Does Ben & Jerry’s Hate America? That is the question many people are asking right now after the ice cream company released a rather obnoxious message on Tuesday’s Fourth of July holiday.
While Americans around the world were celebrating their country’s independence, Ben & Jerry’s was busy telling the world that the country should not even exist. This is because the company believes that the United States was founded on “stolen land” that rightfully belongs to the Native Americans.
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So, what did the company say, exactly?
Well, Ben & Jerry’s issued a Tweet on its official account saying, “The United States was founded on stolen indigenous land. This Fourth of July, let’s commit to returning it.”
On the company website, Ben & Jerry’s added, “The US exists on stolen land. We have to acknowledge that—today and every day.”
“What is the meaning of Independence Day for those whose land this country stole, those who were murdered and forced with brutal violence onto reservations, those who were pushed from their holy places and denied their freedom?” it added.
Ben & Jerry’s, however, failed to make any suggestions as to how the United States should go about doing that. Nor did it explain how America could even do that.
And what land exactly should it return? Is it all of the land, or just what was taken after America first became an independent nation in 1776?
Well, Ben & Jerry’s did say that America should start with Mount Rushmore.
“Return Mount Rushmore to the Lakota!” it said.
“The faces on Mount Rushmore are the faces of men who actively worked to destroy Indigenous cultures and ways of life, to deny Indigenous people their basic rights,” added Ben & Jerry’s.
This should come as little surprise as not that long ago Ben & Jerry’s joined the “Israel should not exist” community when it tried to end sales of its products in the country.
So, what’s next for Ben & Jerry’s? Obviously, the company needs to go after Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well since they were all established on lands belonging to indigenous peoples. And, of course, all residents of these countries who descend from European conquerors and occupiers must be forced to return to Europe.
Then Ben & Jerry’s can get England to return their country to the ancient Saxons and France can be given back to the Gauls.
