Mexico slams Burger King for 'whopper' of insult

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Mexico slams Burger King for 'whopper' of insult

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico is protesting what it says is a whopper of an insult.

An advertisement for Burger King's chili-flavored "Texican" burger that has run in Europe shows a small wrestler dressed in a cape resembling a Mexican flag. The wrestler teams up with a lanky American cowboy twice his height to illustrate the cross-border blend of flavors.

"The taste of Texas with a little spicy Mexican," a narrator's voice says.

The much-taller cowboy boosts the wrestler up to reach high shelves and clean tall windows, while the Mexican helps the cowboy open a jar.

Mexico's ambassador to Spain said Monday he has written a letter to Burger King's offices in that nation objecting to the ad and asking that it be removed. Jorge Zermeno told Radio Formula that the ads "improperly use the stereotyped image of a Mexican."

Press officials at Burger King Corp. offices in Miami, Florida, and Madrid, Spain, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Burger King is known for its signature Whopper hamburger.

One of the things that most angered Mexican officials was a print edition of the ad showing the wrestler wearing what appear to be a Mexican flag as a cloak.

"We have to tell these people that in Mexico we have a great deal of respect for our flag," Zermeno said.

Mexico has very strict rules about using the flag. In 2008, the government fined a foreign-owned publishing house, Random House Mondadori SA, for showing disrespect to the country's flag in a video posted online.

The video showed a literature fan wearing a Mexican flag like a cape as he barges into a book signing and rips a piece of cloth from the coat of Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho.

It is not the first time that fast-food outlets have offended Mexican sensibilities.

Mexicans and other Hispanics in the United States objected to a Taco Bell ad from the 1990s that featured a pint-sized talking Chihuahua that spoke with a Mexican accent.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9...;show_article=1

[Ban Hammer 13,400]

"We have to tell these people that in Mexico we have a great deal of respect for our flag," Zermeno said.

Mexico has very strict rules about using the flag. In 2008, the government fined a foreign-owned publishing house, Random House Mondadori SA, for showing disrespect to the country's flag in a video posted online.

funny how that's not extended to the flag of the usa

[Saddle Bronc 124]

"We have to tell these people that in Mexico we have a great deal of respect for our flag," Zermeno said.

Mexico has very strict rules about using the flag. In 2008, the government fined a foreign-owned publishing house, Random House Mondadori SA, for showing disrespect to the country's flag in a video posted online.

funny how that's not extended to the flag of the usa

Also, it shows that Zemeno is a chop. The "strict rules" about the use of Mexico's flag apply in Mexico--which last-I-checked doesn't include Spain!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It sounds like the stereotyped Mexican cartoon character was accompanied by a stereotypical Texan cowboy.

Sounds like someone over there is just trying to whip up a bit of nationalist outrage.

[Peikko 1,575]

Some people do get rather wound up by trivia.

"We have to tell these people that in Mexico we have a great deal of respect for our flag," Zermeno said.

Mexico has very strict rules about using the flag. In 2008, the government fined a foreign-owned publishing house, Random House Mondadori SA, for showing disrespect to the country's flag in a video posted online.

funny how that's not extended to the flag of the usa

Go on, tell me, it's disrespectful to have the US flag below the Mexican flag? Sorry, but you guys are just too funny.

"We have to tell these people that in Mexico we have a great deal of respect for our flag," Zermeno said.

Mexico has very strict rules about using the flag. In 2008, the government fined a foreign-owned publishing house, Random House Mondadori SA, for showing disrespect to the country's flag in a video posted online.

funny how that's not extended to the flag of the usa

Go on, tell me, it's disrespectful to have the US flag below the Mexican flag? Sorry, but you guys are just too funny.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well it apparently was sufficient offense for that ex-mil nut to whip out a hunting knife and cut down the US flag outside that store a year or two ago, while the hispanic proprieters looked on (and likely hoped that they wouldn't get stabbed).

People in the UK wear the Union Jack flag to football matches and noone seems to mind.

Even here you can buy stars and stripes socks and underwear... If its so offensive I wonder why noone has taken a tank of gasoline to their nearest Target and had a bonfire in the clothing section.

[Peikko 1,575]

Not to mention underwear, tasteless too

[Bobby+Umit 161]

But the real question,

How does this whopper taste?

[The_Dude 1,142]

Well it apparently was sufficient offense for that ex-mil nut to whip out a hunting knife and cut down the US flag outside that store a year or two ago, while the hispanic proprieters looked on (and likely hoped that they wouldn't get stabbed).

People in the UK wear the Union Jack flag to football matches and noone seems to mind.

Even here you can buy stars and stripes socks and underwear... If its so offensive I wonder why noone has taken a tank of gasoline to their nearest Target and had a bonfire in the clothing section.

An upside down U.S. flag signifies "Help" or "Distress". Not sure if an upside down UK flag has any meaning.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well it apparently was sufficient offense for that ex-mil nut to whip out a hunting knife and cut down the US flag outside that store a year or two ago, while the hispanic proprieters looked on (and likely hoped that they wouldn't get stabbed).

People in the UK wear the Union Jack flag to football matches and noone seems to mind.

Even here you can buy stars and stripes socks and underwear... If its so offensive I wonder why noone has taken a tank of gasoline to their nearest Target and had a bonfire in the clothing section.

An upside down U.S. flag signifies "Help" or "Distress". Not sure if an upside down UK flag has any meaning.

Well you can't really put the Union Jack upside down. Its symmetrical.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Well it apparently was sufficient offense for that ex-mil nut to whip out a hunting knife and cut down the US flag outside that store a year or two ago, while the hispanic proprieters looked on (and likely hoped that they wouldn't get stabbed).

People in the UK wear the Union Jack flag to football matches and noone seems to mind.

Even here you can buy stars and stripes socks and underwear... If its so offensive I wonder why noone has taken a tank of gasoline to their nearest Target and had a bonfire in the clothing section.

An upside down U.S. flag signifies "Help" or "Distress". Not sure if an upside down UK flag has any meaning.

Well you can't really put the Union Jack upside down. Its symmetrical.

I thought that as well when I saw (in 1988) a sign at Olympic Plaza "there is a Union Jack just south of City Hall being flown upside-down..." (and obviously thought that the comment was a bad joke of some kind)....

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

Well it apparently was sufficient offense for that ex-mil nut to whip out a hunting knife and cut down the US flag outside that store a year or two ago, while the hispanic proprieters looked on (and likely hoped that they wouldn't get stabbed).

People in the UK wear the Union Jack flag to football matches and noone seems to mind.

Even here you can buy stars and stripes socks and underwear... If its so offensive I wonder why noone has taken a tank of gasoline to their nearest Target and had a bonfire in the clothing section.

An upside down U.S. flag signifies "Help" or "Distress". Not sure if an upside down UK flag has any meaning.

Well you can't really put the Union Jack upside down. Its symmetrical.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well it apparently was sufficient offense for that ex-mil nut to whip out a hunting knife and cut down the US flag outside that store a year or two ago, while the hispanic proprieters looked on (and likely hoped that they wouldn't get stabbed).

People in the UK wear the Union Jack flag to football matches and noone seems to mind.

Even here you can buy stars and stripes socks and underwear... If its so offensive I wonder why noone has taken a tank of gasoline to their nearest Target and had a bonfire in the clothing section.

An upside down U.S. flag signifies "Help" or "Distress". Not sure if an upside down UK flag has any meaning.

Well you can't really put the Union Jack upside down. Its symmetrical.

I thought that as well when I saw (in 1988) a sign at Olympic Plaza "there is a Union Jack just south of City Hall being flown upside-down..." (and obviously thought that the comment was a bad joke of some kind)....

Well you could fly it on its side I guess, but that's not really the same thing. I guess if there's a label on it - that would tell you if its right side up or not.

It sounds like the US flag should come with a detailed book of instructions about how the flag is to be displayed, in what contexts, and the consequences one can expect for not obeying them (like having knife wielding ex-mil psychos shimmying up your flag pole with a 2ft Rambo knife in their teeth).

I've seen people burn the UK flag at home, and a pretty hilarious picture at the G20 riots of a guy posing in front of the police line dressed as "V" from V for Vendetta.

Edited April 14, 2009 by Private Pike

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Some people do get rather wound up by trivia.

"We have to tell these people that in Mexico we have a great deal of respect for our flag," Zermeno said.

Mexico has very strict rules about using the flag. In 2008, the government fined a foreign-owned publishing house, Random House Mondadori SA, for showing disrespect to the country's flag in a video posted online.

funny how that's not extended to the flag of the usa

Go on, tell me, it's disrespectful to have the US flag below the Mexican flag? Sorry, but you guys are just too funny.

"We have to tell these people that in Mexico we have a great deal of respect for our flag," Zermeno said.

Mexico has very strict rules about using the flag. In 2008, the government fined a foreign-owned publishing house, Random House Mondadori SA, for showing disrespect to the country's flag in a video posted online.

funny how that's not extended to the flag of the usa

Go on, tell me, it's disrespectful to have the US flag below the Mexican flag? Sorry, but you guys are just too funny.

The US flag is being shown upside down, the international sign of distress.

[Scott & Lai 12]

Some people do get rather wound up by trivia.

"We have to tell these people that in Mexico we have a great deal of respect for our flag," Zermeno said.

Mexico has very strict rules about using the flag. In 2008, the government fined a foreign-owned publishing house, Random House Mondadori SA, for showing disrespect to the country's flag in a video posted online.

funny how that's not extended to the flag of the usa

Go on, tell me, it's disrespectful to have the US flag below the Mexican flag? Sorry, but you guys are just too funny.

It is. Basic flag etiquette. When flown with the flag of another country, no flag should be higher than the U.S. flag. And I'm sure the people who displayed the flags in the above photo were aware of this, as well as the rule about not displaying the flag upsidedown except in distress.

http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html