A Florida Walmart is catching some heat for their 9/11 Coke display. With the anniversary of 9/11 coming up, it’s not surprising to see displays like this. However, people are objecting to the imagery being used to sell products.
I know, it’s the worst thing you’ve ever seen. Like … ever.
The outrage expressed at this attempt at 9/11 remembrance is almost as severe at the outrage Americans expressed at Budweiser for their 9/11 commercial.
Remember how pissed we all were at Budweiser for that? No. Wait. We all loved that commercial, and couldn’t stop praising it. What’s the difference again?
One display had a price tag, and the other was just a company attaching their brand to an emotional historical event in an attempt to psychologically get us to buy more of their product. One was overt, one was covert. Both were patriotic displays designed to pay respect to lives lost, and simultaneously get you to buy their products and build brand loyalty.
When I saw that people were pissed off about this Walmart Coke display, all I could think of was this meme I’ve been holding onto:
Businesses have been trying to make money off of historic events since the beginning of time. Stop pretending this display is some unique and new concept. Many businesses avoid displays like this in real life and online to avoid such controversy. Then you all attack them for not acknowledging a major historical event, or holiday.
Walmart and Coke just want to sell you soda, and pay respect to the victims of 9/11 at the same time. Get over yourselves and your manufactured outrage.
If you want to get pissed off about a 9/11 display, get pissed off at this one that showed up in Atlanta recently:
