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\u201cOne line that really stood out to me was when you wrote, \u2018Bad Bunny fully embraced who he is and brought attention to what America should be: united.\u2019 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\u2019s 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
-A Pellissippi State Student <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomething 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\u2019s quincea\u00f1era when I fell asleep on two chairs while everyone else around me was dancing and talking around me. The party went on and didn\u2019t end until around 4 a.m., and I couldn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen 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\u2019t divide people; it should bring others together to connect through it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n -A Pellissippi State Student <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnother 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 \u2018Bad Bunny wrote every song in Spanish and sang every word in Spanish.\u2019\u201d… \u201cThe 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n -A Pellissippi State Student <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…The main argument [against the half-time show] that many people have is the language barrier, which I find most irritating. We\u2019ve reached a point where people act as if hearing a language they don\u2019t speak or understand is a personal affront or personal attack. You hit the nail on the head when you said, \u2018If your inability to understand the lyrics upsets you, may I suggest Duolingo.\u2019 This line resonates with me because it acknowledges the sheer laziness within the public\u2019s critique of not understanding the lyrics. Other songs like \u2018Despacito,\u2019 \u2018Gangnam Style,\u2019 and \u2018La Macarena\u2019 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n -Lennon Uhls, A Pellissippi State Student<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n -Anna Ocasio, A Pellissippi State Student<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A Response from the Editor<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh my, where do I begin? When writing my article on the halftime show, I didn\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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, m\u00e1s que nunca. Por favor, nunca suelten su bandera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Con amor,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jacqueline Ayala, Editora de \u201cBad Bunny Dice \u2018No Suelte\u2019 La Bandera\u2019 Aqu\u00ed En Los Estados Unidos\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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. 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