Right Left Whatever

That Middle-Finger Speech

I've looked at the speech given by PepsiCo CFO Indra Nooyi and find myself not liking what I read. Though she claims in her statement of defense that she is merely encouraging "each of us as citizens to take a constructive role in whatever we choose to do in life to ensure the U.S. continues as the world’s “helping hand.” ", that isn't what came out of the original allegory. When describing Asia, Europe, South America, and Africa, in terms of a human hand, she talks about them in collective terms, and then mentions the USA in similar language, and then clarifies her point by suddenly shifting to the "rude American" image, describing a conversation between Americans in a hotel in China. By the end of the speech, she is just passing off her bias in a broad sterotypical view of Americans as rude and arrogant (all but saying those traits are unique to us). While I agree that it would be good for us to take a constructive role, I'd argue that it is good advice for the rest of the world as well, perhaps with a bit of emphasis on those states that support terrorism. I'd certainly like them to take a more constructive role.

(Hat tips: Susanna Cornett and Power Line Blog)