Add Pepsi to the list of products that I won’t ever purchase or support again because of their corporate politics (see: Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream).

Annika wrote the most brilliant response to Indra Nooy, the President and CFO of Pepsico who gave a speech at Columbia Business School’s commencement where she compared the fingers of the hand to different parts of the world. The United States got the middle finger.

Nooy offered an insincere half-assed apology here. Annie’s not buying it. Neither am I.

Here’s Annie’s response to the apology:

Apology not accepted, babe. Mainly because i’m not, as she said, hurt or offended by her speech. Don’t get me wrong, i think the lady hasn’t the faintest idea what a great country she now lives in. Her viewpoint has been tainted by hanging around America-hating New York intellectuals. But what she sees as an American negative - the fact that we stick out, that the “world” thinks we’re too arrogant - is actually a source of unabashed pride for me.

i believe in American exceptionalism. i don’t think America needs to be more humble. If my country has ever flipped anyone off in the past, that’s something i want to see more of. Look at the scoreboard….

…We are different. We are better. And i’m sick and tired of our own people getting on a public stage and telling us we should bow and beg and be meek in front of the rest of the world. When was that ever an American trait? i hope it never is.

…So let the America-haters and the timid intellectuals whine. Call me a jingoist, i won’t be offended. i’m proud to be a flag waving, middle finger sticking, American.

Yeah. Everything she said? Me too.

And here’s the beautiful Annie illustrating her response, followed by my own graphical illustration:

Do you get the message, Pepsi? Now, excuse me while I go pop a can of Coca-Cola (with Lime).

Posted by Robbie Cooper on Thursday, May 19th, 2005 | Trackback |