\u00a0*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kathyschiffer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Pepsi-150x150.jpg\")
\u00a0Words have power.\u00a0 That\u2019s why I decided to address this positive story in the same large-font headline as my original complaint, rather than just letting the Frito-Lay spokesman respond to my blog post in the \u201cComments\u201d section.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0I know that many of my readers made their voices heard regarding the over-the-top Pepsi commercial titled \u201cFeed Your Flock.\u201d\u00a0 And I know that PepsiCo and Frito-Lay responded quickly, assuring their critics that this was not<\/span> a Pepsi-generated commercial, that it was not<\/span> one of the finalists in their contest, and that it would not<\/span> be shown on Super Bowl Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0Well and good.\u00a0 Some friends noted that the carefully worded text (\u201cwe\u2019re sorry IF you were offended\u2026\u201d) places the blame on the hypersensitive viewer, rather than on PepsiCo; but if I were the p.r. guy charged with deflecting criticism and placing a positive spin on this, I\u2019d probably take that approach, too.<\/p>\n \u00a0Personally, I\u2019m glad the commercial will come to an ignominious end on the cutting room floor.\u00a0 At the same time, I\u2019ve gotta give some points for the sheer professionalism of the ad:\u00a0 lots of character actors, yet a clear focus, good angles, crisp product placement.\u00a0 Too bad all that talent was expended on a commercial that was so politically incorrect.<\/p>\n \u00a0*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/p>\n Now, Part 2:\u00a0 What Is the Right<\/span> Thing to Do?<\/strong>\u00a0 There\u2019s been some spirited discussion on the part of my friends over at the Cocktail Party of the Ethernet (aka Facebook), and I\u2019d like to weigh in.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0First, some things on which we agree:<\/p>\n \u00a0With so many points of agreement, then, I was surprised at the level of disagreement regarding the Pepsi contest entry.<\/p>\n \u00a0I want to clearly differentiate between being \u201cimmune to criticism\u201d and being \u201cdeserving of respect.\u201d\u00a0 The U.S. Bishops, for example, may be criticized for their na\u00efvet\u00e9 <\/strong>in listening to the psychologist \u201cadvisors\u201d who told them pedophilia could be \u201ccured,\u201d or for their cautious handling of the crisis in the months following disclosure.\u00a0 They do, though, deserve our respect; they must<\/span> be respected as representatives of Christ here on earth.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0All of this is to say:\u00a0 I love Pepsi.\u00a0 Not Pepsi Max, the subject of this advertisement, which pumps me up, then throws me into a tailspin; but plain ol\u2019 Pepsi.\u00a0 However, if three cents of every dollar I spend for their product is used to mock my faith, well, then I start feeling just a little sensitive\u2014and I have the \u201cright\u201d to spend my junk food dollars elsewhere.\u00a0 That\u2019s purely business, and a smart entrepreneur will not want to risk his corporate profits just to protect his \u201cright\u201d to make a tasteless joke.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0Good riddance, \u201cFeed Your Flock\u201d!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The headline reads, \u201cJohn Smith Accused of Financial Improprieties.\u201d \u00a0\u201cOh, no!\u201d you think\u2014and you (and many other customers) quickly withdraw any money you\u2019ve invested through John Smith.\u00a0 \u00a0Later in the week, in a small box on page 5, the newspaper prints a correction.\u00a0 The person who has run afoul of the law is John Smythe.\u00a0\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":556,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,216],"tags":[2712,2828,2883],"class_list":["post-888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advertising","category-rights","tag-advertising","tag-marketing","tag-rights"],"yoast_head":"\n\n