So you are in favor of this move simply because it is legal to do so? That seems like an odd way to make decisions about what to approve of. Do you carry around tiny American flags that you periodically light on fire just because it is legal for you to do so?
For my own part, while I agree that it is legal for them to do so, I’m not sure that I’m in favor of this move. Sure it feels cathartic, but I doubt that being hounded out of a restaurant will be the coming to Jesus moment that will convince anyone in this administration to give up their evil ways, if anything its just likely to further galvanize them in their beliefs that they are a prosecuted minority.
The only hope for our country is to somehow dial down the partisanship and eventually reach a point where bi-partisan compromise is possible. This isn’t a false equivalence “both sides do it” argument. It is pretty clear that the left has a long way to do before it gets within spitting distance of the right’s sewing of division for political gain.
I also don’t think that the Left should lie down and pander to the deplorables sacrificing our principals to mollify the right when they are just going to take our gesture as a sign of weakness and an opportunity to make even more strident demands.
But I do think that this purely symbolic move is a step in the wrong direction. I step towards further division, without a lot to gain for it, and provides further ammunition for the “both sides do it” argument that seems to be so effective on those in the middle who aren’t paying attention.
Well, if its legal to do so in the municipality where you live, then yes, it is your moral imperative to do so. All that matters is whether something is legal whether it’s a good idea.
I don’t think he’s saying the legality of the issue is the only issue. Note the statement “the owner had a strong opinion”. That is, if a person feels particularly strong about a certain issue, that person should act on it.
Otherwise I agree with your post. The restaurant owner has every right to do what he or she did, but if this is going to be a new standard that businesses operate by, it won’t bode well for the political discourse in this country. We have all sorts of ways to protest, but making it personal like this is not a constructive way to advocate for change. IMO. It just makes the one side feel like they are indeed hated by the other side. And it distracts from the actual issue at hand.
Stolen from Twitter:
“First they came for the immigrants, but I did not speak up because speaking up seems rude and uncivil and I wouldn’t want to be perceived as divisive.”
I’d have asked her to leave not merely for my own personal feelings about her but also for the risk that she might get the Kirstjen Nielsen treatment, which would certainly and dramatically disrupt my evening dinner service.
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Just saw her talking on TV. Suggesting that its about public officials “…and others who serve their country…”. Suggesting military personnel, if my Manual of Repugnant Insinuations is up to date.
No, Ms Huckleberry. Didn’t happen, isn’t happening, and won’t. You suck.
I think that there is a difference between sticking up for immigrants and kicking somebody out of a restaurant. My point was not to avoid speaking up but also not to sink to their level. Feel free to make it clear that the restaurant supports immigrants. In fact, inform Ms. Sanders that the entire cost of her party’s meal will be donated to a legal fund for immigrants separated from their children. Make it crystal clear that her food is being cooked and she is being waited on by members of the LGBT+ community and publicize the fact that she knew this and still patronized the restaurant. Demonstrate her hypocrisy for the entire world to see but do so without getting into the muck with her.
Unless she has come out in favor of eliminating legal immigration, outlawing the donation of legal aid to recent asylum seekers, or banning gays from working in restaurants, where are you seeing the hypocrisy? You would have shown that both parties are willing to ignore politics and do business with each other.
If you told her there were undocumented immigrants working in the kitchen, and she chose to eat there anyway, then you might have a case.
Not to mention that the central strategy of “trick her to create a gotcha moment” seems contrived and shitty to begin with. This is NOT a fucking sitcom episode.
Your plan is to give the Smoky Eyed Liar and her master, the Orange Hate Goblin, a new PR tool of deception? I can hear the deplorable tiki-torchers now: “See? tRump ain’t anti-gay, lib’rul liars!”
And if you think that lot is bothered by hypocrisy, well…
Heh. Can’t deny that. Trump & Co. certainly have the potential to be worse than Bush, and there’s no doubt they’d have made an even bigger balls up of the response to 9/11 than Bush did.