We got an email this morning from an infuriated reader pointing us to a smart advertisement apparently run in South Africa.

In his email, the reader ranted about the anti-American sentiment being spread across the globe by many of the world's multi-national conglomerates... how America strives to help the less fortunate and yet we're still frowned upon by so many other countries... I think you get the idea.

Although I love a debate as much as the thousands of other political pundits scattered across the internet, this isn't a political blog, and I have no desire to be situated in the middle of any ensuing firestorms that occur as a result of the above-pictured ad.

I will say, however, that when I first saw the ad, I found it humorous. This is a car ad ladies and gentlemen, it isn't a criticism of American work habits, ethics, intelligence... it is, in my opinion, simply capitalizing on the fact that in many respects, the American auto industry isn't up to par with the rest of the world.

That's all. 

Now if you're loyal to the American auto industry to the point that any criticism of it offends you, then your dislike for the advertisement is justly warranted; if, on the other hand, you feel the ad is a general criticism of America as a whole, then I think your perception of the ad is skewed and you need to re-evaluate the intended message.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

To hear what the politicians have to say, you can read another American's viewpoint over at NeanderNews.