Drink Pepsi

[LittleClarkie]

I was just given an email with this link in it, with the title "Boycott Pepsi" and this paragraph that is blatantly racist:

"Some gratitude for a nation that has supplied her family with thousands of donut shops and quicki marts. Basically bashing American business practices world wide so she can get Pepsi over to India and employ the other 20,000 relatives in that factory. And the worst thing, she made this speech at a college, where the tender young minds were molded once again into a Liberal, Hate America doctrine."

Here is link to the commencement speech:

http://208.158.244.116/Speech-ColumbiaBusinessSchool.pdf

So, though I'm a Coke drinker, I think I need to slip a few Pepsis into the mix. How about you?

[kaygore]

1. Best not to drink either

Go for the water!

[LittleClarkie]

3. Okay,

Don't drink it. Just support the woman, eh? Indra Nooyi needs our support. That's the point.

[kaygore]

5. I agree

I was just joking with you. Coke, like Wal-Mart, is the hand maiden of the Devil. Ever really look into that company??? It will give you the willies. That alone is enough reason (as opposed to health reasons, of course) to stop supporting Coke.

[LittleClarkie]

8. Sorry

Sometimes around here people don't stop to see what you're saying and just go for the quick zinger. I'm glad that wasn't where you were coming from :)

[ewagner]

2. Oh-oh.....apology made

Just went up to the Pepsico site....found this:

Following my remarks to the graduating class of Columbia University’s Business School in New York City, I have come to realize that my words and examples about America unintentionally depicted our country negatively and hurt people.

I appreciate the honest comments that have been shared with me since then, and am deeply sorry for offending anyone. I love America unshakably – without hesitation – and am extremely grateful for the opportunities and support our great nation has always provided me.

Over the years I’ve witnessed and advised others how a thoughtless gesture or comment can hurt good, caring people. Regrettably, I’ve proven my own point. Please accept my sincere apologies.

Probably a lot of sharehold pressure....probably from the big investment houses and holding companies.....

here's the link: <http://www.pepsico.com/>

[kaygore]

9. We need to write and thank her for her honesty

and tell her that the same forces at work with Newsweek obviously are at work here in her retraction.

Guess Karl called and cancelled the Pepsi order for the troops!

[JRob]

4. Coke & Pepsi are both mega corps and will not get 1 penny from me...

[LittleClarkie]

7. So all mega-corps are bad regardless

Just by vurtue of being mega-corps?

I don't believe that.

I was just impressed that I was given this email by a Bush voter, who knows I am into politics. His question was "Why is this offensive? Sometimes there are reasons we have a bad image in the world. Like Endron."

[JRob]

12. Maybe not, but I say it's an extremely short list...

Big money is at the root of (most) of the problems with very few exceptions...

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Great speech.

And I've been a Pepsi drinker for decades, ever since (IIRC) a boycott against Coke in the '70s over migrant worker conditions.

[Capn Sunshine]

10. I can't tell the difference

never could.

[LittleClarkie]

14. I sure could

Coke has more of a spicy taste to me, while Pepsi is mostly just sweet.

My tastebuds are non-partisan.

[kaygore]

11. It is

I downloaded and saved it. I am going to write her a letter and a letter to the board. I don't drink soft drinks, but if I buy them for a party or something, I always buy Pepsi rather than Coke.

Yes, both are mega companies but even then there are differences.

[LittleClarkie]

13. Indeed, Disney comes to mind

it seemed they were trying to be responsible in their message, at least the last time I was there in Disney World anyway.

And Starbucks, though I know some don't like them. They try hard to make sure they buy fairly, and even support certain coffee growing areas if their standards are met.

[kaygore]

17. South Park did a great rejoiner to the Starbucks issue

I am a fan. They are very environmentally sensitive. They treat their employees well. They are the reason that we can now get decent coffee in most of the country and even in London (bless them, I was there for several weeks this past summer and dreaded being separated from a good cup of coffee. But they are in London everywhere and so are many other competing coffe companies).

Large companies can be responsible and good citizens. Costco comes to mind!

By the way, that was the point of the South Park episode. Just because a coffee shop is local doesn't make it better than Starbucks. In fact, in Portland and in San Diego--both places where I do business--Starbucks thrives right next to zillions of local and regional coffee houses!

And, since we were blessed with Starbucks in Virginia Beach, Virginia, we can now get decent (even great coffee) at local shops.

Starbucks breeds competition. It increases our desire for a good cup of coffee. That's very American!

[LittleClarkie]

18. Indeed I would go to one of the locals

If they could manage to make a strong cup of coffee. If they don't respond to my complaint that good coffee made weakly is just about as bad as gas station coffee, then I will head for Starbucks.

Starbucks got me back into the non-flavored coffees again. I love trying the different ones from various parts of the country, plus when they demonstrate the french press, then hoo ha, do you ever get a strong cup.

I used to refer to their chocolate covered coffee beans as the caffinated equivalent of crack cocaine.

[kaygore]

19. If you like a good, strong cup of coffee

Then you need to try the Portland, Oregon, local brew, Stumptown. Yummmy!!!!! Any one of their coffees is.....yummmy.

[LittleClarkie]

15. I'm surprised more isn't being made of that racist comment that went with

Her family supplied with thousands of donut shops? 20,000 relatives? They're not all related, for fuck's sake!

I mean, GOOD GOD!!

[cestpaspossible]

16. I don't like Pepsi. It tastes bad. nt