While I have no particular fondness towards football, nor do I stay updated in this particular arena, this year’s half-time succeeded in drawing my attention. My attention was captured in part, due to the political controversy that encircled the performance. The backlash to the NFL’s headlining artist, Bad Bunny, was so immediate and immense that Turning Point USA took it upon themselves to create an alternate “All American Half-Time Show”.

Numerous conservative’s were quick to criticize the upcoming show NFL half-time show for its lack of “American” representation. Among critics were Donald Trump who took to Truth Social calling the performance “affront to the Greatness of America” and criticizing the lack of English lyrics: “nobody understands a word this guy is saying”. 

In part, I feel Donald Trump’s statements fall short in recognizing Puerto Rico is by all rights considered an American territory, of which the US undoubtedly benefits from. Which just goes to show how such statements like “go back to your country”, by those on X, facebook, and other such social media platforms, are being said by people who are wholly unaware of just how many people can call themselves citizens of the US. 

I was fortunate to talk to a friend who was not only present during the performance, but in it. They have asked to remain anonymous, but we talked of their experience and the emotions surrounding the event. Throughout our conversation it was emphasized to me just how much the organizers listened to the voices of participants and how they strived to create an event that was a love letter to the people, all people.

When I asked my friend, who is Nicaraguan, what the show meant to them personally they told me about Nicaragua. Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in South America and people there saved up to get internet and pay for cable just to see the show, and just how much it meant to their friends and family when the Nicaraguan flag was raised along with all the flags of the Americas. Too many ignore the power and the influence the US has, and in too many ways this power is exploited. But on some rare occasions this power is used to uplift and represent those who are too often pushed to the sidelines. 

Before ending the call with my friend I asked them if they wanted to say anything about the backlash the show received. The response that followed was honestly one of seemingly cautious optimism for they said they hoped that those who watched it realized that “we are not the enemy” and that they wish to “love their neighbor, and by love I really mean respect” and for their neighbor to do likewise.

When it comes to the criticisms about Bad Bunny’s lack of English lyrics I feel as though they fall short of what it means to listen and enjoy music. Music is a medium where language can be transcended. As an English speaker I enjoy listening to non-English music as it allows me to connect with more people than I otherwise would be able. UCLA alumna and associate professor of music at the University of Richmond, Joanna Love, said ““Spanish-speaking artists don’t have to cross over in the old way anymore,” Love said. “The audience already knows the music”.

With all this considered I feel this calls into question what the “Greatness of America” actually means. When I call upon myself what makes America great I think upon what the people who founded this country fought for: opportunity, freedom, a chance at a new life. While I do believe these tenants are what were fought for, I do want to acknowledge just what was ignored in the fighting: the people native to this land we now call the United States of America, the lives lost, the opportunity, freedom, and chance of life denied. If we are taught to view history as a way to avoid the mistakes of the past we should be able to acknowledge just what was lost in the founding of this country and strive to do better, to be better.

Additionally, I feel it apt to analyze Turning Point USA’s name choice in their half-time show, “All American”. Not too long ago I was talking to my mom and one point of our conversation was how only those who reside in the United States of America call themselves “American” despite the fact that we are but a small part of what makes up the Americas. 

Both North and South America have claim to this term of “America” and it is of my opinion that if we were to dub one of these half-time shows as “All-American” it would be Bad Bunny’s; for it is his performance strived to honor that term the best as he could for he called upon representation for all of the Americas: North, South and Central.

Ultimately Bad Bunny’s show was one about celebrating unity, diversity, and culture. It was about hope and love for his one english phrase in the whole of the show was “God bless America”. Which to me makes the alternative show by Turning Point USA the antithesis of all things that truly make this country great.