Coca-Cola’s “It’s Beautiful” Super Bowl Ad Brings Out Some Ugly Americans

POSTED BY: Niki2
UPDATED: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 19:28
VIEWED: 9404
PAGE 1 of 1

NIKI2

Monday, February 3, 2014 7:50 PM

Quote:
Coca Cola’s entry into the Super Bowl ad campaign had a message that was, as it were, Coke Classic: it celebrated the many kinds, colors, lifestyles and origins of Americans who are nonetheless one. Over a scene of these many Americans, it played a patriotic song: not the National Anthem, but the more accessible, singable “America the Beautiful.” It showed us a panoply of American faces, young, old, brown, white, straight, gay (it included what are said to be the first gay parents depicted in a Super Bowl ad), in cowboy hats and hijabs, playing, eating, and exploring all-American vistas.

It was maybe a little sappy, but it was also, well, beautiful, as was the music, sung in a succession of single voices and languages.

It was that last aspect that unfortunately, brought out America the Ugly, at least on some parts of the Internet. “WTF?” asked one post on Twitter. “@CocaCola has America the Beautiful being sung in different languages in a #SuperBowl commercial? We speak ENGLISH here, IDIOTS.” Some of the vitriol may have been satire for all I know, but there was much too much for that to explain all of the “English or GTFO” sentiment–not all of it in impeccable English itself. To wit: “Dear @CocaCola : America the beautiful is sang in English. Piss off. #DontFuckWithUs.”

The xenophobic protesters had one thing right: we do speak English in America. We speak it on official business and in Super Bowl broadcasts; we use it in publications like this one.

But that’s not all we do. People like my immigrant mother and her immigrant sisters learn English as adults and raise their kids to speak it, and also speak French and Arabic at family get-togethers and on phone calls. We speak English in school and Spanish with grandparents and Spanglish with friends. We speak Creole and Chinese and Tagalog sitting down to family dinners–maybe with a bottle or two of Coke around the table, which is why Coke is smart to recognize this.

We come to America, in other words, and we become American–but we don’t erase everything else that we were before, we don’t forget our cultures and languages as if they never existed, and we don’t hide them as if they’re shameful or less than patriotic. We bring them out and share them, and they make this country better and stronger. America isn’t weakened because people don’t submit to a monoculture; it’s strong because it can absorb the peoples and aspirations and talents of the rest of the world without erasing their cultures.

Which is the message this ad shared (besides “Buy Coke”)–it was not a rejection of English, but a celebration of it, and series of tongues, representing all corners of the Earth, resolving in a final line sung in the country’s lingua franca of English and the tag: “America Is Beautiful.”

And it is, even if some people can listen to that chorus and hear nothing but noise. http://entertainment.time.com/2014/02/02/coca-colas-its-beautiful-supe
r-bowl-ad-brings-out-some-ugly-americans/#ixzz2sGmdjyKo

Allan West:

Quote:
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 was a truly disturbing commercial for me. http://allenbwest.com/2014/02/coca-cola-ad-super-bowl-americans-brand-
hm/

Breitbart:

Quote:
Executives at Coca Cola thought it was a good idea to run a 60 second Super Bowl ad featuring children singing "America the Beautiful" – a deeply Christian patriotic anthem whose theme is unity – in several foreign languages. The ad also prominently features a gay couple.

Conservatives instantly lit up social media with objections, with many vowing to boycott the soda company's products.

The lyrics of the song, written in 1893 by Wellesley College Professor Katherine Lee Bates, ask God to grant America “brotherhood / From sea to shining sea.”

As far as the executives at Coca Cola are concerned

BLUEHANDEDMENACE

Monday, February 3, 2014 8:44 PM

I remember thinking during the commercial "wow, I bet the tea party fringe is gonna go nuts over this"

and, on cue...

It really was a very nicely done piece, but of course how dare one of the largest multinational corporations in the world celebrate diversity "OH THE HORROR!"

REAVERFAN

Monday, February 3, 2014 8:48 PM

I knew they'd show their bigotry right away. Read the comments on the Breitbart article for some real facepalm-worthy idiocy.

These people vote!

BYTEMITE

Monday, February 3, 2014 9:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by reaverfan:
I knew they'd show their bigotry right away. Read the comments on the Breitbart article for some real facepalm-worthy idiocy.

These people vote!

They're also extremely entertaining in a gruesome way, like when a guy is juggling chainsaws on a unicycle, and then suddenly has to dodge a flamethrower.

Seriously, I am in desperate need of some popcorn over here, the comments sections on this are mayhem wherever you look.

AURAPTOR

Monday, February 3, 2014 9:45 PM

It's nice sentiment, but a nation that can't understand each other isn't going to last for very long.

If all these peoples are here because they truly love the idea of what America is, and for freedom, meh, that's fine. But to be honest, I don't think many immigrants, or at least a large portion of them, don't come here to BE Americans.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

NIKI2

Monday, February 3, 2014 10:08 PM

Yeah, it's pretty sad. I have a suspicion that if this had been televised back when I was young, say the '60s or so, there wouldn't have been nearly as many people going off the deep end.

And what's sadly amusing is that they want everyone else to learn English, when so many of THEM can't spell or write or speak it properly, and a goodly number of them even called it the "National Anthem"! Ignorant schmucks displaying their ignorant schmuckiness, and by gawd, damned proud of it!

If you travel the world, people speak many different languages in every country on earth, but not only do too many Americans want everyone speaking English only in America, they'd be DAMNED if they'd learn some "foreign language", even to travel to other countries. Very sad, what we've come to.

1KIKI

Monday, February 3, 2014 10:20 PM

BYTEMITE

Monday, February 3, 2014 10:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

It's nice sentiment, but a nation that can't understand each other isn't going to last for very long.

Fact: The last century was the first time that any of the major powers had over a 90% literacy rate.

Talking and understanding is overrated, as we have daily proof.

ELVISCHRIST

Monday, February 3, 2014 10:40 PM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

Monday, February 3, 2014 10:43 PM

I don't drink their product much-- I prefer the stuff in the blue can-- but I'm going out of my to drink one today.

AURAPTOR

Monday, February 3, 2014 10:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BYTEMITE:
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

It's nice sentiment, but a nation that can't understand each other isn't going to last for very long.

Fact: The last century was the first time that any of the major powers had over a 90% literacy rate.

Talking and understanding is overrated, as we have daily proof.

Problem is, we're literate in several different languages, and not one.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

BYTEMITE

Monday, February 3, 2014 10:47 PM

Dr. Pepper is also owned by the Coca Cola company, if you want to show your support but require a different flavour.

And if you like drinking the tears of benevolent gods, Dr. Pepper has that going for it too.

ELVISCHRIST

Monday, February 3, 2014 10:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:
Originally posted by BYTEMITE:
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

It's nice sentiment, but a nation that can't understand each other isn't going to last for very long.

Fact: The last century was the first time that any of the major powers had over a 90% literacy rate.

Talking and understanding is overrated, as we have daily proof.

Problem is, we're literate several different languages, and not one.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

You're not.

ELVISCHRIST

Monday, February 3, 2014 10:50 PM

BTW, for all those who are outraged by Coke's ad and vowing to switch to Pepsi (several tweets referenced such promises), you should know that Pepsi's CEO is Indian, and their president is a Muslim. I know this might be a problem for you, so you should probably just give up sodas altogether.

BYTEMITE

Monday, February 3, 2014 10:51 PM

Quote:
Problem is, we're literate several different languages, and not one.

I believe I just deftly proved it doesn't matter if we even understand each other in ONE language. As such, not actually a problem.

Besides, most Indo-european languages have so many freakin' cognate words in them that they might as well be speaking English.

Etymology for the win yo.

ELVISCHRIST

Monday, February 3, 2014 10:55 PM

Teabaggers are mad because the commercial used several different languages, and they can't even effectively use one.

NIKI2

Monday, February 3, 2014 11:09 PM

Yeah, I love the illiteracy...and the ignorance about it being our "national anthem". Pretty much says it all.

ELVISCHRIST

Monday, February 3, 2014 11:47 PM

By the way, the song was written by a lesbian in a long-term committed relationship, who left the Republican party in 1924 over fears of their growing homophobia and xenophobia.

It's amazing how much they haven't changed in just 90 short years!

JONGSSTRAW

Monday, February 3, 2014 11:52 PM

Coke has a long history of promoting multi-culturalism in their advertising so I was not surprised at this one. I just found it stupid and obnoxious, something more suited for the 1970's. The majority of the Superbowl ads were equally stupid and obnoxious, and the half-time show was a circus freak show. And the game sucked too. But the beer was cold and the food was great, so all in all, a great night!

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 12:12 AM

Quote:
The majority of the Superbowl ads were equally stupid and obnoxious, and the half-time show was a circus freak show. And the game sucked too.

This is true.

1KIKI

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 12:13 AM

You have to admit, the ad did what it's supposed to do - get a lot of post-ad attention.

AURAPTOR

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 3:03 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ElvisChrist:

Teabaggers are mad because the commercial used several different languages, and they can't even effectively use one.

No. Some Americans are mad that this country is being destroyed. Not by foreign speaking immigrants, which it's always had, but by mindless incivility and a lack of appreciating the American ideals of freedom and unity. You know " ONE NATION ... " ?

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

6IXSTRINGJACK

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 3:13 AM

Hrmmm......

It's probably more about not what was said, but where it was said....

Seriously Niki....

I hate football. I worked the last two days. If I didn't work, I would have watched it with friends for the commercials, but meh......

Wondering why Football fans didn't approve of the commercial you're talking about is like going to the Grand Wizard of the KKK and asking why he doesn't like Die Hard 3, even though it's the best movie in the Neverending Series.....

AURAPTOR

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 3:20 AM

6IX - 3 ? Hell, nothing comes CLOSE to the original Die Hard. Good grief.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

1KIKI

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 3:21 AM

"... but by mindless incivility and a lack of appreciating the American ideals of freedom and unity."

How does translating a song into different languages equate to mindless incivility and a lack of appreciating the American ideals of freedom and unity, I wonder? Surely adopting the country and expressing your appreciation of it in a different language is a tribute both to the country and to the person expressing it.

Now, if they were to sing the national anthem of their native country while in the US I would find it uncivil.

AURAPTOR

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 3:40 AM

The 'mindless incivility' remark was directed towards EC. Had zero to do w/ translating the lyrics of a song.

I'd like to believe all who come here appreciate it. I have my doubts though.

It was a ad by a soda company, during a football game.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

WHOZIT

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 4:21 AM

...and the game sucked.

AURAPTOR

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 4:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by whozit:
...and the game sucked.

Sorry, but I kinda enjoyed it. Underdog kicked the stuffing out of the favorite, by 35 pts. Seattle won all 3 phases of the game, and left no doubt. Sure, it wasn't competitive, but props to the 'hawks.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 4:42 AM

Also Manning's derp face on that safety was just FANTASTIC. I think he actually went a little cross-eyed as it went by him.

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/8034808320/hF3E92599/

It was pretty much all over from there.

1KIKI

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 5:08 AM

"The 'mindless incivility' remark was directed towards EC."

So, do you have a problem about the 'mindless incivility' that was posted about the ad, in proportion to the number of uncivil posts?

This should be an easy question.

AURAPTOR

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 5:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BYTEMITE:
Also Manning's derp face on that safety was just FANTASTIC. I think he actually went a little cross-eyed as it went by him.

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/8034808320/hF3E92599/

It was pretty much all over from there.

Safety scored at 12 seconds into the game.

KO return to start the 2nd half, 12 seconds off the clock.

#12thMan

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

MAL4PREZ

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 6:26 AM

OK, I've ignored the troll. The rest of you can't.

Suckers.

I was traveling and missed the game. My life goes on. I would have muted the commercials anyway. It's only proof positive of what sheep people are, that they look forward to hugely overly expensive 30 second spots that manipulate them into wanting things they don't need.

Not to get tangential, but the root of evil in government and politics is money, and the source of that money is corporations, and the way they keep that money flowing is to convince all you sheep to buy shit you don't need. Now they've even convinced you to love the brainwashing they do to you.

2+2=5

*-------------------------------------------------*
I am not the sucker of the day.

STORYMARK

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 6:39 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:
It's only proof positive of what sheep people are, that they look forward to hugely overly expensive 30 second spots that manipulate them into wanting things they don't need.

Sorry to kick over your high horse, but I watch the ads becuase they are usually (not always) pretty clever (sure, to sell stuff, but I don't even recall what most are selling) and entertaining (I still pull up that kid-as-Vader ad from a few years back because its so damned cute), and often simply technical marvels (as a filmmaker, Im always interested in seeing what can be accomplished).

I honestly couldn't really give a shit about the guys running into each other on the field. And, if ya want to be judgmental, fan of such can also be looked down on (whether you smugly turn down the sound or not) for a number of reasons, too. Its not like the NFL is some big altruistic endeavor.

To each his own.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

ELVISCHRIST

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 6:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:
Originally posted by ElvisChrist:

Teabaggers are mad because the commercial used several different languages, and they can't even effectively use one.

No. Some Americans are mad that this country is being destroyed. Not by foreign speaking immigrants, which it's always had, but by mindless incivility and a lack of appreciating the American ideals of freedom and unity. You know " ONE NATION ... " ?

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

Where did I display this "mindless incivility?"

AURAPTOR

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 6:58 AM

I even quoted it for you.

Figure it out.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

1KIKI

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 7:19 AM

But failed to criticize the vastly more numerous and hateful mindless incivility of others.

I asked you a question earlier, if you disapproved of that incivility in equal proportion to the number of uncivil. It shouldn't be a difficult question, and there's no catch to the answer.

AURAPTOR

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 7:52 AM

Quote:

So, do you have a problem about the 'mindless incivility' that was posted about the ad, in proportion to the number of uncivil posts?

This should be an easy question.

Huh? You're asking the same thing twice.

If you want me to acknowledge that a handful of morons and idiots flock to posting online about an ad and if that some how reflects the attitude of the country as a whole, then my reply is , " why bother " ?

They are outliers, the noisy rabble which don't represent the vast majority of decent folk in this country. To give them more attention than they deserve is a counter productive endeavor.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

1KIKI

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 8:00 AM

but you can't seem to criticize them. interesting.

AURAPTOR

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 8:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by 1kiki:
but you can't seem to criticize them. interesting.

Calling them morons and idiots isn't criticizing them ?

Oh, I see. You want me to hate them as much as you hate them, is that it ? And express my ( your ) disgust in EXACTLY the same tone and manner.

Gee. If I did that, one of us wouldn't be necessary.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

1KIKI

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 8:42 AM

You stopped making sense a while ago. Goodbye.

AURAPTOR

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 9:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by 1kiki:
You stopped making sense a while ago. Goodbye.

You can't seem to acknowledge a simple answer.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

REAVERFAN

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 11:15 AM

The "general" is in general agreement with the hate posted. No condemnation = agreement.

SHINYGOODGUY

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 12:54 PM

It is sad Niki, very sad, that people are so ignorant about this country and what it stands for. First of all, everyone, and I do mean everyone here in this country are immigrants. How so?, you may ask.

Leif Erickson, Viking. The Pilgrims that came over on the Mayflower and landed on Plymouth Rock, English (hence the term New England), New York had Dutch settlers (Brooklyn is from a Dutch word meaning broken land), well you get where I'm going with this. The only true Americans, are the Natives who were here long before Europe discovered the land known as America.

Why even the name America is of foreign descent. Funny thing, a german writer gave the land the name derived from an Italian merchant, Amerigo Vespucci. How's that for genuine Americana. The Statute of Liberty is French. Where would we go to eat? Restaurant is French as well (which loosely translated means "provide food for"). 26 states have names that are
Native American in nature.

Kansas, in the heart of the country (and made popular in film culture by Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in the Wizard of Oz; also by Joe Pantoliano as Cypher in 1999's The Matrix), is a Sioux Indian word that means "south wind people" - so named after the Native American Tribe known as Kansa. Smack dab in the middle of the country. So ignorant folk will hoot and holler about being American and haven't a clue as to what their talking about. We may well have been named Columbia (after Christopher Columbus) or Vikingland, or New Spain.

The Coke commercial strikes a deep-rooted cord within the soul of the country that few would ever imagine, much less explore. This, as Coke so eloquently depicted, is a country of Immigrants. But people will believe whatever Rush and company will tell them to think, and it really is a shame because they're going to miss out on so much. The language of this country is Native American, English, Spanish, Dutch, French, Creole......etc.
Coke's inventive and creative commercial should be seen as a celebration of who we are as a nation. So pop open a bottle and have a piece of cake, in the grand scheme of things we are but a pimple on the butt of the world.

Frankie says RELAX!!!

SGG

Quote:
Originally posted by Niki2:
Yeah, it's pretty sad. I have a suspicion that if this had been televised back when I was young, say the '60s or so, there wouldn't have been nearly as many people going off the deep end.

And what's sadly amusing is that they want everyone else to learn English, when so many of THEM can't spell or write or speak it properly, and a goodly number of them even called it the "National Anthem"! Ignorant schmucks displaying their ignorant schmuckiness, and by gawd, damned proud of it!

If you travel the world, people speak many different languages in every country on earth, but not only do too many Americans want everyone speaking English only in America, they'd be DAMNED if they'd learn some "foreign language", even to travel to other countries. Very sad, what we've come to.

ELVISCHRIST

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 1:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

If you want me to acknowledge that a handful of morons and idiots flock to posting online about an ad and if that some how reflects the attitude of the country as a whole, then my reply is , " why bother " ?

Do you say the same thing when some idiot says that the president is "like a god"?

ELVISCHRIST

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 1:21 PM

By the way, one of the requirements of becoming a naturalized United States citizen is knowing that "The Star Spangled Banner" is the national anthem.

A good number of teabaggers are not qualified to be citizens, it would seem.

AURAPTOR

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 4:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ElvisChrist:
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

If you want me to acknowledge that a handful of morons and idiots flock to posting online about an ad and if that some how reflects the attitude of the country as a whole, then my reply is , " why bother " ?

Do you say the same thing when some idiot says that the president is "like a god"?

Newsweek editor Evan Thomas, who said Obama was " sort of God ", ( not LIKE a god ) , while on TV isn't exactly apples to apples with Joe and Jane Nobody , posting comments on the internet. I'd say he has a bit broader perspective, and therefore HIS comments come from a different place.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

AURAPTOR

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 4:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by reaverfan:
The "general" is in general agreement with the hate posted. No condemnation = agreement.

If that's a sideways swipe at me and my avatar, then you're 100% wrong. "hate post". WTF are you..12 ? Please.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

I'm just a red pill guy in a room full of blue pill addicts.

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

NIKI2

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 7:40 PM

Hey, Mark, I'm with you. I will freely admit to having BEEN a football fan when I was younger...for many years a Raiders fan, until they deserted us...then Niners. I used to love the almost ballet-like agility, and how the Raiders could be down by 12 with five minutes to go or something and still manage to pull off a miracle. Of course, with the Niners it could just as easily be the OPPOSITE, but yeah, I even remember pulling over on a camp trip so Jim and I could listen to the end of the S'Bowl before we got out of radio range.

But now, no, for me it makes no more sense to watch than being put to sleep trying to watch a baseball "game", in part because it's gotten almost as slow in its way, but mostly because we now know how much they're damaging their own brains, running into each other like mountain goats.

But at the same time, I'm capable of appreciating the craftsmanship of some of the commercials, and good commercials in general. I don't see many any more, given On Demand, Netflix and Amazon on Roku, but I've admired quite a few well-done commercials over the years.

Sorry I forgot to put up the ad itself, Brenda (duh!), I wandered around a bunch of articles and cutting and pasting all the screen shots I found, etc., forgot not everyone is inundated with our "news" (I use the term loosely...) ;o) As for Canada, they already don't like your "socialized" horrors (except when you give us jerks like Cruz), just be grateful.

Lastly, I believe we have a few of these today: "Maybe we need some sort of designation. The first person to acknowledge any of that shit is the "sucker of the day" or something"...and we were doing so well...

ETA: EC, I LOVE it! "By the way, one of the requirements of becoming a naturalized United States citizen is knowing that "The Star Spangled Banner" is the national anthem. A good number of teabaggers are not qualified to be citizens, it would seem."

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 7:58 PM

In fairness, some of them clearly knew the name "The Star Spangled Banner" and knew that's the name of the national anthem, but had the song itself confused with America The Beautiful.

ELVISCHRIST

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 8:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:
Originally posted by ElvisChrist:
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

If you want me to acknowledge that a handful of morons and idiots flock to posting online about an ad and if that some how reflects the attitude of the country as a whole, then my reply is , " why bother " ?

Do you say the same thing when some idiot says that the president is "like a god"?

Newsweek editor Evan Thomas, who said Obama was " sort of God ", ( not LIKE a god ) , while on TV isn't exactly apples to apples with Joe and Jane Nobody , posting comments on the internet. I'd say he has a bit broader perspective, and therefore HIS comments come from a different place.

So you agree that he's got a broader perspective than the average tea party supporter. Good to know.

ELVISCHRIST

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 8:15 PM

SIGNYM

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 8:30 PM

AGREE WITH MAL4: Corporations have you convinced that you love commercials. All they have to do is wave the flag and show people being nice to each other.

Is that all it takes?

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 8:55 PM

Maybe I don't actually watch tv all that much, and when I do, it's because it's part of a forced family get together, and maybe the game was so boring that the only thing to talk about in regards to it is pointless controversy bullshit over commercials I don't actually care about.

Also: I like observing and creating internet flame wars.

As for the sheep comments, come on guys. We've talked about this. Calling people sheep does absolutely nothing to attract them to your cause. And, in all honesty, if you actually WANT people to join you, then either what you're trying for isn't all that dangerous, or you don't care about the lives of the people you're trying to coerce.

REAVERFAN

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 10:01 PM

http://killercoke.org/

SIGNYM

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 10:03 PM

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Because, yanno, the commercial is all about NOTHING that Coke stands for: beautiful unspoiled nature, America, secure and happy people.

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 10:12 PM

Quote:
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Because, yanno, the commercial is all about NOTHING that Coke stands for: beautiful unspoiled nature, America, secure and happy people.

True, they are kind of shitty. These are the same people that invented a soft drink that had cocaine in it in the hopes that people would become addicted.

NIKI2

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 10:59 PM

Yeah, G, me too, as I wrote. Having been in desktop publishing, having worked for a guy who created the "speeder bike" (through the redwoods) for Star Wars and having spent some time at ILM, I'm capable of appreciating the art and work that goes into creating GOOD commercials, and it's never made me buy a single product...the products are irrelevant to me, and have no bearing on whether I'm entertained by or respect the talent of the ads themselves.

I tasted Coke once, never again. Canada Dry gal here, and there's a campaign going to bring back my absolute favorite: Clearly Canadian! Other than that, chai or water or tea; couldn't stomach any of the carmelized soft drinks. Once I saw what Coke does to a penny years ago, I was glad I hated the taste.

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 11:09 PM

Quote:
Once I saw what Coke does to a penny years ago, I was glad I hated the taste.

...Did the penny have caliche concretions on it? Because I got news for you - teeth probably erode faster in carbonated soda than copper does.

STORYMARK

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 11:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by G:
Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
Quote:
Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:
It's only proof positive of what sheep people are, that they look forward to hugely overly expensive 30 second spots that manipulate them into wanting things they don't need.

Sorry to kick over your high horse, but I watch the ads becuase they are usually (not always) pretty clever (sure, to sell stuff, but I don't even recall what most are selling) and entertaining (I still pull up that kid-as-Vader ad from a few years back because its so damned cute), and often simply technical marvels (as a filmmaker, Im always interested in seeing what can be accomplished).

To each his own.

I agree Story - it's really possible to watch the ads and be entertained on completely different levels than what the advertiser wanted and in no way want to buy their shitty product. It's really possible that we're not all helpless robots... and for those that are, serves 'em right.
I liked seeing Animal say, "Let's Go Places!" the multi-million dollar tag line for Toyota, because the absurdity of it, the pure surreal-ness of it - those are precious moments that could NEVER be planned.

The game was great - old school crushed by new school - metaphor? Time for change, for an upgrade and a rethink Everywhere?

I don't begrudge anyone enjoying the game, but I had to scoff at the irony of being told Im a sheep for enjoying the technical craft of commercials by someone watching the modern equivalent of masses-appeasing gladiator games.

As if watching guys ruin their bodies for your entertainment is a morally superior position.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 11:48 PM

Indeed. Perhaps as individuals people can enjoy certain things, despite themselves or even wholeheartedly due to their individual tastes, while still making valuable contributions to whatever cause you might care to name.

Similarly, perhaps a person can also hate something, deeply and thoroughly despite it seeming inconsequential or at odds with their own interests, and still maintain a smidgen of credibility as a person. They might be judgmental, or a hypocrite, or a liar, as we all are sometimes, and yet still have value in their own right.

Personal interests, opinions, hobbies, or four full hours of commercialized mainstream media consumption are not likely to be the downfall of civilization as we know it.

FREMDFIRMA

Wednesday, February 5, 2014 4:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BYTEMITE:
Seriously, I am in desperate need of some popcorn over here, the comments sections on this are mayhem wherever you look.

I too am finding it ironic that megacorps are actually pushing acceptance, even though as pointed out not all of their intentions for it are noble.

For mine own, I don't watch football, I watch OTHER PEOPLE watch football, cause that's totally hilarious, in this case, especially if they were Broncos fans...

But while no fan of Coca-Cola, they did get one thing right, cause the essence of this little bit *DOES* express a critical American concept them fucktard tea baggers have long since forgot, and you know what it is ?

E. Pluribus. Unum.

And if you dunno what THAT is/means, you deserve all the scorn heaped upon you.

-Frem

SHINYGOODGUY

Wednesday, February 5, 2014 12:08 PM

Good. About time someone said it!

There are some "Americans" that don't even know the words.

Suck on that! Tea Bags..................

SGG

Quote:
Originally posted by ElvisChrist:
By the way, one of the requirements of becoming a naturalized United States citizen is knowing that "The Star Spangled Banner" is the national anthem.

A good number of teabaggers are not qualified to be citizens, it would seem.

ELVISCHRIST

Wednesday, February 5, 2014 1:13 PM

SIGNYM

Thursday, February 6, 2014 11:20 AM

STORY: Hmmm... I didn't watch the commercials because I didn't watch the Superbowl. If KIKI hadn't posted the vid (THANKS KIKI!) I'd have no idea what the fuss was about.

Your thinking is like your body: if you fill it with junk food -commercials, religion, Ayn Rand, Superbowl .... you'll think junky thoughts.

BYTEMITE

Thursday, February 6, 2014 8:58 PM

This confirms what I have long believed - my mind is an empty stretch of nothing, covered in trash and bilge water, breeding lilacs out of the dead land.

Lawl more cat pics pls

JAYNEZTOWN

Tuesday, July 23, 2024 7:28 PM

DEI and the Pink Panthers

https://www.spectator.com.au/2024/07/dei-and-the-pink-panthers/