Happy 4th of July... Again!

mk4me got to say it early... but NOW it is officially the 4th. Time to celebrate our independence.

To all of my fantastic readers, thank you for your participation and have a wonderful 4th of July.

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Racism

Oh what a world we live in.

How incredibly complex a subject is racism.

The fanatical, bigoted, passionate beliefs of some people still shocks me.

How incredibly and unfathomably ignorant is it to hate someone you don't know, based on a trait as innocuous as the color of their skin.

Yet here we are, in the age of "enlightenment" arguing over what should or should not be considered offensive.

Consider this recent report from CNN's Political Ticker.

Also, check out this video about the same controversial situation.

I hope you will follow the links above to get a better idea of what I am talking about, but in case you don't have time, I will summarize.

CNN reports:

A Japanese cell phone company has pulled one of its television ads that used a monkey that appears to portray Sen. Barack Obama.

The commercial opens with a crowd rallying behind a well-dressed monkey speaking from a podium. The supporters are cheering and waving signs that say “Change.” In the ad, the monkey was encouraging users to change providers.

CNN adds:

The company behind the ad, eMobile Ltd., insists it had no idea of any racial undertones and says the ad was just a nod at Obama’s worldwide popularity.

Eric Gan, president of eMobile, points out that their company’s mascot is a monkey – an animal revered in Japan — and has been used in previous ads.

“When we saw the idea for the first time, it was ‘Hey, you're copying the idea from the presidential election in the U.S.’ Yes, but, you know, that's how you make a presentation. How you make an impact. We thought it quite was interesting,” he said.

Bloggers immediately voiced their disapproval of the ad and accused the company of being racist.

Gan says the company was unaware of how the ad might be interpreted, but “now, of course, we know.”

You really should visit the article, and look at all the comments about this. It is unbelievable. Comments ranging from, "I don't see what the big deal is" (If you watched the video, most of the Japanese people that saw the ad didn't even connect it with Obama at all.) to "Karl Rove must be behind this".

Here is a snapshot

William Ayers July 2nd, 2008 11:19 am ET

Ironically, the monkey has more executive experience and more solid stances on issues than Obama.

W.H. Thomas July 2nd, 2008 11:20 am ET

After spending 1.5 years in Japan, I can honestly say as an African American, that Japanese citizens know very little about racism. It is good to know that Obama is popular in Japan.

Tom July 2nd, 2008 11:20 am ET

Karl Rove nonsense is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

lil July 2nd, 2008 11:21 am ET

Believe me they knew that their were racial undertones they just didnt
care or was trying to make a startment. Either way I dont like it.

not important July 2nd, 2008 11:21 am ET

Maybe they should do an ad about Pearl Harbor? Just rude and stupid ad. Obama should sue them.

joe July 2nd, 2008 11:21 am ET

Karl Rove and republicans must be stooping a new low!

How does something like this get turned into such a big deal? An ad made in Japan, designed for Japanese consumers and aired in Japan accidentally has racial undertones to it. The Japanese company is informed that some people might see it that way. In order to NOT offend anyone, they pull the ad off the air. Done. A little embarrassing, maybe, but does it really call for international finger wagging?

I genuinely think they were paying Obama a compliment. I see nothing in that ad that would suggest that they were trying to subliminally undercut his accomplishments by comparing him to a monkey. Especially when you consider that the monkey is highly revered in that culture.

Now that I have taken the time to "set the stage", I don't have much time to really rant, so I will try to keep it short.

Few things irritate me as much as seeing people that are out there trying to accomplish something take cheap shots from people that apparently have nothing better to do. In this case, it is a cell phone company trying to be creative in their hopes to convince consumers to switch to their company. I am not saying that it is a noble cause or anything, just that they are out there "doing their job" and made a slight misstep. When it was pointed out, they rectified the situation. Why continue to harass them about this?

Some of you may already know where I am going with this.

For those of you still scratching your heads, there is a little website that we talk about here from time to time. It is called Pink Truth. SOME of the people on that site seem to just LOVE to do this very thing. For instance, when Mary Kay donated some items to a holiday gift drive at Christmastime many joined the chorus of criticism suggesting that the gifts were no good, or not genuine enough, or not admissible because they reported the retail value instead of the wholesale value.

So what does the international criticism of this poor Japanese mobile company have to do with Pink Truth and Mary Kay?

Glad you asked.

Today, amidst the usual clatter of unintelligible drivel that is based on conclusions made from bizarre logic, there was this critique from The Scribbler:



Now I am pretty sure that I have seen some very intelligent stuff from "The Scribbler", and in fact would LOVE to have her join the discussion over here. Further, this comment (as with most of her comments) is actually a refreshing shift from the "norm" that you come to expect. Quite well done, really. Quote in italics, picture used for emphasis, makes it clear that pic was not altered, and then makes her point clearly and concisely... something I could even take lessons on.

Nicely done.

But is it necessary? Does it help any of the readers? Does it really accomplish the mission of saving women from the MLM monster? Does it really do anything to demonstrate that MLMs are monsters?

I don't think so. I say if someone wants to appeal to people that share a certain ethnicity by inviting guest speakers OF that ethnicity that is their prerogative. Perhaps a white consultant that is curious about the perspective of a black woman that rose to NSD will want to attend. It does look kind of funny AND it WOULD be deemed racist if it said "and other WHITE NSD's!" Double standard? Maybe. Something to "get up in arms" about? Probably not!

But

It gets better.

"magenta" says:

"OH OH!!!! Is that a RACIAL SLUR or WHAT????!!!!! AHmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I'M TELLING!!!!!!!!!! discrimination!!!!! Does this mean that only her "sistahs" can go to this event??? this is one to send to corp and ask them about their discrimination policies!!! off with her head!!!"

"...off with her head!!!"....??????? WHAT? Are YOU kidding me?

"pinkprisonbreak" adds:

"...Honestly, the double standard just kills me!! So her eyes, black NSD's are better and more desirable than white....unbelievable...why does the race card get pulled?"

You got the sense that she thinks that

"...black NSD's are better and more desirable than white..."

???? From THAT???? Seriously????

And by the way, the "race card" gets "pulled" when someone accuses someone else of being racist or using racism. Which is what you guys are doing. So you should ask yourself... and all your friends... why YOU are pulling the race card over this. Not the other way around.

Queen of Section 2 intones:

"It is reversed discrimination. But white people better not complain or they'll be viewed as a white supremacist. "

Uh, maybe you are right... YOU shouldn't be complaining. It says that there will be other Black NSD's there. It doesn't say "White's not welcome".

"chaine2" (who refers to herself as "AA") says it quite nicely:

"...I think it does matter to AA consultants. I was recruited by a lady that was in several MLM's before she got started in MK (she was recruited by an AA national that was recruited by GMB). She confided to me that she didn't like the other MLM's b/c there wasn't a lot of product and/or advertising geared toward AA and also that there weren't a lot of blacks in 'management' positions. She quoted to me that about 20% of the NSD's in MK are black. To an AA that represents a great opportunity to achieve success..."

I severely summarized her comment there, but I think she makes a good point.

Long post, I know (what else is new), but I really want to know what you guys think about all this.

Obviously, racism is not dead. It probably will not be for a long time.

Why (or how) do people find such hate and contempt for other people? (racism question in general)

Was the Japanese ad offensive?

Should people be wasting their time pointing their fingers at this kind of innocuous stuff? The Japanese ad? The "8 hours of power with GMB - and other Black NSD's" concept?

Should I be wasting my time complaining about people that waste their time pointing their fingers at this kind of stuff?

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HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

Hello everyone, just wanted to wish everyone a very fun and safe Happy 4th of July.
Make sure you don't forget your sunscreen.
I am leaving on a few days vacation so I will rejoin everyone next week.
Now, play nice. TTFN mk4me Want to read the whole thing? Click here!

The most "off topic" post ever?

I would like to make it clear that I have no intention for this post to imply anything about Mary Kay at all.

It is off topic.

I get to do that because this is my blog. :D

I just got back from running. You know, exercising. I have been trying to do this more regularly. My dog (Meika) and I usually run together (as we did tonight). For about three months (give or take), we were running between 5 and 6 miles every morning. Then I got lazy for about a month.

She (Meika) is very good at giving me "that look" that says,

Meika: "Why don't we run anymore?"

Dave: "I know pups, we haven't run in a while have we? I have been REAL busy..."
(hoping she buys the "busy" line)

Meika: "Oh."

Meika: "Well we could run right now!"

Dave: "Sorry pups, now is just not a good time... maybe later."

Meika: "Later?! Like in an hour!?"

Dave: "mmm, not really... more like, 'not tonight'."

Meika: "Oh."

Meika: "Tomorrow than??!"

Dave: "I don't know, we will have to see when tomorrow comes..." (trailing off)

Meika: "Oh."

Meika: (((sad eyes)))

Meika: "OK"

So last night we ran (almost two miles - she gave up before I did)
And tonight we ran (a little better than three miles)

I feel SO good that I simply felt the need to share.

The salient points are these.

1. I ran past a food place. The kind where you can smell the food from the street. Normally, smelling the food would make me crave it. But it repulsed me. It was like the 'healthy' me was rejecting it on my behalf!

2. In place of the unhealthy, greasy food, I am craving water. Not flavored water. Not vitamin water. Water water. I am on my third tall glass of the cold, clear stuff. (not vodka... water.)

3. I sweat. It is still about 80 degrees outside right now (gotta love So Cal weather) so I was a sweaty mess when I got home. Sweating offers the wonderful feeling that impurities are being washed out of your body. Impurities like that panini sandwich I had for lunch. Not that the panini sandwich was impure, maybe just that tasty, cream-like filling that held the whole thing together.

So what is the point? I am not really sure.

Perhaps - "Exercise, it's not just good for you, it feels good too."

Or - "Here is a little something about me that you may not have known."

Or - "I have full conversations with my dog" (you can ask my wife about this one... she knows it's true!)

What does this have to do with Mary Kay?

Glad you asked.

But, I already told you... NOTHING.

Random enough for you?


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Some Pink Food for Thought

Tracy said:

"...I've got to wonder what some publicity of this issue would do to Mary Kay. Do they really want the press getting hold of this? ..."

To which (a little later on) "thinkingpinkstinks" said:

"I understand how you feel Tracy, but unfortunately, at this juncture, I'm not sure what the publicity of this lawsuit would really do. Large corporations are known to be in lawsuits. I can think of a handful right now that have been mentioned in the paper recently. Would it stop me from doing business with them? I'm not sure. MK's position would be noted also, along with the Webers, and it is for the Court to decide."

Very gentle (on 'thinkingpinkstinks' part), but right on nonetheless. Put slightly more bluntly, "Tracy, you need to realize that when something gets "real" press coverage, both sides are presented with a little thing called 'objectivity'."

- just sayin' -

Bonus quote (no comment included)

"Day Radiance lover" said:

"Well, as for me, I would love to give them all of my PINK KRAP, and stop even selling MK, and let them make money off of it, to help their cause. ( I was thinking that, been then came to my senses.) If they would purchase my items, I would gladly sell it to them, and unload it, along with the prizes, and the pink guitar, and the pink piano. Wonder if they would want to sell that pink krap?

As long as we are on the subject, can we all get together, and contact ToP, that all of us will be character witness's for them against MK? Boy, that would be a hoot. I would love to stand in court and tell the real truth of how SD's and SSD's lie, cheat steal, and use other nameless beings with SS cards to climb to the ladder of suckcess.

MKC, HEAR US NOW. WE WILL NOT LET TOP DOWN, AND WE ARE WILLING TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT MKC, AND HOW THEY TREAT US AND OUR CUSTOMERS.

he he heeeee"

((sigh))

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Nigerian Scams reaches Mary Kay?

The Pink Truth (ahem) "detectives"... (ahem) have uncovered "shocking" news.

Apparently, not only can you secure untold fortunes from Nigerian businessmen that need your help - we have all gotten these emails, haven't we? - now you can also sell your Mary Kay products to Nigerian women for massive profits.

Except, instead of taking this information - and whatever genuine concern it seems to cause - to Mary Kay, they have decided to post about it on their smear blog, Pink Truth. Interestingly, even though most of them claim to be out of Mary Kay, somehow they feel wronged that people are being given the chance to cheat and get ahead in Mary Kay.

Their "evidence" amounts to little more than the ads you can STILL find on their site every day


Like suggesting a boycott on Nigerian Banks because of the emails that made the rounds, Pink Truth members (as they typically do) jump on the bandwagon of blaming the company, directors, and consultants for this behavior. Simultaneously they tell "us" those involved in Mary Kay that "we" should be offended and angered by this wrong.

It isn't until well into the post that we get this comment from 'magenta'

"when i think of nigeria I think of those sleezy email cons that ask you to help them by putting somemoney in an account and they will pay you richly.."

Except, instead of concluding the logical or natural conclusion, - namely that these things happen, anything that CAN be exploited, most likely will - she concludes that:

"Maybe a lot of letters need to go to headquarters...other ruby directors asking if they are gonna allow these foreigners to take all the QUeenie spots......"

I guess what is puzzling to me is that Pink Truth:

1. Finds controversy that they THINK we should care about
2. Make a big fuss about it AS THOUGH it matters to them
3. Suggest that WE should do something about it
4. Conclude that:
A. Mary Kay (the company and the consultants) are not doing anything about it
B. Mary Kay MUST be endorsing it (because of the assumption in A.)
C. Mary Kay is (as deleted suggests here) bad for you BY DESIGN.

Once again, the existence of people trying to (successfully or otherwise) exploit the Mary Kay system, is all the evidence they need to pronounce that Mary Kay is allowing this - which builds into intentionally ignoring this - which builds into encouraging this - which builds into promoting this.

Meanwhile, THEY actually ARE promoting these things DIRECTLY with the ads on their site. I wonder if WE should encourage them to form a protest/boycott against Tracy and infer that the reason they won't do that is because they know they will be banned if they do... oh wait, that is true!

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