ABSOLUTly Ridiculous

Absolut Vodka pulled this ad today in an attempt to quell the backlash from Americans who found the pre-Mexican-American war map offensive.  There are even threats of boycotts and many are pouring the brew down the drain as we speak.  I find this ABSOLUTly ridiculous. The ad didn’t even run in the United States.

If anyone should be upset it should be the Mexican people.  How dare Absolut stir up old wounds and remind them of how California, Nevada, Utah, parts of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming were lost to the Estados Unidos.  

Permit me for a moment to quote Ulysess S. Grant in regard to the Mexican-American war.  His words sound oddly familiar to me.

“Generally, the officers of the army were indifferent whether the annexation was consummated or not; but not so all of them. For myself, I was bitterly opposed to the measure, and to this day regard the war, which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation. It was an instance of a republic following the bad example of European monarchies, in not considering justice in their desire to acquire additional territory.”

Ulysess on “chickens coming home to roost” in reference to the American Civil War…

“The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times.”

It’s very interesting to me that of all wars fought by the United States this is the least talked about.  Perhaps it’s because it was an aggressive and unpopular war in which the United States attacked a neighbor.  Although the war was won, the United States does not like to look at how it was won. 

I’m not going to boycott Absolut unless I find they are supplying vodka to the Chinese government.  In an ABSOLUT world Americans would concentrate on boycotting the olympics in Beijing in support of Tibet. Oh and let’s not forget how the Chinese will not support or broker a cease fire in Dafur.

~ by Xai on April 8, 2008.