John Cena has an important message about what patriotism really means
But John Cena is here to tell you that having pride in your country for one day is not patriotism.
"[Patriotism is] worn like a badge of honor and with good reason becuase it means love and devotion for one's country. Love - for a word designed to unite, it can also be pretty divisive," the wrestler says in a new video for the AdCouncil's "Love Has No Labels" campaign.
Cena walks through a small town decked out in star-spangled decorations, and defines patriotism as not just pride but love for one's country. He helps viewers picture what the average American really looks like.
More than half of America is female and belongs to minority groups, Cena notes, so "the second any of us judge people based on those labels, we're not really being patriotic, are we?"
The video comes more than one year after the AdCouncil's progressive and viral first video that showed different skeletons hugging, dancing, and kissing before revealing themselves to the crowd as LGBT couples, persons with disabilities, and people of all ages, races, and religions.
The message echoes the one "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda spoke of at the Tony Awards, saying, "Love is love is love is love," in the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting in US history at a gay nightclub in Orlando in June.
At a time when diversity still causes debate, the AdCouncil and Cena's message is poignant.
"Remember that to love America is to love all Americans because love has no labels," Cena said.
Watch the full PSA: