Dr. Glenn Mollette
The Super Bowl is now in the history books and already forgotten by most Americans. I don’t know if there was more talk about the Seahawks and the Patriots or the Super Bowl halftime show.
I admit, I had never heard of Bad Bunny until he was announced a few months back as this year’s halftime entertainment. Later, I heard him talk at the Grammy awards but I couldn’t understand anything he said. Actually, I don’t understand Spanish or any other languages. I often go to Mexican restaurants but don’t understand what the waiters and cooks are saying to each other. I hope they are saying how glad they are to see me or something nice like that.
Whenever I am in an Asian restaurant and the workers are talking I don’t understand them either. I’ve been to a few foreign countries and I never understand what they are saying. It really is helpful when people in France or Germany are able to communicate in English. Seems like the people in cities like Berlin or Paris speak better English than the people further away from the cities.
I guess I am growing more and more disadvantaged. I work with a number of people from Myanmar. They are extremely nice but most of them struggle with English. They have been in America for years and seem to be managing. They are managing better here than I would in Myanmar.
Years ago, I spent a couple of weeks in South Africa. That country has twelve official languages. English is their predominant language. Thus, it was easier for us to navigate in the country. Yet, I don’t know how a country functions with so many official languages.
I’ve heard people say they loved the Superbowl show and some say they hated the show. I’ve heard others say they watched alternate shows. Then there a handful of people like me who wishes they would cancel the halftime show or just have the marching band from the local university entertain us. That won’t happen because the Super Bowl is about Super money. Big money. Advertising spots went from $8 to $10 million each with total advertising revenue for NBC estimated at $700 million.
Still, I didn’t understand a word Bad Bunny had to say. By the way it’s taken me forever to get his name straight. I thought it was Bugs Bunny and then I thought it was Blue Bunny and then Big Bunny. I apologize for being slow to understand that his name is Bad Bunny. He doesn’t act bad. He looks like a nice fellow. He is from Puerto Rico and he seems to carry a tune well. Yet, I don’t know what he is saying. Although I wasn’t raised Hispanic, I love Hispanic people. At this stage of my life, I just don’t have time to learn another language. Maybe I will have to.
I hope that next year’s Superbowl halftime show will be in English. Oh yea, I couldn’t understand Lady Gaga. Until she sang, I thought there was something wrong with my television. I have read Bad Bunny is fluent in English. This is America. Most Americans only speak English.
I guess it must have worked for the National Football League. However, it didn’t work for me.
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Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated columnist read in all fifty states. He is also the author of numerous books and can be hear each weekday morning on XM Radio 131
