Absolut "What If Mexico Won The Mexican-American War?" Controversy

The current worldwide "In An Absolut World" ad campaign came under fire last week from angry North Americans protesting the design for the Mexican version of the campaign which utilizes a historic map from pre Mexican-American War days (back when California, Texas and the entire American Southwest actually belonged to Mexico). I wish I had time to go into all the truly thrilling details of the crazy-ass history of the Mexican-American War (including then Senator Abraham Lincoln's Barbara Lee-esque hold-out position against President Polk where he stood up against the US declaration of war against Mexico as unjust).

Anyway, it seems that more than 5,000 people have enough time on their hands to post angry messages on the Absolut.com message boards about how they will now boycott Absolut for being anti-American. Prompting Absolut VP of Corporate Communications Paula Eriksson to post an initial explanatory post, followed by an official apology.

Here's my favorite part from the explanation post: "This particular ad, which ran in Mexico, was based upon historical perspectives and was created with a Mexican sensibility. In no way was this meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues. Instead, it hearkens to a time which the population of Mexico may feel was more ideal... Obviously, this ad was run in Mexico, and not the US -- that ad might have been very different."

The outrage of all the US xeno-phobes points up the need for some basic education about the historical facts of the Mexican-American War (forthcoming in my next deceptively entitled movie, Get Me Guinevere Turner!)

March 15, 2011 Update: The title of my movie has been changed to the slightly less deceptive (and admittedly less imaginative), The Royal Road.