A U-Turn on Mao

Ahhh, globalization!

A French car company's ad running in Spain has angered the Chinese, the BBC reports.

The ad in question is a print execution featuring the iconic portrait of Mao, but with his lips twisted in a frown and a Citroen hatchback in the forefront.

"It's true, we are leaders, but at Citroen the revolution never stops," the ad reads.

Between the likes of a Beatles song, screen prints by Andy Warhol, and cheeky t-shirts from Urban Outfitters, the West has long considered Mao more a pop culture icon than a subject fit for reverence.

But it turns out that for all its liberalization, Chinese citizens continue to harbor a deeper respect and love for the controversial figure than Citroen had realized.

Even more 30 years after his death, the Chinese seem to have little tolerance for even benign humor - light ribbing - at the Chairman's expense. Chat rooms have erupted with displeasure at the ad, which they consider to be disrespectful of their culture and history.

The French - themselves not the best sports about political humor at their own expense - have discontinued the ad and have let a thousand apologies bloom.

Liz Gunnison