No deportar a su abuelo (Don't Deport Your Grandpa)

Sunday night, America watched the Superbowl, but people like me watched the commercials. German engineers sprouted wings and farted rainbows, and David Beckham lost his underwear. Then, Coca Cola sang America the Beautiful and the world turned upside down.

I just thought it was a sweet commercial that celebrated the diversity that is American culture. At first, I was taken aback by an American song being sung in other languages. Then I remembered: we don't have an official language and there really are citizens of this country who speak all those languages. I had to think for a second when I saw a Muslim girl standing there proudly, looking oddly...American. It made me think, but it didn't offend me. Why would it offend anyone?

[just a little disclaimer here: after I wrote this, it was brought to my attention by some readers that there was a gay couple in the video, and that's why some folks were upset.  Although it does bother me that they subtly put that that in there, I'm am not addressing that at all in this post. I chose to simply deal with the idea of different nationalities being represented. I don't consider homosexuality a nationality. but that's a blog post for another day]

 Our country is made up of individuals, and we are not all the same. Our country is a colorful tapestry, as it was designed to be from the day it was established. It's a government "of the people, for the people, and by the people." Our people came from, and still come from, all over the world. That's why we don't have an official language or a dominant skin color. How is that offensive? Our country is the product of ages upon ages of immigration and assimilation. Why wouldn't we celebrate that history? The last time I checked, leaving all traces of your homeland at the feet of Lady Liberty was not a citizenship requirement.

 I have ancestors from Scotland, Great Britain, France, Germany,  and the Cherokee Nation. I am grateful for the many combinations of cultures and skin colors that have resulted in me. I am the result of immigration, the product of a blending of many countries. Chances are, you are too.

 So, if you could go back in time and change America's history, if you could keep America's culture "pure,"who would you deport? Who would you keep from stepping on to Ellis Island? Be careful. You might deport your grandpa. When you get back to the future, you might find that you longer exist. Sure, that might save the rest of us who are proud of our diverse history some trouble, but it would destroy you.

Life is too short to get your panties in a wad over foolishness. You can't change the history of the United States of America. You can learn it. You can understand how it built what we have today. You can't change your family tree, but you can celebrate it. Don't deport your grandpa.

America isn't the home of the white English speaker. It is the home of the Free and the Brave.


Don't confuse racism with patriotism. .