I watched very little of the Super Bowl (yes, I know that surprises many of you knowing my love for football – I like GOOD football!), so I confess I did not see Coke’s controversial commercial. My curious nature led me to watch the commercial.
My father’s family came from Germany. Some left prior to the World War II. Some ate road kill and slept in trees to get here. Upon becoming American citizens, they were spit on and had their homes vandalized, while living in fear that the Gestapo would kidnap them at night to return them to Germany for extermination. They had good reason to fear; some of my family never did arrive safely on American soil and were killed in concentration camps. Isn’t it sad that in 2014, such atrocities still exist in many parts of the world – especially for women?
I am like most Americans, I suppose. I have always had freedom. Also, like most Americans, the words “thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears” took on a whole new meaning after 9/11. I found the voices of these young women in the commercial deeply and profoundly inspirational. I can’t even imagine what those simple lyrics written so long ago mean to these young women. America for them, just like my family escaping Nazi persecution, is and was a
land of their dreams. These women are bilingual, just as my family was. They were Americans who loved this country while still retaining the traditions that were close to their hearts from Germany.
I think this is one of the reasons I have such admiration for Valerie Freeman. She is an icon to women in business in the U.S., but also is involved with international projects to empower women all across the globe in business. It is awe-inspiring to consider America with more Valerie Freemans. Join us this month as Valerie returns to YES – you will be glad you did!
America IS Beautiful….with all our problems, America IS Beautiful.
Kelly Kunst, Founder of YES
My father’s family came from Germany. Some left prior to the World War II. Some ate road kill and slept in trees to get here. Upon becoming American citizens, they were spit on and had their homes vandalized, while living in fear that the Gestapo would kidnap them at night to return them to Germany for extermination. They had good reason to fear; some of my family never did arrive safely on American soil and were killed in concentration camps. Isn’t it sad that in 2014, such atrocities still exist in many parts of the world – especially for women?
I am like most Americans, I suppose. I have always had freedom. Also, like most Americans, the words “thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears” took on a whole new meaning after 9/11. I found the voices of these young women in the commercial deeply and profoundly inspirational. I can’t even imagine what those simple lyrics written so long ago mean to these young women. America for them, just like my family escaping Nazi persecution, is and was a
land of their dreams. These women are bilingual, just as my family was. They were Americans who loved this country while still retaining the traditions that were close to their hearts from Germany.
I think this is one of the reasons I have such admiration for Valerie Freeman. She is an icon to women in business in the U.S., but also is involved with international projects to empower women all across the globe in business. It is awe-inspiring to consider America with more Valerie Freemans. Join us this month as Valerie returns to YES – you will be glad you did!
America IS Beautiful….with all our problems, America IS Beautiful.
Kelly Kunst, Founder of YES
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