Getting the message

摘要

A recent survey concluded that the world's most influential brands were Starbucks, Ikea, Apple, Google and al-Jazeera. Fair enough, but I'm surprised that God didn't make the top five. He has been marketed globally for just about ever. Like Calvin Klein, he's an international household word. Product placement strategies have been particularly effective for the deity. His flacks have succeeded, in the American market, with placements in the Declaration of Independence ('Laws of Nature and of Nature's God'), on banknotes ('In God we trust'), in the Pledge of Allegiance ('One Nation under God'), and in swearing to tell the truth in court ('So help me God'). The account has had some top writers, and they have produced great slogans. 'God for Harry, England and Saint George!', for example, ranks right up there with 'Finger lickin' good,' 'Pepsi generation,' and 'Don't leave home without it.'