Posted on 02/09/2002 2:30:04 PM PST by RonDog
Dr Pepper Responds to Consumers
Regarding its Patriot Can
A Note to Dr Pepper Consumers:
In recent days, several news media outlets in the country have reported on a special edition Dr Pepper can that was created to show support for the patriotic fervor that has been sweeping America since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, and to show the world that we are a united nation of people who place a high value upon freedom.
Much of the information being circulated on this subject is incomplete or inaccurate. Here are the facts:
The can, released last November, features an image of the Statue of Liberty along with the words "One Nation … Indivisible."
The special packaging was designed to reflect our pride in this country's determination to stand together as one.
The Statue of Liberty and Pledge of Allegiance were chosen as two of the greatest symbols of American freedom.Due to space limitations on the can, only a few of the 31 words from the Pledge of Allegiance could be used. The available area for graphics limited the amount of verbiage on the can.
Of the 31 words in the Pledge of Allegiance, only three were included. More than 90 percent were not included.We at Dr Pepper/Seven Up strongly believe that the message on these cans is a resoundingly patriotic, bipartisan message that we are a united nation.
More than 41 million special edition cans were ordered by Dr Pepper bottlers in portions of a dozen states. Because the limited edition patriotic can is to be retired in February, you will soon see regular packaging graphics for Dr Pepper at your local retail stores.
Sincerely,
Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.
Exactly! There are too many people here, on this thread, that are hysterical ninnies.
You know, since he is a Calvinist, you really can't blame him for what he does. He was predestined to do it.
Hank
1. It was poorly done, and made too much of using 3 words from a pledge of 31 words..
2. They should have shown the can (as they did) and stated the purpose of the can was to show the U.S. as an undivided nation under attack --- not to summarize the pledge.
3. The tone of their message is too defensive and not apologetic to those that were "unintentionally angered".
4. To sign the note "Sincerely, Dr. Pepper/7UP Inc." was stupid.. It should have been "signed" by a human, representing Dr. Pepper/7UP Inc...
Dr. Pepper's management and consultants come across as pretty stupid in this response --- but they make a delicious drink and I will "overlook" this screw up.
Semper Fi
Agreed. I'll continue to drink Dr Pepper. (BTW, When I was born, it was "One Nation, indivisible". "Under God" wasn't added until later...)
...Most sincerely,Actually, Rev. Pemberton seems to doing some good work with his online ministry.
B. Lee Pemberton
PastorWhy in the world would you be watching something like that, and watching it to the bitter end, Pastor? Why were you even watching TV. Did God have nothing better for you to do?
Hank
See what appears to be his website at:
Church of the Lion of Judah - B. Lee Pemberton, PastorAnd, I am not yet CERTAIN that the e-mail attributed to him is in fact written by him, although I guess that we could ASK the folks at:
http://www.bealenet.com/~ron/
churchlionofjudah@msn.com
I would have thought that would be blasphemy in some way?
In Saudi Arabia, it really would be a capital offense. No kidding.
So are you going to go after the makers and vendors of World War II newsreels that do precisely that? >:*3
Saying "One nation...indivisible" works as a self-contained phrase much better than "One nation, under God, indivisible" does. The latter requires a continuation for the prosody to work [unless one were to add a word to make it "One nation, under God and indivisible" which would be just plain ugly.
You can say that again!
I'm a conservative pro-life Christian. I can find a lot to be offended about, but this ad campaign by Dr. Pepper is not one of them. Good grief!
It's telling that it took 70 posts for somebody to mention that. Somehow our nation managed to survive into the 1950's without saying "under God", but now we're to believe that it's imperiled by the terseness of a beverage container.
Holy, UN-Cola, Batman! !Funny that you should mention that CLASSIC marketing slogan. It worked PERFECTLY to "position" 7Up in relation to the BIG guys in the soft drink market: Coke and Pepsi.
Rather than leave well enough alone, however, the marketing folks at Dr Pepper's sister beverage seem (to me) to have blundered significantly with their NEW ad campaign.
From 2002 "Make 7 UP Yours" Advertising Campaign:
The good Reverend does seem to have a point about THIS tasteless ad - described here by the folks who created it.7 UP Introduces New Spokesman as Part of Its
2002 `Make 7 UP Yours´ Advertising Campaign
Comedian Godfrey to Debut as Well-Intentioned, Yet Clueless, 7 UP
Marketing Executive in Seven New Television Commericals
DALLAS, Oct. 31, 2001 – 7 UP, a leading brand of Plano, Texas-based Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc., today announced that it is introducing a new spokesman as part of its 2002 ‘Make 7 UP Yours' advertising campaign, which was unveiled here by 7 UP executives during the brand's annual bottler meeting.Actor and comedian Godfrey, who takes over from former spokesman Orlando Jones, will make his debut as the well-intentioned, yet clueless, 7 UP marketing executive in seven new television commercials that will begin airing in January 2002.
"We're absolutely thrilled to be working with Godfrey on the new ‘Make 7 UP Yours' commercials. His unique sense of humor was a perfect fit for the role of the clueless 7 UP spokesman," said John Clarke, chief advertising officer for Dr Pepper/Seven Up.
"In keeping with the campaign's overall theme, the new commercials will feature Godfrey coming up with exciting and innovative concepts for marketing 7 UP, which ultimately go awry."A special 30-second "transition" commercial, titled "First Thing," was developed to introduce the new spokesman to American audiences. In the spot, Godfrey explains that he's "the new 7 UP guy" and that "the old guy got promoted." As he walks down a busy city street, Godfrey continues to explain that the old spokesman taught him everything about marketing 7 UP and that the first thing Godfrey should do as the new "7 UP guy" is to get out and expose himself to the public. At this point in the commercial, Godfrey begins to remove his clothing, literally "exposing" himself to the public. The reaction from passers-by leads to a humorous ending....
More likely they're wishing they'd not expressed any patriotism whatsoever.
(BTW, When I was born, it was "One Nation, indivisible". "Under God" wasn't added until later...)From http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm:It's telling that it took 70 posts for somebody to mention that. Somehow our nation managed to survive into the 1950's without saying "under God", but now we're to believe that it's imperiled by the terseness of a beverage container.
The Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Written in August 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931). It was published in The Youth's Companion, September 8, 1892.In its original form it read, "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In 1923, the words, "the Flag of the United States of America" were added against Bellamy's wishes. Congress added "under God" in 1954, creating the 31-word pledge we say today.
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