No Absoluts

Did you catch this one? It's been all over the internet for a few days. It even ran in the Saipan Tribune.

An Absolut Vodka ad, in Mexico, showed North America as it was in 1848. "In an Absolut world..." The Red State set went bonkers, claiming a liberal conspiracy backing the reconquista at La Raza. Nuts were ponging off of my eyes and ears like hailstones on a tin roof. Fox News of course, a bit subdued and chagrined because Michelle Malkin got there first.

There were calls for boycotts. San Francisco's Skyy Vodka* donned a U.S. flag cape and sycophantically flew into battle.

Absolut caved, of course.

What's the big deal?

In a few minutes I could come up with a hundred places where people think they're on the wrong side of a boundary. Maybe in an Absolut World Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam would be the Chamoru Nation. This is advertising, folks. Nobody is trying to rewrite history-- and it doesn't do any good to get defensive when your sordid past is mentioned.

Some Mexicans don't even want the territory. One man said he wanted to go to Los Angeles to earn dollars, not pesos.

Their government hasn't been terrific over the years. It's dominated by those of European descent. Does it even matter to most indios which oligarchy is in charge? Who asked them? Most probably don't want to go back to the good old days anyway, those Aztecs were pretty nasty conquerors.

Malkin alert

Absolut's not done, of course. They've moved on to the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual,transgender) community. You might have to explain this ad to your kids. Or not.

Shot or a mix O'Reilly?


* I'm pretty neutral about Absolut; don't even think about it much. The ads are cute, sometimes, and it's better than Skyy's dishwater.