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Advertising Controversy at American Heritage
By Samuel P. Wheeler | December 1, 2008
No, I’m not in the business of selling jewelry now. However, if I had made such a transition, do you really think I would be pushing Confederate rings? Highly doubtful. So why the Rebel ring at the top of the page?
I came back from the Thanksgiving break to find this story in the New York Times.
It seems American Heritage, the newly revamped history magazine, has created a bit of an advertising controversy.
The current edition of the magazine is a special issue that focuses on the life of Abraham Lincoln. As you might expect, the Illinois Bureau of Tourism capitalized on the national exposure by buying a backpage ad that encourages readers to visit the “Land of Lincoln.”
However, the preceding page seems to be sending a different message.
A company called the Bradford Exchange bought advertising space as well. What are they encouraging readers of the special Abraham Lincoln issue of American Heritage to buy? How about a commemorative Confederate ring!
I have not seen the current issue of American Heritage, but I visited the Bradford Exchange website and found a Confederate ring for sale (pictured above).
The New York Times story asked historians James McPherson and Eric Foner what they thought about the strange advertising juxtaposition. Both pointed out that the Confederate flag is a controversial symbol to a great many Americans. However, McPherson claims that the advertisement clashes with the tone of American Heritage. Therefore, if McPherson had known about the ad before it was published, he says he would have protested the magazine’s decision to run it.
I certainly understand Professor McPherson’s point. He appears to be concerned with both the magazine’s direction, as well as the way Americans remember the Civil War.
However, I must say I’m not particularly outraged by this advertising controversy.
How many Confederate-themed items are available at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum gift shop? I’m not absolutely positive, but I bet you could buy a rebel flag if you wished.
At any rate, the Lincoln legacy can certainly withstand capitalism’s contradictory currents.
Moreover, readers of American Heritage deserve some credit here. Do you really think there was a run on commemorative Confederate flag rings shortly after the magazine was published?
I doubt it.
Readers who bought this special Lincoln issue of American Heritage are probably not interested in sporting a rebel flag ring. I’d say the folks in charge of the advertising budget for the Bradford Exchange dropped the ball on this one.
Topics: Confederacy, Legacy, Lost Cause, Museums, Pop Culture | 1 Comment »
March 27th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
DON`T BE SUCH A DEMOCRAT. THIS SYMBOL WILL NEVER DIE. JUST BECAUSE A FEW IDIOTS USE IT FOR SUCH DOES NOT MEAN IT TO BE A BAD SYMBOL. SOUTHERN HERITAGE IS A BIG PART OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY & PEOPLE NEED TO FORGET ABOUT THE HATE THAT PEOPLE HAS PUT WITH THE FLAG & UNDER STAND IT`S JUST A FEW PEOPLE WITH THE HATE & HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR FLAG & HISTORY. SOUTHERN HERITAGE IS JUST AS MUCH A PART OF THIS COUNTRY AS ANY BODY ELSE`S HERITAGE. GET OVER IT.