Absolutly Sory

It seems that the Mexican-American War never happened, according to the Sweeds over at the Absolut Vodka Company.

I have prepared a response to their ad -

Now, I realize this probably doesn't mean anything to pretty much anyone except my friends in Sweden -- However, I can tell you it's fairly insulting.

Okay, I'll let you in on it - this is a map of Sweden in 1658! The Swedish Empire following the Treaty of Roskilde of 1658. (Dominions in Prussia, held from 1629 to 1635, do not appear on this map, as this would be so insulting, my Swedish friends would never speak to me again.)

Hahaha! My wit shows no end! You have been Checkmated my Swedish fiends! The lands you aquired in your little empire building moment of the 1650's - and then lost - has been thrown in your face!

Sure, I could have been lazy and done an all Europe Nazi Germany map that you would have sold your Vodka to the Germans... but not only lazy, but your neutral ass would be as boring as Switzerland... so suck on this, and without your precious victories in Prussia!

Why does the Mexico ad piss people off? Because for anyone who's never read their history books, MIGHT gleam that ad and think that's the leaked Mexican Immigration war plan! They're going to anex California, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and parts Colorado and even as far north as Wyoming. For those three of us who have read a history book know that you lost it to the US.

Hey, you're the one who agreed to sell it for $15,000,000, — sure it was just less than half the amount the U.S. had attempted to offer Mexico for the land before the opening of hostilities— and don't forget the U.S. agreed to assume $3.25 million in debts that the Mexican government owed to U.S. citizens. The Whig Intelligencer sardonically concluded at the time that

"We take nothing by conquest... Thank God."

According to Wackapedia - The sale of land is known in the United States as the Mexican Cession.

So there.

Okay... too obscure.

Time for lazy.

This is how America sees Swedes!

But if you really look at that Mexican map again... it's just really kind of sad and insulting to the Mexican people as it reminds them of all the land, oil, gold they lost to the Americans...

And to really sit and think about it -- I can't imagine trying to sell Swedish Vodka to folks who prefer Tecaté and tequila to your product. Good luck with that, Chef!

UPDATE to Absolut, absolutly sorry!

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Absolut vodka company apologized Saturday for an ad campaign depicting the southwestern U.S. as part of Mexico amid angry calls for a boycott by U.S. consumers.

"In no way was it meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues," Absolut said in a statement. More here on the jump.