Subway's Anti-American Tray-Liners

Townhall ^ | July 30, 2004 | Jeff Mazzella

[DemWatch]

Dear Friends,

It has come to our attention that SUBWAY, an American company, is using this tray liner (see below for English translation) in their restaurants in Germany and across Europe. In a shameless and anti-American effort to increase sales in Europe, SUBWAY restaurants are promoting the film, "Super Size Me," a documentary about a man who gains weight by gorging himself at McDonald's for 30 days straight without any exercise. Learn more about “Super Size Me”, and its irresponsible message.

The most offensive part of this new advertising campaign is the display of an obese Statue of Liberty holding a burger and fries in her hands. The headline screams “Why are Americans so fat?” (The headline uses the German word “Amis” – a derogatory term for Americans.)

Simply put, SUBWAY’s advertising strategy is a new low in corporate behavior -- exploiting cultural tensions and inflaming anti-American sentiment abroad just to sell more sandwiches. It is appalling that SUBWAY, a U.S. company, would attack Americans and the Statue of Liberty in a time of war ... just to gain market share.

In response, the Center for Individual Freedom (www.cfif.org), together with Frontiers of Freedom (www.ff.org) and several other organizations, has launched its own campaign to demand that SUBWAY immediately end its anti-American marketing ploy.

To be effective, we desperately need your help!

An excerpt from today’s Houston Chronicle, which reported on this issue in a front page article, reads: "SUBWAY officials thought a tie-in with a movie featuring [Jared] Fogle and raising awareness about the nation's weight problem 'just seemed to make sense' for a company that has just launched a campaign to fight childhood obesity,” Kane said.

There you have it folks. No denial, no apology, no shame.

Please join us in demanding that SUBWAY immediately halt its anti-American propaganda scheme overseas. Call SUBWAY CEO Fred DeLuca today! Urge him to stop his cynical advertising campaign against the United States. The phone number for Mr. DeLuca at Subway's Executive Offices in Connecticut is 800-888-4848, ext. 1401.

I also want to encourage you to write letters to the editor of your local newspapers condemning SUBWAY for its anti-American marketing scheme. And to make this campaign successful, it’s critical that you help spread the word by forwarding this call to action to your friends and family.

We need your help. Let SUBWAY know that Americans refuse to tolerate their shameless gambit. Take Action NOW!

Sincerely,

Jeff Mazzella Executive Director Center for Individual Freedom www.cfif.org

[DemWatch]

Translation of Subway Tray-Liner--Germany

Michael Moore quote:

“The only time I have been scared/frightened for my life has been going through a McDonald’s drive-thru.”

Trayliner text:

Why are Americans so fat?

In the Michael Moore tradition, New York filmmaker Morgan Spurlock does some deep questioning and self experiments for 30 days on products from the world’s largest fast food company.

Astounding revelations…scary liver levels and horrifying blood levels that would cause any doctor the highest degree of alarm.

In this top satire, which won the prize for best direction from Sundance 2004, Spurlock explores the questions of responsibility between big business and consumers, and the big money which contributes to this “Fast Food” culture, and how to make Americans healthy again. An ironic hit into the stomach that is enriched by fat and facts behind this dubious mega industry.

Passage near Statue of Liberty:

You care about what you eat and everything isn’t equal? Then you shouldn’t miss this film about foolish intake. It will open your eyes.

[kaktuskid]

A tad of hypocracy here...Subway sells sandwiches just as fattening as McDs...e.g. the BMT sub.

[kaktuskid]

Michael Moore quote:


“The only time I have been scared/frightened for my life has been going through a McDonald’s drive-thru.”

Apparently he came over his fears!

[kinsman redeemer]

I was traveling in PRC once and was in a remote area where I was very alone in a huge crowd of Chinese. From a great distance I saw an American couple. It was amazing how easy they were to notice even from so far away.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Most subway's are owner operated or at least independently owned. A boycott would only hurt the little guy.

I suggest the phone call to corp headquarters rather than a boycott, should anyone be so inclined.

[HitmanLV]

Our side really needs to develop a sense of humor. This is at best distasteful, but I don't see it as anti-american in the least.

[PAR35]

Posted here:

Subway Panders to European AntiAmerican Attitudes...Needs FReeping
Townhall via Center for Individual Freedom | 7-30-04 | Jeff Mazzella

Posted on 07/30/2004 12:47:08 PM CDT by Bob J

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1181864/posts

[SageofRugby]

I agree with some of the other comments. Judge it on taste not on it being anti-American. Subway's advertising for the past few years has been as a low-fat alternative to fastfood chains like McDonald's. Most of Subway's offerings easily outdistance McDonald's when it comes to low fat content. As a former McDonald's shareholder and one who eats a lot at Subway now I find the article somewhat overblown. Most people are intelligent enough to see the point without reading things into the ad. Even in Germany (and France)!

[7.62 x 51mm]

Ditto. It's in bad taste, but since I don't eat their stuff anyway, I defacto boycott them now. I'll be calling corp hq and give them a piece of my mind.

[Blzbba]

"I don't see it as anti-american in the least."


Agreed. Besides, a large number of Americans would do well to heed the advice and stop eating crappy fast food.

[SoDak]

The mere smell of the interior of Subways is enough to take my penchant for lunch away. I don't know if it's a brand of cleaner or what, but they smell hideous to me, and I never eat there. Besides, there's a local boy operating a supreme sub shop and he's a shooter.

[paulk]

Only one problem - we Americans ARE fat - amazingly so.

My daughter dragged out my 1973 year book and I noticed how nice and thin everyone was back then.

Another time I spent 6 weeks in Asia and when I came back I noticed that so many people here are just fat. And more than a few are REALLY fat.

Now that being said, I think anyone who wants to eat themselves into a fat state has a perfect right to do so.

Also, Europeans are also getting fat, but at a slower rate due to their inferior standard of living.

I can't see how one can paint this anti American when it is just true.

[Reactionary]

You don't see the European Leftist drivel about "fat, stupid America" being anti-American in the least?

[SoDak]

You're right, however it isn't so much the food, in my opinion, as it is the inability for people to get off their rump and move. My dad maintained 165 lbs throughout his life as a farmer, even though he ate tremendous amounts of calorie-laden food. He retired and moved into town and weighed 255 lbs within 12 months. The problem is, we all eat like we're doing hard labor, only we're on the barcalounger.

[HitmanLV]

Well, not really. My threshold for offense is much higher.

We have bigger fish to fry and making noise over a sandwitch wrapper lessens our credibility on bigger issues.

So yea, I see it as drivel, but no, not obscenely anti-american.

[cherry]

sense of humor?.....they are treating us like pigs, and degrading our Lady Liberty.....

let them do it here in the States if they think that's exceptable....

they know they couldn't get away with it here....

[paulk]

Where is it that they labeled Americans stupid? We are, as a group, fat.

[12 Gauge Mossberg]

Most subway's are owner operated or at least independently owned. A boycott would only hurt the little guy.

Well said.

[TX Bluebonnet]

And are potato chips any healthier than fries?

[HitmanLV]

Relax. It's just a sandwitch wrap, and it is no big deal.

Lady Liberty is parodied all the time (here and there), I am not mortally offended each time it is.

Getting annoyed by this kind of stuff only makes our side look humorless and dull, terminally unhip. That depiction can never help us.