Posted on 04/18/2020 8:38:17 AM PDT by EyesOfTX
Someone asked me overnight why I didn’t write something about the Land O Lakes label, and all I could think of was why in the world would I write about that?
For those who are unaware, on Friday, management at Land O’ Lakes responded to pressure from Native American activists and removed the image of an Indian woman from its labels after using it for more than 100 years.
God and Butter | Don't Worry, Be Mappy
In a statement, a spokesman said it would now focus on the farmers that actually own the company:
“As Land O’Lakes looks toward our 100th anniversary, we’ve recognized we need packaging that reflects the foundation and heart of our company culture — and nothing does that better than our farmer-owners whose milk is used to produce Land O’Lakes’ dairy products,” Beth Ford, Land O’Lakes president and CEO, said in a statement.
“As a farmer-owned co-op, we strongly feel the need to better connect the men and women who grow our food with those who consume it,” she added. Ok, fine. Why should I care? Why should anyone care?
Well, apparently a lot of people care about this company decision, because Twitter erupted with both messages of support and howls of protest over it, as chronicled in an article on the kerfluffle at the International Business Times. One Twitter user even put together a funny meme on the topic, indicating that Land O’ Lakes must be only 1/1024th butter:
Image may contain: 1 person, text
I thought that was amusing enough to post it on my Facebook feed, but was not interested enough in the subject to actually write about it.
I had a similar reaction to all the fake uproar from many conservatives over the fact that Barack Hussein Obama His Own Self waited for so long to endorse his former vice president, China Joe Biden. Being old enough to remember the 1980s, I thought that was all kind of silly, since Ronald Reagan also waited until George H.W. Bush, faced with a challenge from Jack Kemp, had essentially secured the nomination in 1988 before announcing his endorsement.
I figure if Obama wants to emulate Ronald Reagan on anything, it’s a welcome change.
But back to Land O’ Lakes: Why should it upset anyone that they decided to change their label? By the same token, why should it upset me or anyone else if some Native American activists basically forced the change?
Personally, I do wonder why anyone found that particular image to be offensive, since the label was designed to signify quality and purity. It was hardly similar to the obviously demeaning images long used by the Atlanta Braves and the Cleveland Indians. Those, I got.
Then again, it’s none of my business to judge what does and does not offend Native American activists. And, after years of dealing with half a dozen American Indian Tribes in my professional life and observing how they are still, in the 21st century, treated as 3rd-class citizens by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other U.S. government agencies, I have a first-hand sense of why they might be a little sensitive on the subject.
Finally, there have just been a bunch of other, more pressing issues to write about recently, believe it or not. So now you know why I hadn’t written about the Land O’ Lakes label change. But now that I have done so, I hope everyone is happy. I always aim to please.
That is all.
Bloggers. Stating they won’t write about something. Then they write about it.
Chief Wahoo.forever.
Go.Tribe!
Maybe a Scalped Settler would be a good idea.
With the current shutdown, a local dairy is selling heavy cream for $5 per gallon. It's worth making our own butter at that price.
There is always those horrid MAZOLA margarine commercials from 40 years ago.
“You call it corn, WE call it maize.”
https://vintage-ads.livejournal.com/5683007.html
I think I bought 20 lbs. of it (for freezing) prior to the panic buying (standard prepping for this type of problem), so I’m good for a couple of years.
well okay, it’s totally fine to change it but i think the new box is so bare and bland. why can’t think of some other image?
"Activists" with about as much Indian heritage as princess grey beaver aka fauxcahontas.
Really? Last week we were buying gallons of milk for $.99 a gallon. There are several reports out there of dairy farmers pumping milk into the sewers because there is no room at the co-ops and there is nothing else they can do with it.
One would think that Native American activists would be proud to have a beautiful cultural icon symbolizing the best of American Indians on a package of butter. Oh well. I guess not.
Let’s all continue to think of Indians as a bunch of drunks at the casinos. Living, as they have for centuries, off uncle Sam.
“There is always those horrid MAZOLA margarine commercials from 40 years ago.”
yeah, but weren’t those “MAZOLA Parties” great then!
“Why I Don’t Care About the Land O Lakes Label Change”
really ... if those fools want to switch from distinctive packaging to generic packaging like the gazallion generic butters they compete with, it’s their damn butter company to do with as they please ...
We all know this was done because of political correctness. Pressures are brought to bear, and companies give in.
Years ago, when we had a civilization, if you were penniless, owned no property or means of production, had no salaries to pay, were not a member of the landed gentry, lived in your parent’s basement, and dared to put pen to paper for public consumption, you were called a “scribbler”. These are still with us. Only their name has changed.
That is just technique of writing, been happening long before bloggers.
THAT is fantastic.
Margarine is poison, anyway.
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