confused. I know it's his birthday and his beautiful love affair...
Raine on 02/05/2014 14:53:44
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Bob and Raine, no shooting apples off each others head for the Burroughs centenary, mmkay?
William Burroughs' 100 birthday is today. See what Bobber posted
Comment by BobR on 02/05/2014 14:59:05
It really was a reach Mondo. Nice try.
BobR on 02/05/2014 14:59:05
Quote by Raine:I'm still confused. I know it's his birthday and his beautiful love affair...Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Bob and Raine, no shooting apples off each others head for the Burroughs centenary, mmkay?
William Burroughs' 100 birthday is today. See what Bobber posted
It really was a reach Mondo. Nice try.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 15:03:25
Burroughs was high on smack, as was his wont. He accidentally his lovely bride in the head, killing her.
Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 15:03:25
Quote by Raine:I'm still confused. I know it's his birthday and his beautiful love affair...Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Bob and Raine, no shooting apples off each others head for the Burroughs centenary, mmkay?
William Burroughs' 100 birthday is today. See what Bobber posted
Burroughs was high on smack, as was his wont. He accidentally his lovely bride in the head, killing her.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 15:05:31
Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 15:05:31
Oh well so much for my efforts in Beat history. 
:Wanders off, reading Naked Lunch:
:Wanders off, reading Naked Lunch:
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 15:08:52
You were fine. I just couldn't figure out how we fit in!
Raine on 02/05/2014 15:08:52
Quote by Mondobubba:
Oh well so much for my efforts in Beat history.
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 15:41:25
Raine on 02/05/2014 15:41:25
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
Comment by wickedpam on 02/05/2014 15:48:45
what's a facebook movie?
wickedpam on 02/05/2014 15:48:45
Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
what's a facebook movie?
Comment by Scoopster on 02/05/2014 15:52:13
Oh that sucks! well not really.. I suppose the other declared candidates are already in a better position.
Scoopster on 02/05/2014 15:52:13
Quote by Raine:
Well. poop. Sandra Fluke is NOT running for Waxman's seat.
Oh that sucks! well not really.. I suppose the other declared candidates are already in a better position.
Comment by Scoopster on 02/05/2014 15:53:12
Go to www.facebook.com/lookback to find out
Scoopster on 02/05/2014 15:53:12
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
what's a facebook movie?
Go to www.facebook.com/lookback to find out
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 15:53:50
They are really nifty! Facebook movie.
Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 15:53:50
Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
They are really nifty!
Facebook movie.
Comment by Scoopster on 02/05/2014 15:55:59
It's actually a pretty cool piece of coding.. I suppose they wrote a JSON script to automate the whole thing from each user's timeline postings.
Scoopster on 02/05/2014 15:55:59
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
They are really nifty!
It's actually a pretty cool piece of coding.. I suppose they wrote a JSON script to automate the whole thing from each user's timeline postings.
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 16:00:57
You have to share yours!
Raine on 02/05/2014 16:00:57
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
They are really nifty!
Comment by wickedpam on 02/05/2014 16:03:29
mine's rather lame, I'm sure everyone else's is more interesting
wickedpam on 02/05/2014 16:03:29
Quote by Raine:You have to share yours!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
They are really nifty!
mine's rather lame, I'm sure everyone else's is more interesting
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 16:06:14
NO. you must share!
Raine on 02/05/2014 16:06:14
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:You have to share yours!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
They are really nifty!
mine's rather lame, I'm sure everyone else's is more interesting
Comment by wickedpam on 02/05/2014 16:13:15
ooookkkaaayy *slowly hits 'share' button*
wickedpam on 02/05/2014 16:13:15
Quote by Raine:NO. you must share!Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:You have to share yours!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
They are really nifty!
mine's rather lame, I'm sure everyone else's is more interesting
ooookkkaaayy *slowly hits 'share' button*
Comment by BobR on 02/05/2014 16:15:14
we need a "slowly backing away" emoticon...
BobR on 02/05/2014 16:15:14
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:NO. you must share!Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:You have to share yours!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
They are really nifty!
mine's rather lame, I'm sure everyone else's is more interesting
we need a "slowly backing away" emoticon...
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 16:21:02
Raine on 02/05/2014 16:21:02
I loved it!
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 16:21:39
Hey! Stop bullying Mala!
She doesn't have to share if she doesn't want to.
Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 16:21:39
Quote by Raine:You have to share yours!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
They are really nifty!
Hey! Stop bullying Mala!
She doesn't have to share if she doesn't want to.
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 16:22:41
Raine on 02/05/2014 16:22:41
Quote by BobR:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:NO. you must share!Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:You have to share yours!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
They are really nifty!
mine's rather lame, I'm sure everyone else's is more interesting
we need a "slowly backing away" emoticon...
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 16:23:35
your turn.
Raine on 02/05/2014 16:23:35
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:You have to share yours!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
They are really nifty!
Hey! Stop bullying Mala!
Comment by wickedpam on 02/05/2014 16:23:50
You're being sweet, thank you
wickedpam on 02/05/2014 16:23:50
Quote by Raine:
I loved it!
You're being sweet, thank you
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 16:25:36
Not lame at all, Mala.
I did mine last night, Raine. Click on the linky-dinky below.
Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 16:25:36
Quote by Raine:your turn.Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:You have to share yours!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
They are really nifty!
Hey! Stop bullying Mala!
Not lame at all, Mala.
I did mine last night, Raine. Click on the linky-dinky below.
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 16:27:18
Unless you share the movie, it takes me to *my* movie. did you share it on the BoF? (upper right hand corner, green share button)
Raine on 02/05/2014 16:27:18
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:your turn.Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:You have to share yours!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
They are really nifty!
Hey! Stop bullying Mala!
Not lame at all, Mala.
I did mine last night, Raine. Click on the linky-dinky below.
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 16:27:57
Raine on 02/05/2014 16:27:57
Never mind! I see it, Mondo!
Comment by wickedpam on 02/05/2014 16:30:44
it was totally lame - I do not live a very exciting life due to certain factors
wickedpam on 02/05/2014 16:30:44
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:your turn.Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:You have to share yours!Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
CAn I just say that I absolutely LOVE the Facebook movies?
They are really nifty!
Hey! Stop bullying Mala!
Not lame at all, Mala.
I did mine last night, Raine. Click on the linky-dinky below.
it was totally lame - I do not live a very exciting life due to certain factors
Comment by Raine on 02/05/2014 16:33:14
Raine on 02/05/2014 16:33:14
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 16:41:49
Mondobubba on 02/05/2014 16:41:49
Comment by BobR on 02/05/2014 16:50:59
Yup - improved quality of life.
BobR on 02/05/2014 16:50:59
Quote by Mondobubba:
What the CBO report on the job impact of the ACA report really said.
Yup - improved quality of life.