Posted on 10/12/2011 8:36:59 AM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear
ANNISTON, Ala. -- Officials with the parent company of Olive Garden restaurants say they're sorry if a decision regarding an Alabama Kiwanis club's desire to display the American flag caused any concern.
The comments come after 80-year-old Marti Warren of Anniston said she wasn't allowed to bring an American flag into an Olive Garden for a planned Kiwanis Club banquet in the east Alabama town of Oxford.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbs12.com ...
A communist restaurant... they cannot ever get me to eat in their place... ever again.
LLS
Just unbelievable.
Red Lobster
Longhorn Steakhouse
The Captal Grille
Bahama Breeze
Seasons 52
Whatever their ideology, you would think that the restaurant manager would realize that poking the local Kiwanis Club in the eye is not a very smart business decision.
But these days, ideology trumps all.
As a private corporation, Olive Garden is free to set whatever policies they want regarding displays in their restaurants. Apparently they don’t allow flags or banners of any kind in their restaurants.
As a private citizen I am free to eat wherever I want. I don’t think I’ll want to eat at Olive Garden anytime soon.
I am so unsettled. What is it with all this strange behavior from so many people coming to light in these recent years. What kind of person would object to an American flag?
isn’t the CEO a big campaign contributor to zero?? and didn’t the restaurants receive a waiver for obamacare??
“Olive Garden:
When you’re here , you’re with (the Obama)
Family”.
Wonder how disruptive it would be just to take a crap in their big salad bowl? Screw Commie Garden!
And their reason is: “to avoid disrupting the experience of other guests.”
Don’t the other guests know they’re in the USA? If their “experience” is disrupted by an American flag, they don’t belong in this country.
Yep. What was interesting were the comments below:
“Adam J. Boyer · Producer at NBCUniversal
Has nothing to do with what kind of flag; it’s a blanket policy. Your life will not change at all because of this news. It’s not the flag, it’s the disruption. Singing happy birthday is enough, many patrons don’t need a whole party going. IF they want to rent the entire restaurant out, then they can probably display what they want. It’s a business trying to make money.”
“Steve Ross · Michigan State University
Get a life people. It’s a blanket policy for all signs, banners, flags, etc.”
I will never patronize them myself.
Good thing I never had dinner there. Who wants to eat at an un-American restaurant that serves fake Italian food.
Wow, Olive Garden is a real piece of stinking leftwing sh*t.
If this was to be a Kiwanis Club banquet, it was likely in a separate or banquet room, which would be completely removed from other guests.
Yes and yes.
I’d bet that they would have no problem flying an Italian flag, though; would they?
I’ve decided before to boycott all Darden restaurants because they were in bed with The First Wookie on her ‘Let’s Move’ crap and making their french fries ‘PG’. This REALLY clinches it for me.
I sent the link to Drudge and he has it up. YAY!!! I hope to HELL this hurts their business.
I think so.
Since this restaurant as well as the rest of those in the Darden group have decided to go along with Moochelle’s requirement of parental approval for kids to have french fries with their meals, it doesn’t surprise me that they also have contempt for our flag, the same as their Wookie Godmother.
Olive Garden restaurants another do not use place.
I understand you would not allow a Kiwanis organization to display an American Flag at a meeting they arranged at your restaurant.
If this is because of some kind of blanket ban on displaying banners, then your policy should be changed or amended.
I have been a patron of your affiliated organizations for years, but if this is not changed or rectified, I and many others like me will take our business elsewhere.
When the American flag is deemed to be a distraction to diners, it is time to stop dining in a place that considers it a distraction.
It was a banquet not open to the general public. We not only pledge allegiance to the flag but sing God Bless America. Did McPasta stop them from singing too? What about singing Happy Birthday at birthday parties?
I dunno if they’re being genuinely unpatriotic here. It’s the suits not wanting to tick somebody off.
Simple solution. Kiwanis should just tell the Olive Garden they are taking their business elsewhere.
If you read the article, the manager said that they in fact do NOT have a separate/private dining room, and that factors into the policy.
Then Olive Garden should have told Kiwanis they do not allow group functions.
Olive Garden managment must WANT the restaurant to go out of business.
Do any of the Veteran’s associations know about this?
Do any of the other patriotic groups know about this?
You will understand if I and my family leave your brand to pursue your offensive disdain for this nation’s flag without us. We have had our last meal at the Olive Garden chain. I imagine you can save on overhead by discontinuing menus in English. I doubt you’ll have much call for them.
American Flag = votes for Republicans.
American Flag = no votes for Democrats
American Flag = no votes for Obama
Darden is an Obama donor.
Darden is sacrificing shareholders for the ugly first lady. (ugly on the inside)
Olive Garden, Red Lobster to slash fat and salt; Michelle Obama declares healthy ‘breakthrough’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2779633/posts
you need to fall in line with the wants of your overseers.
they only have your best interests in mind, you know.
People who are upset should band together in a group wearing all sorts of American flag clothing. There’s these jackets and T-shirts that people could wear that have the flag motif. Go as a large group. What will they do? Show their true colors by not allowing them in? Have news reporters standing by.
People still eat at Olive Garden? I gave up on chain places several years ago.
“Disruptive”? Our name is Pontiac Indian for “a bunch of us having a good time”!
I’ve had the opportunity to visit in four foreign countries. In each of those countries their flags were everywhere and easily visible. What a shock that I wasn’t ‘offended’.
Great idea!!!
I would rather NOT eat at a restaurant that colludes with the Obama administration!! Give me a Chick-fil-A any day....
Well, those screaming kids and people with piercings all over their bodies disrupt my dining experience...are they gonna have a blanket policy for that????
I know something that would disrupt their dining service even more. Their horrible, horrible food. Never again.
Who the hell are they pandering to? Only black and white Americans eat there! Who the hell are they pandering to?
I hate it. Another damned good restaurant needlessly headed for the crapper in a bad economy due solely to PC. S**t!
My wife and I went to one when they first opened, and thought it was not bad. We went to one a second time, and the food was so overseasoned it was nearly inedible, and we have never gone back.
The fact that they needed someone (the government) to tell them to add less salt speaks volumes.
I do enjoy Longhorn, and will find out their policy before I go back.
Betcha they'd book a luncheon for a local union in a heartbeat, AFL-CIO banner and all.
Someone should open a flag wrapped roach coach across the street.
That’s funny because they allow Happy Birthday banners to be hung.....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.