Absolut Vodka (Santa Fe, Taos, Mesilla: real estate, house, buy)

[Devin Bent]

Has anybody seen the Absolut Vodka ad -- apparently run only in Mexico -- showing the purported 1848 boundary of Mexico and US.

"shows a map of the border of Mexico and the United States where it stood before the Mexican-American War of 1848."

It's a little imaginative unless I am reading the map incorrectly -- a possibility.

But it seems to ignore the Texas War of Independence, and seems to cede Colorado and other doubtful areas to Mexico. After all, the Bent Brothers flew the American flag over Colorado for years and nobody from Mexico ever showed up and disputed it.

washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines

But there are no state lines shown -- of course for the most part they didn't exist -- so I may be reading the map wrong.

Apparently people in the US got upset and Absolut killed the ad and apologized.

[BrianH]

[AndyJ]

Dusting off my knowledge of history, I believe that the US acquired this entire area fair and square, albeit through more than one purchase and treaty (Gadsden Purchase, Treaty of Guadalupe, perhaps more). The compromise was that America would recognize the vested land rights of Mexicans who had long held property in that area, which has been the subject of debate on and off ever since.

I'm glad they pulled the ad, it has no relevance today.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Devin Bent

Has anybody seen the Absolut Vodka ad -- apparently run only in Mexico -- showing the purported 1848 boundary of Mexico and US.

"shows a map of the border of Mexico and the United States where it stood before the Mexican-American War of 1848."

It's a little imaginative unless I am reading the map incorrectly -- a possibility.

But it seems to ignore the Texas War of Independence, and seems to cede Colorado and other doubtful areas to Mexico. After all, the Bent Brothers flew the American flag over Colorado for years and nobody from Mexico ever showed up and disputed it.

washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines

But there are no state lines shown -- of course for the most part they didn't exist -- so I may be reading the map wrong.

Apparently people in the US got upset and Absolut killed the ad and apologized.

I've seen it, it's pretty offensive -- just like an ad showing most of Europe taken over by Germany would be to people in France or Poland.

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by malamute

I've seen it, it's pretty offensive -- just like an ad showing most of Europe taken over by Germany would be to people in France or Poland.

Could not have said it better myself. It's a complete disgrace. I am not a vodka drinker, but if I were, I'd never buy Absolut again.

[yukon]

Absolut should have stuck with the Blue Dog ads.

[Reactionary]

The ad may have been run in Mexico, but it's written in English ("In an Absolut World"). IMO this was a deliberate affront by the Mexican ad agency.

Note that Absolut was recently (past week or so) purchased by a new company, so I don't know if I'd punish the new company (Pernod).

Absolut issued a fake apology, then a full apology. That ad bit em hard...

[Devin Bent]

Originally Posted by AndyJ

Dusting off my knowledge of history, I believe that the US acquired this entire area fair and square, albeit through more than one purchase and treaty (Gadsden Purchase, Treaty of Guadalupe, perhaps more). The compromise was that America would recognize the vested land rights of Mexicans who had long held property in that area, which has been the subject of debate on and off ever since.

I'm glad they pulled the ad, it has no relevance today.

It's also worth remembering that that when Kearny came, nobody here was that interested in staying part of Mexico -- a distant unresponsive government. He rode in, announced that this was the US and nobody fired a shot. Later there was a revolt at Taos, but no other towns or pueblos joined in.

[tecpatl]

Originally Posted by AndyJ

Dusting off my knowledge of history, I believe that the US acquired this entire area fair and square, albeit through more than one purchase and treaty (Gadsden Purchase, Treaty of Guadalupe, perhaps more). The compromise was that America would recognize the vested land rights of Mexicans who had long held property in that area, which has been the subject of debate on and off ever since.

I'm glad they pulled the ad, it has no relevance today.

You believe wrong, my friend, unless you also believe someone breaking into your home, putting a pistol to your head and making you "sell" your house to them for a price THEY dictate is a legitimate real estate transaction (i.e. fair and square).
The US invaded Mexico and the government that "sold" (15 million for almost the entire Southwest) the land acquired in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was under US military occupation. This is hand-in-glove with the US concept of Manifest Destiny. Later, Santa Ana sold land (Tratado de Mesilla or Gadsden Purchase) in south NM and AZ, a deal that pretty much drove the corrupt General from office.
You'll also find that many land grant claims were ignored if the same property was coveted by US business (think railroads & mining) or govt. interests.
The ad was produced in and for the Mexican market, period. It uses imagery that evokes a very long-time and widely held opinion in Mexico that the land was taken or extorted, despite the payment. It likely was designed to appeal to the Mexican popular market, make a slight political commentary and also be amusing (something that is completely lost on irritable, touchy gringos) while garnering publicity.
The negative publicity for Absolut in the US was driven almost entirely by the Michelle Malkin types who use things like this to sell their books, get more airtime on Fox News, and generally grow their own publicity and wallets while flogging faux outrage. They were very successful in this.
Have you ever seen the New Yorker cartoon, a USA map, where New York City is huge, Chicago is a little dot and nothing else appears in the entire country until the west coast? This ad is a similar thing. A perspective joke.
People who take it seriously or CARE how Absolut advertises in another country need to find something more useful to do with their time and energy.
Relax and get over it, people.

[Devin Bent]

Yes, it is mostly amusing and I put it up for that reason. It is not very serious.

But let's not turn this into a politically correct college course, Victimology 101. The fact remains that nobody fired a shot when Kearny entered New Mexico and the "military occupation" was maintained by a ridiculous few who could have easily been overwhelmed by a concerted uprising. For instance, in how many towns were the troops stationed? Santa Fe. Where else? And when the revolt occurred in Taos, who joined them? Nobody. Nada. A truly oppressive "military occupation".

Yes, people were cheated of land grants and I deplore that -- but they got free public education way before they would have gotten it if they had stayed part of Mexico.

And what is the ratio of federal taxes out to federal money in? Would Mexico be as generous?