"McDonald's, Paraguay and Kansas" by Notes from John / LJWorld.com

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McDonald's, Paraguay and Kansas

Have you seen that annoying McDonald’s commercial with the two young women in an upscale coffee house? If you haven’t, you should be rewarded for not watching television. One of the women reveals that McDonald’s now has upscale coffee like cappuccino, latte’s and such. They get all giddy over the prospect of swapping their air of pretension for their neighborhood McDonald’s presumably dressed in jeans and flip-flops.There are many people in Kansas who find this particularly annoying. Why? Well, as the two women ramble on one says: “And I don’t know where Paraguay is.” The other looks puzzled and replies: “Paraguay?” At least I think these are the quotes. Hundreds of Kansans are a bit offended that this interchange is dropped in this commercial with no apparent connection to anything. Have you ever been in a group and someone insults a friend of yours? You probably feel a little offended. You may even speak up for your friend. Is the intent to be funny? Insulting?Hundreds of Kansans have the same reaction to the McDonald’s commercial because Paraguay and Kansas have been friends for over 40 years through Kansas-Paraguay Partners that is part of the Partners of the Americas program. Over the years Kansans have been hosted by the warm Paraguayan people.Kansans have shared their expertise with Paraguayans including helping upgrade the zoo in the capital city, starting a school for children with disabilities and sharing agricultural practices.Kansans have donated emergency medical equipment to help volunteer Paraguayan firefighters.Kansans have worked to promote democracy in a country that had the misfortune to be dominated by dictatorships for far too many years.Space does not allow listing all of the work that Kansans have accomplished in Paraguay or visa-versa.The friendship between Paraguay and Kansas has not been one-sided.Paraguayans have visited firefighters, cattle producers, small business development centers in Kansas.Paraguayans have taught in Kansas including Spanish and Guarini, the two official languages of the country. Many Paraguayans attend and have graduated from Kansas universities and colleges. One estimate is that 700 Paraguayans have studied in Kansas. Some Paraguayan students have expressed surprise at the McDonald’s commercials. What do they mean? Is my country the butt of a joke?The 40+ year friendship between Kansas and Paraguay is no joke and is one way to reduce foreign policy to people and families. It is a rare opportunity to get personally involved in our countries foreign policy. Maybe the commercial uses Paraguay because it is one country where there is no McDonald’s. If you want to get a glimpse of a pre McDonald’s world, visit Paraguay.

By John Poertner

January 25, 2009

Notes from John

From the Citizen Journalism Academy

Discussion

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25 January 2009
at 4:09 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

Oh lighten up John!That part is great. The way she shifts her eyes up and down trying to bring a mental picture to the forefront is SO natural to human processing.Those “Hundreds of Kansans” you twice claim are offended must have a very poor understanding of humor. How do you know they are offended John? Did they each email you personally? Or did you go door to door, asking about this? Awfully nice of you to be their spokesperson.Many people in many many countries have no idea what or where Kansas is. Does this mean we should have a call to arms? Shall we send task forces to each viliage home in the world, with brochures?Would you find some group to get riled if they had discussed spelling a “not commonly used in daily conversation” word, yet that group uses that word to identify itself, to state the group's main objectives?Or did you just forget your McLatte this morning?If you want to get riled about something, take note of the multitudes of negative public references, both verbal and written coming from the UK about Americans.And by the way, you might do some research before blogging, McD's has been in Paraguay since 1996.You could have found it in a Google search, the first listing, right above your article saying they aren't in that country.http://www.mcdonalds.com/countries/paraquay.htmlThe whole page is dedicated to the good things about the country and their expansion therein.;~)
25 January 2009
at 5:17 p.m.

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tonyswimmingpool (Anonymous) says…

Way to practice what you preach in terms of urging people not making silly generalizations about a place/culture w/o having any idea of what they are talking about, John. The suspicions that began to course through my synapses as I muddled through whatever it is you were trying to say about how to “reduce foreign policy” were confirmed by that priceless bit about Paraguay being McDonald's-free.
25 January 2009
at 5:45 p.m.

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Guardian (Anonymous) says…

John,Don't get too shook up over those two airheads. They think the Mickey D's coffees are good. Just goes to show ya…
25 January 2009
at 5:50 p.m.

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Irish (Irish Swearingen) says…

Multidisciplinary , You are in top form! Totally loved it! My daughter and I love the commercial and we get a good laugh about it. Now I don't have to listen to jazz all day, says one, and the other is going to put on high heels and show off her knees. Which, I guess you can't do in a coffee shop, never having been in one. Actually one women says, I don't speak French, and the other replies, and I don't know where Paraguay is. It is funny because nothing in the commercial makes sense and it doesn't have to. I am going to try to get the Journal World to walk around downtown and see how many people can find Paraguay on an unmarked map.Any bets on how many?Can you? (Not you Multi, the other yo yo's out there,), No I don't mean- oh forget it!
25 January 2009
at 5:58 p.m.

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Irish (Irish Swearingen) says…

Correction to the above:daughter came to visit, read the blog and said, Mom, I don't give a damn.
25 January 2009
at 6:03 p.m.

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Donnuts (Anonymous) says…

I am terribly sorry. I find mass media humor almost completely classless. Yet I don't really feel that directly being a part of it all or being in it, that I am responsible. You have my sympathies. The mass media has a tendency to oversimplify and use things needlessly in the wake of producing more of itself.You know, it comes from… it's all good. I would just cool down about it. I think McDonald's is kind of a joke and the people that go there to drink designer coffee make it more of one. If you have ever seen “Judge Dredd” I think that is the name of the movie, as stupid as the movie is… in the future every restaurant is Taco Bell.So I think McDonald's wants you to go to them for everything. Just think of it as Kmart trying to become Sacs fifth avenue. Coffee drinking is posh and new and hip and McDonald's wants the anti-educated class's business.
25 January 2009
at 6:14 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

Guardian,Your post backs up how one man takes the commercials comment in one way, whereas it could have many 'inferences'.Because I made a twist on the common, “What, did you not have your coffee this morning?” by substituting a jovially appropriate “McLatte”, you assume I like McD's coffee.In fact, I don't like any coffee.So I guess that makes you an airhead?(I also think John's Sarcas-O-Meter is in fine working order. If not, I wouldn't have posted.);~)

25 January 2009
at 6:19 p.m.

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hitme (Anonymous) says…

Blogs are the biggest waste of bandwidth ever invented ant this is probably the stupidest blog I've ever wasted my time to read.Let me do what you did John…make a really obscure associative reference.Remember the movie, An American Werewolf in London? Remember the scene in the movie theater where Jack and the other victims are telling David the he must kill himself and they're naming ways to do it? (great run-on sentence, huh?) Well, I want you to imagine you're David. David: What shall I do? Jack: Suicide. Harry: You must take your own life! David: That's easy for you to say - you're already dead. Bringsly: No, David. Harry and I and everyone you murder are not dead. The undead. David: Why are you doing this to me? Jack: Because this must be stopped. David: How shall I do it? Judith: Sleeping pills? Alf: Not sure enough. David: I could hang myself. Jack: If you did it wrong, it would be painful. You'd choke to death. Joseph: So what? Let `im choke. Jack: Do you mind? The man's a friend of mine. Joseph: Well he ain't no friend of mine. Bringsly: Gentlemen, please. Harry: A gun. Alf: I know where he can get a gun. David: Don't I need a silver bullet or something? Jack: Be serious, would you? David: Madness. I've gone totally mad. Harry: A gun is good. Judith: You just put the gun to your forehead and pull the trigger. Bringsly: If you put it in your mouth, then you'd be sure not to miss. David: Thank you, you're all so thoughtful.
25 January 2009
at 6:22 p.m.

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bndairdundat (Anonymous) says…

Soooo…………does this mean Lawrence's next sister city will be San Lorenzo?
25 January 2009
at 8:12 p.m.

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bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…

oh, chill out john! besides, I think the “paraguay” ref has to do with a brand of womens' shoes…maybe the name of the brand. also, this was part of a series, when it first came out, they had a group of white guys in one, and a group of black guys in another…and vaguely I think a group of black women in one more. they've continued to punch the meter on the ad you ref, probably because they think it targets a particular demographic. the other ads were funny too and the one with the white guys had “I like sitting and watching football” …”these are real, I need these glasses!” in it.
25 January 2009
at 8:44 p.m.

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classclown (Anonymous) says…

Sad world we live in where there is always somebody out there to be offended by absolutely anything.And in reading some of these comments, well, let's just say that some of you are exactly what the commercial is making fun of. Not the Paraguayans. Live on in your pretentious world folks. The world is laughing at you.
26 January 2009
at 1:20 p.m.

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jtedvoigt (Anonymous) says…

As a one-time Kansan who is currently in Paraguay, I was a little annoyed by this commecial… But not nearly as much as I am amused by the fact that McDonalds is actually quite popular IN Paraguay. By the way, San Lorenzo is a great little town, it would make a fine sister city…
26 January 2009
at 1:36 p.m.

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Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

Way too much time on your hands John. Have you considered a part time job that doesn't impact your retirement or volunteering and sharing some of that life time of expertise with a not for profit?
26 January 2009
at 1:46 p.m.

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hail2oldku (Anonymous) says…

Steve Nilhas knows where Paraguay is………….
26 January 2009
at 2:01 p.m.

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beawolf (Anonymous) says…

“Blogs are the biggest waste of bandwidth ever invented ant this is probably the stupidest blog I've ever wasted my time to read.”Stupid is as stupid does. I can't believe how many people will read an entire article and then regurgitate an angry response on the stupidity of reading that article.

26 January 2009
at 3:32 p.m.

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Take_a_letter_Maria (Anonymous) says…

You are bad hail, very bad.
26 January 2009
at 6:18 p.m.

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Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

beawolf (Anonymous) says… “Stupid is as stupid does. I can't believe how many people will read an entire article and then regurgitate an angry response on the stupidity of reading that article.”Right back at you.
27 January 2009
at 7:31 a.m.

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bndairdundat (Anonymous) says…

It's all starting to make sense now…………uhhh……….okay. yeah. I get it . uh……………..
27 January 2009
at 7:57 a.m.

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jaywalker (Anonymous) says…

There's that trite 'offend' again. I think it would be better to just think of those two girls as morons for not knowing where or what Paraguay is than to go off on such a tangent.
27 January 2009
at 1:58 p.m.

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Take_a_letter_Maria (Anonymous) says…

OK, maybe I'm the only one that caught it.
28 January 2009
at 7:54 a.m.

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hail2oldku (Anonymous) says…

Looks like it Maria. Good one.
28 January 2009
at 10:21 a.m.

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CanAnyonePlay (Anonymous) says…

Take a letter Maria - how appropriate a user name is that hail? Too funny.
28 January 2009
at 10:50 a.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

Diddddd, something happen on his trip?

28 January 2009
at 12:03 p.m.

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CanAnyonePlay (Anonymous) says…

Trips - plural.Allegedly
28 January 2009
at 6:46 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

oohhkay then, thanks.
29 January 2009
at 12:59 a.m.

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bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…

“I don't know where Paraguay is!” “I enjoy sitting and watching football.”
1 March 2009
at 3:41 p.m.

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Good_boy (Anonymous) says…

My name's Luis and I'm a Paraguayan student. I was benefited from one program and I visited Kansas with nine more “Youth Ambassadors” in 2008… Actually, we realized that most of the students we shared with, didn't know where Paraguay was… Is it in Africa? they often said. We had to show them a small purple spot on a map and say: “This is Paraguay”.
Americans are maybe more worried about their own geography, that they don't probably know where some countries are…
I think that's not their fault… That's not even something really 'bad'… Because everything's gonna be Ok if they are born and live their whole life in the United States… (why would they need to know about 'Paraguay'?)
But personally, from my point of view, it's important for them to know a little bit more about the world's geography…
I have to confess that I will maybe know where all the countries are, instead of knowing where the cities in my own country are located… :-)
and We do have McDonald's here…
BTW… Paraguay is located in South America. Its neighboring countries are Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia…

Note: I miss Kansas!!!
1 March 2009
at 5:12 p.m.

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raiblack (Anonymous) says…

It's sad for me to admit that it's not the first time (and I guess it won't be the last time) that someone has no idea of where Paraguay is…
And, just for the record, Mc Donald's has been in Paraguay for over 12 years now… And many people agree, so do I, that our restaurants are better than yours (Mc Donald's, I mean…) That's what they say .. I've had the opportunity to be in the US as well, and, from my point of view, it's true … ;) but, hey ,that's my opinion.. I hope someday you guys will have the chance to come here and to confirm that rumor by yourselves… :)
1 March 2009
at 5:40 p.m.

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readit (Anonymous) says…

The Paraguay comment is actually sad commentary on American's lack of world/geographical knowledge. So don't worry, our friends from Paraguay: it's us, not you.
1 March 2009
at 6:52 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

Nice to read these new comments.
It's not that an ordinary American knows nothing about other countries, it's more that, they are only taught what their teachers have on the books.(And what they now get to learn from TV)

Depending on the age of the person, this could range from old grade school Social Studies textbooks, that covered perhaps one country on each continent, ie; South America = Argentina. Africa = Egypt, with not every continent being explored. Sure, they piece together US state puzzles, and have to name all the continents. Perhaps one year, the class studies in depth (for grade schoolers) a particular county, it's clothing, it family life, animals and farming.

The point, is that out there, things are different. And that is differences are acceptable, and to be embraced.

The teachers only have so many hours in a day, and to try to get in any history (those Phonicians), a few English Kings, the Pyramids, Indian mounds, it just can't all be covered.
If a child is lucky, someone comes to talk to their class from another country, so they can hear and interact one on one.
I'll never forget hearing about how in Africa they ate snakes, and our gentleman brought and cooked food for us. Basically a stuffed tomato, but there was cinnamon in it, something none of us had ever associated with meat before. I still have the recipe.

Those who go to college, still get only a portion of the world.
Ah, to be that man who did the Where in the heck is Matt youtube, where he danced in front of great scenery all around the world.
Great fun.