Is This Vodka Billboard Anti-Semitic?
SodaHead News
2011/11/25 20:00:00
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There's nothing like some good ol' ethnic controversy to kick off the holiday season, right? A New York City billboard advertising Wodka brand vodka was quickly removed ("and destroyed") this week when onlookers began complaining that the ad was anti-Semitic. The sign read: "Christmas quality, Hanukkah pricing." The Anti-Defamation League called the ad "crude and offensive ... clearly insensitive and inappropriate" for correlating the Jewish holiday with money.
MMG, the marketing company that designed the ad, does not deny that the billboard was drawing on Jewish stereotypes, but MMG head Brian Gordon explained, "We thought people would perceive it as 'ha ha quirky.' But people perceived it as offensive, and because of that, we pulled it."
The New York Times notes that Gordon was "quick to point out that he is Jewish."
Top Opinion
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John Storz 2011/11/27 02:14:54
Can you imagine if they said something about blacks or Muslims? Holy crap, the president would have been involved.
As for my personal boycott, I realize that it does not have that much affect but it is something. As for others, this is more telling of the society at large for being numb to these offenses rather than the small group of people that put out ads like this. If they honestly thought they would offend most people and/or that it would hurt their business, they would not do it.
However, at the end of the day, I do support their right to be idiotic.
But every person, regardless of whatever categories s/he might fit into, deserves the right to live life free from harassment, whether it be by rumor (which is slander/libel) passed in schoolyard notes, on the Internet, or on billboard signs... or from direct accosting by another. And though you may not be a *racial* or cultural "minority" (as liberals are so fond of), I doubt that you have never found yourself in a minority situation in your life (where you were part of a minority) and cannot understand what it is like for the victims of stereotyping and rumo...
But every person, regardless of whatever categories s/he might fit into, deserves the right to live life free from harassment, whether it be by rumor (which is slander/libel) passed in schoolyard notes, on the Internet, or on billboard signs... or from direct accosting by another. And though you may not be a *racial* or cultural "minority" (as liberals are so fond of), I doubt that you have never found yourself in a minority situation in your life (where you were part of a minority) and cannot understand what it is like for the victims of stereotyping and rumor. (I happen to be white as well but part of a cultural minority: I am a Cajun. Maybe that helps me understand both the plight of the white American as well as the racial/cultural "minority"...? That's what I like to think anyway.)
I agree with you on principle, things like this are vile and insensitive. I would contend that 50 years ago the person(s) at the advertising agency would not even consider this ad as an option but in today's world, they do not fear a backlash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?...