Dr Pepper Responds to Consumers Regarding its Patriot Can [missing "Under God?"]

Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc - corporate website ^ | Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc

[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.

[aruanan]

I'd say it's too much ado by people who have WAY too much free time on their hands. The point of the can was to emphasize the united nature of the nation in the context of the recent events. The point of the can was not to promote the desirability of leaving G-d out of things any more than it was promoting the desirability of NOT having liberty and justice for all. If someone is going to make the first point on the basis of a lack of a phrase, he must also make the second if he wants to remain consistent. Unfortunately, consistency is the last thing to be expected from most people who derive their sense of being from bitching.

[RobbyS]

Not to make too much of this--maybe the ad men didn't bother to read the offical pledge, but

the pledge reads ..one nation under God, indivisible...

So they HAVE completely changed the sense of the wording. This fact is often lost sight of by the way the pledge is said (wrongly)

..one nation(pause) under God, indivisible.....

[Black Cat]

To me, it's a tempest in a soda can. They didn't cite the entire pledge, but rather just three words. And as Snopes noted in it's page on this subject, when a major newsmagazine had a picture of Bush on the cover and those same three words, no one complained. I think the same should be the case here. Often we hear complaints that patriotism is dead, but when an effort is made, and it gets this kind of reception, it only makes it much LESS likely that they'll take the chance again.

[Mission2mars]

God will be seriously upset at not being used as an advertising shill in Dr.Pepper's new campaign. As for their hyperbolic claim that we are, one nation indivisible, this is obviously misleading advertising, as we can easily be divided by petty crap like this.

[CounterCounterCulture]

More likely they're wishing they'd not expressed any patriotism whatsoever.

No good deed goes unpunished.

[runningbear]

I heard of this for the two days on KTKZ with Eric Hogue. I sent him the link as you are now linking. Great show. This is the same essence as the God Bless America on Breen Elementary School outside message board. BS I tell you. There are those who just don't get it either, have pity on them....lol... Product of our educational relations.... lol..

I have been looking for the soda can, but can't find it in either many stores in San Jose, and Modesto. Only hear of Sacramento Raley's stores of Dr. Pepper.

[Hank Kerchief]

God will be seriously upset at not being used as an advertising shill in Dr.Pepper's new campaign. As for their hyperbolic claim that we are, one nation indivisible, this is obviously misleading advertising, as we can easily be divided by petty crap like this.

Absolutely the best analysis and answer so far!

(I do not hand out praise lightly.)

Hank

[The Right Stuff]

I think the ACLU (originally a commie front group, easily researched on the net) is opposed to American style freedom naturally. They support pornography, but want to outlaw God, in any of his functions.

[diefree]

I got a good laugh out of it.

[scouse]

I wouldn't be able to purchase any of their products because most of the money I carry has the words, "in God We Trust" stamped or printed on it. I would just hate to insult Dr Pepper.

[america-rules]

The origional pledge didn't have "under God" and it was added in the 1940's I believe! So I guess you don't want what was the real pledge to be used?

[smith288]

I am what you would call, a fundie Christian and I dont have an issue with this. The phrase they chose exhibits unity...thus "One nation, indivisible." and I know what they mean when they use limited space as their reason. People need to stop using a stupid pop can as a reason to call someone Godless. I think we have bigger bones to pick such as the Xlintons and Dasshole. Geez, its like if you took a sip from DrP you are converted into a devil worhiper or something...geez.

[RonDog]

"...The point of the can was not to promote the desirability of leaving G-d out of things any more than it was promoting the desirability of NOT having liberty and justice for all..."

Exactly. For that matter, they also left out the word "republic."

Perhaps this means that the folks at Dr Pepper/Seven Up think that this country is instead a DEMOCRACY...

[Poser]

This whole issue is ridiculous. They used 3 words... The three they wanted to use in the available space. We have absolutely no reason to accuse them of being anti-God. Talk about conspiracy theorists... Sheesh!

[rwfromkansas]

lol

[rwfromkansas]

No, I think that it is a good thing they tried to honor the country. It is just that their excuse is a lie.

[rwfromkansas]

Not if it is part of unifying the country..."this nation under God." Now, if it was intended to make money off of of mentioning God....that would be horrendously evil.

[Diddle E. Squat]

The same people wailing and gnashing their teeth over this would have been posting vitriolic accusations that Dr. Pepper was exploiting God for commercial gain if they had left in the phrase "under God". Apparently discernment is an art too difficult to master for some. Easier to play the eternal victim.

Meanwhile, this is the kind of argument over how many angels can fit on the head of a pin that the liberal media will use to portray all conservatives as out-of-touch cranks into on establishing a repressive theocracy. And then these same people will be amazed when conservatives lose Northeastern and West Coast states. Earth to obssessives: pick your battles, use judgement, and try not to make the rest of us look like kooks. Us real-world conservatives are trying to win over enough moderates, libs, athiests, etc. to get a conservative govt. Do you want to overturn Roe v. Wade, or do you just want to forever whine about how the country is going to hell?

[rwfromkansas]

This is my point....it is a complete thought....the entire thought is not "one nation...indivisible." The phrase is "One nation, under God, indivisible." The meaning is lost by cutting out God here.

[rwfromkansas]

it was funny, wasn't it...:)