Spanish McDonald's ad prompts talk of a boycott

[one...two...tree 2,762]

BY ANA M. ALAYA

Star-Ledger Staff

The mayor of a small Bergen County town is calling for a McDonald's boycott if the fast-food chain does not take down a Spanish-language billboard advertising iced coffee.

Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan said the advertisement is "offensive" and "divisive" because it sends a message that Hispanic im migrants do not need to learn English.

"The true things that bind us together as neighbors and community is our belief in the American flag and our common language," Lonegan said. "And when McDonald's sends a different message, that we're going to be different now, that causes resentment."

The text of the advertisement in Bogota reads "Un frente helado se aproxima. Nuevo café helado," which means "A cold front is coming. A new iced coffee."

http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/n...?nnj&coll=1

[VivaMexico 0]

ridiculous. i guess Taco Bell will have to stop serving tacos too!

[peejay 327]

As for me...I could care less what private corporations do as far as languages go. It is the ridiculous notion that government must cater to every ethnic group at taxpayer expense that is out of line. In Houston we have ballots in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish. But you can only take the Texas driver's license test in English or Spanish. What about my Russian wife? Do it for everybody or do it for nobody.

Let them pay for their own interpreters. Immigrants have always assimilated into America by learning English. My Russian speaking grandparents came to America and couldn't speak English. They learned English pretty quick because nobody catered to them. Imagine that!

[pedroh 21]

oh noes!!

[Joel Halfwassen 0]

Let them pay for their own interpreters. Immigrants have always assimilated into America by learning English. My Russian speaking grandparents came to America and couldn't speak English. They learned English pretty quick because nobody catered to them. Imagine that!

As did my German speaking grandparents. Learned English the "sink or swim" way. Corporations can do as they please. Taxpayer dollars should be English only.

Joel

[Artegal 1]

What the hell a MCDonalds in Bogota can't have spanish!! I am sure that the town is called Bogota because most likely that town was founded by a large number of Colombians.

And you know maybe I am offended by the Ebonics of MCDonalds commercials around here in Atlanta. Calling it MICKIE-DEES! Etc. and showing the big mac with Urban or Hiphop music etc. But then that would be equally racists--if the people in a town are a certain culture or speak a certain language then certain a business should market to those people. I betcha the Mayor when he runs for reelection will go to a Cinco de Mayo fiesta and sing some spanish tone while wearing a sombrero. But that's okay?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Speaking of controversial adverts - Sony is in hot water for a new european ad for the white version of the PSP. All that's missing is "smell the glove"

Edited July 11, 2006 by Fishdude

[Joel Halfwassen 0]

Yeah...using race to promote the colors of your product just doesn't seem like a good idea in general.

Joel

[*Robert* 2]

What the hell a MCDonalds in Bogota can't have spanish!! I am sure that the town is called Bogota because most likely that town was founded by a large number of Colombians.

And you know maybe I am offended by the Ebonics of MCDonalds commercials around here in Atlanta. Calling it MICKIE-DEES! Etc. and showing the big mac with Urban or Hiphop music etc. But then that would be equally racists--if the people in a town are a certain culture or speak a certain language then certain a business should market to those people. I betcha the Mayor when he runs for reelection will go to a Cinco de Mayo fiesta and sing some spanish tone while wearing a sombrero. But that's okay?

Yo... Artegal... it's Bogota, NJ!!! Not Bogota, Columbia!

[Boiler 45,488]

What the hell a MCDonalds in Bogota can't have spanish!! I am sure that the town is called Bogota because most likely that town was founded by a large number of Colombians.

And you know maybe I am offended by the Ebonics of MCDonalds commercials around here in Atlanta. Calling it MICKIE-DEES! Etc. and showing the big mac with Urban or Hiphop music etc. But then that would be equally racists--if the people in a town are a certain culture or speak a certain language then certain a business should market to those people. I betcha the Mayor when he runs for reelection will go to a Cinco de Mayo fiesta and sing some spanish tone while wearing a sombrero. But that's okay?

Yo... Artegal... it's Bogota, NJ!!! Not Bogota, Columbia!

I think Artgal knows that.

But I find it somewhat amusing that Colombians would have founded a town in NJ.

Which exit?

[*Robert* 2]

I think Artgal knows that.

But I find it somewhat amusing that Colombians would have founded a town in NJ.

Which exit?

Are you for real?!!!

Colombians didn't "found" a town in NJ!!! That's the name of the damn city... like Paris, TX. The Parisians sure as hell didn't found that city either!!!

[Artegal 1]

What the hell a MCDonalds in Bogota can't have spanish!! I am sure that the town is called Bogota because most likely that town was founded by a large number of Colombians.

And you know maybe I am offended by the Ebonics of MCDonalds commercials around here in Atlanta. Calling it MICKIE-DEES! Etc. and showing the big mac with Urban or Hiphop music etc. But then that would be equally racists--if the people in a town are a certain culture or speak a certain language then certain a business should market to those people. I betcha the Mayor when he runs for reelection will go to a Cinco de Mayo fiesta and sing some spanish tone while wearing a sombrero. But that's okay?

Yo... Artegal... it's Bogota, NJ!!! Not Bogota, Columbia!

Yo Roi_aggie it's Colombia not Columbia--which is in South Carolina not South America.

There are hundreds of thousands of Colombians living in New Jersey and New York area--its not unlikely that the town could have been named for the capital of Colombia because it might have been settled by Colombians before.

However according to the official Bogota, NJ website, though it never explains where the name Bogota came from, states that the Algonkian native americans were the original residents of Bogota, and the Dutch later settled the area and eventually founded the town of Bogota. So maybe McDonalds should list the menu in Algonkian or Dutch. I mean English didn't appear in the area until much later.

[*Robert* 2]

Yo Roi_aggie it's Colombia not Columbia--which is in South Carolina not South America.

There are hundreds of thousands of Colombians living in New Jersey and New York area--its not unlikely that the town could have been named for the capital of Colombia because it might have been settled by Colombians before.

However according to the official Bogota, NJ website, though it never explains where the name Bogota came from, states that the Algonkian native americans were the original residents of Bogota, and the Dutch later settled the area and eventually founded the town of Bogota. So maybe McDonalds should list the menu in Algonkian or Dutch. I mean English didn't appear in the area until much later.

Good history lesson. Sorry, for the misspelling. I least I had the right continent!

[daisy16 0]

I can think of other reasons to boycott McDs

The mayor has a point, and I've also heard it voiced by recent South American immigrants who work with my husband.

[pedroh 21]

well theres no science for corporation running ads in spanish,.. they just want more business!! I think it's dumb trying to find hidden agendas behind bilingualization in business.. hell.. people who speak spanish have money, they pay in cash.. why not make something that is appealing to them.. is not that they cant speak english, but sometimes they feel more comfy speaking their own language..

like this last sunday that i sold almost 2k by myself cuz 90% of the customers were spanish speakers..