I just happened across an ad in a kids’ paper while I was eating lunch:
The Shining Path: Your Newest Option in Childbirth
After recovering from the spit-take I had to wonder what on earth they were thinking. Do they in fact approach the birth-support process from a Communist terrorist perspective? I suppose there are possibilities there — although one’s mind does stray into Bad Thoughts territory pretty quickly when considering what they might be — and it’s a niche market at best.
Do you suppose they will ever have a Peruvian client? My guess is No.
From a sheer Madison Avenue branding perspective this was easily the coolest name of any evil revolutionary terrorist outfit ever, pure Socialist Realism in words. (Consider: Falangists, Khmer Rouge, Bolsheviks, Red Brigades, FARC, FLQ, PLO, SPECTRE, PFJ, JPF*… boring, boring, boring.)
So maybe it was time for some rehabilitation…
(*bonus points for the last two)