Jammed Fingers

Indra Nooyi, the president and CFO of PepsiCo recently gave a speach at Columbia Business School (transcript). People all over the blogosphere are up in arms over this - particularily because Indra chose to describe the United States as the middle finger in the hand of the world. She described America's reputation as being strong and powerful - but also brash and offensive - akin to proper and improper use of the middle finger. This was followed by an example of offensive businessmen making fun of a Chinese hotel's bathroom facilities.

Having read and reread the transcript, I can see why people might be offended. I am more surprised that the speach was that poorly written. This is the President of PepsiCo, and the best she can come up with is "don't give other countries the middle finger". The only example she gives is how to offend a country - there is no possitive example. I am also surprised that she chose such a culturally offensive analogy. Why couldn't the world be an orange - with the US being the peel - if you aren't careful, it will squirt you in the eye! Same message - much less divisive.

I guess the only compliment I could give is that she had enough tact not to drag the War in Iraq into it. She chose wisely to keep the discussion in the realm of business. As for us Right Wing Nut Jobs - I think we need a better hill to die on than an analogy of the hand.