The All-American Superbowl Halftime Show

[Magical Realist]

Anyone who believes that the word 'American' is an expression of "hate" would seem to me to be anti-American, simply by definition.

I'm an American. It's my legal, national and cultural identity.

I feel very strongly about this and it's very difficult for me to feel any attraction at all for a political ideology that hates me and hates the things I hold dear.

Sorry MR. Whatever political shit-ideology you are trying to sell in this and other threads, I don't want anything to do with it.

So you're as clueless as Syne about how "American" is often used by racists as a dogwhistle? I backed it up with Google AI results and my own experience driving across North Texas. All you can say is you've never heard of it, which I find hard to believe. But you can't possibly on that basis say it isn't true. I can and will say it's true whether it flatters you or not. It totally fits into the racist MAGA narrative of Bad Bunny being some non-american foreign immigrant, which he is not, and of having ICE agents there on hand to arrest people. He's just Puerto Rican and is as American as they are. And he is performing at the REAL halftime show of the only American Superbowl happening in America on that day. If you don't want to be associated with racism then quit identifying with and defending MAGA racists. It's that simple.

[Yazata]

Anyone who believes that the word 'American' is an expression of "hate" would seem to me to be anti-American, simply by definition.

I'm an American. It's my legal, national and cultural identity.

I feel very strongly about this and it's very difficult for me to feel any attraction at all for a political ideology that hates me and hates the things I hold dear.

So you're as clueless as Syne about how "American" is often used by racists as a dogwhistle?

I'm amazed by how often on boards like this we have aggressive leftists telling conservatives like me what conservatives supposedly think and what our evil motivations supposedly are.

I think that I'm in better position to know about that than you are.

So once again:

It does kind of illustrate how deep and possibly unbridgable the political divisiveness in America and the whole Western world has become. I fear that it might be the end of us all.

It's why I'm MAGA through and through.

Not out of hatred for any other race or nationality. The United States is kind of a synthetic country, formed out of people from everywhere. But the only way that diversity can succeed is if the things we share in common are stronger than the differences driving us apart.

That's why the left's incessant and divisive race/class/gender identity politics is so dangerous and corrosive, because it sets us against each other in a battle of all against all. We won't survive that way, at least not as a coherent political/cultural entity, a nation.

And it's why building a common identity as Americans is so important and so necessary. It's why no matter whether we are male or female, black or white, no matter where in the world our ancestors come from, we share these things in common, these values, these ideals, these dreams, these goals. (Even if those ideals are derived from enlightenment Europe and enunciated by 18th century white males.) That's not "hate", but it might indeed be patriotism.

[C C]

The All-American Superbowl Halftime Show

A misplaced adjective for an NFL event, since "All-American" refers not to professional football players but to athlete honors in college and high school football (and sports in general at that amateur level). Of course, they're playing on and twisting the meaning to refer to musical artists who will alternatively be singing or rapping in English, rather than Spanish. (Do You Speak American?)

All-America: The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding [amateur] athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sports. [...] Athletes at the high school and college level placed on All-America teams are referred to as All-Americans.

All-American college football team
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-Americ...tball_team
- - - - - - - - - -

Turning Point USA announces 'All-American' halftime show on Super Bowl Sunday
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertain...6609008007

EXCERPTS: Turning Point USA has directed interested parties to its website, where it asks individuals to provide their name, contact information, and their musical genre preference, including “Americana, Classic Rock, Country, Hip Hop, Pop and Worship.” There is also an “Anything in English” category. Not everyone was as excited as Bad Bunny fans were to learn that the Puerto Rican artist and his Spanish-language music would be taking the stage on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026...

Granted, while BB is the usual anti-GOP member of the entertainment industry and the establishment in general, I really don't know what the deal is with BB. Other than that, he did support the far-left nationalist party of Puerto Rico in the 2024 general election, that seeks the independence of Puerto Rico (i.e., desire to no longer be part of America).

But on the other hand, I have no idea what kind of statements are contained in the lyrics of his music. I'm unfamiliar with over 99 percent of the pop music that has been released over the last fifteen years.

Okay, so the latest add-on is that BB didn't stand during "God Bless America", because he was mad at Trump for referring to him as Latin rather than American. But when you support a party that doesn't want Puerto Rico to be part of the US, that can occasionally happen.

https://x.com/marlins_man/status/1976809018372030973

[Magical Realist]

Anyone who believes that the word 'American' is an expression of "hate" would seem to me to be anti-American, simply by definition.

I'm an American. It's my legal, national and cultural identity.

I feel very strongly about this and it's very difficult for me to feel any attraction at all for a political ideology that hates me and hates the things I hold dear.

So you're as clueless as Syne about how "American" is often used by racists as a dogwhistle?

I'm amazed by how often on boards like this we have aggressive leftists telling conservatives like me what conservatives supposedly think and what our evil motivations supposedly are.

I think that I'm in better position to know about that than you are.

So once again:

It does kind of illustrate how deep and possibly unbridgable the political divisiveness in America and the whole Western world has become. I fear that it might be the end of us all.

It's why I'm MAGA through and through.

Not out of hatred for any other race or nationality. The United States is kind of a synthetic country, formed out of people from everywhere. But the only way that diversity can succeed is if the things we share in common are stronger than the differences driving us apart.

That's why the left's incessant and divisive race/class/gender identity politics is so dangerous and corrosive, because it sets us against each other in a battle of all against all. We won't survive that way, at least not as a coherent political/cultural entity, a nation.

And it's why building a common identity as Americans is so important and so necessary. It's why no matter whether we are male or female, black or white, no matter where in the world our ancestors come from, we share these things in common, these values, these ideals, these dreams, these goals. (Even if those ideals are derived from enlightenment Europe and enunciated by 18th century white males.) That's not "hate", but it might indeed be patriotism.

Fair enough. I believe you when you say you aren't racist and don't mean to be by identifying as American. I've known you for many years Yaz and to me you are nothing but a stellar example of someone with impeccable principles and someone I greatly admire. The problem for me in identifying as "American" is what values am I espousing by doing that? Freedom? Yes. Individualism? Yes. Opportunity? Yes. The history of our great nation? Yes. As a nation exclusive of the rest of the world? No. I'm not a nationalist. I want to identify with humans everywhere, regardless of creed or race or ethnicity or country. And that after all is the greatest part of America, being a melting pot of all these peoples and cultures and not some exclusive club for members only. So I don't wave flags around or wear a red ball cap or sing patriotic songs. I affirm my identity as a member of the human race, in all its diversity and manifold forms. In as much as I identify with anything at all, that seems sufficient for me.

[Syne]

You don't get both. Either you want globalism/internationalism (with no allegiance to your country) or you want sovereign nations. So Yaz is correct to associate nationalism to patriotism, as globalism does not entail loyalty or patriotism to one's country. In which case, it is fair to doubt any claims of admiring your country or wanting any kind of national identity or unity. And that seems to be the biggest driver of political division... anti-Americanism from within. The left doesn't seem to want a global humanity that accepts everyone as they are. They seem to want a global hegemony, where their values rule over all and no other values are tolerated or allowed. All local values erased in favor of a single, global ideology. But this is obviously doomed to failure, as you'll never get Muslims to accept/tolerate a gay nightclub in their neighborhood.

[Magical Realist]

Either you want globalism/internationalism (with no allegiance to your country) or you want sovereign nations.

I am neither a nationalist nor a globalist. My allegiance is to the human race, not to any one "sovereign nation" nor even to a global alliance of such. To transcend the whole idea of nationality itself for the deeper and more relevant truth of my kinship to all human beings as one race and one species. Does that scare you?

[Syne]

There is no such thing as kinship with all the disparate beliefs, cultures, etc. throughout the world. Again, Muslims would never tolerate a gay nightclub. At best, such a belief is an abstract idealism that cannot effectively interact with the actual world. It's fine for sitting on your couch doing nothing, but interacting with real people out in the world shows it to be folly... aside from very local enclaves of people who either keep those with opposing beliefs out or resign themselves to being victimized by the worst of them.

[Magical Realist]

There is no such thing as kinship with all the disparate beliefs, cultures, etc. throughout the world.

Bullshit there isn't. We are all human beings belonging to the same species and sharing the same DNA. Kinship has nothing to do with belief or culture. Are you any less kin to your relatives for having different beliefs or even different cultures? Of course not. It's simply sociopathic to deny that basic natural bond that unites all human beings.

Again, Muslims would never tolerate a gay nightclub.

Neither do many Christians. My sister for one. Does that make us any less kindred? No..

At best, such a belief is an abstract idealism that cannot effectively interact with the actual world. It's fine for sitting on your couch doing nothing, but interacting with real people out in the world shows it to be folly... aside from very local enclaves of people who either keep those with opposing beliefs out or resign themselves to being victimized by the worst of them.

I've interacted with real people all my life and continue to do so. People with different beliefs and politics and backgrounds. I have yet to get beaten up or killed because we always find commonality in our shared values as humans all living in the same world. You should get out more. People aren't so bad once you get to know them.

[Syne]

When are you going to visit Gaza, or the West Bank, or even Saudi Arabia? You know, as an openly gay man.
Having some abstract kinship ideal that never presents itself in reality is a luxury belief (an idea that confers status on the upper class but can impose significant costs on lower classes because they are not insulated from the negative consequences). If you had to coexist with such people, you could not afford to hold such beliefs without putting yourself in serious physical jeopardy.

Christians don't generally believe in killing gays, or at least do believe in US law and order enough to restrain them. Muslims who want Sharia law, even in the US,... not so much.

You interact minimally (hermit incel) in largely leftist bubbles/enclaves.

[Magical Realist]

When are you going to visit Gaza, or the West Bank, or even Saudi Arabia? You know, as an openly gay man.

Why should I? Everything I need and value is right here where I live.

Christians don't generally believe in killing gays, or at least do believe in US law and order enough to restrain them. Muslims who want Sharia law, even in the US,... not so much.

Christians may not kill me as they once did, but they still believe I will go to hell. That's just as intolerant as Muslims. And yet here I am, 66 yrs young, living peacefully and happily among them. Methinks your fervent hope in fundamentalist homophobia and intolerance of LGBTs is quickly losing ground. It's not 1954 anymore. Welcome to 2025.

You interact minimally (hermit incel) in largely leftist bubbles/enclaves.

LOL A "leftist" incel? You have no idea who I interact with little man.