On fear and hate mongering
October 19th 2007 04:12
I just got the following in an email today. It's not a new story, and I even doubt if it is true. Still, it is the stuff of folklore among the fundamentalist right in America. I am on an email list that routinely sends out stuff like this..
The Budweiser Story
(not a joke)
This is TRUE!
How Budweiser handled those who laughed at those
who died on the 11th of September,
2001...
Thought you might like to know what happened
in a little town north of Bakersfield , California .
After you finish reading this,
please forward this story on to others
so that our nation and people around the world
will know about those who laughed
when they found out about the tragic events
in New York , Pennsylvania , and the Pentagon.
On September 11th,
A Budweiser employee was making a delivery
to a convenience store in a California town
named McFarland.
He knew of the tragedy that had occurred
in New York when he entered the business
to find the two Arabs, who owned the business, whooping and hollering to show their approval
and support of this treacherous attack.
The Budweiser employee went to his truck,
called his boss and told him
of the very upsetting event!
He didn't feel he could be in that store with those
horrible people. His boss asked him,
"Do you think you could go in there long enough
our beverage company sells there?
We'll never deliver to them again."
The employee walked in,
proceeded to pull every single product his
beverage company provided and left
with an incredible grin on his face.
He told them never to bother to call for
a delivery again.
Budweiser happens to be the beer of choice
for that community.
Just letting you know how Kern County
handled this situation. And Now
The Rest Of The Story:
It seems that the Bud driver and the Pepsi man
are neighbors. Bud called Pepsi and told him.
Pepsi called his boss who told him to
pull all Pepsi products as well!!!
That would include Frito Lay, etc.
Furthermore, word spread and
all vendors followed suit! At last report,
the store was closed indefinitely.
Good old American
Passive-Aggressive A$$ Whoopin!
Pass this along, America needs to know
that we're all working together!
If you can read this.
Thank a teacher...
If you are reading it in English....
THANK A SOLDIER!!!
If you do not send this
you have no soul !!!!
*** END OF EMAIL***
The images came with the message. My point is this...what the hell is this? Is it to "rally the base" of hatred and prejudice? Is it to make the reader feel "proud" to be an American? Is it to make us think bad about the Arab down the street? It isn't needed, it isn't wanted, and it is trash. What do you think?
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Comment by Damo
The fact that is bigoted is nothing new.
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
There was chearing and laughing going on during september 11, during those attacks, by people in new york, except they weren't Arab so it failed to make it past a small five hundred word article in most newspapers. Not trying to point fingers here but it would seem people aren't taking offense directly from the fact some people 'liked' what happened on 9/11 but rather they want an avenue to let out the anger, one that isn't so complicated that recquires the emotion to wait on the reasoning.
Comment by Jeff Musall
Secular Humanity
it's more than just spam....the sender was actually a relative of mine, who put me on the mailing list as part of an attempt to "win me for Christ" I know full well where it comes from and it's reason...it is meant, like the others I get, to make people feel good about their feelings, be them intolerance or self-righteousness.
Comment by Jeff Musall
Secular Humanity
you are right....people don't always react with a long thought process when "in the moment." Still, knowing how these stories are made up and then ciriculated, I would be surprised if this one is even true. Why I posted it was to point out the mindset that still sees the need to circulate them.
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Whats sad about it is it shows just how low religous types have sunk, they no longer seem to even care about their religions teachings yet we expect them to care for others.
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
The only thing is that not everyone will see how stupid it is. I see that little soldier saluting with GOD BLESS AMERICA under it and it cracks me up. If I didn't know better I would think it was satire - but I don't doubt people do think this way (have seen plenty of it on Orble in the last couple of days) and I think you're right Jeff, it's probably made up.
"Doesn't matter if it didn't ACTUALLY happen, as long as we get the point across and rouse the good old folk into a hate frenzy. We know we're right so the end justifies the means..."
Plus haven't been able to take anything seriously that says "If you don't pass this on you have no soul, etc" since primary school.
I'm glad I don't have to deal with my relatives sending me stuff like this! Good luck with that, Jeff!
Michaelie
Comment by Lone Ranger
American Eagle
And what are you going to get from all your denial? Maybe you hope the fundamentalists will kill you quickly and painlessly once they take over the world?
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
Link
Comments: This is one of many "celebrating Arabs" stories circulating in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks (see "Boycott Dunkin' Donuts" for another). None of these tales, which typically claim that workers who appear to be of Arab descent were observed rejoicing over the attacks in places of business around the U.S., have yet been found true. Though there were documented reports of Muslims celebrating in other parts of the world, it seems rather implausible that terrorist sympathizers in the United States would risk reprobation (or worse) by rejoicing over the attacks in public.
As regards this particular narrative, both Anheuser-Busch, the manufacturer of Budweiser beer, and Dennis Muleady, marketing director of Advanced Beverage, the Budweiser distributor in the McFarland, California area, have denied the veracity of the story. It never happened.
Sources and further reading:
Attack Hoaxes Make Rounds on the Web
Bakersfield Californian, 28 September 2001
Scares, Hoaxes and False Alarms
Bergen Record, 14 September 2001
Comment by Damo
The letter is all lies and you can circulate that message back to your friend. The fact you seemed to be concerned that your friend is trying to 'win you for Christ' merely reflect your own person fears. The letter should be laughed off. I sometimes get this sort of crap from well meaning dolts but essentially no believes emails and less believe sensational blogs with bigoted overtones.
No more important than bogus chain letters
Comment by Jeff Musall
Secular Humanity
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum