"I am an American" Television advertisements -- Vanity

[Partisan Hack]

I'm sure many of you have seen the advertisements featuring many people of different ethnicities who proclaim "I am an American."

While I appreciate the purpose and intent of these advertisements, I do not appreciate the intonation of those giving the message. "I am an American" comes out sounding like a confession, not a proclamation. It's stated with the the same affect and confidence as a quivering alcoholic confessing his addiction to an AA group.

Have you seen this ad? What's your take on it?

[Dr. Frank fan]

The Ad Council is the U.S. Gub ment's vehicle to produce, promote, and broadcast a specific message.

Sigh. That's what I figured. Don'cha just love being told how and what to think, with your own money, by those genius omnipotent infinitely benevolent government whiz kids? :)

[Skywalk]

Actually I don't recall seeing ANY American blacks in the commercial. Am I wrong, were there any? I do recall seeing people of ambiguous or Middle Eastern/Central Asian descent. From what I recall, it seemed to cater to EXACTLY the generalizing that they are trying to counter. By having mostly people we'd suspect in a commercial it rings hollow. Show a Conan O Brien(pale Irish) and Harrison Ford-type and Wesley Snipes-type and then maybe I'll accept the message.

[Skywalk]

EXACTLY. If someone is hateful, seeing that commercial really will do nothing. Actually, that's one of the biggest problems with the typical liberal softbrained "thinking." Showing a commercial with mostly people who fit the current "profile" for terrorists doesn't mean anything.

Also, they may be saying "american" but we all know that certain left-leaners will use any term, including "freedom" and "democracy" when, in reality, they desire neither.

[Partisan Hack]

I appreciate your take on this and agree. A start it is. No hyphens is a good thing.

Yet the ads still come up just a tad short for my Yankee doodle expectations. Maybe those that write these type of ads have been so focused on destroying America for the last 20 years that to completely change course now would be like stopping a supertanker on a dime.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Absolutely, they had two blue-eyed girls of Scandanavian origin and Irish.

Diversity was not the message, being American was.

[Storm Orphan]

It is a great ad.

[Sloth]

I liked all of the ad except the "Hate doesn't stop hate" caption at the end of at least one version. I don't need to be lectured on moral matters by Madison avenue jackasses, and I resent the implication that I, as an American, had been under the impression that hating people is good.

[Northpaw]

I am surprised that in this ad, there is no representation from homosexuals, transvestites, dwarfs, and the morbidly obese.

[Katie_Colic]

For anyone who thinks this is just a sweet, patriotic ad about people who are proud to be Americans, check out the site that is advertised in the ad civilrights.org

NOW is their "featured organization." This commercial was not designed to display pride in America. This commercial was designed to make people feel guilty for not wanting to get on planes with four Middle Eastern men. What do you think the warning at the end not to hate means? It means you better think the way the liberals want you to, or you have no heart.

[Katie_Colic]

Phoenix Wealth management takes it a step further, portraying white men as out of touch dinosoars, while depicting the typical minorities as intellectually superior. FedEx did the same with their commercials for a while.

Ugh, so did Fidelity. Remember those? Oafish white male receives wise investing advice from enlightened (fill in blank) Asian female, white female, Asian male, etc.

[Partisan Hack]

Actually I don't recall seeing ANY American blacks in the commercial

That's because if you are to believe Jesee Jackson, Rev Al Sharpton, et al. blacks are not Americans but abductees, held here against their will. That said, the usual poverty pimps would not want their own to peretuate their enslavement with a "I am an American" proclimation.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

You just lost me.........Even the Liberals are re-thinking their philosophy these days.

Like I said before,

America, Unite or die!

[duvausa]

I think you all are way too touchy--good grief!

I agree with the person who said hooray for no hyphens--I find the ads very touching -- and I don't care what the web site behind them says--the ads themselves are great.

[PleaseNoMore]

You should see the ones running on Disney with Whoopie Goldburg and the child actors that star in some of their programs. Very liberal.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

This is why this forum has been so good.

It has taken a bunch of isolationist conservatives,etc..,and forced them to realize that they can't rule the world with one philosophy.

I also have to work closely with the public and I see real unity these days......

[GeorgiaSuzy]

I think the people in the ad look and sound proud to be American. I saw a black girl in the ad, and I like the Asian guy with the baseball cap, as well as the American Indian. I haven't seen anything about 'hate' at the end of the ad, but that would piss me off. I kinda like the ad overall. Good thread for a break from anthrax. Think the newsies will wear their flag pins now?

[billybudd]

And there were no morbidly obese gay dwarfs in the ad either.