Fast Food Nation...Bringing Facts at Lightning Speed

I have reached the third chapter of Fast Food Nation, and like it says on the cover, it is "The Dark Side of The All-American Meal." Fast food companies started off trying to sell food to adults and young adults, but as time went on they found out the real age to sell to were young kids. "According to the CME KidCom Ad Traction Study II, released at the 1999 Kids' Marketing Conference in San Antonio, Texas, the Taco Bell commercial featuring a taking Chihuahua were the most popular fast food ads. The kids in the survey also liked Pepsi and Nike commericals, but their favorite television ad was for Budweiser." (43). It was surprising that kids would even understand Budweiser commericals, but I can understand why they like them. I'm a big horse person, so the fact that Budweiser had commericals with horses probably appeals to little kids.
I was sitting in my room reading when i came across an interesting piece of information. Greenbrier High School in Evans, Georgia was taking part in "Coke in Education", they wanted to win a $500 prize from the Coke Company, all of the students wore red Coke shirts as part of the celebration. "A photographer was hoisted above the parking lot by a crane, ready to record the human C-O-K-E fro posterity. When the photographer started to take pictures, Mike Cameron- a Greenebrier Senior, standing amid the letter C- suddenly revealed a T-Shirt that said 'Pepsi'. His act of defiance soon received nation wide publicity, as did the fact that he was immediately suspended from school. The principal said Cameron could have been suspended for a week for the prank, but removed him from classes for just a day." (55). This quote remeinded me of the Students Rights cases we've learned about, and how students expressed their rights to Freedom of Speech and Expression and were punished for it. Cameron, in my opinon, didn't do anything wrong. He simply used his right to Freedom of Expression, and what he did wasn't causing any "clear and present danger". I believe the school was just upset because they may have lost the $500. I would have never guessed that this book would talk about Freedom of Speech and Expression.

Mike Cameron in his Pepsi Shirt

I'm really enjoying this book, I can see that McDonalds isn't as happy a place as everyone thinks. I don't think I'll be eating fast food anytime soon.