An offensive ad by Absolut Vodka

[ratito921]

See the article here (http://channels.isp.netscape.com/whatsnew/default.jsp?story=20080408-1322)

It's offensive to who? Those who can't handle the truth? I guess because it's them trying to start something or that's how consumers see it? I just don't see how in this day and age with all the liberties that we have why everything must be SO politically correct. Maybe I'm just more open minded than others. Just gets on my nerves sometimes.

************************************************** **********************

This is a public relations nightmare. Sweden's Absolut vodka ran a billboard ad in Mexico that has angered many U.S. citizens--to the point that the company has withdrawn the ad that some viewed as offensive. Why? It idealized a pre-1848 map that showed large chunks of the United States, including California and Arizona, as Mexican.

But it gets worse. Reuters reports that the ad featured the slogan "In an Absolut World" slapped over the map. And although Absolut didn't use the ad in the United States, it was picked up by U.S. media outlets. Even though Absolut will drop the campaign, it still defended it, insisting the ad was created "with a Mexican sensibility" and was not meant for the U.S. market. "In no way was this meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues," a spokeswoman wrote on Absolut's Web site.

U.S. customers are not buying it. Literally. Many are calling for a boycott of the company. "I have poured the remainder of my Absolut bottles down the sink," one customer wrote on the comment section of the company's Web site.

The Absolut spokeswoman said the ad "hearkens to a time which the population of Mexico may feel was more ideal." That would be before 1846 when a war between Mexico and the United States erupted after Mexico refused to recognize the U.S. annexation of Texas. It ended two years later with U.S. troops occupying Mexico City and Mexico ceding nearly half its territory to the United States in what became the states of California, Nevada, Utah and parts of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming. While the U.S. fortifies its southern border to keep illegal immigrants out of the country, Mexicans remain sensitive about the loss and the location of the border, reports Reuters.

[aprilstorm]

Isn't this crazy!!! Maybe people are mad because it's telling the truth!! You know how people hate that :)

[MMGCA]

omg it is crazy!...... truth hurts!!

[hectorswife]

I'm going to buy a case... :D I don't drink, but I like that billboard.

[jlgherrera]

I saw it driving home from work one night, and I was kind of shocked. It's not so entertaining when you're living in Mexico and hear anti-US comments almost every day. It's actually a little frightening. It may be true, but it's also unnecessarily antagonistic.

[Cynthi]

Just one comment: "Truth hurts" California, Arizona and Texas were mexican territory and they took it from us! I like this ad guys.:thumbup:

[discoviking]

It's an historical map. Probably not the brightest marketing move ever made, but I don't see what the big deal is.

[J3NNI]

Just one comment: "Truth hurts" California, Arizona and Texas were mexican territory and they took it from us! I like this ad guys.:thumbup:

Here Here, I am a US citizen and i see nothing offensive, it is the truth the US took the land from the Mexicans and people need to realize that it was their land

[jlgherrera]

Certainly it's true, but I just think that the last thing we need is more anger or bitterness about border issues, regardless of what side it comes from. This ad didn't help.

[JennyM]

It's an historical map. Probably not the brightest marketing move ever made, but I don't see what the big deal is.

I agree! :)

[IBMMuseum]

...But it gets worse. Reuters reports that the ad featured the slogan "In an Absolut World" slapped over the map...

I personally didn't like part of what at least Yahoo news gave of the Reuters original:

"...Some Mexicans use the term "Reconquista" (reconquest) to refer to the growing presence in California of Mexican migrants and their descendants..."

How many Mexicans are saying that Reuters? Pretty irresponsible reporting if you ask me. They are taking a non-issue, and trying to make it news.

[Coventrated]

I live in a part of the area colored green, there was never a Spanish presence, never mind Mexican one.

It is a bit like the US claiming Mars.

I have a passable knowledge of the history of that time, an inane advert bound only to stir up tension.

[nineten]

100 American Organizations Launch Boycott of Absolut Vodka

Over 100 American organizations dedicated to border security and the enforcement of existing immigration laws launched a nationwide boycott of Absolut Vodka today in response to their ad that ran in Mexico, which panders to a rising separatist movement inside the US, that is being fueled by illegal immigration.

http://www.mmdnewswire.com/100-american-organizations-launch-boycott-of-absolut-vodka-3205.html

[ojos_de_alicia]

"I have poured the remainder of my Absolut bottles down the sink," one customer wrote on the comment section of the company's Web site.






why didn't she give it to me? i woulda drank it:bleh:


and on another note... too many Americans like to complain about everything!
there comes a point where i'm just like SHUT up and deal with it.. the ad was in Mexico.. not in your backyard! grrrrrrr

[ratito921]

I personally didn't like part of what at least Yahoo news gave of the Reuters original:

"...Some Mexicans use the term "Reconquista" (reconquest) to refer to the growing presence in California of Mexican migrants and their descendants..."

How many Mexicans are saying that Reuters? Pretty irresponsible reporting if you ask me. They are taking a non-issue, and trying to make it news.


EXACTLY!

why didn't she give it to me? i woulda drank it:bleh:


and on another note... too many Americans like to complain about everything!
there comes a point where i'm just like SHUT up and deal with it.. the ad was in Mexico.. not in your backyard! grrrrrrr

me too! I would have put it to good use! :D and I agree with the complaining. It's always something....always.

[angela256z]

The people who are making this an issue are prolly the uneducated portion of this country. I mean that is so stupid if you know your history you know that the map is a true layout of what this country use to be like. I saw this yesterday, but I didn't post it cause it made me so mad. It made me want to go up to people and ask them how it made them feel and it they said offended I would have loved to slap them! EERRRR!! I almost want to say something so mean right now, but I will refrain so that I am not banned from the site :D

I asked one of my co-workers about it yesterday and she said "Isn't that map really old? I don't understand what they are trying to market with it, but it doesn't offend me. It's history" Smart girl! My gosh someone knows her stuff!

Ok sorry. Ranting. Just irritating is all.

[Pooh79]

:rolleyes:

[angela256z]

Almost fell of my wagon up there. It just so sad that a stupid add would get such notice all because of a map.

[gdalicia]

When I volunteered at an immigration law center in college , the Attorney there was this leftist hippie type (blond, blue-eyed, daily Che Guevara t-shirts). Our name was the "Immigration Project" and he called us the "Re-population Project". :bounce:

Anyone who found that ad offensive needs to a. work on developing a sense of humor and b. face that it's not that far from reality. Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I'm scared, the Mexicans are invading. Mommy! :D

[MMGCA]

goodmorning guys!!.....I think people shouln't make a big deal about, becasue like everyone says it is history. but all these people that think that they can boycott absolute vodka and people wont buy it, but NO, without them even knowing they are doing alot of advertisement for the company......lol as for me, well i dont think nothing bad of the DRINK. im fact im thinking of buying some ABSOLUTE VODKA and making me some vodka and cranberry for this weekend!.....

[MMGCA]

face that it's not that far from reality. Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I'm scared, the Mexicans are invading. Mommy! :D



hahahahahahah :bounce:



Goodone!!!!!!!:thumbup::bleh:

[gdalicia]

They're just mad because Absolut didn't use the REAL US map:

http://www.aimislam.com/forums/uploads/monthly_12_2006/post-1550-1167340737.jpg

[ratito921]

I always liked that map

[ojos_de_alicia]

i love the little one... dont go here.. .lolllll

[angela256z]

LOL that map is great.

[losguerra]

Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I'm scared, the Mexicans are invading. Mommy! :D

You know, while it's sort of funny to laugh at other people's fear of an "invasion", and while most of this fear comes from their lack of familiarity with Mexicans in general on a personal basis, I also think we shouldn't forget to see it from their perspective.

What about if you lived in an area that's quickly becoming predominantly populated by Somalian refugees or Hmong asylees? People whose lifestyle, language, and culture is extremely different from anything you're familiar with. What if you saw all the grocery stores becoming geared towards these immigrant groups, and suddenly all the signs at businesses were written in their language and script. And then some radio, news, and even TV stations stopped offering content in English and instead started playing the music, news, and shows imported from these new arrivals' countries. And then the children were being offered education partially in their native language and you saw that the adults weren't learning much English, at least not enough for you to be able to communicate comfortably with them.

Can't you admit that you might feel a bit uncomfortable in this situation? There are bigoted racists out there who are completely irrational about this, but even those of us that aren't outwardly racist still would find ourselves frustrated to suddenly feel like foreigners in our own neighborhoods. This is what is happening to so many people in the US. I don't think this should excuse racist behavior, but I also don't think we should laugh away their fears...

[ratito921]

You know, while it's sort of funny to laugh at other people's fear of an "invasion", and while most of this fear comes from their lack of familiarity with Mexicans in general on a personal basis, I also think we shouldn't forget to see it from their perspective.

What about if you lived in an area that's quickly becoming predominantly populated by Somalian refugees or Hmong asylees? People whose lifestyle, language, and culture is extremely different from anything you're familiar with. What if you saw all the grocery stores becoming geared towards these immigrant groups, and suddenly all the signs at businesses were written in their language and script. And then some radio, news, and even TV stations stopped offering content in English and instead started playing the music, news, and shows imported from these new arrivals' countries. And then the children were being offered education partially in their native language and you saw that the adults weren't learning much English, at least not enough for you to be able to communicate comfortably with them.

Can't you admit that you might feel a bit uncomfortable in this situation? There are bigoted racists out there who are completely irrational about this, but even those of us that aren't outwardly racist still would find ourselves frustrated to suddenly feel like foreigners in our own neighborhoods. This is what is happening to so many people in the US. I don't think this should excuse racist behavior, but I also don't think we should laugh away their fears...

and there's the voice of reason :( point well made

but I will say this it is a true reality that is was Mexico's territory first and there's nothing that can change that. It's not something that will ever be swept under the rug, just like slavery and then segregation in the south. Of course there are places that segregation still exists. I guess my point is that people are so quick to react and blow things up and not know why because they are going along with the guy next to them.

I remember when the Va Tech shooting happened they said that they wanted to grieve silently and move on because they didn't want the shooter to gain notoriety which is exactly what he wanted. So my point in comparison is that if these people "boycotting" really wanted to make a difference they would have done it in silence and not brought more attention to it. Let people form their own opinion. You know kinda like I don't watch the View anymore even though I like Joy Behar.

[MMGCA]

Im sorry i didnt mean to ofend anybody by me laughing at gdalicia's joke, i just though it was funny!.....

[gdalicia]

You know, while it's sort of funny to laugh at other people's fear of an "invasion", and while most of this fear comes from their lack of familiarity with Mexicans in general on a personal basis, I also think we shouldn't forget to see it from their perspective.

What about if you lived in an area that's quickly becoming predominantly populated by Somalian refugees or Hmong asylees? People whose lifestyle, language, and culture is extremely different from anything you're familiar with. What if you saw all the grocery stores becoming geared towards these immigrant groups, and suddenly all the signs at businesses were written in their language and script. And then some radio, news, and even TV stations stopped offering content in English and instead started playing the music, news, and shows imported from these new arrivals' countries. And then the children were being offered education partially in their native language and you saw that the adults weren't learning much English, at least not enough for you to be able to communicate comfortably with them.

Can't you admit that you might feel a bit uncomfortable in this situation? There are bigoted racists out there who are completely irrational about this, but even those of us that aren't outwardly racist still would find ourselves frustrated to suddenly feel like foreigners in our own neighborhoods. This is what is happening to so many people in the US. I don't think this should excuse racist behavior, but I also don't think we should laugh away their fears...

The reason I find it ironic (and yes...humorous at times) is that many Americans have such a short view of history. The fact is that all of the things that you have described above have always been happening in this country, as each new wave of immigrants arrives. It's not unique to the current situation, it's been happening in this country since the first Europeans arrived. Italians, Eastern Europeans, Irish, Asian, etc etc have all been met with this same type of fear by "American" folks that have forgotten that only a few short generations ago their own great grandfathers were the ones opening the stores with those funny signs, and speaking that weird language.
So yes, at times I laugh at the thought that any of this is new and the idea that there is some sort of static "American" mainstream culture out there that needs to be protected from immigrants.

[nineten]

Ruben Navarrette Jr.

Shaken, and then stirred

The latest skirmish in the never-ending culture war between Mexico and the United States was "Absolut" nonsense. In fact, the flap was part controversy and part c-ocktail.

Here's the recipe for conflict:......

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/09/EDVU101TFP.DTL



Another interesting read:

http://blog.hcn.org/goat/2008/04/09/absolut-boo-boo/

[jlgherrera]

Yes, the people who are boycotting are overreacting. But they're also probably people who vote. If we really want immigration reform, we need their votes too. For that reason alone, I don't see anything funny about scaring them more than they already are......and this ad scared them. As a group of people seeking immigration reform, I think we should recognize this ad as something that fans the fires of fear and anger. Yes, it's history and it's truth, but that doesn't matter to people who are afraid.

Having said that, I also think that a Swedish vodka company obviously doesn't care about US immigration reform, so the best we can do is hope that this is out of the news soon.

[losguerra]

jlgherrera, I very much agree with you. Obviously Americans have a short memory and have a very hard time facing the harsh facts of history.

But unfortunately, throwing it in their faces doesn't do anything to soothe their current fears and attitudes about immigration in the US. And we're not going to accomplish immigration reform by inciting them further.

We've got to find a way to increase understanding and awareness in a non-confrontational way if we're going to get anywhere with changing hearts. I don't know how, but we've got to figure it out...

[discoviking]

Having said that, I also think that a Swedish vodka company obviously doesn't care about US immigration reform, so the best we can do is hope that this is out of the news soon.

But they do care about US market shares. They will try to do damage control, I'm sure of it.

[gdalicia]

Wait a minute, guys. This ad was never meant to be run in the US. It was released in Mexico. That's not "throwing it" in anyone's face. It was meant to be a joke. We, as Americans, love to have many jokes at the expense of other countries. Why is this any different? In the article that Nineten posted it clearly says that the folks that reacted to this are the same old anti-immigrant political types that will react to ANYTHING that they perceive to be pro-immigrant and try to use it to divide people.

I understand your point, but let's not lose our sense of humor. Well, I won't anyway. I still find the ad amusing and I think by freaking out about it you play right into the hands of anyone that thinks there's something wrong with it.

[losguerra]

Ooops sorry. In my last post I got a little further off topic than I should have. I think I completely went off track from discussing an ad that was, truly, created for the Mexican market and should have stayed there.

I was actually referring to my previous days as a "Latino Culture Promoter" in college. I was president of the campus Latino students organization. I was fired up. And I burned out. I learned a lot about what not to do back then. I realized how easily people can be turned off about issues of ethnicity and injustice, especially historical injustice. It's a delicate game. I still am not positive how to play it....

[ratito921]

At this point in time I don't think there is a right way or a wrong way to play the game.

[discoviking]

What about if you lived in an area that's quickly becoming predominantly populated by Somalian refugees or Hmong asylees? People whose lifestyle, language, and culture is extremely different from anything you're familiar with. What if you saw all the grocery stores becoming geared towards these immigrant groups, and suddenly all the signs at businesses were written in their language and script. And then some radio, news, and even TV stations stopped offering content in English and instead started playing the music, news, and shows imported from these new arrivals' countries. And then the children were being offered education partially in their native language and you saw that the adults weren't learning much English, at least not enough for you to be able to communicate comfortably with them.

What you are describing is actually what has been happening in Norway over the last 30 years or so. When I was growing up there in the 60's, Norway was probably the whitest country on the planet. As far as we were concerned, black people lived in straw huts in Africa, because that's what we saw in the pictures in our geography books in elementary school. They always smiled and looked happy in the pictures, too. Mexicans only existed in Western movies, and they would always wear big sombreros.


Can't you admit that you might feel a bit uncomfortable in this situation? There are bigoted racists out there who are completely irrational about this, but even those of us that aren't outwardly racist still would find ourselves frustrated to suddenly feel like foreigners in our own neighborhoods. This is what is happening to so many people in the US. I don't think this should excuse racist behavior, but I also don't think we should laugh away their fears...

Yes, I can certainly relate. In Norway, there has always been immigration between the other scandinavian countries, but since the language and culture is so similar, it was never a big deal. But, when the first wave of non-scandinavian immigrants (mainly from Pakistan) started arriving in the 70's, people noticed. In the 80's the next wave came, this time it was boat people from Vietnam. In the 90's, it was refugees from Balkan, and for the last 10 years or so, the biggest new group of immigrants has been asylum seekers from Somalia, Afghanistan and the middle east.

The older generation especially has had a problem accepting this. Mosques in the middle of Oslo? Kids being taught in a different language in school and don't know how to ski? Women in Saris and Burkas in Karl Johan street? What sacriledge.....

While I don't consider myself a racist - it has been my experience that a nice person is a nice person and an an a**hole is an a**hole regardless of the color of their skin - I do understand that people get uncomfortable with changes. Especially when there is an economic downturn and a need to find a scapegoat. That is when we see xenophobic feelings flurry. Germany in the 30's and 40's is an extreme example of this.

So, this kind of thing does not happen only here in the US. I used Norway as an example, because I am familiar with the situation there. I can definately understand where some of this emotional anti-immigrant sentiment is coming from both in Norway and here in the US, but that does not mean that I agree with it. Nothing would be farther from the truth. On the other hand, when I go back to visit now, Norway is very different from the country I grew up in, better in some ways, worse in others.

The million dollar question however, is how to change people's view on the subject. I don't think playing the race card or being to confrontational is a good tactic. The key is to make people see past the skin color and ethnic background, and see the immigrant - legal or otherwise - as a real person who put their pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else. Once that is accomplished, people may be more receptive to immigration reform and more sympathetic to what families with members out of staus has to go through. It's a long haul, but we have to win people over one person at a time. It's a long haul, but we have to start somewhere.


Just my 2 cents.

[discoviking]

I still find the ad amusing and I think by freaking out about it you play right into the hands of anyone that thinks there's something wrong with it.

It was kinda cute. I will still be buying a bottle of Absolut every now and then....

[Coventrated]

You are missing the point, it is not history.

There is no shortage of literature on the subject.

The fact that some think it is real is the real problem.

[losguerra]

Coventrated, can you explain what you mean by that? What isn't history?

US forces occupied Mexico City and even Monterrey at one point in history. Mexico had to relinquish its claim to the northwestern territories in exchange for $15 million dollars in order to fly its own flag in the capital again. It was enough of a big deal that the German Empire was willing to offer it back to Mexico in exchange for help during WWI.

I know we're in a different period in history now, but these facts remain and many nationals within Mexico know them well. Resentment remains. Absolut played to this quite well.

[seasun]

I'm going to buy a case... :D I don't drink, but I like that billboard.


buy it and remember me, I drink it(lol):bounce:

[nineten]

As Ruben Navarrette said, it was intended for Mexican eyes only ... and was silly because who ever heard of a vodka margarita.

With all the present issues surrounding the U.S. on immigration right now, this was one more opportunity for the anti-immigrants to jump in on. The timing wasn't good.

I wonder if there's any heads rolling in the company's marketing department.

[jlgherrera]

As Ruben Navarrette said, it was intended for Mexican eyes only ... and was silly because who ever heard of a vodka margarita.

With all the present issues surrounding the U.S. on immigration right now, this was one more opportunity for the anti-immigrants to jump in on. The timing wasn't good.

I wonder if there's any heads rolling in the company's marketing department.

I wondered that, too. They should have known that even if it was 'for Mexican eyes only', it would never stay that way.

[nineten]

@jlgherrera As Navarrette said, with the internet things spread fast. Sometimes with bad publicity it can help them in the long run as it has in the past with other companies. We'll wait and see on this one. You'd think somebody in marketing would've known this would've stirred controversy with the present climate in the U.S. toward Mexico. How could they miss that one? I suppose an outside public relations firm has been called in to assist with the mess. I again say, the timing wasn't at all good for this. Any other time it wouldn't have ever been paid attention.

[Coventrated]

The map goes as far north as Wyoming

Like I say there are books on this, but just a few examples of Spanish presence, I presume that any Mexican claims would be based on Spanish presence. Mexico

Wyoming, none.

Colorado, certaily in the South East, but not as far noh as Colorado Springs. South West Colorado and Northern New Mexico, there were Spanish expeditions through but not settlement in.

Northern California, there was a Russian presence, not Spanish.

Of course at the time in question most of this area was terra incognita, if any nationality could claim the interiror due to their nationals having traveled through the area it would be the French.

I have a friend who is a Ute, the Utes succesfully resisted pressure from the south.

Mexico only came into existance in 1821.

I would not like to place a definitive northern border. Here are links to a couple of maps of the time.

http://www.philaprintshop.com/images/carhartmex.jpg
The map shows Mexico just before the Mexican-American War, during which the country lost its northern provinces to the United States. In that region, the detail in New Mexico, along the Rio Grande to north of Santa Fe, is quite accurate, but the information in Upper California is not so correct. In particular, Tanner shows the two non-existent rivers flowing from the Great Basin to the Pacific. The R. Timpanogos flows from the Great Salt Lake to San Francisco Bay, while the equally non-existent R. S. Bueanaventura flows from equally distant inland further south. Issued first in 1834, the map was updated and reissued by Tanner over the years, for instance in this map Tanner has added Houston and Austin to Texas. Texas is here shown as an independent republic, making this map particular desirable as well as historically fascinating.


http://www.philaprintshop.com/images/dowermex42.jpg

An unusual map showing Mexico and Texas as an independent republic. In 1821, when Mexico achieved independence from Spain, the northern regions of Texas, New Mexico and California were sparsely populated with Native Americans and a few scattered settlements of European descendants. In 1823, Mexico, in hopes of strengthening her position in the north, let Stephen F. Austin set up a colony of Americans in Texas. Tensions between the Mexican government and the American colonists began to escalate in the 1830s, leading to an outbreak of fighting in late 1835 after Santa Anna overthrew the Mexican constitution and set up a dictatorship. A convention of Texans met at San Felipe de Austin from October to November, issuing a Declaration of Causes and forming a provisional government. Fighting between the Mexicans and Texans began in October and lasted until the spring of 1836, with the result that Texas became an independent republic. Mexico never formally accepted Texas' independence, but an informal truce held until 1845, though there were some incidents of conflict. This map shows Texas as independent, including a note which states "The Province of TEXAS acknowledged an Independent State by Grt. Brtain, Novr. 1840." Detail of Texas, Mexico, and the rest of Central America is excellent, with mountains, rivers, lakes, towns, and some forts noted throughout.