Arianna Huffington Ads... BOOOOO!!!

[milefile]

On my drive to work this morning I heard about an ad campaign that is supposed to start running in select cities on Sunday. They played clips from it. It's a lot like the ads that say people who use drugs support terrorism.

This time they are saying that SUV drivers support terrorism. The logic is aparently this: Your SUV uses a lot of gas; the oil executive buys oil from a country that funds terrorism to sell to you to fill up your gas guzzling SUV. One of the ads had fictive testimonials like "I helped blow up a school," or "I helped buy a rocket launcher for Al Qaida," (paraphrased from what I heard, and not an exaggeration).

There are a couple problems here that jump out at me right away. First of all, the creator of the ads (Arianna Huffington) drove a Lincoln Navigator until recently. Second, the ad makes no distinction between oil producing countries, most of which are Arab, implying all Arab states are terror states (this will surely piss-off Saudi Arabia). And third, this ad and the previous one about drugs do nothing positive, in my opinion. They cheapen the seriousness of terrorism and act as a divisive force in our society. They single out certain groups and point the finger. This is not the way to fight terror. It only chisles away at America's already flimsy social cohesiveness. No?

 

[DGB454]

I heard that on NPR on my way home last night. I feel the same.

 

[Gil]

Agreed,
If I don't become outraged when innocents are killed,
If I'm not a little more wary when traveling (especially by plane),
If I begin to hate people of Arabian descent, indiscriminately,
If I let fear rule my life,
THEN, I'm supporting terrorism, and letting terrorism rule my life.

I believe that if you always drive alone, never turn a wheel in dirt, and never carry large, awkwardly shaped loads, but insist on driving an .oversized, hard to see around SUV that you may support STUPIDITY, but not nessacarily terrorism.

 

[1X83Z]

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[milefile]

Originally posted by M5Power
I'm sick of all this crap that we keep getting from environmental groups, and I'm seriously re-considering my choice of either Edwards or Kerry in the upcoming presidential election, let alone my choices of Democrat state reps and senators, in elections in which my vote may actually count. I'm sick of all this 'bash SUV' crap. SUV's are NOT a danger to the environment because they get poor gas mileage. By no stretch of the imagination is that some sort of danger to the environment. Remember: THE SUV OWNERS ARE THE ONES PAYING FOR THE GAS, NOT THE TOO-GOOD GREEN PARTY IDIOTS. Toyota Priuses are not the save-all end of putting gasoline into cars, especially when the Volkswagen Golf TDI -- more practical, cheaper, nicer -- gets more mileage. If SUV's do pollute, as Hooligan said earlier, 1.4 times the amount of cars, then what we need to take into account is the fact that there's about four times the amount of cars on the road than there are SUV's. So it more than 'evens out.' Recently, I've been seriously considering never buying a car again, based purely on the fact that I absolutely hate the actions and pathetic, baseless crap allegations of these know-it-all far-left environmental groups. I seriously wish that one of those people were on this website so I could truly let them have it.

Ummm... okay. What about the terrorism part?

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by milefile
Ummm... okay. What about the terrorism part?

The underlying motive in this whole 'SUV's support terrorism' crap is without question environmental.

 

[milefile]

Originally posted by M5Power
The underlying motive in this whole 'SUV's support terrorism' crap is without question environmental.

Maybe so, but I'd still like to hear what you have to say about the terror connection.

 

[1X83Z]

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[Klostrophobic]

What about when I buy Uranium from that guy? Do I fund terrorism then?

These ads actually make me want to send Al Qaeda a check every month for a couple hundred bucks. Maybe they'll do something good with the ****ing money and destroy the creators of these ads.

 

[milefile]

I do have to agree that it's radical environmentalists behind it. I guess my insisting you comment on the terror part was narrow because what is digusting about these ads is that they exploit terrorism (an abstract form of terrorism itself) to further a limited interest, fringe cause. It's pitiful that there must be people out there who actually believe it. Call it psychological terror, the guilt factor, trying to make you feel bad for living like an American. Oh the sickness of this perspective branches off in so many directions and has very deep roots. It's domestic propaganda, pure and simple. All for now...

 

[Gil]

M5, I don't know if you were replying specifically to my post. My point was that it's not cost effective to drive an SUV if your lifestyle is not conducive to needing one.
My gripe with the Gi-normous SUVs is simply that I can't see around the durn things, and the chick driving is on her cell phone, adjusting her stereo, and putting on her make-up instead of watching out for the guy in the little white Escort GT (me).

But I personally don't care. If you can afford the gas and insurance, drive what you like. Just watch out for the guy in the little white Escort.

 

[Pupik]

By this line of reasoning:

- Buying a PlayStation 2 is an act of terrorism. Look at what the Japanese air raids did to us at Pearl Harbor.
- Buying a pizza is an act of terrorism, pizza is Italian, and Mussolini was their dictator during WWII.
- Buying a Cuban sandwich is an act of terrorism, Castro is evil because he smokes a cigar in public places.
- Paying to go see action movies are an act of terrorism, they pormote violence.
- Farting is an act of terrorism, those noxious gasses are far more likely to destroy the ozone layer.
- Being American is an act of terrorism, we displaced millions in the name of "ethnic cleansing" before ethnic cleansing was cool.

One nation under fear. Fear leads to anger, Anger leads to death, doth Yoda say. Fear usually comes from ignorance. Spreading ignorance is akin to spreading death.

 

[Shannon]

Originally posted by milefile
radical environmentalists

Don't ya just hate 'em.

 

[1X83Z]

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[1X83Z]

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[Gil]

But they are d*** hard to see around. They used to have a commuter lane on the freeways. I think it's time for an SUV lane. I know I keep beating this horse.
Per se, I am not against SUVs. I would have bought one myself if it had fit into my budget. But I would drive it when going somewhere with all or most of my six kids. I'm not saying that SUVs are inherently evil. Nor do I think we are supporting terrorism by buying and driving one. I just wish that a lot of people that drive them would remember that they aren't driving Honda Civics.
A Civic can be all over its lane and not be a problem for the cars around it.
A Suburban is a foot wider and IS most definately a problem wiggling around in its lane. (and half of mine).

 

[1X83Z]

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[bigwhlkid]

radical environmentalists

thats exactly it, but it also has to do with government propaganda also.

 

[bigwhlkid]

and you must realize that the majority of people who buy SUVs dont even know what exactly the purpose of the all wheel drive systems are or in some cases the ABS. i have heard interviews of people on the news about this topic, most of them say that they will still keep there SUV because they need it for when it snows. i personally dont see any point in having one.

i think its another one of those What Would Jesus Drive? type things to get people to stop buying SUVs cause they are wasting gas.

 

[Gil]

Originally posted by bigwhlkid
and you must realize that the majority of people who buy SUVs dont even know what exactly the purpose of the all wheel drive systems are or in some cases the ABS. i have heard interviews of people on the news about this topic, most of them say that they will still keep there SUV because they need it for when it snows. i personally dont see any point in having one.

I've lived in Kansas now for 12 years, and seen some pretty awesome snows, (nothing like up around the great lakes). I have driven a variety of cars in the snow. All have been ff cars.
My old Nissan Sentra would go almost anywhere. Even on those little 155-80/14's. My 'Scort is about the same.
It has been said that the difference between two and four wheel drive is the ability to get stuck 50 feet further in.
That said, if My Escort won't go in it, I'm gonna be smart enough to stay home and light a fire in my fireplace, and play board games with my kids.
There is no place I have to be that's important enough to risk getting stuck "out past the middle of nowhere".

 

[1X83Z]

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[bigwhlkid]

but i mean the streets never get over an inch or two of snow on them. how could any car get stuck in that. sure you may slide around a bit.

and SUV dirvers think the 4WD systm virtually keeps them from losing control.

 

[1X83Z]

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[bigwhlkid]

thats if you know what your doing, most drivers dont.

 

[bigwhlkid]

you can get by without it so why do they need it.

they must need that extra sence of security when thier going half the speed limit, or less, when its snowing and the streets are cleared.

 

[1X83Z]

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[gran_turismo_bandit]

yes, I can.

my 1989 Ford Bronco. it's got 146k miles and is powered with the 302cid V-8. The best part? it only cost about $450, before big tires and new driveshaft. the Bronco is better than any normal SUV 'cuz the back half of the top is removable. that means practically unlimited carry space (just need a big tarp and bungee cords).

or, you could go for a mid to late 90's 305 v-8 powered Caprice. it gets about 25 mpg. and, if you get the wagon, you can carry as much or more than that pretty-boy Mercedes and do it for $20k less.

but if you buy the wagon, woodgrain side trim is a must. what??? why is everyone looking at me weird? woodgrain wagons are cool. i'm thinkin about puttin woodgrain on my bronco.

now that i'm done with my tirade, i'll let you guys continue arguing.

 

[1X83Z]

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[psonefreak]

i don't have an SUV, i do drive a full size truck tho. (wasn't that in the ad too?)

anyway, what I was posting about it that a teacher at my old HS drove a puple Caprice wagon with woodgrain trim. kinda odd, but kinda cool

Edit:
I'll drop by there tomorrow after taking a game back to Movie Gallery. My mom still works there so they won't care.

 

[Vasco]

That's just crazy...i saw my first Hummer two days ago, they are big, but i think saying all this stuff is an act of terrorism, what's next...