The care instructios on the tags contained in Tom Bihn brand backpacks include both English and French language text, which is to be expected on products sold in many countries.
What is not expected is the text "NOUS SOMMES DESOLES QUE NOTRE PRESIDENT SOIT UN IDIOT. NOUS N'AVONS PAS VOTE POUR LUI." Or in English, "We are sorry that our president is an idiot. We didn't vote for him."
Tom Bihn, president of the Port Angeles, WA company which bears his name issued a statement.
"I am terribly sorry that this inside joke has been misconstrued to be a slur on any other president. The joke is on me, and I think it's funny."Bihn's limp-writed explanation rings hollow with me and many others. The message board on Bihn's own website is loaded with scathing commentary from disgusted Americans who don't find the tag to be funny at all.
On their "About Us" page, key employees are asked (among other things) to give their favorite website addresses.
Bihn's favorite? The website of noted British columnist and anti-American (and source of the blogosphere term "to fisk") Robert Fisk.
The company claims they plan to redesign the tags in order to remove the French language insult. However, the aims and intentions of the company are painfully clear to anyone with half a brain.
(submitted to Beltway Traffic Jam)
Yeah, right. Can anyone say "Damage Control"?