Vegetarianism is un-American

[ProudGerman]

So says the makers of Ball Park franks. Their latest radio ad, at least for my region, has this prototypical redneck espousing the qualities of large trucks with large tires and large mudflaps and how he likes meat. He also says that vegetarianism is weird, and tosses in un-American for good measure.

Had he stopped at weird, I'd of thought nothing of it. Taking an innocent dig at people who will never be your customers can be a bit funny. The un-American comment seriously crosses the line though. Especially in this time of psuedo patriotism. Too bad I'm not a customer of Ball Park, or I'd be able boycott their products. But I figure that some on this board are, so I thought I'd give the heads up.

Edit: if anyone cares, I'm a serious meat eater. But I do have a huge issue with throwing the un-American charge around

[DenverDem]

1. Jack in the Box did the same thing.

Carnivores are more defensive and offensive even than freepers.

DU carnivores will attack you for vegetarianism, too. I'm a vegan so it gets really ugly when people hear that. And, no, I don't wear any leather.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

15. Not this rodízio lover

What a stupid, mean, divisive, bigoted ad. Is everybody nuts up there?

[Taverner]

16. Hey I don't attack vegetarians

But as a PT in a previous life I do try to caution anyone considering veganism - going at it without a structured plan and knowlege of amino acids is dangerous. You can end up overweight AND undernourished!

Being a vegan, I'm sure you know it's next to impossible to find the BCAA's you find in foods like milk and eggs...

[a560]

2. is Michael Jordan still a spokesman for ball park?

someone should ask him what he thinks

[gmoney]

3. Mad cow is patriotic!

So is bird flu! And trichinosis... and heart disease!

[Career Prole]

4. The friendly folks at Fenway Franks

would never stoop that low! :)

[Dufaeth]

5. Here is the TV ad

http://www.ballparkfranks.com/tab2/movies/com_believe/wm.html

[Delano]

6. I love meat, but that's obnoxious and unfunny.

But it's understandable how folks who's product is little more than a sheath filled with entrails, anuses, lips and eyeballs would be a bit defensive.

I eat hot dogs (usually turrkey or chicken) but it's fun to remind people eating them of the ingredients... >:-)

[bloodyjack]

7. i suppose kindness and/or health-fads are un-american too

damn. would anyone care to define what exactly ISN"T un-American?

[Fenris]

8. This is why I'm protesting BallPark and slaughtering my own beef.

It's a lot messier than I thought it would be, and the carcasses are a lot tougher. I've been through six circular saw blades in the last week alone!

[dawn]

9. That is so lame.

I can't believe they actually said it's un-American.

My vegetarian brother will love this.

[EstimatedProphet]

10. That was Andy Dick

He's a comedian. I don't know for sure, nut it kind of looked to me like that was supposed to be poking fun at freepers.

[ProudGerman]

12. That was Andy Dick?

The bean pole from News Radio? I'm not sure about that, and it doesn't look anything like a spoof to me. The sarcasm is lost on me, even the tv ad posted up above.

Either way, it doesn't excuse the low class of using the un-American charge.

[EstimatedProphet]

13. Uh...maybe the name is wrong?

He was the guy that started as Conan O'Brian's sidekick. I thought his name was Andy Dick, maybe it isn't.

[eyesroll]

17. Andy Richter?

He was Conan's sidekick.

[Viking12]

18. Not Andy Richter either...

[Delano]

14. That is NOT Andy Dick.

Although I understand Andy does like his wieners...

[Hemprus]

11. It the newest fad..

calling anyone who disagrees with you UN-American. Lets take a trip back in time to the fifties where life was wonderful all the time, unless your a Communist. Yesterdays Commies is todays UN-Patriotic, War hating, liberal loving, anti-American. UN-Americans, they plump when you cook them!

[ulysses]

19. it resonates because we all think we're cowboys.

It's the national honcho image.