Sainsbury's Christmas Ad

[Jebber]

I stand corrected mrs, apologies to Tesco. Whether it was branch or company policy, it was publicity that changed the situation. Over thirty years ago I resigned from a job because the branch manager of the firm refused to allow the sale of poppies, so I don't take theses things lightly

[LizzieW]

I agree with Clarkey.

[Huckleberry]

I stand corrected mrs, apologies to Tesco. Whether it was branch or company policy, it was publicity that changed the situation. Over thirty years ago I resigned from a job because the branch manager of the firm refused to allow the sale of poppies, so I don't take theses things lightly

It had been arranged by the British Legion that they would collect outside the front entrance - Like most supermarkets these days they use every available square metre to display stuff - Would they have had to move things to accommodate an indoor seller or was the foyer suitable etc - We do not know  - only "89 year old veteran FORCED to stand outside, because there wasn't room in the foyer"  ASDA turned the sellers away from one of their stores  because they were not on the rota of charities. So they did not have the chance indoor or outdoor to collect.

Why do ex-service people have to rely on charity, Why doesn't the government provide?

[Gadget]

I don't often quote from the Mail  but:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2834465/Watchdog-primed-investigate-Sainsbury-s-Christmas-advert-complaints-flood-use-WWI-imagery-promote-company.html

Paul McCartney's not  happy either.


Gadget

[Galium]

Not surprising if the Pipes of Peace video is similar - if it is depicting the same event.
Is it more wrong for Sainsbury's to show the Christmas Truce in an avertisement for a product being sold in aid of war veterans than it was for Paul McCartney to have shown it in a video promoting his own record?

[msr]

Well, I don't know about Paul McCartney, but I think it's some of his fans who are jumping on the anti bandwagon.  What for I don't know as the 'original' was most definitely out for making pots of money, and not for the benefit of those who have served the country.

As for the complaints to ASA, words are failing me.


I see you have made the same point Galium, with reference to the P McC version.

Christmas 1914 by Mike Harding depicted the same event, and that makes me cry every time.

[Gadget]

There was also the final scene in Black Adder.

Every time I see versions of the Christmas truce, I recall my Grandad's words from his WW1 diary ~

 'The worst Christmas I've ever had'


Gadget

[msr]

I can't begin to imagine how they must have felt, having a moment of (almost) normality then commencing to take up arms again in order to kill each other.

[sallyyorks]

Just to ask everyone's opinion

This ad is well worth watching for the beautiful filming and their efforts to achieve accuracy for the historical scene they're setting.  And for the fact that it refers to a very important historical anniversary.

But do you think it's appropriate to attach a Supermarket's name to this - presumably to encourage people to shop there this Christmas?

I am worried by this (and I work in Retail) - what does everyone think?

I disagree that it is "accurate", It is far from it.
WW1 Army Officers wrote about how shocked they were at the malnourished and unhealthy condition of the soldiers who joined up. The advert is overly sentimental and glosses over the very real poverty of the working class (who were the vast majority of the population) and also the horrors of the war. Downton Abbey I think does this glossy sanitised version of history as well

It is bad taste and I don't think it should have been done . It seems to me like exploitation and done for profits