Happy birthday, America! You look good for 242-years-old.
I know, I know—there are definitely tensions across this land we love, and they can wear on us as Americans.
A new poll from Gallup shows patriotism in the U.S. has dropped to a new low in the 18 years the polling organization has been tracking the question “How proud are you to be an American?” And another recent poll indicates 55% of Americans feel our president has “emboldened” racists.
But I’m going to throwback to a terrific PSA made by hunky John Cena in 2016 celebrating America. In this powerful message that seems to resonate even more today, Cena celebrates the birth of the United States and what makes us great.
Delivering a body slam to the bigots in America who look to dividing us as a way of expressing their pride, Cena points out that diversity is our core, is our strength.
Just a sample of Cena’s message in the video:
Patriotism. It inspires passionate debate, and it’s worn like a badge of honor for good reason: because it means love and devotion for ones country. Love.
But what really makes up this country of ours? What is it we love? It’s the people.
Almost half the country belongs to minority groups: People who are lesbian, African-American, and bi- and trans-gender, and Native American, and proud of it.
After all, what’s more American than freedom to celebrate the things that make us us?
This year, patriotism shouldn’t just be about pride of country. It should be about love — love beyond age, disability, sexuality, race, religion, and any other labels.
Because the second any of us judge people based on those labels, we’re not really being patriotic, are we?
Because love has no labels.
As Cena walks and talks, the video is timed so he passes all kinds of folks – gay, straight, older, younger. All the gorgeous shapes, colors, sizes and flavors that make this the United States.
This is what patriotism really means. It’s diversity, not division, that makes us strong.
So go out and get your American pride on today. Because, as the woofy Mr. Cena says, “Love has no labels.”
Check out the video below.
This was created by one of our Contributing Writers and does not reflect the opinion of Instinct Magazine or the other Contributing Writers when it comes to this subject.
This isn’t really new.
This isn't really new. FreeSpeechTV has been playing this commercial for quite a while. I want to say a year or so, six months at the very least. But yeah, I love the message and the messenger.