One of the things I don't really like about being here is the mini-Republican enclave that is W-town. Minnesota in general is a blue state, but there are counties here and there that are hard-cord Republican, and The Company just happens to be located in one of them. This means that the majority of my co-workers are as well, which has lead to some testy conversations over the years.
The right-wing tendencies manifest themselves in other ways though - there are anti-abortion signs everywhere, people are not really very tolerant of foreigners (or even non-white Americans for that matter), and don't even get them started on homosexuals. It just kind of comes with the area though, and I've gotten used to it while here. But that doesn't mean my mouth didn't fall wide open when I saw this on my way home tonight:
I mean, what the hell? What on Earth is "Jesus" doing written on a McDonald's billboard? I pondered that the rest of the way home, and it's still bothering me today. I'm a huge believe in the separation of church and state, and I don't see how religious affiliations of any kind belong in the public domain. Or could one argue that since McDonalds are franchised, the franchise owner is free to put what he likes on his billboards??
posted by Ksam @ 3:19 AM
23 Comments:
I think think it just comes down to the fact that everyone likes cheeseburgers, even Jesus! Some companies use sports stars to market products... but think about it, who has the most fans, Jesus! If you could get just 30% of his fans to eat there, think about the increase in revenue. This McDonald's owner is a marketing genius!!
That does seem weird to me. I remember going to Savannah and being stunned to see the Ten Commandments framed up on the wall - you'd never see that in Australia! :)
You need to spend more time in the South dear. Burgers and religion are a way of life where I grew up.
Great photo btw.
Ugh, yeah that's what I definitely DON'T miss about the US.
Was not Minnesota the state when some lady asked McCain if Obama was an "E-e-Arab"??!!
This mentality scares me...
Anyway, with MC...I mean, they are just being too personal and even if I wanted to go there, I just would not... Well, maybe unlike most locals. hehe
babies-guns-religion...errrrghhhhhhhh
From what I can gather from the US, the separation between church and state is more of a suggestion....lol.
Sam, that would have disturbed me too. I don't miss the In Your Face religious right in the States.
And I'm sure they don't miss me! :)
Okay Sam, you cured me of my temporary homesickness with this post! I've been lamenting the fact that there aren't any Goodwills here in France where I can go find great bargains and really had the urge to go back until I was reminded of the religious right. I really, really do not miss that about home. France really is a better fit for me even if there aren't any Goodwills.
God wants you to eat fatty food and die of a heart attack? Maybe there should be a separation or religion and fast food.
I think the Jesus billboard is a franchise decision. One of my California friend's parents owned a McDonalds and I found out that there are actually a lot of choices left up to each franchise owner. As long as the next level up in the McDonalds hierarchy isn't upset by something they're doing, I think they can put up religious signs or whatever they want. My friend's parents put a flatscreen tv on the wall and tried to push a sports bar atmostphere, which isn't common.
makes me think of..."you've got Jesus on speed dial??" :)
Does that mean that a lot of Christians eat at Mickey D's or WHAT?!!!!!! That leaves out a whole lot of other religions..... Frankly, I wouldn't want to mix a good name with a bad brand of food!!! UGGH!!!!
PS... That would NEVER fly like that in Cali.... In fact, in San Diego... there was a lot of controversy over the big Cross on Mt. Soledad in La Jolla and they had to take it down because it was "religious" on public property!!!!
Or maybe the franchise owner is saying, "McDonald's, Jesus!"
wow. that's flabbergasting. do you think the person who put it up there thinks it will attract customers? ie., is it advertising burgers?
well, technically mcdonald's is not owned by the state (as far as i know... it could be a conspiracy, but i'll put that one aside for now *g*), so they can do whatever they want. doesn't suprise me in those icky little conservative towns... can you tell i'm biases? thank god chicago is liberal, is all i can say. :)
That is odd, I agree. We don't have that kind of scary stuff in Boston. What I did think was strange while living in Dijon was that there were signs like that around the centre ville listing town events, etc, and they would always post the saint of the day for every "Name Day". That pissed me off since France likes to flaunt itself as being so secular. And that was the city putting that info up.
I agree with Bostanna. The sign is strange and I can't imagine seeing that were I live DC, but it is true what she said about France. There are huge crosses in every village and France observes so many "catholic" holidays and each day is a saint's day.
ah, american freedom of speech! luckily, we all get the chance to do what we want. i have boycotted domino's pizza since i learned the founder is a huge anti-choice abortion opponent, and major contributor to catholic fundamentalist education. bah, to religiosity.
Jadie- I had no idea about Dominoes, how awful! Although I should have guessed from their latest sexist and racist advertisements. Thanks for the heads up.
So THAT's what's in those burgers!
Bostanna,
I think you didn't really understand this thing about Saints. Today is Saint Gatien. No one will think about this saint but about people with that name. Some people get presents. When it's Saint Séverin, November 27th, a lot of people do things for me because it's kind of "my" day. No one think about religion. They tell me "bonne fête Séverine!" It's like a second birthday!
that pic is totally lmao
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