(we’ll get back to the moving the site thing later – right now, i want to post this on every site i have.)

i have a friend that posts on the homeschooling site with me.  she posted this message tonight.  i read it and i honestly thought, no offense girl friend!, that it couldn’t possibly be as bad as she described.  but it is. 

just in case you don’t follow the link i will recount her experience and what followed.  because i’m that mad.

in fact, i’ll just quote her and then i’ll tell you my story.

“You’re the Photographer

Just yesterday we went to Taco Bell. I wanted to be kind and get some tacos for the children. In the bag was Purple Taco Bell Hot Sauce packets. Purple? Well, that’s new. On the packet there was a website URL address. What is this I wonder? I type in the url and it takes me to a vitural photographer activity where YOU are the photographer and a string bikini clad model is waiting for you in a virtual setting. The object of the game is to snap some shots of her. No matter where on the screen you try to manuever the camera lens, it defaults you to her chest and behind. She glares sensually into the camera posing in sexually suggestive poses.

I am appalled!

So I call 1-800-TACO-BELL and speak to a representative and explain why this frustrates me and that I am concerned about children finding this website. She says, “Let me go to our site and see what I can find.” She types in tacobell.com and doesn’t see it, Yet when you click on the purple hot sauce packet it takes you there.

I told her that I will not be a patron at Taco Bell anymore unless this campaign stops immediately. I said, “How dare Taco Bell have an ad campaign like this! Not only is it innapropriate, but to add the link to this website to their own packets is just disgusting.”

Families who value any kind of decency should call their number and file their grievance.

She herself was upset at the description I gave her. She said she would be sure to let them know how I felt and I assured her other families would be calling her soon. So please call today. Families need to take a stand and let their voices be heard!”

so, being a little disbelieving and cynical i google taco bell.  just to make sure i have the real site.  yep.  i go the official site.  the site right now is built around this campaign.  big purple packet.  i click it.  i click that yes, i am up for the game.  and that’s it – i’m snapping shots of a model’s body parts in a string bikini.  maybe on the surface this is not that big of a deal in our current society.  except that i have children.  i have boys who will have to deal with these things.  i have a daughter that i have to train up differently than this girl who used to be somebody’s little 2 year old princess.  and it’s not like it’s a victoria’s secret site.  it’s fast food, people.  FAST FOOD.  they put the packet with the url right there on it in the sack.  not a flier with a “we’ll mail you something with the url.”  no.  it makes me furious.  from the magazines that are in walmart eye level and next to the candy at the check out to the wall-sized posters of the victoria’s secrets’ models facing into the mall to fast food.  i consider myself to be somewhat lenient and understanding.  we don’t wear ankle-length dresses around here.  i do go to the mall occasionally.  i read harry potter and i didn’t support the walt disney boycott.  (no offense, again, to all my friends who fit these categories!) but i will be calling 1-800-taco-bell during their business hours to complain.  and i will not be eating there until this is resolved.  and i will post this everywhere i can.  and i will beg y’all to make calls.  and i will make a difference for decency and i will attempt to make the world a little better for my little ones.  or at least to keep it from getting decidedly worse.  will you join me?