Minnesota Hmong protest against BK "Whopper Virgin" campaign

What’s so big deal about the ad? To be honest, Hmong people do not have a word for burger.

it’s just a commercial/propaganda ordeal to turn more people towards their monopoly franchise… let it be bygones and so on… maybe with all this feeling you’ve let out, perhaps you should focus on the human rights violations that the lao government is placing upon the hmong people in that same region?

why aren’t you complaining that the hmong people are being hunted and slaughtered while the US knows of this and has decided to do nothing about it?

why aren’t you complaining that the laotion communist regime has passed a lao than all hmong citizens within laos are to not marry another hmong, therefore breeding the hmong out of existence?

hmmm? you’ve got more things to worry about than a burger commercial that’s intended on gaining more customers…

by the way… i’m hmong too! and i apporve of this message!

The Hmong may not have a word specifically for burger, but that does not mean the Hmong are so isolated from the rest of society that they have no concept of such things…which is the gist of the ad. This kind of ad has the power to influence hundreds of millions of people to believe that the Hmong are truly no more than a primitive tribe in Thailand (by interjecting using code word like “pure” and “virgin”).

Seng Vang..I think that’s just outright pathetic. It’s a COMMERCIAL! i don’t see others complaining….let it go….. just HAD to be a MN Hmong guy…..

This person complaining is being to foolish…. Its a commercial and has nothing to do with Hmong people. I am Hmong and quite proud with this exposure of our people. Only a person looking for a complaint to complain about… would really care. Its sad how these people are supposley so upset on this… Hey if you want to help our people in the home land… just be quiet and let nature takes it course.

Seng Vang needs to realize that in life… the objective of living is not to live but to live life… Just because Burger Kings says Have it your Way they were not talking JUST to you!!!

I live in Bangkok, Thailand. My girlfriend is Thai from Suphan Buri. Suphan Buri has a McDonalds, but she has never eaten there. She had never tried a Whopper either, until I broke down and bought them.

Many Thai people are perfectly happy to eat only Thai food. The Burger King in Chiang Mai is mainly there for tourists and expat locals. You don’t see Thai people eating there.

I am convinced that Burger King probably didn’t have to go as remote as some of those Hmong villages to find people who had never tried a Whopper.

Look at the clip of the guy from Greenland. He obviously spoke English and knew what a burger was, but he admitted he’d never tried one, and in fact preferred seal meat. I think that proves my point rather decisively.

I don’t think they were trying to make fun of Hmong people or culture, they were just doing an experiment, it was pretty interesting too.

I live in Chiang Mai and like to ride my mountain bike up to some of the Hmong villages in the Doi Suthep area. I would agree many of them have seen a advertisment or perhaps passed the BK restaurant which is at the Night Market on Chang Klan road but very few would have eaten there. It’s not cheap by Thai standards. I have quite a few Thai friends in town and they have never eaten there. I think its a possible premise. For each younger more adventurous hill tribe people that explore the city and are educated about food trends, then there are a couple of older less motivated people who have rarely traveled to town. I know because I have met people who have only traveled to town for medical emergencies etc. Many of the villages don’t have reliable cell phone service. Most have some electricity if only with generators. Most villages has TV’s to play video’s but many don’t have reception.

Oh and there is just one BK restaurant in Chiang Mai and it’s only been open for a few years.

well… I’m Hmong too and yea… I find it offending that the Burger King commercial used the small hmong population in such a stereotypical way… nws zoo ib yam li peb cov hmoob ruam thiab tsis paub noj, paub hnav, paub hauv… yog hais tias lawm yuav muab coj los xyuas tiag, peb cov hmoob feem ntau yeej nyiam noj cov Big Mac’s dua li lwm yam…

I am Hmong, born in the Thai refugee camps and have lived in America for for about 30 years now. I do not find the ad to be offensive; I find it to be entertaining. I am quite proud that in such a diverse world, the Hmong were chosen for the ad and that they got their fifteen minutes of fame. The context of this ad is blown out of proportion by Seng Vang. I think there are still some Hmong people in that region of the world that do not have access to modern technology and would still be primitive in some way. If he wants to complain, he should be addressing the human rights violations towards the Hmong in Thailand and Laos. These issues are more critical to the Hmong than a burger ad that gave a few Hmong some whoppers to eat. In addition, I’ve searched my Hmong vocabulary and could not find any word for “burger” except for a Hmonglish pronounciation of “bahger”. I wonder if Seng Vang will also be complaining about the portrayal of the Hmong in the Clint Eastwood movie “Grand Torino” as gansters or thugs? It is sad, but true that the majority of the Hmong youths are fond of gangsters.

RE: BK: Seng Vang..I think that’s just outright pathetic. It’s a COMMERCIAL! i don’t see others complaining….let it go….. just HAD to be a MN Hmong guy…:)

totally agrees with you BK
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and Seng…complaint about something worth complaining about. Sounds like you wasted times and energy on this because you are not on the commercial…and didn’t get a free whopper. STOP DUDE...you are an embarrasment. BE GLAD THAT HMONG ARE FEATURED IN ANY COMMERICAL MAINSTREAM. That commerical has informed the world that there is a group of minority people called “HMONG”...at least some acknowledgement. GET IT?

Mr. Seng Vang, don’t be offended by something that is not true. I’m sure your parents or an older, wiser Hmong person have told you before to not get so angry about something that you personally know is not true. For instance, even if someone said something about me that was not true, I would most likely let it go and shift my focus the facts. Besides, this exposure plus Gran Torino’s exposure are good in that once people start getting curious about who the Hmong are, they will most likely do their own research and learn the facts. No need to yell and scream at them like you are doing now. Addtionally, BK’s ignorance towards the subject does not necessarily mean they are not culturally sensitve. It was probably just pure ignorance and nothing meant to trigger offense.

I agree with Dumbo! We need to channel our focus on more serious matters that are occuring in the Hmong community in the States and in Laos.

Instead of this “BK” story, I would appreciate more articles revealing the truth about the prosecution of the Hmong people back in Laos and actions we can take to end all the madness!

Seng Vang, Please find a better reason to complain. As a Hmong Man, I’m proud of this commercial. Everytime this commercial comes on tv, my family love it. We believe, the Hmong ppl have come a long way, and finally the world start to recgonize who we are. Plus, this commercial is not just about the Hmong ppl, it included many other race in it. You should be proud that this product chose “our ppl” to be included.

Hello, I am a Hmong and I am proud to be Hmong, We the Hmong we aren’t rude but firm. I am very proud that BK have chose Hmong people in to BK commercial for the first time in the world like the movie” God must be crazy” of the people in central west of Africa. Yes some of us are very lucky to be in America, because many of ours parents have paid the price for it. But there are so many Hmong in the world who aren’t very lucky to see and to be in the 21st century. We need to promote that by showing them to the world and we can fix what is needed to be fixed. Some Hmong in America aren’t very happy by the way Hmong is portaited in BK new commercial. To me those complaints are rediculious, no basic, non sense and so selfish. To me that is the BEST, you imagine Hmong in the no man land is capable of knowing a good stuff. I am pretty sure and very proud that my Hmong are very smart. no matter what the world want to test the Hmong. My Hmong people will get the right answer and know the good one right away. Go BK, Go BK. Go BK, make more commercial with my Hmong people, just don’t forget to pay them as good as Tiger Wood. Go BK

BK, thit is the best, Hmong in No man land is capable of knowing a good stuff. Hmong are very smart even they are in the most remove place on earth. I proud of my Hmong people and I am proud of you BK.How and where can I send you a thank you letter

Tousaiko Lee is in Thailand. Read what he says about how the Hmong in Chiang Rai are taking the commercial:

http://travelinspirals.blogspot.com/

His postings are not titled so you’ll have to go to about the 10th paragraph in the December 24 section.

It’s great to see that this commercial can spark dialogues among Hmong in America and I hope that it can also make non-Hmong counterparts curious enough so that they can learn about the beauty of the Hmong culture. My wife and I do not find any offense to this commercial as we were having our dialogue the other night. We’re both proud that of all ethnic groups worldwide, the Hmong were chosen for this commercial. If the Hmong actors in the commercial aren’t complaining, then we shouldn’t either. Why are some of us (i.e. Seng Vang) bothered by this and some aren’t? I think they have the intellect to understand what they were doing and I am sure that they enjoyed every moment of their fifteen minutes of fame. This situation reminds me of William Hung. Even though his singing was horrible and Asians might be embarrassed about it, he did not complain and was quite humble about it. The actors in the commercial aren’t complaining; therefore, why should we?

Uhh….yeah. I found this kind of dumb. Not a valid argument. I mean, if he had a more consciouss type of view, I might be for it. And for a different purpose. But this is just plain rediculous. It makes us look like idiots. Arguing about something so meaningless. I myself was very intrigued by the commercial when I first saw it. It put a smile on my face. But I’m sure BK must have expect this coming. You know once you cross cultural exposure, someones bound to jump on your *ss. Regardless. So yes, it’s typical and they should have been ready. All in all, I’ll shut the f*ck up. This is dumb.

Dude, honestly, I don’t think this guy’s even seen the documentary. Cause if so, he might change his mind. Or if not, I’m not quite catching his drift. I’m sure the commercial may seem a bit offensive. But man, once you view the doc. It’s a beautiful thing. I get teary-eyed everytime I even see Hmong people in the press. And I mean, on other things than violence or just some straight obnoxious illiterate foreign bullcrap. But that’s not the issue here. These are real far-east Hmongs we’re talking about. Whether they seen the Whopper or not. They’re not the ones here in America. It’d be a disgrace to try that to us here. Then I’d have something to say. Haha. Like folks who ask you if you speak English. Anyways, our name is on BK ads. We were the first ones mentioned in the credit. How sad is that hey? Like that ain’t getting us closer to exposing America to genocide. Fortunately, it is. All of it, including Gran Torino. And even if this is some washed up Corporate bullsh*t that the owner is trying to get more sales and exposure off, so be it. F*ck it. I’m not saying let’s avoid it, but we’ll deal with it later. Don’t ruin the chances of our name being mentioned. Now’s the time. Savor it and live in the moment. Controversy is not always a bad thing. It opens up for conversation. And silence, my friend, is the enemy. I hope we don’t get excluded now from one bad freaken review of our reaction to the commercial. That would suck. I mean, they brought many cultures together and even ate their food. They bonded. Wore the clothes and all. That’s awesome. Again, no one knows the intention of this all, and it could be ugly, don’t get me wrong. But this is positive to me right now. I love it.

While some would say that it’s perfectly alright that Hmong should NOT feel offended by such blatant media mischaracterizations or stereotypes of our people as no more than ignorant tribesmen, and in fact, we ought to be grateful and joyous that the Hmong were given their 30 seconds of fame…and that we ought to be complaining about other more important things like human rights abuses in Laos and Thailand…I still beg to differ. Here’s why.

The idea or belief that Hmong people are no more than simple tribesmen in remote places of Thailand, or anywhere in the world for that matter, and who have never heard or even try a burger…are the very reasons why then it is perfectly fine for those in positions of power to simply deny them basic human rights, respect and dignity, and otherwise hunt them down like animals, and once captured, torture and kill them without consequence.

BK’s power to be able to reduce an entire people into a simple stereotype for world consumption may be a simple advertising campaign for some, but the social, economic and even political consequences are as real as there are many. Think about this: The Hmong in Thailand will be better known as Whopper Virgins than as a proud and prosperous people with a 200 year history in Thailand. The Hmong around the world will be better known as simple tribesmen in remote places of Asia, as opposed to equal 21st century citizens who are university professors, software engineers, even plastic surgeons.

For some of you, the idea that since I’m complaining about one thing, it must mean I’m not complaining about other more important or pressing issues…is an example of the type of apathy and inability of some in our community to see or fully grasp the larger contexts in which Hmong continues to be victims of blatant oppression and discrimination.

For me, the fights are all the same, whether it’s BK’s millions they spent on branding the Hmong as remote tribesmen with no knowledge of a burger, or Thailand’s horrendous treatment of Hmong refugees on their soil (whether alive or dead), or Laos’ continued denial of fighting in the jungles with survivors of the Secret War, or hurtful words from University of Wisconsin law professor, or what happened in the woods of Wisconsin with Chai Vang and then later with Cha Vang, or the continued media bias from the likes of Tom Barnard of KQRS, or any other injustices.

MLK said it best, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

This is a Thai Clorets commercial that came out a few years ago featuring Thai star Tik Jessapon and a seemingly “ban nok” Hmong family:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVRneNH3Gno

Tik’s car hits the Hmong farmer’s truck and the Hmong farmer obviously becomes agitated, yellling at him ‘What the h*ll kind of driving (language) is that!?” ... Tik with a Clorets in his mouth, replies” Oh, its Tik’s style (language) of driving!” ..... The freshness of the breath mint instantly pacifies the angry Hmong farmer and his family and the farmer then replies sheepishly “Oh, that was just a mispronounciation (of mine)!”

This commercial is making a jester that that Hmong-Thai ppl cannot speak Thai properly. .. For those who dwelled in the highlands of Thailand alll their life, yes, they cannot speak that fluent of Thai, yet for those who have had an education and live and work among mainstream Thai society, this commercial reinforces a negative stereotype of Hmong ppl in modern Thai society. ... I could probably say a lot more but my point is … The BK commercial (which featured other supposedly isolated indegenious ppl around the world too) is nothing compared to this Thai clorets commercial.

Seng, Hmong are not uptight people like you who can not laugh at themself or know that it’s all fun and games. There’s a time for seriousness as well, however, this is not it. National exposure like this is hard to come by. The only national exposure prior to this and Gran Torino I’ve ever seen is Hmong killing somebody. Have a little sense of humor. It’s good to see Hmong so active and passionate but pick and choose your battles wisely.

This is the problem with our people. Peb hnov tsis tau ib lo lus tsis zoo hais txog Hmoob li. We quickly jump to conclusion. The ad specifically stated that ‘the Hmong in the remote area of Thailand’, it did not said ‘all Hmong people’. And remember, this is a commercial. By making a big deal out of it, it only makes the commercial more effective.

I too find the ad offensive. In our media-saturated world, no commercial is “just” a commercial—it is yet another message fashioned by a corporation who exists solely to make a profit for its shareholders and to enrich its management. Any text, such as this ad, that “others” a group of people who have been exploited and oppressed—in particular by the the US government—is a dangerous text. The ad promotes the view that not only Hmong are primitive and isolated (therefore in need of the culinary—and I use that term loosely—paternalism of the Burger King corporation) but that by association South East Asia is a place that harbors such romanticized, exoticized people who need only to be deflowered by America in order to experience the real pleasures of modern living. Considering US history in Asia—Vietnam War, Korean War, current occupation of Korea and military bases in Japan, etc.—no ad that depicts a US-based corporation experimenting on Asians is apolitical, or somehow values-neutral. All propaganda—and an ad is merely a piece of commercial propaganda—aims to get a group of people to do something or think something. This ad is trying to get Americans (and whoever else is the audience for this ad) to eat Whoppers—the logic here is that if you don’t like them and don’t eat them, then you’re as primitive as these “remote villagers.” The only thing remote about this ad is the ad-makers connection with reality. We Asian Americans are so mis- and underrepresented in American media that some of us may feel grateful for any exposure—I am more interested in self-representation. In a time when nearly half the nation voted for a presidential candidate who recently used the word “gook” in public—and who was widely hailed as a hero for bombing Vietnamese civilians in an unjust war—and basically nobody in the mainstream media cared—we need to be careful about what we’re grateful for.

The sad reality is that half of the battle for some decent respect and dignity for all Hmong people is with fellow Hmong. I guess I rather be called “uptight” any day than be the apathetic Hmong who find humor in a multimillion ad campaign to paint our people as nothing more than a primitive bunch from the boondocks.

The scary thing is that this commercial is effective, having already reached millions around the world…something racists like Tom Barnard of KQRS can only dream of. And, like KasTom’s example above, it legitimatized all other acts of discrimination, which are much worse.

I don’t know where some of you BK sympathizers have been lately, but Hmong people indeed have had our share of positive national and international exposures as well. You’re saying that the continued stereotypes of our people is a justifiable need for national exposure? Exposure to what, more blatant discrimination and disrespect as a people with the same obvious rights, abilities and dignity as any people? Exposure to be ridiculed and pigeon-holed at your work place as a backward hillbilly “Whopper Virgin?”

Obviously, there seems to be more negatives, thus the mounting protests against BK…which actually has come from many mainstream consumer groups and even media critics around the world, not just the few Hmong “complainers” like myself.

I don’t doubt for a second that there are Hmong out there who are equally racist or discriminatory against others, or even their own. But regardless of who the perpetrators are, there will always be people who will stand up and say no. Today it happens to be BK, tomorrow, I’m sure it will be another.

Finally, Hmong people didn’t pick this battle, or others like it. Most Hmong don’t have that luxury. Most battles are thrown our way, forced upon us, from time immemorial…and we’re just trying to defend ourselves, correct the wrongs done to us, and advocate for a more fair, equal and dignified representation of who we are. That’s all.