Absolut Ad -- Mexican Revanchism

[FightTheRight89]

I know I'm going to get a lot of flak for posting this, either because it's already been posted, or because I'll be called a fascist, but who else is offended by this ad?



It's an Absolut ad that ran in Mexico, but still found it's way through the tubes of the Internets to the United States.

My question is, what if they'd run...

- An American version with Mexico and Canada under U.S. control
- A German version with the 1939 or 1942 borders
- A version with the African borders as they were in 1900
- A Taiwanese version with all of mainland China under their control

I could go on and on.

EDIT: Here's a link to the related story.
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0729018920080408

[acmavm]

1. Saw it the first time. And I'll say again the add was intended to stir

up shit.

[Coexist]

44. but why?

[ensho]

2. catch up on some history and you will see why so many people think

about america's borders in a different way.

I thank Absolut for starting this needed conversation.

[FightTheRight89]

9. Here's how the conversation will go:

American: Wow, what an offensive ad.
Mexican: Hey, that was our land to begin with.
Native American: No, it was our land.
Hippie: Yeah! So let's give back the land to the native Americans.
American: But wait, what are we going to do with the 300 million people living inside the borders of the United States?
German: Can I have my land in Prussia and Silesia back too?
Hippie: No.
Greek: Can I have Istanbul back and rename it Constantinople?
Hippie: No.
Greek and German: Well, that's not fair. You just espoused giving back all land to the original owners, despite who lives on it now.

The bottom line is, there's a lot of Mexicans who believe the land is theirs, despite the fact that not a single person born in that territory is Mexican. The land is American, and we should not be made to pay for a war that, in modern context seems sketchy.

[ensho]

16. you dreamed up "giving back all land to the original owners' nobody said that

nt

[FightTheRight89]

32. Well, that's what the advertisement plays on.

Giving back the land to it's original owners.

[AlphaCentauri]

40. That is everybody should ignore history and keep watching american idol n/t

[Xenotime]

130. Exactly right! It's time that people take back what is rightfully theirs.

[Redneck Socialist]

3. I find it funny

I don't think your comparisons really hold up as the land pictured in the ad was Mexico before we started a war and grabbed it all.

[Beausoleil]

5. Not True

Texas was an independent republic in 1836 although Mexico considered Texas a rebellious colony. The War with Mexico started in 1846 after the annexation of Texas by the US.

[AlphaCentauri]

8. Who declared Texas independence? the slave owners coming from the north

that's how the invasion started, asking the Mexican government for land and later asked to have slaves when Mexico had abolish slavery long before 1936.

[FightTheRight89]

13. It wasn't just that.

It was the American nationals living in the territory and the restrictions placed upon them as foreigners.

[AlphaCentauri]

22. correct, one of those restrictions was: No slavery in Mexico

The enslavement of African Americans was the curse of early American life, and Texas was no exception. The Mexican government was opposed to slavery, but even so, there were 5000 slaves in Texas by the time of the Texas Revolution in 1836. By the time of annexation a decade later, there were 30,000; by 1860, the census found 182,566 slaves -- over 30% of the total population of the state.

Most slaves came to Texas with their owners, and the vast majority lived on large cotton plantations in East Texas. The life of a Texas slave differed little from other places in the South. Most slaves had the basics -- food, clothing, and a crude log cabin for shelter -- but they were kept poor and worked hard. Most were field hands who worked from sunup to sundown. And, while Texas law prohibited an owner from killing or maiming a slave, whippings were considered acceptable and were a common form of punishment. Historians estimate that at least 70% of the slaves received whippings at some point in their lives.



http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/earlystate/slavery-01.html

[Beausoleil]

27. Including forced Catholicism n/t

[Taverner]

111. But many of the German immigrants WERE Catholic

And you could get out of that restriction.

The big restriction that bothered the Texans was that they couldn't keep slaves. Boo fucking hoo.

[nadinbrzezinski]

104. And they were also granted MEXICAN CITIZENSHIP

by the by Lucal Alaman argued vehemently against letting these white Protestant in

The Feds, as weak as it was. argued that the lands needed colonists and people from the center were not going

Perhaps picking up some history books may illuminate some issues that affect YOUR LIFE today (yes I know most folks don't want to believe that)

[Beausoleil]

28. I was just responding to the fact that Texas was not a part of Mexico

when the US declared war on Mexico. The map portrays a pre-1836 configuration, not an 1846 one.

Whatever other issues obtained, Texans fought for their independence from Mexico (and defended it several times) before the US got involved.

[AlphaCentauri]

29. Texans fought for their independence to become a colony of the US.... mmmm

California declared Independence before it was occupied by US forces, certainly the independentistas were not Mexicans.

[FightTheRight89]

34. A colony?

Really?

[AlphaCentauri]

37. another word for colony: Annexation

[FightTheRight89]

38. Yeah, except there were mostly Americans living there.

[AlphaCentauri]

42. So that was a colony, am I right?

[FightTheRight89]

47. I suppose, if you stretch the term.

Still, when I think colony, I think of African imperialism.

[AlphaCentauri]

51. that's how "history writers" have pitched the term Colony

Here is the definition

1 a: a body of people living in a new territory but retaining ties with the parent state b: the territory inhabited by such a body
2: a distinguishable localized population within a species <a colony of termites>
3 a: a circumscribed mass of microorganisms usually growing in or on a solid medium b: the aggregation of zooids of a compound animal
4 a: a group of individuals or things with common characteristics or interests situated in close association <an artist colony> b: the section occupied by such a group
5: a group of persons institutionalized away from others <a leper colony> <a penal colony>; also : the land or buildings occupied by such a group


http://mw4.m-w.com/dictionary/colony

[Beausoleil]

49. No

It was a part of a "colony" of Spain, then a state of Mexico, then an independent republic, then an American state. No more a colony of the US than Tennessee or Indiana when they entered the Union.

[AlphaCentauri]

52. the first definition of Colony states

1 a: a body of people living in a new territory but retaining ties with the parent state b: the territory inhabited by such a body

Since the settler were not natives from Texas they were not Texans.

[Beausoleil]

58. OK, this is just a semantic argument

Call it a "colony" if you wish. Texas was never referred to as a colony of the US as the original 13 "colonies" were part of Britain. Texas had NO formal ties with the US (other than diplomatic) until 1845 and was not governed by any part of the US government as a colony would be. It became a full-fledged US state in 1845.

[AlphaCentauri]

63. It can't be just a semantic argument is a fact

time to review history and why it was written like that.

[Beausoleil]

67. Depends on your definition of "colony"

LOL

[Beausoleil]

43. What?

Reasons for the Texas Declaration of Independence (not a declaration of colonialism):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Declaration_of_Independence

Among others, the declaration mentions the following reasons for the separation:

The 1824 Constitution of Mexico establishing a federal republic had been usurped and changed into a centralist military dictatorship under Antonio López de Santa Anna.
The Mexican government had invited settlers to Texas and promised them constitutional liberty and republican government, but then reneged on these guarantees.
Texas was in union with the Mexican state of Coahuila as Coahuila y Tejas, with the capital in distant Saltillo, and thus the affairs of Texas were decided at a great distance from the province and in the Spanish language.
Political rights to which the settlers had previously been accustomed, such as the right to bear arms and the right to trial by jury, were denied.
No system of public education had been established.
The settlers were not allowed freedom of religion.



Nothing about being a colony of the US.

[AlphaCentauri]

50. The immigrants (Settlers) did not assimilated to their new country's culture instead they impose the...

I see something wrong in this beatified version of Texas history, funny that slave masters settler are called Texans, what a humiliations for real Texans. Is like calling Arnold Swacheneger Californian.

[Beausoleil]

53. Did the original "American" settlers assimilate into their new country's culture?

Obviously not, the existing culture was decimated. You know as well as I that things weren't done that way in the early 19th century.

There is something wrong with ascribing ALL motives for early Texas settlement as being tied to slavery. That's just not true.

[AlphaCentauri]

59. well looks like there have not been so many behavioral improvements since the 19 century

don't forget Iraq.

[Beausoleil]

62. I'm certainly not going to defend the current penchant for

US colonialism/imperialism.

We agree on this.

[AlphaCentauri]

64. May Peace Be With You

:toast:

[Beausoleil]

68. Cheers!

:hi:

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

66. And by not assimilate you mean

when invited by mexico with the promise of republican governance they did not accept the military take over of that government or the stripping of basic rights?

If we demanded all immigrants worship at a certain church after telling them they can come here and worship as the please you dont think there would be serious trouble?

[AlphaCentauri]

70. The settlers had some conditions set before they immigrate to Mexico

accept the Mexican citizenship and pledge allegiance to the flag of Mexico and it's government.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

72. And the government they pledge allegiance to:

provide human rights that a new government did not. I suppose if * gets more of his way and we lose all our rights we should just grin and bear it right?

[AlphaCentauri]

85. Oh! great! The settler fought for their human rights, ignoring the slaves human right

Looks like they didn't preach to the right audience, the Mexicans, the spanish, the native texans and slaves had human rights too, which were never respected by the settler having slaves after 1865.

Jesus... Human rights ... lol

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

86. Guess what

two parties can both be wrong:

1) Texans could be wrong for slavery
2) Mexico could be wrong for forcing a state religion

--

Yup even those who are having their rights violated can violate the rights of others... So sad its hard for you to wrap your mind around that but you know.. The Texans are now americans so they must have been 100% wrong..

[AlphaCentauri]

89. That was 19 century,,correct?

Texans were not Americans (XIX), about state religion we have been tolerated state religions in many countries including the middle east. I do not see that a big argument when the settler agree to pledge allegiance to the flag of Mexico and all the other conditions to get a piece of land. Some would sell their soul to the devil for some land.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. I would imagine the uneducated right wing bigots are greatly offended by this

The rest of us know it is just an advertisement. :eyes:

[FightTheRight89]

10. Suppose they ran an anti-semitic version of this ad...

That pictured concentration camps with the text "ABSOLUT WORLD".

Oh no, just an advertisement. Don't get your knickers in a twist!

[rch35]

17. But they didn't so no matter how many times you say it, your comparison is irrelevant nt

[ensho]

18. your imagination goes out of bounds easily

nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Please explain how this ad is as offensive as an anti-semitic ad would be

[FightTheRight89]

35. It's not.

But you can't run an advertisment like this and then say "Oh, well it's just an advertisment."

[proud2BlibKansan]

54. Why not?

[FightTheRight89]

77. See what I already posted.

Understand the analogy.

Then get back to me.

[proud2BlibKansan]

82. I already told you it's a silly analogy

This is not anti-semitism. It's an ad and it is historically accurate. But most importantly, it is an advertisement. Silly to get your knickers in a knot over it.

[FightTheRight89]

83. Jesus Christ, I know it's not anti-semitism.

The point is not to compare the ad with anti-semitism but to make the point that you can't say anything and hide behind the medium of advertisement to shield yourself.

[AlphaCentauri]

23. Borders, territories and people not the same

[NeedleCast]

41. But they didn't do that

So your argument is fallacious.

[Goblinmonger]

74. oh, oh, what if

they put a picture of a lynching of a black man
or the rape of a woman in darfur
or the burning of a witch during the inquisition
or the killing of a damn dirty moor during the crusades
or all the dead at Waco

See, the point is, THEY DIDN'T.

[FightTheRight89]

78. You obviously don't understand analogy.

[blondeatlast]

91. You don't understand "fallacious analogy" or the "strawman" concept.

Take a debate course.

[readmoreoften]

123. There is no analogy because Mexico has never attacked, oppressed, or harmed the people of the US.

Let's have a little review here.

Early Map of Mexico=Map of German Concentration Camps would be equivalent to

1) A site where Mexicans tortured six million Americans to death=A site were Germans tortured six million Jews to death
2) I hate Mexicans and I think they are destroying America=I hated Nazis who were also trying to destroy America at one point.
3) Basic Mexican history used as advertising=A site map of where millions of people were exterminated used as advertising.


The correct answer is 3. There is no analogy. It would be an analogy is #1 were correct. It's not. You seemed to have chosen #2, which is why you think it's an apt analogy.

[blondeatlast]

90. They didn't. If they did, I'd feel very free to attack the anti-Semitism.

What if they'd run an ad saying dog lovers should drink coke and leave Pepsi to cat lovers?

It's as quality an analogy as yours is.

Here's an idea--take a debate course...

[treestar]

121. Suppose they ran one in the U.S. showing the Middle East made

up of U.S. Territory or U.S. states? Wouldn't that be equally offensive then?

[Quantess]

48. Glenn Beck told everyone to be outraged about it

on yesterday's show.
He spent 10 or 15 minutes barking about this ad.

[proud2BlibKansan]

55. Gee why am I not surprised?

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

75. So did Michelle Malkin.

Interesting, no?

[blondeatlast]

92. Ah, now I get it--and know far more about the OP than I would have liked.

Thanks for the clarification.

[Quantess]

97. The OP is quoting Glenn Beck nearly verbatim.

And using Glenn Beck's analogies, too.

Edit to add an icky link http://blog.americasnewstoday.com/2008/04/08/glenn-beck-on-absolut-vodka-americanhaters.aspx

[FightTheRight89]

100. Interesting. It's rare that Glenn Beck and I agree...

But I guess you can find common ground with everyone...

[Quantess]

106. Occasionally I agree with Glenn Beck myself, possibly 5 to 10% of the time.

In this case, I neither agree nor disagree, it's just a little overblown.

Maybe you were both inspired by the same article.

[blondeatlast]

108. Righty-o. Catch my drift, tombstoner? nt

[QueenOfCalifornia]

6. It does not offend me

I understand why it was placed in Mexico and what the history is.

It has everything to do with an indigenous people who were exploited and who mixed with Europeans being displaced from land they once were free to live upon.

The Swedish company, Absolut, has a way more global view than the myopic view held by most Americans.

It is what I would call a tempest in a teacup and really not worth anyone taking offense. IMHO

[LanternWaste]

7. Why should I be outraged...?

Being that I'm a simpleton, maybe you could explain to me why I should be outraged over this.

All I see are some borders redrawn to pre-Louisiana purchase specs. Borders-- just some imaginary lines is all. Not at all real- whether historical or contemporary.


There's no major movement in Mexico or anywhere else that seriously considers the American Southwest as to be part and parcel of the the nation of Mexico, so I can't really find the analogies you made valid in any sense of the word.

There's a great graphic that turns up on DU quite often showing the USA and Canada divided into two nations-- Canada (plus the eastern seaboard, the Pacific northwest and CA) and "Jesusland". It's funny. So is the ad you posted.

Outrage and insults are alike in that a person can find them wherever he looks for them-- even in places where they don't exist...


Borders-- just a bunch of imaginary red and blue lines on a map. They're not real. They don't exist. Why would I get angry over how someone depicts them...? :shrug:

[FightTheRight89]

11. Yes, there is a movement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajkAP_M4ZAM

[LanternWaste]

15. Not a serious movement. Not a movement worth consideration or time.

Not a serious movement. Not a movement worth consideration or time. Nothing any more serious than the Minutemen in the U.S. Nothing that has strong financial support.

Sure, you can find a group of oddballs anywhere-- but that's what you're left with-- just another group of oddballs.

Yeah-- on Youtube, I could probably find a movement to get South Carolina to secede from the Union, but there's simply no reason to take it seriously.

So sure, there may be a small group on the border that dreams about reclaiming that particular territory, but there's also another group that thinks Luxembourg belongs to America by Divine Right.

On edit: Yeah... I did qualify all that in my initial response: "there's no MAJOR movement".

[treestar]

122. There are still successionists

They even have meetings. Loonies all.

[AlphaCentauri]

116. His Panic: Why Americans Fear Hispanics in the U.S.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/WaterCooler/Story?id=4339477&page=1

[Beausoleil]

31. pre-Louisiana purchase specs

Then that would make it not Mexico, but Spain.

[LanternWaste]

60. I didn't specify either way... n/t

I didn't specify either way...

[Beausoleil]

65. No criticism, just pointing out that

the territory in question was Spanish territory for about three centuries, Mexican territory for about three decades. Interesting.

[Sequoia]

12. Offended? Why should I be?

Oh, I know, the Mexican are coming, the Mexicans are coming! To take back the land we stole. Volunteers needed. Free shots of Absolut for all!

[Auggie]

14. I'm not offended. It's just a bad ad in a tired campaign.

[devilgrrl]

20. I like the Ad. It's very clever in fact.

Thanks for posting it, I'm going to forward it to a few Mexican friends of mine, they'll definitely get a kick out of it.

:hi:

[AlphaCentauri]

24. lol

[proud2BlibKansan]

56. lol

[nashville_brook]

21. not offended. perplexed...but not offended.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

25. It's an insult to the American people.

Since we were invaded by Mexico. They dropped wave after wave of bombs on us in an attempt at "Shock and Awe." They've killed millions of our people. Forced millions of us to flee our homes. Tortured us. Raped us. Murdered us. And they called it democracy. How dare they? HOW DARE THEY?

[magellan]

26. No more than it would bother me if they ran this in England and France

IN AN ABSOLUT WORLD

[ensho]

30. you are changing the subject of this thread

nt

[magellan]

33. In your opinion

n/t

[LanternWaste]

61. It appears to be a valid comparison...

It appears to be a valid comparison, hence rather than changing the subject, the post appears to be merely making a contrast. :shrug:

[NeedleCast]

36. Not Offended

But them I'm not an easily offended person. This ad was marketed in Mexico. It just doesn't bother me.

[Quantess]

39. Glenn Beck, as you might know, featured this on yesterday's show.

I was in the presence of a TV whose remote was out of my control.

BTW, I think this "reconquista" idea can be shoved. How long did Mexico own it... 20 years?

[KG]

45. not offended. just an ad for alchohol. why would anybody take it seriously?

[GoneOffShore]

46. Damn - I don't even drink vodka anymore, but I'm buying a case of Absolut

Great ad.

Find something else to get your knickers in a twist about - something really important —

Like winning the Goddamn Presidential Election!!!

Sheesh - I thought that the members of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Outrage - Shameless Commerce Sect only met on Sundays.

[slackmaster]

57. I think their vodka is overpriced and the ad was ill-advised

:hi:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

69. It's tempest in a shot glass. A rather silly tempest.

Only a true xenophobe could see a threat in a commercial about vodka.

[RB TexLa]

73. Well, they are just "shoving dat der Mexican riting on it in our face."

remember "Mexican riting an talkin" means "dey talkin bout us behind our back."

[EFerrari]

71. I'm not offended but I do agree with you that maps are political artefacts.

And you are right that you aren't the market the ad people were shooting for when they went with this.

It's an old map that supposed to evoke adventure and possibility, romanticized.

I don't think it was produced to piss off Yankees. :)

[LanternWaste]

76. Since you haven't gotten around to it yet...

Since you haven't gotten around to it yet, why not explain to us why you yourself are outraged over this... I mean, since you can go on and on and all.

What is (are) the precise and relevant reasons you're upset over this?

[FightTheRight89]

79. Not that you'll care, but...

Because I take offense to seeing a third of my nation under foreign rule.

Just as though a Pole would take offense to seeing a representatin Pomerania and Silesia back under German rule, or a Turk would to seeing Istanbul both Greek and named Constantinople.

[blondeatlast]

94. Did Glenn Beck or Michelle Malkin say that?

Glaaaaassssssssssss....

[LanternWaste]

95. you're not seeing a third of your country under foreign rule

However you're not seeing a third of your country under foreign rule. You're simply seeing an ad depicting that. Fiction. Make-believe.

Did you howl with righteous indignation at the movie 'Red Dawn'? 'The Matrix'? Because, for all intent and purposes, they are doing the precise same thing-- illustrating a ficticious rule for the purpose of making money...


"Just as though a Pole would take offense..."
Would that same same Pole take offense were the ad to illustrate Poland under Swedish rule? I doubt it. Or a Scotsman under Danish rule? I doubt it.

At this point, you're merely inferring what other people and other cultures may or may not think.

However, I'm sure that since you've dug your feet into the ground pretty deep on this platform of fictional wars won by the "other side", you make a point to advertise loudly and whenever possible your displeasure when you see a Confederate Battle flag on someone's car.


As an aside, I asked because I like to entertain more than one valid perspective. So yeah-- in a sense, I do care

[FightTheRight89]

99. A couple things.

I do voice my anger loudly when I see a Confederate Battle flag on someone's car.

The purpose of the Matrix and Red Dawn were supposed to be a portrayal fighting against unjust rule, not a ploy to make money based on revanchist claims.

Also, I do think that a Pole would take offense to seeing a depiction of their country under Swedish rule.

[LanternWaste]

109. Now you're qualifying already made statements of absolutism.

"The purpose of the Matrix and Red Dawn were supposed to be a portrayal fighting "

Now you're re-qualifying your already made statements of absolutism. You're including intent-- and the intent of both the movies and the ad are to make money. Unless you think the previously mentioned movies were made and presented to us simply for our own edification with no thought of profit... but that would be silly.

[blondeatlast]

96. Um--has Mr. Beck ever discussed the financial hold China, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai

hold over us?

Don't want your beautiful mind to explode even if I don't like your thread or your lack of debate skills or knowledge.

:rofl:

[readmoreoften]

125. Yeah, I'm sure the Mexicans were pissed off about seeing a third of their nation under foreign rule.

After the Spanish sold them out to the US.

Newsflash: we're not at war with Mexico. In fact, US businesses have bought Mexico like Saudi interests have bought the US. If it makes you feel any better, US corporations have stolen the farmland out from under so many Mexican citizens that a million people a year have been forced to flee to US territory to try to survive.

It's an old map. It's your people who've been seizing other people's lands and murdering their citizens. Maybe you ought to be a little more upset about that.

[FightTheRight89]

84. Also, it's more the ideas that the ad plays on...

That the ad itself that offend me.
And sorry to go on and on.

[MindPilot]

80. If they would have just called it Mexifornijas...

I think more would see it in the spirit in which it was intended.

I don't find it anymore or less offensive than a Chevy commercial crowing how this is OUR country.

[FightTheRight89]

81. Hell yeah, it's our country.

[blondeatlast]

93. Was that from Glenn Beck or Michelle Malkin?

I like to give "credit" for mindless talking-point outrage where "credit" is due?

So who were you watching/listening to at the time?

[RadiationTherapy]

98. Meh. The US is A country.

Been a while since it looked like MY country.

[devilgrrl]

101. D'oh!!!!

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

102. Whoops.

:rofl:

[blondeatlast]

105. Wait, now... quoting Glenn Beck is QUALITY disruption!

(Not.)

Pardon me while I slip my tap shoes on... :rofl:

[EFerrari]

118. No, that's an old map. What kind of a weenie do you have to be

to be unmanned by an old piece of parchment?

:rofl:

[AteAlien]

87. ad has been pulled

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0729018920080408?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=22&sp=true

[devilgrrl]

88. Phew. I'm so relieved. What was ABSOLUT thinking?

[EFerrari]

129. It's hilarious. We can't handle the 19th Century truth.

:rofl:

[nadinbrzezinski]

103. In an absolut world they are missing Central America

all the way to Nicaragua

(DUCKING)

[ZombieHorde]

107. It just looks like an old map with an add on it to me. nt

[Taverner]

110. Not offended in the least

We stole that land in one (actually several) big land grab. Doesn't surprise me that there are some sentiments of soreness from that.

And maybe, just maybe, some Texans will pick up on the fact that the Alamo was not some fight for freedom, but instead a war to keep slaves.

[Kitty Herder]

113. Not bloody likely.

(In reference to the idea of Texans picking up on the fact that the Alamo was a battle in a war to keep slaves.)

[Taverner]

114. Nope, even progressive Texans view the Alamo tantamount to a Christ v Satan matchup

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

112. Ha! I love it

We used war to gain a significant amount of our land, and I think that it was a pretty shitty thing to do.

[Kitty Herder]

115. That's right. You're never supposed remind Americans of our bloody history of conquest.

It hurts our delicate sensibilities.

[EFerrari]

117. The OP has left the building.n/t

[MindPilot]

119. It's a little unnerving for some when they get a firsthand look

at how the mighty righteous United States of American is seen by others. In this case it was apparently a lethal blow.

[EFerrari]

127. You're right. It's distressing to have a different viewpoint

mess up the propaganda stream most of us accept our whole life without question.

[treestar]

120. There is no real threat here

This is just a joke, meant to appeal to the Mexicans.

Sort of like the "upside down" map of earth that is meant to appeal to Australians.

They're selling vodka.

[Marr]

124. Advertisers love nothing so much as stirring up a fight.

Lots of free eyeballs.

I'd view this ad more as a cynical exploitation of public resentment than any serious discussion.

[JackRiddler]

126. Anyone notice where the bottle itself resides?

It's all by Chavez's plan, I tell you!

[tabasco]

128. Oh who fucking cares.

Jesus Christ, the things people get upset about.