An American about town: comments on confronting misconceptions and cultural insensitivity as a traveling American.

This Absolut Vodka ad is one of the single-most offensive things I have ever seen. For the first time in my life, I am genuinely going to boycott a product. I urge you all to do the same. It is crappy vodka anyway.

This ad is a tragedy and I hope that it is forgotten quickly and has little actual impact. It advocates hate, malcontent and an “us vs. them” mentality. As a San Diegan, I have always loved our unique blend of American and Mexican culture. To me, being American means not only embracing our diverse cultural roots, but also celebrating our Americanness: we are a unique country of free and varied people. We should be proud to be Americans, all of us, no matter what kind of American; and we are American first. We all know brave Mexican-Americans who fight to protect our country, and an invasion of our country by Mexico (or any other country) is abhorrent to what they fight for. Further, inclusiveness is something that many Americans have fought hard for throughout our entire history. It would be a tragedy for those struggles to be in vain and a culture of separatism to triumph.

So why is this relevant to the Chronicles? This is not a political blog. Nonetheless, this is relevant because I am an extensively well-traveled American and it reminds me that I am often been asked to comment on media-influenced misconceptions about America. (Sometimes I am just asked whether I ever pass myself off as a Canadian. The answer to that is "no.")

This ad is an extreme example of how the media creates misinformation and hatred towards Americans. It also shows how non-Americans can be insensitive to Americans. Absolut, a Swedish company, claims on its consumer inquiry line, for example, that they did not intend this ad to be offensive. They further claim that it is not meant to "advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment." Which begs the questions, what exactly did they think it was saying? How could they be so unaware of how this would make many Americans feel? Are they simply unaware that America is populated by feeling people? Have they been brainwashed by popular images that suggest that America is worthy only of hatred and malcontent?

Even though I travel through places where people make fun of Americans out of ignorance, spite or jealousy, one thing I will never do is apologize for being American. We aren’t perfect, but I can tell you that no place I have been is perfect. All countries have their social, economic and political problems. But to our credit, most Americans try to live up to our ideals of freedom, tolerance and generosity. Sometimes our government doesn't get it right, but although our government answers to us, it is not the same as being us. We are a good people.

I find it incredibly arrogant for other people to think that they can approach me with the assumption that I would be ashamed of being American or that they know better than we do what America should do as a country. Americans aren't the only people capable of being culturally insensitive. But at least this helps me not behave similarly insensitively.

I travel because I believe that it enriches you as a human being. It makes you empathetic and tolerant. It also highlights the "humanness" of people, which exists without exception, culture to culture. I've never been to a country where I didn't like the people or didn't see examples of love, hate, kindness, tragedy, hope, pettiness, humor and struggle. I only wish that more people would actually experience America and Americans before swallowing the media's popular misconceptions.

I believe that we are all brothers and sisters. And, when the questioner is actually interested in my answer and not just asking to feel superior, that is what I tell them.

Peace,