By Aaron Naparstek
It’s football season and that means it’s the only time of year that I’m watching the same television programming as guys who like Sarah Palin. If you’ve got 180 seconds to kill and you want a concise, entertaining glimpse at the American collective unconscious, here were the three most outstanding ads of the day…
Dodge Challenger Freedom:
Perhaps you are unaware of this piece of American history. Just a few years after the original Boston Tea Party, George Washington led his Continental Army into battle against the British Red Coats on a winter day somewhere near Lake Tahoe. The snobby, elitist looks were wiped right off the British officers’ faces as they saw the Americans charging over the hill with their 475 horsepower, 6.4 liter HEMI’s, rocking 11 miles per gallon.
Bo and Luke Duke drove a Dodge Challenger too, just like George Washington. They called it The General Lee because, you know, General Robert E. Lee was all about freedom — unless you happened to be the property of a Southern plantation owner. Electric cars? High speed rail? Let the Chinese figure out that shit. Because “Here’s a coupla things America got right: Cars and freedom.” Yes, they actually came right out and said it. The only way this ad could be more brilliant is if it’s airing during NBC’s new show, “Outsourced.” Incidentally, Chrysler is now owned by Italians. Watch…
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https://naparstek.com/2010/09/tea-party-tv-america-meet-your-subconscious/oldId.20100928215508886
What does this BS have to do with bikes or biking in baltimore?
One of the challenges in promoting cycling is the misconception of cars=freedom and freedom=the American way, so they alone deserve all the attention and everything else can go to heck. So I find this commercial ironically funny to picture George Washington fighting for the freedom of cars. Yep that’s what the American Revolution was all about, freedom … to drive our cars everywhere we darn well please and as fast as we darn well please.
I thought it did a good job at poking fun at the notion of cars are freedom and if the topic of cars=freedom comes up at some meeting I just might reference that’s what George Washington fought for … not.
The snarky tone of the post does nothing to promote cycling or auto alternatives. A dig aimed at the Tea Party and supporters of Sara Palin only polarizes this issue even more. Also, I find the term "American Collective Unconscious" a bit offensive.
I understand your reasoning for posting this but it sort of rubbed me the wrong way.
Ride safe,
Dave
Dave,
I hear ya. So I am debating removing the pre-commentary, changing the title and just leaving old GW fighting for the freedom of the automobile. Your thoughts?