Cadillac commercial that has America-haters fuming

[Walter Powers]

Cadillac recently released this ad for a new model of car they've created, and it's gained a lot of attention:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o4wNMOapzyw&feature=youtu.be

What do you think? I'm happy that an American car company is actually taking advantage of something that makes it attractive to American drivers; maybe they'll stop needing government bailouts.

This commercial is also a very bold move because it actually acknowledges America is an exceptional country; something that will usually get you bombarded with hate from many American liberals, and yes, Europeans.

[Zenos]

Cadillac recently released this ad for a new model of car they've created, and it's gained a lot of attention:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o4wNMOapzyw&feature=youtu.be

What do you think? I'm happy that an American car company is actually taking advantage of something that makes it attractive to American drivers; maybe they'll stop needing government bailouts.

This commercial is also a very bold move because it actually acknowledges America is an exceptional country; something that will usually get you bombarded with hate from many American liberals, and yes, Europeans.

I'm going to start saving my money for that ride!

[Yonkers]

abcd

[Zenos]

Coming from a non-American, that advert is pretty jingoistic. It's so obnoxious and a great example of why most of the world hates America: the advert is saying 'We're better than you'. Moreover, that car is gross.

Name one nation whose people do not think they are better then others?

Also you misunderstand the meaning of whats being said inthe commercial,it is trying to in a way reinstill a sence of pride in America and being American.
Which is something we here in America need very badly!

[Walter Powers]

Coming from a non-American, that advert is pretty jingoistic. It's so obnoxious and a great example of why most of the world hates America: the advert is saying 'We're better than you'. Moreover, that car is gross.

As if Britain doesn't try to do the same thing! And when Americans say we're an exceptional country, the facts support it. And as Zenos said, people need to realize that we are great, so they can know what we should do to stay great.

That car is gross? I thought you Europeans loved electric cars! It looks awesome!

[Yonkers]

abcd

[Cpt_Cutter]

when Americans say we're an exceptional country, the facts support it.


people need to realize that we are great, so they can know what we should do to stay great.

Those are very controversial and inflammatory statements to make.

[Yonkers]

abcd

[Zenos]

Those are very controversial and inflammatory statements to make.

Yup but the fact is in todays politically correct world,everyone wants to shut up the person making so-called controversial and inflammatory statements because those statements might be right and /or hurt someone!

It's time people stop towing the PC party line and start saying what they think or feel even if someones feelings get bruised. heck get up rub some dirt on the emotional bruise and grow a thick skin.

[Cpt_Cutter]

Someone understands... Saying something like that is a pretty bold and subjective statement with no grounding in reality.

I would say that if someone said that maybe 15 years ago then they would have been far more correct than they would be now. Just my opinion.

Not only that, it really doesn't help disprove the stereotype that all Americans are egotistical and ignorant. I'm not saying anyone on here is, I'm just saying it really doesn't help.

Yup but the fact is in todays politically correct world,everyone wants to shut up the person making so-called controversial and inflammatory statements because those statements might be right and /or hurt someone!

It's time people stop towing the PC party line and start saying what they think or feel even if someones feelings get bruised. heck get up rub some dirt on the emotional bruise and grow a thick skin.

Its not about political correctness it's about not backing up a statement I guess.

Posts merged -Albert/Hypers

[Zenos]

Its not about political correctness it's about not backing up a statement I guess.

Political correctness has a lot to do with it

[CharlieHorse]

Cadillac recently released this ad for a new model of car they've created, and it's gained a lot of attention:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o4wNMOapzyw&feature=youtu.be

What do you think? I'm happy that an American car company is actually taking advantage of something that makes it attractive to American drivers; maybe they'll stop needing government bailouts.

This commercial is also a very bold move because it actually acknowledges America is an exceptional country; something that will usually get you bombarded with hate from many American liberals, and yes, Europeans.

America thinks it's so great.
ahahaha

[Cpt_Cutter]

Political correctness has a lot to do with it

Don't get me wrong, I hate political correctness. If I want to say something I don't want to have to say what others want to hear. I could list a handful of opinions that people would hate so much I'm fairly sure they'd make up a reason to ban me, I just don't think political correctness plays in all that much.

[Miserabilia]

The things I don't like about america are actualy people and commercials like this.

[Zenos]

Don't get me wrong, I hate political correctness. If I want to say something I don't want to have to say what others want to hear. I could list a handful of opinions that people would hate so much I'm fairly sure they'd make up a reason to ban me, I just don't think political correctness plays in all that much.

If you can't say something as a statement for fear of getting booted out of school and such then yes political correctness has a lot to do with it.

For example once a fellow teen said he didn't like me simply because i'm bisexual and got booted out of school for saying it,and I was the only person standing up for his right to freespeech and the principle had the never to tak to me like i'm a 3 year old and say:

Well son you're still a kid you just don't understand that you can't just say what you want and get away with it!


Needless to say I got booted out of school for a few days for saying:

Listen here to fat politically correct right to free speech denying slop I'm not your son and i'm not a child i'm 17 years old and there for a young adult and I know whats what so if you are going to address me treat me like a young adult!

[Cpt_Cutter]

Listen here to fat politically correct right to free speech denying slop I'm not your son and i'm not a child i'm 17 years old and there for a young adult and I know whats what so if you are going to address me treat me like a young adult!

Lol, nice response :P
And I suppose political correctness does have a fair bit to do with it, But I still think that is someone's gonna make a claim of that magnitude then they should back it up.

[Zenos]

Lol, nice response :P
And I suppose political correctness does have a fair bit to do with it, But I still think that is someone's gonna make a claim of that magnitude then they should back it up.

True but then the History of the USA backs up the claims to a degree, but once you get past that degree it does get to be hornblowing!

[Cpt_Cutter]

True but then the History of the USA backs up the claims to a degree, but once you get past that degree it does get to be hornblowing!

I would say that the history backs up it Having been a great nation and that we will know if it was/is a great nation when the history books write about this time in a few decades, but lets agree to disagree :P

[Zenos]

I would say that the history backs up it Having been a great nation and that we will know if it was/is a great nation when the history books write about this time in a few decades, but lets agree to disagree :P

Cool with me:P

[Sph2015]

God I love Cadillac. They're freaking beautiful, have a ride like nothing else, but sadly break down a ridiculous amount though. Cadillacs are my favorite cars to drive though, even if I'll probably never by one.

[radsniper]

i don't like this caddy or this ad or even the actor sorry

[Stronk Serb]

So much chaufinism... This is not nationalism anymore. The car is ugly, and the commercial too. Fun fact, you wouldn't get to space without Yugoslavian help. Tito essentially supplied you with the theoretican knowledge you definitely needed.

[Zenos]

So much chaufinism... This is not nationalism anymore. The car is ugly, and the commercial too. Fun fact, you wouldn't get to space without Yugoslavian help. Tito essentially supplied you with the theoretican knowledge you definitely needed.

Ballocks!

Our space program was based off of The V-2 (German: Vergeltungswaffe 2, "Vengeance Weapon 2"), technical name Aggregat-4 (A4), was the world's first long-range ballistic missile,and the German missle program as developed by Wernher von Braun.

We own our thanks to the German's not Tito

[Stronk Serb]

Ballocks!

Our space program was based off of The V-2 (German: Vergeltungswaffe 2, "Vengeance Weapon 2"), technical name Aggregat-4 (A4), was the world's first long-range ballistic missile,and the German missle program as developed by Wernher von Braun.

We own our thanks to the German's not Tito

Read: theoretical knowledge, not the blueprints and rockets. You need to have the knowledge from physic on how to efficiently fly a rocket into space. Yugoslav scientists realized that before WWII, so after the war Tito sold the info to the Americans.

[Harry Smith]

And when Americans say we're an exceptional country, the facts support it.

Was this before or after you got beaten in Vietnam by a bunch of farmers with Kalashnikovs?

[Vlerchan]

I wouldn't say fuming; more like laughing.

I'm also still trying to work out who the target audience for the ad actually is. The rich (and educated) aren't going to be sucked in by such jingoistic bullshit and the poor (and under-educated) aren't going to be able to afford the car. The ad doesn't make much sense to me from a marketing point of view.

Yes. I'm generalizing; generalizing the same as Cadillac's marketing-research department would have done.

[PinkFloyd]

Coming from a non-American, that advert is pretty jingoistic. It's so obnoxious and a great example of why most of the world hates America: the advert is saying 'We're better than you'. Moreover, that car is gross.

Exactly. The commercial had way too much arrogance and makes Americans look like the arrogant assholes that we can be sometimes. And yeah, that car is ugly.

[TheBigUnit]

The commercial made me chuckle a bit, they should've had John o Hurley in a library next to a big fireplace sitting on a big red armchair wearing a marking red robe and like a Chihuahua in one arm a pipe in the other

[Typhlosion]

So... a commercial listed a few reasons why to consider the target country great and why the country is better than another (group) of countries.

I can't believe that you guys are against nationalism of any sort. If it were a third world country priding its achievements you would most likely cheer. Double standards against America, huh?

[Zenos]

So... a commercial listed a few reasons why to consider the target country great and why the country is better than another (group) of countries.

I can't believe that you guys are against nationalism of any sort. If it were a third world country priding its achievements you would most likely cheer. Double standards against America, huh?

Yup seems like it is double standards!

No body seems to scream when there a nation whose leadership calling All Americans fat and saying their people could whip every American there is,but let Americans do something to proclaim pride in their nation and then...BAM!! we are wrong,we are jingoistic yadda yadda yadda!

But point out every nation does it and they brush that fact aside like that's ok for other nations to do that!

[thatcountrykid]

We should all be proud of our countries, but we shouldn't put others down. If you knew someone who wasn't proud of himself, would you encourage them to put others down just so they can feel better? That's what douchebags do.



A) The only people who are like that in Britain are the extremist nationalists like BNP and UKIP and everyone else just laughs at them for their ridiculousness
B) People shouldn't be dicks to feel 'great' (And to call oneself 'great' is the height of douchieness)
and
C) I love electric cars, but it's still ugly ;)



Posts merged -Albert/Hypers

Wow. If people can't take a little joking between "friends" then that's just pathetic.

[Stronk Serb]

So... a commercial listed a few reasons why to consider the target country great and why the country is better than another (group) of countries.

I can't believe that you guys are against nationalism of any sort. If it were a third world country priding its achievements you would most likely cheer. Double standards against America, huh?

Nationalism- patriotism and absolute loyalty to your nation (read: nation, not country) without mocking anyone.

Chaufinism- mocking other countries/nations and exaggerating about your country's greatness.

This commercial is typical chaufinism, and they so exaggerated that it's actually funny.

[Miserabilia]

So... a commercial listed a few reasons why to consider the target country great and why the country is better than another (group) of countries.

I can't believe that you guys are against nationalism of any sort. If it were a third world country priding its achievements you would most likely cheer. Double standards against America, huh?

That's ridiculous.

Nationalism- patriotism and absolute loyalty to your nation (read: nation, not country) without mocking anyone.

Chaufinism- mocking other countries/nations and exaggerating about your country's greatness.
^ this.

Nationalism has to do with pride and patriotism;
chaufinism gives you a big middle finger.

It's not just "We are great! I love us"
It's "Y'all think we're not great, but you are wrong and we are better than you"

[phuckphace]

american chauvinism disguised as patriotism (like this commercial) has always struck a nerve with many people because they can recognize how fake and contrived it is. Americans are "patriotic" only in the most shallow and trendy sense, because we lack the rich cultural heritage that is the foundation of true patriotism and national pride. When an American thinks of patriotism, he thinks "food on the grill, beer in the cooler, flags, and fireworks." Americans like to poke fun at Europeans by calling them pussies and lazy and other childish epithets, but I think if more Americans could afford to travel to Europe and really take a look around, they'd see that many Europeans have something that we don't. europeans have a history, a culture, and an identity that was thousands of years in the making. american "history" is a three-second blurb about magic cherry trees and a god-king in a powdered wig. americans are colonists in a foreign land. we have never been invaded and occupied by a foreign power and seen our country disappear from the map. we have never been forced to adopt another language and culture while watching our native one go extinct. if you want to see a real example of true national pride, visit Lithuania, or Estonia, or Ireland. if you want real culture, visit Germany. they all have something that americans will never be able to understand. american "culture" is a hapless hodgepodge of bits and pieces appropriated from other cultures. even our "native" language English is a European language.

back to the commercial itself, it's hilarious because it is essentially admitting, "hey us Americans are so much better than you because we are willing slaves who work and work and work just to fill our empty lives with material possessions." and americans still wonder why a lot of people are glad that they don't live in America.

[Gamma Male]

I can't fucking stand jingoism, and that's what this commercial is. What's so great about about America anyway? Our "founding fathers" were a bunch of a rich old genocidal racists who persacuted anyone who disagreed with about splitting from Britain, our education system is crap, our leaders are so hung up on partisanship they turn everything into a giant pissing contest and never get anything done, the NSA's gone all 1984 and started spying on everyone, up until about 30 years ago being gay or a communist got you thrown in prison or ostrichized by society, we inprisoned thousands of innocent japanese-Americans in WW2, and MURDERED hundreds of thousands of innocent mem, women, children, and babies in just about the most horrible, disgusting, inhumane way possible when we bombed Japan, and the american public is so fucking brainwashed by the media, hollywood, and the
government that if you try to point any of this out to them they'll go into some rant about how "america is the greatest country in the world!" and blantantly accuse you of being a Al-Queda supporter or some other bullshit and go watch American Gladiators and congradulate themselves on living in the land of the free.

[Stronk Serb]

american chauvinism disguised as patriotism (like this commercial) has always struck a nerve with many people because they can recognize how fake and contrived it is. Americans are "patriotic" only in the most shallow and trendy sense, because we lack the rich cultural heritage that is the foundation of true patriotism and national pride. When an American thinks of patriotism, he thinks "food on the grill, beer in the cooler, flags, and fireworks." Americans like to poke fun at Europeans by calling them pussies and lazy and other childish epithets, but I think if more Americans could afford to travel to Europe and really take a look around, they'd see that many Europeans have something that we don't. europeans have a history, a culture, and an identity that was thousands of years in the making. american "history" is a three-second blurb about magic cherry trees and a god-king in a powdered wig. americans are colonists in a foreign land. we have never been invaded and occupied by a foreign power and seen our country disappear from the map. we have never been forced to adopt another language and culture while watching our native one go extinct. if you want to see a real example of true national pride, visit Lithuania, or Estonia, or Ireland. if you want real culture, visit Germany. they all have something that americans will never be able to understand. american "culture" is a hapless hodgepodge of bits and pieces appropriated from other cultures. even our "native" language English is a European language.

back to the commercial itself, it's hilarious because it is essentially admitting, "hey us Americans are so much better than you because we are willing slaves who work and work and work just to fill our empty lives with material possessions." and americans still wonder why a lot of people are glad that they don't live in America.

This. I also suggest you visit Greece, Serbia, Italy and Montenegro, and Turkey (Ancient Greeks had colonies all over it's coast, for example Troy). Not for the lovely beaches, spaghetti, Serbian barbecue, vine, gyros and shopping, but for learning about our histories and national heritage. Italy was not united until the 19th century. Greece was under Ottoman rule also until the early 19th century, but they were one of the most powerful empires in the east, the Byzantine Empire. Serbs tried to gain independence, but until the intervention of the great powers, we were too under Ottoman rule. Montenegro is beautiful. My Montenegrin ancestors swore fealty to Venice to infiltrate Ottoman territories and fight them. I culd write a book about my family heritage.

[Capto]

Whilst watching this, I shed a tear.

Whether it was a tear regarding my laughter or regarding just how terrible the commercial was, that remains yet to be seen.

[Etcetera]

I think people just have their panties in a wad over nothing.

[Sph2015]

I think people just have their panties in a wad over nothing.

For reals bro.

As I sit here watching the United States essentially be burned at the stake by a war of negativity, I just want to pull them aside, give them a hug, and ask, "Who hurt you?"

Lol

Come stay with me for a summer. I'll show you an American small town good time that will have you saying 'Murica by August.

[Etcetera]

For reals bro.I just want to pull them aside, give them a hug, and ask, "Who hurt you?"

That is absolutely hilarious.

[Dalcourt]

I wouldn't say fuming; more like laughing.

I'm also still trying to work out who the target audience for the ad actually is. The rich (and educated) aren't going to be sucked in by such jingoistic bullshit and the poor (and under-educated) aren't going to be able to afford the car. The ad doesn't make much sense to me from a marketing point of view.

Yes. I'm generalizing; generalizing the same as Cadillac's marketing-research department would have done.

That's what I thought, too. I watched the commercial quite a few times and never got what audience was targeted in it. To me the whole commercial is simply ridiculous.

So... a commercial listed a few reasons why to consider the target country great and why the country is better than another (group) of countries.

I can't believe that you guys are against nationalism of any sort. If it were a third world country priding its achievements you would most likely cheer. Double standards against America, huh?

Yup seems like it is double standards!

No body seems to scream when there a nation whose leadership calling All Americans fat and saying their people could whip every American there is,but let Americans do something to proclaim pride in their nation and then...BAM!! we are wrong,we are jingoistic yadda yadda yadda!

But point out every nation does it and they brush that fact aside like that's ok for other nations to do that!

There's always been that kind of double standard for some nations. I mean if we in America say we are proud of our country we are often mocked by esp. Europeans and called jingoistic idiots. On the other hand an online friend from Germany told me that if they say something in the lines of being proud being Germans they are looked upon as Nazis even by fellow Germans...Whereas in France you can be as nationalistic as you want and nobody would find it weird, dunno.

I just don't see why this commercial is anything else beside ridiculous. This commercial is not patriotic or anything it's just silly and boring, showing an arrogant looking actor that really puts me off.

[Jean Poutine]

I'm also still trying to work out who the target audience for the ad actually is. The rich (and educated) aren't going to be sucked in by such jingoistic bullshit and the poor (and under-educated) aren't going to be able to afford the car. The ad doesn't make much sense to me from a marketing point of view.

I wonder if it is not more of a propaganda piece than a real ad. You know, the "work hard and you can afford a home and a car like that too".

american chauvinism disguised as patriotism (like this commercial) has always struck a nerve with many people because they can recognize how fake and contrived it is. Americans are "patriotic" only in the most shallow and trendy sense, because we lack the rich cultural heritage that is the foundation of true patriotism and national pride. When an American thinks of patriotism, he thinks "food on the grill, beer in the cooler, flags, and fireworks." Americans like to poke fun at Europeans by calling them pussies and lazy and other childish epithets, but I think if more Americans could afford to travel to Europe and really take a look around, they'd see that many Europeans have something that we don't. europeans have a history, a culture, and an identity that was thousands of years in the making. american "history" is a three-second blurb about magic cherry trees and a god-king in a powdered wig. americans are colonists in a foreign land. we have never been invaded and occupied by a foreign power and seen our country disappear from the map. we have never been forced to adopt another language and culture while watching our native one go extinct. if you want to see a real example of true national pride, visit Lithuania, or Estonia, or Ireland. if you want real culture, visit Germany. they all have something that americans will never be able to understand. american "culture" is a hapless hodgepodge of bits and pieces appropriated from other cultures. even our "native" language English is a European language.

back to the commercial itself, it's hilarious because it is essentially admitting, "hey us Americans are so much better than you because we are willing slaves who work and work and work just to fill our empty lives with material possessions." and americans still wonder why a lot of people are glad that they don't live in America.

Where I come from, we have a distinguished history and culture even if it is only around 400 years old. Quebec is a land colonized by the French and conquered by the English where we fought to keep what makes us, us, intact.

I tire of people saying North American countries descended from Europeans colonists have no culture. It means that my people struggled to keep their national identity against so much adversity for nothing since apparently we don't have a real identity. The French language and French-Canadian/American culture is dying everywhere else in North America, except here, because we are proud of what we are and wish to remain exactly what we are. We have our own folk tales, our own social order, our own cultural context, and our own history. When I visit other countries I feel massively lost, especially to the United States as despite the close distance between Quebec and the US, it feels so foreign to me that I might as well be on another planet. I do not understand American culture or customs, I do not get why Americans act the way they do in certain social contexts, which is very different from how any Quebecer would react. How would that happen if neither of us didn't have a culture to call its own?

No history, don't make me laugh. Read the Federalist Papers and that'll be enough history to last you a lifetime. A group of men managed to create an unique system of government from scratch to ensure the well-being of their population. Read the amount of thought that went into this process, and the countless amount more that went in to dissect why everything happened that way, the thought processes behind every founding father. It's not because most Americans don't care about it that it isn't there. I am sure many Americans on the 4th of July think about the massive undertaking that had been tackled by the fathers, just as I think of what Canada did, in the same way, on July 1st, and much more importantly, just as I think about my ancestors who managed to keep my province culturally intact, with so many sacrifices, on June 24th.

People think America has no culture because their culture is pretty much the dominant one in the Western world. They are so used to their culture that it's pretty much became part of theirs too. Movies, songs, literature, a lot of what's popular in the world was born into America. That's also real culture but people either feel so threatened by it or are just so ignorant that they think America is all about hot-dogs and cheeseburgers. Saying American culture is just a blend of other cultures shows a massive around of ignorance, just like saying Quebecers are just Diet French. We aren't French, we are so different from the French that it's not even funny, not only because we have a different accent, but a completely different culture than France too. What about blues or jazz? Where did Americans steal that from?

What's so great about about America anyway? Our "founding fathers" were a bunch of a rich old genocidal racists who persacuted anyone who disagreed with about splitting from Britain.

Have you ever even read what the founding fathers wrote or are you just going with your preconceived notions? Don't you realize at which point the creation of not only a nation, but the first federal republic in the whole fucking world is a massive accomplishment that took men of exception to realize? The Fathers did nothing less but create what our modern notions of federal government are.

Don't be self-hating and be a little more proud of what your founders managed to do.

[Dalcourt]

I wonder if it is not more of a propaganda piece than a real ad. You know, the "work hard and you can afford a home and a car like that too".


If the only thing you get from working hard is being like this guy in that commercial, I guess for a lot of people I know this would mean that then it's no use to work hard at all, lol.

[jayce_xt]

I wonder if it is not more of a propaganda piece than a real ad. You know, the "work hard and you can afford a home and a car like that too".

That's precisely what this is: propaganda + advertising all in one fell swoop. They want to sell a car, and they also want to make the slaves feel good about being slaves. As if there is some sort of pride in working your life away to make some other fucker rich.

Where I come from, we have a distinguished history and culture...

...People think America has no culture...What about blues or jazz? Where did Americans steal that from?

Not to rain in on your parade, but when people talk about America not having a culture, they mean the United States. Not Canada. People like and appreciate Canadian culture just fine.

United States American culture (so that there is no confusion) is nonexistent. It has essentially been consumerism campaign after consumerism campaign. We do nothing but advertise, market, and sell to everyone--even our own people. Though, when I say "we", I'm really referring to the rich and powerful. For the United States Americans who have no real money or power, yes: culture really is just beer and grill food with fireworks. Culture really is just a red, white, and blue flag while saying the pledge of allegiance. For the vast majority of United States Americans, there is no culture, no history, no anything. Just working tirelessly so we can buy expensive consumer goods, get drunk, and eat McDonald's.

Have you ever even read what the founding fathers wrote or are you just going with your preconceived notions? Don't you realize at which point the creation of not only a nation, but the first federal republic in the whole fucking world is a massive accomplishment that took men of exception to realize? The Fathers did nothing less but create what our modern notions of federal government are.

Don't be self-hating and be a little more proud of what your founders managed to do.

Unfortunately, he does sort of have a point. Despite what is commonly taught (or glossed over) in history classes around the United States, the founding fathers were almost all (without exception) disgustingly wealthy. They also started the revolutionary war not over human rights violations or with the intention to be "free" the way we think of it: they started it over trade and tax restrictions. They pretty much decided, "fuck it, our profits are getting cut. We'd rather go to war with Britain and make our own damn country." And so they did. Sure, they spoke pretty words and seemed even noble at many points. But profit was their primary motivator. They just needed to somehow talk the rest of the country into being their meat shields. And it worked admirably.

This isn't to say that good things didn't come as a result of the revolution. But by the same token, most of the people involved (including George Washington) were not doing this selflessly. The founding fathers weren't doing this so everyone else could have free speech, equal rights, and fair trials. They didn't start the revolution over inhumane treatment by Britain. These things were part of it, yes, but not the main reason. This was about money. The same as everything else in United States history. A depressing, but important, fact.

http://www.shmoop.com/american-revolution/economy.html

A link on the subject, in case you're interested. I also heard somewhere that George Washington was 2% of Colonial America's GDP.

[Jean Poutine]

Not to rain in on your parade, but when people talk about America not having a culture, they mean the United States. Not Canada. People like and appreciate Canadian culture just fine.

He was saying that America has no culture because it is a young colonial nation. My point was that young colonial nations can and do still have cultures, like mine do. In fact there is no country or ethnicity on Earth that doesn't have a culture.

PS : one of the common grievances (English-)Canadians have with themselves is that they have no culture. It isn't true, but if that could even be considered, it would be to much more of a degree than American culture not existing. If America's culture is cheeseburgers and hot-dogs, Canada's is hockey. Just...hockey. Maple syrup and poutine are ours.

United States American culture (so that there is no confusion) is nonexistent. It has essentially been consumerism campaign after consumerism campaign. We do nothing but advertise, market, and sell to everyone--even our own people. Though, when I say "we", I'm really referring to the rich and powerful. For the United States Americans who have no real money or power, yes: culture really is just beer and grill food with fireworks. Culture really is just a red, white, and blue flag while saying the pledge of allegiance. For the vast majority of United States Americans, there is no culture, no history, no anything. Just working tirelessly so we can buy expensive consumer goods, get drunk, and eat McDonald's.

Culture
: the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time

: a particular society that has its own beliefs, ways of life, art, etc.

: a way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization (such as a business)

Of course the United States has culture. As I said, every country has a culture. Some people may look down on American culture because of its focus on materialism and individualism to the detriment of the welfare of the group. Some people might also look down on Papuan tribal cultures that still practice a ritual consisting of adolescents sucking off their elders and swallowing to gain their life experience. The fact of the matter is that culture is not deduced to exist or not qualitatively. Americans have their folk stories, their customs, their beliefs and an indigenous artistic production. That the United States has a culture is not up to debate.

You can't tell me that the poor aren't allowed to share in American folklore, or appreciate American music, literature or movies. As far as I know, people don't work 24/7 in America, and while you might view pop music or the latest Blockbuster flick as ultra-lame, it doesn't mean that it is not culture since as I said, culture is not something one measures qualitatively. All art, no matter how tasteless, is an integral part of culture. Further, if some people just aren't interested to bother indulging themselves in American culture other than with half-hearted celebrations on the 4th of July, that is their problem and it makes them uncultivated. It doesn't mean American culture is inexistant.

Unfortunately, he does sort of have a point. Despite what is commonly taught (or glossed over) in history classes around the United States, the founding fathers were almost all (without exception) disgustingly wealthy. They also started the revolutionary war not over human rights violations or with the intention to be "free" the way we think of it: they started it over trade and tax restrictions. They pretty much decided, "fuck it, our profits are getting cut. We'd rather go to war with Britain and make our own damn country." And so they did. Sure, they spoke pretty words and seemed even noble at many points. But profit was their primary motivator. They just needed to somehow talk the rest of the country into being their meat shields. And it worked admirably.

They were wealthy. So what? It doesn't make what they did any less admirable. Try creating a new system of government from scratch. Inventing basically a whole new political philosophy. A federation like the US at the time was unheard of. While numerous countries were decentralized, they were confederations rather than true federations. I doubt such a monumental work was really needed to pull the wool on the yeomanry's eyes.

That being said, I don't suppose you can pinpoint exactly where in the article you linked that profit was the main motivator for the Revolution? I haven't seen anything of the sort. Sure, most wealthy Americans were heavily in debt to English lenders and creditors, but somehow I think that's more of an icing on the cake situation than truly the main motivator. Besides, to me other causes are more numerous and could constitute more "official" grievances : non-representative government in London, high taxes and tariffs, the Intolerable Acts, the rejection by the King of the Olive Branch, and so on.

This isn't to say that good things didn't come as a result of the revolution. But by the same token, most of the people involved (including George Washington) were not doing this selflessly. The founding fathers weren't doing this so everyone else could have free speech, equal rights, and fair trials. They didn't start the revolution over inhumane treatment by Britain. These things were part of it, yes, but not the main reason. This was about money. The same as everything else in United States history. A depressing, but important, fact.

Nobody does anything selflessly, and sometimes I find it depressing that a culture can revolve around one's own navel and the profit motive to such an extent. But hey - it's still a culture.

[Vlerchan]

I wonder if it is not more of a propaganda piece than a real ad. You know, the "work hard and you can afford a home and a car like that too".
I can't see Cadillac spending millions (?) producing an ad that isn't going to boost sales.

My best guess is that it was expected to cause controversy and thus bring-about interest in the brand as a whole; it's not actually an ad produced to promote the car but rather an ad produced to promote the company - in which case it would be working, too: I don't think I've ever spoken about Cadillac in my entire life until now.

They want to sell a car, and they also want to make the slaves feel good about being slaves. As if there is some sort of pride in working your life away to make some other fucker rich.
The Cadillac ELR is going to cost in and around $75,000. It's well above the (US) average wage.

I simply can't see someone capable of earning that amount of cash being taken in by the ad: nationalist rhetoric tends to be a lot more easily communicable to the (frequently, blindly-patriotic) working-class who don't benefit so much from the capitalist system; the upper-middle and above; the beneficiaries, though, not so much.

[sqishy]

Coming from a non-American, that advert is pretty jingoistic. It's so obnoxious and a great example of why most of the world hates America: the advert is saying 'We're better than you'. Moreover, that car is gross.

Agreed.
I don't hate America, but it sure ain't the best country in the world extreme patriots like the original poster, think so.
There's not that much to boast about at all. Not at all.

[jayce_xt]

The Cadillac ELR is going to cost in and around $75,000. It's well above the (US) average wage.

I simply can't see someone capable of earning that amount of cash being taken in by the ad: nationalist rhetoric tends to be a lot more easily communicable to the (frequently, blindly-patriotic) working-class who don't benefit so much from the capitalist system; the upper-middle and above; the beneficiaries, though, not so much.

Damn, that's quite a bit. Yeah, that's definitely going to be a strictly middle-class-and-up product.