Brick and I went out to breakfast this morning. It was Martin Luther King day and he had it off.
We went to our favorite breakfast spot in town. We've always liked this place. The food is good and the service is okay.
While were standing at the register paying for our meal, I heard one of the servers ask the owner in back of the register: "But why do we have THAT as a special, George? No one will order collard greens!" His response was "I've been against this damn holiday for years. The only thing King did for this country was to get shot. Since I can't do anything else, this is what I serve as a special every Martin Luther King day in protest."
I glanced at the special board. On it was listed:
Cone bread
Kallard greens
Fried chicken
Watermelon
I instantly became incensed. Most of you know me as very calm and thoughtful. But it is not good to discriminate or show bigotry in front of Cindi. I loudly told off the owner in front of a packed house.
"How dare you show such bigotry? What makes you think you can protest this holiday which remembers a man who fought for personal rights and freedoms for ALL people by serving fried chicken and watermelon? How can you, an owner of a restaurant in our community that depends on tourism, do something so blatantly stupid? What makes you think that MLK did nothing for this country? You are white, sir. And you are officially part of a minority here in California. Think about it. You'll be on the receiving end soon enough. You had better hope no one remembers what you are truly like. I intend to write a letter to the editor and to the chamber of commerce. I'm about to give you one million dollars worth of free publicity. I hope your business folds from the fallout."
I know that my face had flushed red with righteous anger. I realized that I had lost my cool and turned to face all the patrons in the restaurant. They exploded with cheering and applause. After which, they all got up in the middle of their meals, paid, and left right behind those that had been waiting for a table. The entire restaurant emptied in less than a couple minutes.
Now that, my friends, was a religious experience!
AMEN!
Cindi
