By many, many readers
Compiled by Patrick Dobyns
This is not going to be the same format as our usual Letters to the Editor, for a very good reason. After Jacqueline Ayala wrote her article “Bad Bunny Dice ‘No Suelte’ La Bandera’ Aquí En Los Estados Unidos,” we received a plethora of responses. These are six responses we have pulled from our submissions, and rather than publishing them all at once, we decided to compile them into a more concise summary using pieces of all of them. While they are by no means identical, many of them expressed similar points of view, and all were generally supportive of Jackie’s perspective. So I’ll go ahead and say no more and let everyone else do the talking.
Dear Jacqueline Ayala,
“My name is Emmanuel, and I am a student at Pellissippi State. After reading your piece, ‘Bad Bunny Dice “No Suelte’ La Bandera” Aquí En Los Estados Unidos,’ I immediately felt a personal connection to the message you were sharing. As someone who comes from an immigrant family, your piece not only opened my eyes to the truth but also reminded me that I should be proud of my cultural background. Although your piece addressed a heavy and sensitive topic, by the end, I felt a sense of comfort. In a time when political and cultural division feels overwhelming, it is comforting to see someone who understands the purpose of the halftime show; that being unity and the belief that, despite our differences, we are all one community.”
–Emmanuel Cruz, A Pellissippi State Student
“One line that really stood out to me was when you wrote, ‘Bad Bunny fully embraced who he is and brought attention to what America should be: united.’ I completely agree with this statement because it defines the impact representation can have in the media. The Super Bowl was an incredible opportunity to showcase not just his heritage, but also the many cultures and beliefs that make up America. His presence at the Super Bowl demonstrates that anyone and everyone, regardless of their background, should be able to thrive in America. When I was younger, I had a best friend whose family emigrated from Honduras. Whenever I was visiting her house, hearing different music, eating foreign food, and celebrating different holidays were normal to me, even though I came from a completely different background. Her parents seemed to love sharing their culture and practices, so seeing artists like Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin perform in Spanish on such a big platform reminds me of how proud my friend’s parents were to share their culture and how important it is to make space for those identities rather than dismissing and demeaning those who make America what it is.”
-A Pellissippi State Student
“Something else that resonated from your article is when you shared the moment [of the performance] when Bad Bunny woke up the little boy sleeping on the two chairs at a wedding, and I was reminded of a personal experience that I had when I was younger. When I was growing up, my family had many parties that involved loud music, dancing, and drinking. The parties would last for hours, and there was a moment during my sister’s quinceañera when I fell asleep on two chairs while everyone else around me was dancing and talking around me. The party went on and didn’t end until around 4 a.m., and I couldn’t help but fall asleep. It was weird because, despite how tired I was, the music and the sound of everyone laughing around me made the atmosphere warm and welcoming. It was one of those moments where everyone from different generations were around each other and had the same well-rounded energy around one another.
“When you explained that moment during the halftime performance, it reminded me of that moment when everyone was happily around each other with no worries in the world. It was a moment that showed how people can connect with each other based on their experiences, which many people may not understand unless they have experienced a situation like this. Overall, the halftime show highlights how cultural moments like these can bring people together and create a sense of belonging. Culture shouldn’t divide people; it should bring others together to connect through it.”
-A Pellissippi State Student
“Another point that stood out to me was the way your article described Latin culture throughout his performance. The music was entirely in Spanish, the performance included Latin singers and performers, and the performance presented a culture that is a big part of the United States. I agree that the performance was meaningful. The article also points out that ‘Bad Bunny wrote every song in Spanish and sang every word in Spanish.’”… “The reality is that the United States is made up of people from many different backgrounds, and celebrating those backgrounds should be something people appreciate instead of being upset about.”
-A Pellissippi State Student
“…The main argument [against the half-time show] that many people have is the language barrier, which I find most irritating. We’ve reached a point where people act as if hearing a language they don’t speak or understand is a personal affront or personal attack. You hit the nail on the head when you said, ‘If your inability to understand the lyrics upsets you, may I suggest Duolingo.’ This line resonates with me because it acknowledges the sheer laziness within the public’s critique of not understanding the lyrics. Other songs like ‘Despacito,’ ‘Gangnam Style,’ and ‘La Macarena’ are well-known and commonly played at events, so why the fuss now? Music should be about rhythm, upbeat energy, and emotion, which is exactly what Bad Bunny gave us.”
-Lennon Uhls, A Pellissippi State Student
“I think your perspective on the Bad Bunny performance has the ability to make students feel seen more than you may realize. My situation may be quite different from yours, but at the end of the day, we are both Latinas. That connection is something I will always desire, but reading your piece inspired a different thought, too. Perhaps I already have that connection, and not just with my biological family. My best friend, who is Mexican, has invited me to several of her family gatherings. Though Mexican and Puerto Rican cultures are not exactly the same, the semblance is close to many of the gatherings my father used to describe. For that, I am grateful, as I really do feel like being around her family has healed some of that desire to be part of my community.”
-Anna Ocasio, A Pellissippi State Student
A Response from the Editor
Oh my, where do I begin? When writing my article on the halftime show, I didn’t expect the responses I have been getting. There was a lot of hesitation in putting my full name on this story. With the world we live in, as a Latina, I was worried about what would happen. I was scared to put my name, the name of my family, out in the world for everyone to see, attached to an article on a topic with such split slides. But the connection, the love, the diversity in responses; it all has become beautifully overwhelming and made me realize why I love to write. I truly am proud of the work I have done for this article, and am proud to see how united we all truly are as people.
Gracias a todos por el amor, el aprecio y que nunca dejamos a otra gente decirnos que no podemos hablar nuestros idiomas. Ahorita estamos en tiempos donde a veces queremos escondernos, y es muy importante que nos mantengamos orgullosos, más que nunca. Por favor, nunca suelten su bandera.
Con amor,
Jacqueline Ayala, Editora de “Bad Bunny Dice ‘No Suelte’ La Bandera’ Aquí En Los Estados Unidos”
