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Ear to the Ground

An Absolut Controversy

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Posted on Apr 4, 2008
latimes.com

The Swedish vodka company known for its memorable advertising has stirred a bit of controversy in the United States with an ad running in Mexico that shows what the two countries would look like “in an Absolut world.”

Some have called the ad offensive, but can it really be that offensive that Mexicans would imagine a perfect world as one in which they hadn’t lost half of their country?

Update: A Truthdig reader points out that in an “Absolut world,” Panama remains independent from Colombia.

Los Angeles Times:

The campaign taps into the national pride of Mexicans, according to Favio Ucedo, creative director of leading Latino advertising agency Grupo Gallegos in the U.S.

Ucedo, who is from Argentina, said: “Mexicans talk about how the Americans stole their land, so this is their way of reclaiming it. It’s very relevant and the Mexicans will love the idea.”

But he said that were the campaign to run in the United States, it might fall flat.

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By Ben Franklin, April 8 at 7:52 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

You said it Sister!!!

This is the propoganda media putting it’s spin on things to make people angry at each other.  Stop the madness and start raging against the machine that threatens to enslave us all.

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By whatever, April 8 at 7:11 am #

Oh my the truth comes out. It’s ashame that the US has been infested, but that is the plain truth and the powers that be have let it happen. All in the name of cheap labor and political correctness. Absolut has gotten a lot of free publicity from this “shock” ad. That’s nothing new. It’s interesting the parallel between the infestation and the fact that alcohol-related accidents, injuries, and social disorder both have brought the US to it’s economic knees. America is for sale my friend. Look around you.

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By mill, April 7 at 9:23 am #

The ad is funny in a barbed sort of way.  As a resident in Estados Unidos, the barb is in my patriotic butt.  Thanks for that

I drink vodka, including theirs.  I like other vodka brands, so I’ll probably buy someone else’s product as a way to say thanks for needling me.

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By William Ramblau, April 6 at 8:14 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

the only thing Mexico can have back are 20 million illegal Mexicans.

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By jimmyjam, April 6 at 4:44 am #

And, what does the John McCain liquor Dynasty have to say about all of this. he says nothing it belongs to his wife’s family. I,m sure bert and the others can get up some money to send you to Sweden

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By cyrena, April 6 at 12:27 am #

Sweden is an EXCELLENT choice. (even the prisons are posh).

Thing is, one needs a lot of money to live there. Or, I should say to establish residency. The Swedish government requires a pretty substantial bank deposit for any foreigners to set up residency there.

BUT, if you have enough of it, (and if it’s in USD, you should hurry, while it’s still got some tad bit of value left) then THAT would be the place.

If I had some money, that’s where I’d defect to myself.

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By cwhipps, April 5 at 11:20 pm #

Was that Pat Buchanan’s head I just heard explode?

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By Marshall K, April 5 at 1:42 pm #

But only if they take W and Jerry Jones.

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By Bill Blackolive, April 5 at 7:04 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

This is some very funny stuff.  While at this point after Jefferson and Monroe had agreed all south is ourn and folks went poorer and got shot in sake of the Land of Freedom, and hungrier than ever folks coming to toil even sometimes/often bring their children, and now the Monroe Doctrine is finished and the Chinese move into S. America and Chavez laughs and then poetic Morales laughs and the other Presidents start laughing and the Fake War on Drugs worth never to be counted billions or trillions strapping US economy and world economy bring gunfights upon US ranches and cities, and and see news of young gringos selling armor piercing weaponry to cartels and cops join up or flee, it becomes ever funnier.

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By Jim Yell, April 5 at 6:49 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Where did Mexico lose their land? The claim that Mexico had north of the border was based upon land grab by the Spanish, transfered to Mexico when it became independant. Except for a very small part of the land that was actually inhabited by Mexicans and subject to Mexican Government the land was in the hands of the historical population. The land the Mexicans controlled, as little as it was, was stolen from the historical population of these areas, or another way to put it if our claim is not valid than how could Mexico’s have ever been valid too?

As to stolen land there were not monolithic governments amongest the historic populations in America before or after the conquest. The different tribes did exactly what Europeans did, if they wanted it they took it, either driving out the historic inhabitants, absorbing them or killing them. Enough of this sillyness.

Mexico is a rich and beautiful land and is abused by its upper classes and overpopulated by the majority. Even the most extravagant pie, can be unsatisfactory when made into too many slices.

There is no Mexico North of the Border.

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By Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD, April 5 at 3:41 am #

I always thought the solution to the republicans bitching about Mexicans would be for the US to annex Mexico--or the other way around--and I don’t even drink vodka.

Sweden is just one place I might defect to.

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By Purple Girl, April 5 at 3:29 am #

I at one time relished the Idea that All antions would come together under One Flag. But now I see the the Thesis in Progress and am Terrified by the implication. I ‘Imagine’d it would mean ‘Peace’ but instead it means Total Control of Mankind. The Entities see Us all as Commodities, to be Bought & sold on a Global Auction Block. This is Not ‘Walden’ it is the New World Order Constucted by people who want unbridled Power. This is some twisted crap coming to Fruition and it must be Stopped by those who’s Futures they are also Selling to the Highest Bidders.

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By Expat, April 5 at 1:46 am #

^ goes.  Be interesting to see a map of the western hemisphere pre 1492.  Mexico was not Mexico and the United States wasn’t even a thought.  It would be a very interesting world if the indigenes were still living on their ancestral lands.  Yes, I know, let’s not think too much about that; too much guilt.  Anyway for those interested here’s a link to that map.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Native_America-1492 AD-big.jpg

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By cyrena, April 4 at 8:36 pm #

• “…Ucedo, who is from Argentina, said: “Mexicans talk about how the Americans stole their land, so this is their way of reclaiming it. It’s very relevant and the Mexicans will love the idea.”
• But he said that were the campaign to run in the United States, it might fall flat…”

Oh I don’t know about the campaign falling flat in the United States. I don’t have a problem with it at all. Matter-of-fact, it might even induce me to start drinking again. Which one is cheaper, the Stolichnaya or the Absolut?

And, what does the John McCain liquor Dynasty have to say about all of this. From the looks of this map, his Arizona headquarters is part of the New (I mean Old) territory. Could make for some territorial or jurisdictional problems in the free market competition.

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By B., April 4 at 8:21 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

viral marketing works.  to wit: (see above).

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By P. T., April 4 at 6:35 pm #

That would have made for a really long border fence.  But, hey, the Swedish Viking marauders themselves were not exactly known for staying at home.  wink

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By Kenneth Marcus, April 4 at 5:40 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

We’ve done a lot worse, and this ad is extremely clever, not to mention well-suited to its target market. Excellent!

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