Submitted by Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
Restaurant chain Lunchbox Laboratory caused a bit of a stir when it presented its annual 4/20 sale offering a thirteen dollar Burger of the Gods in a “Buy one get one free” special. 4/20 is celebrated in the cannabis subculture as a national holiday of sorts and the numbers refer to California Senate Bill 420 which authorized medical marijuana in that state. Events during this day are celebrated in many areas of the United States.
For the year 2014, April 20th coincides with Easter. In a melding of the two holidays Lunchbox Laboratory sought a new way to generate business.
The restaurant e-Mailed the advertisement to 13,000 subscribers with the add featuring a burger toting, joint toking Jesus who laments: “When I Get Back, All I Want is the Burger of the Gods.”
“I wanted you to look at Jesus smoking a blunt, eating a hamburger and say, ‘Hey, I’m going to tell my friend,’” restaurant owner John Schmidt told Q13FOX.com in Seattle. “The chatter is much more than I anticipated. I’m simply trying to sell burgers.”
Schmidt argues he is a “family man” and practicing Christian who was just looking for a way to help his small business pay its bills.
“I’m not your moral compass,” he told Q13FOX.com. “We’re just trying to sell sandwiches. If you’re looking to me for moral direction, you’re probably misguided.”
The resulting free advertising was bolstered by Seattle’s KIRO Radio talk show host Dori Monson who declared “He will never go back to Lunchbox Laboratory after the pot smoking Jesus ad.” He added the following additional insight to the debate:
What this shows is not just a contempt for Christians and Christianity – and they’re free to do that, they’re a private business in a free society. They can have contempt for Christians and Christianity if they want. But to me what this shows more than anything is something that I talk about all the time, and that is this phony, hipster culture in Seattle, because there is nothing particularly edgy about attacking the center point and the center day of Christianity, there’s nothing edgy about that.
I don’t think it’s funny to show Jesus smoking a joint. I don’t think it’s cool. I don’t think it’s hip. It certainly isn’t edgy.
Some people are going to say hey you’re giving them exactly what they’re hoping for, you’re giving them free publicity. But I’ll tell you this is a place I’ve patronized in the past and I will never ever go back to Lunchbox Laboratory.
Again, free speech, I’m all for it, I’m not saying they shouldn’t be allowed to do this. If they don’t care about alienating whatever percentage of their customer base who are Christians, if they don’t care about that, go ahead and do it. But I will tell you it’s a place I’ve gone to that I will never ever go back to again.
It seems certain that Lunchbox Laboratory has lost a very important and valuable customer in Dori Monson. But, thanks to him his entire audience knows of a burger joint they might not have considered before. As for the flight of Christian customers Dori prophesized, one could wonder how many of the 13,000 fans will be deterred. Or, will they in thanks offer Bong Hits For Jesus?
By Darren Smith
Sources:
WSPA
Dori Monson
Lunchbox Laboratory
The views expressed in this posting are the author’s alone and not those of the blog, the host, or other weekend bloggers. As an open forum, weekend bloggers post independently without pre-approval or review. Content and any displays or art are solely their decision and responsibility.
Help. I’m mired in an 0 for 15 slump in having comments retrieved. I feel like a freakin’ Cub. I’ll pay $10 for a retrieval.
truth, It is fascinating. While I have a faith in God I do not like organized religion, as neither do you. I go to church for funerals, weddings, baptisms, and confirmations. No one here has said they have a problem w/ this ad. I said I saw the humor and believe God does also. But merely point out the fvact that many hate Christianity and bend over frontwards for Islam, for which their are millions of examples, and we’re Far Right Theocrats. Pretty tolerant folk. C’est la vie
pete, You’re not being intellectually hones. How about a Ramadan ad w/ the Prophet blowing weed. Anonymous is correct. There is a long history of fatwa’s declared on ANY image of the Prophet. You shoot yourself in the foot by not conceding that obvious point. Take your shots @ me, I’m guessing you’re a secularist and don’t like what I said. But, you diminished yourself w/ your silly retort to Anonymous. And, unlike some here, you’re sharp enough to know that. Now, let’s just let it go.
QFT !
[QUOTE]Pete-Congratulations. You made Nick’s point (which I disagree with) for him. Of course it would be ridiculous to have Muhammad in an Easter ad. But if you put Muhammad in any ad and depicted him smoking weed some on the far-left would go crazy and we’d be treated to endless babble about tolerance and respect for our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Let me be clear: I have no problem with this type of advertisement, but stop pretending like the playing field is equal on this subject. Just pick one of the many threads where Professor Turley posts a story about something stupid/illegal/scandalous that Christians or the Catholic Church did. In the comments you will see a barrage of rather hateful comments towards Christianity. Now compare it to a thread where Professor Turley posts a story about something/illegal/scandalous Muslims did. In the comments you will see the same people who just finished condemning Christians, pointing out that “all religious fundamentalism is bad and we have to be careful not to disparage Islam.” It’s pure hypocrisy[QUOTE]
Lee I think you fail to see the point.
I do admit that the feeling dumb comment was not needed.
FYI I am not a Republican and the only 3 or 4 times Ive been inside a church in my life were for Weddings.
Pete-Congratulations. You made Nick’s point (which I disagree with) for him. Of course it would be ridiculous to have Muhammad in an Easter ad. But if you put Muhammad in any ad and depicted him smoking weed some on the far-left would go crazy and we’d be treated to endless babble about tolerance and respect for our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Let me be clear: I have no problem with this type of advertisement, but stop pretending like the playing field is equal on this subject. Just pick one of the many threads where Professor Turley posts a story about something stupid/illegal/scandalous that Christians or the Catholic Church did. In the comments you will see a barrage of rather hateful comments towards Christianity. Now compare it to a thread where Professor Turley posts a story about something/illegal/scandalous Muslims did. In the comments you will see the same people who just finished condemning Christians, pointing out that “all religious fundamentalism is bad and we have to be careful not to disparage Islam.” It’s pure hypocrisy.
nick
Secular progressives have declared a war on Christianity. True atheists detest all religion so I can abide it. Secular progressives just hate Christianity.
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and narcissistic italians pull “facts” and broad sweeping (and insulting) statements about other people, and their believe systems, out of their a$$es.
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Anonymous
I agree that there is no war on Christians and that the ad is very funny. But I also think this type of ad would not be tolerated if you substituted Muhammad for Jesus.
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and why would anyone have an easter ad about muhammed?
that would be almost as goofy as celebrating the death and resurrection of the son of your god by hiding brightly colored chicken eggs and giving away chocolate rabbits.
No Truth. do you? I just googled what you were saying, it is only against Christians and posted the first 2 I found. It is not worth my time to do more search then that and by the way there are civility rules here which we are asked to follow. As a “Christian” you are a rather nasty fellow (or woman)
Feel dumb yet Lee?
Absolutely freakin hilarious lee posted that guys video. This guy is an outright Progressive Atheist lmao
https://www.youtube.com/user/stevelikes2curse/videos
THANK YOU LEE FOR PROVING MY POINT LOL
ROFL LEE
i dont think you realize that video you posted was with the comment of this LMFAO
Published on Apr 24, 2013
“Why are Christianity and Islam so nuts? Because it runs in the family.”
On his about page he writes this LOL
“Atheism, commentary, smartassery of a generally respectable quality.”
HES ONE OF YOU !!!
No lee, I didnt say you were going to go to hell. I said if you are a Christian Democrat and you stand by and watch your fellow Democrats tear down a Republican by way if his Christianity that your God will likely be upset because you chose a political party over him. Its no different than me saying God will be angry if you go murder someone. Again, far different than saying whether you are going to hell or not.
But the fact is, what I said is true, which is probably why you dont like it because its hitting too close to home.
Truth, one person;s rant does not make it more then that person;s opinion,
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPO2lMEKA4E
Saw the article. Nothing wrong with it as far as I am concerned. Sure she used it as a photo op, anyone who is a ‘celebrity’ will have the pics taken but her platform was immigration reform and she did it in concert with the church.
(PS Nick, it is medical we are talking about. If anyone thinks of you as the pusher man, shame on them) I will google the Pelosi picture. (My former minister talked about it a lot not just at Easter, He apparently thought telling the story made him appear humble and allowed us to forget who he really was.)
Nick, no question it helps. many studies show that and yet my legislator state senator Mensch (Pa.) wrote me that the pharma similar drugs are more then adequate. Of course he never replied to my follow up to him that it did not work for me at all.(Some time back another pain patient who lives where it is legal offered to get me some but it would be horrid if he got caught (I am worried and paranoid about that): he could lose his access. (Although the more desperate I get the more I start thinking of how could I do this.)