Posted on 10/12/2011 12:10:04 PM PDT by austinaero
Olive Garden Denies Local Kiwanis Group the right to fly the American flag during pledge of allegiance
I agree, Find another place to hold your meetings——and to dine.
It is their restaurant, they can make whatever rules they want.
If these rules are consistent and across the board, that’s they way it should be.
It is also (according to the story) this particular restaurant did not have a private dinning area, that was the primary reason.
Yes, if you feel strongly about it, plenty of other inexpensive “Italian” restaurants to find a meal at.
Give it up. There are bigger battles to fight than trying to tell a restaurant how to operate.
They explained that there was a policy not to allow any banners, etc. because of lack of room. It’s apparently a smaller restaurant with no private dining room for meetings.
This is not about patriotism but about practicality. Give Olive Garden the benefit of the doubt on this one.
This is where I have the problem, Jim. They did not decide to ban the display of an American flag.
They did not.
They have a policy, already in place, not to allow flags and banners in the dining area.
What you, and others I suppose, are upset at is that they did not allow an exception to their rule for the American flag.
And while I may hope that they would do so, it is not "banning" the American flag for them not to make an exception.
Darden has caved on this!! They are getting lots of nasty calls and emails on this and they are modifying their policy. I called for the head of the manager that perpetrated this abomination. Keep it up Freepers.
No more Olive Garden meals for me ...
Here is what they posted on their Facebook page - seems appropriate:
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
We’ve had some questions about whether or not guests can bring the American flag into our restaurants. We are very sorry for any misunderstanding about this issue. We do not have a policy at Olive Garden concerning bringing the American flag into our restaurants. Some members of our team were misinformed about company policy by our corporate office. As a company we take responsibility for that and we regret it. We take pride in how we communicate to our restaurants and we are correcting this so it doesn’t happen again. Like all Americans we have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for the American flag and everything it symbolizes, and we welcome anyone who wishes to bring the flag into our restaurants. In fact, we periodically provide American flag collar pins to our employees to wear while serving guests.
They regret that. The Kawanians are usually some of the most prominent members of the community.
‘Twould be a shame if they started to get crappy food inspection ratings.
I suspect the Kawanians will find another meeting place.
Just sent them an Email. I told them “If the American flag is not good enough for Olive Garden,then neither am I, and my family.” No more Darden restaurants or their gift cards. I hope they enjoy and embrace their diversity.
These businesses which whore for the regime need to lose some 30% - 40% of their trade
From a manager at a chain eatery I frequent, “all eatery’s are at a 25% loss in revenue due to economy down turn”. With a cot, that only leaves a 10% more in loss.
They did not.
I understood your point the first time.
They have a policy, already in place, not to allow flags and banners in the dining area.
Convenient, isn't it? By banning all flags, you don't have to single out the flag that represents our nation. I'm curious as to how long this policy has been in place.
What you, and others I suppose, are upset at is that they did not allow an exception to their rule for the American flag.
I believe that is obvious. This is not about displaying the flag of some sports team, which might actually generate some grumbling in some locations.
And while I may hope that they would do so, it is not "banning" the American flag for them not to make an exception.
An argument that is based on semantics and, for me, is hardly convincing. It side-steps the fact that Olive Garden, by refusing to waive the 'no flag' rule in their restaurants - which is their prerogative - to allow the temporary display of the flag that represents our country is the basis of what is offensive to many of us and why we will no longer patronize this business. That is our prerogative - and like Olive Garden's 'no flag' rule, we're not breaking any laws by not allowing Olive Garden an 'exemption'. What could be fairer?
At this juncture, I've fully stated my opinion and have no interest in belaboring this issue so this will be my last post on this particular thread.
Anything would be better.
I have eaten at one of their restaurants about 4 times and have never enjoyed their food.
I will never eat their by choice.
“This is not about patriotism but about practicality.” I disagree my friend.
I don’t buy for one minute that having an American flag flying is in any way disruptive and I don’t agree that if you allow the U.S. Flag you have to allow every flag on the planet. It’s not about fighting a battle,,it’s about communicating the little struggle. I’m glad Drudge picked it up.
“This is not about patriotism but about practicality.” I disagree my friend.
I don’t buy for one minute that having an American flag flying is in any way disruptive and I don’t agree that if you allow the U.S. Flag you have to allow every flag on the planet. It’s not about fighting a battle,,it’s about communicating the little struggle. I’m glad Drudge picked it up.
So Darden says “Like all Americans we have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for the American flag and everything it symbolizes, and we welcome anyone who wishes to bring the flag into our restaurants.”
To my fellow freepers who don’t think this is anything to get worked up about - the above statement would NOT have happened if someone didn’t get worked up about it.
Seems they do NOT have a policy about banners after all. It’s also a good idea to CHALLENGE what doesn’t sound right.
Just my two cents
bfl
No.... butya know that picture of the royal Mr. & Mrs. munching burgers and fries? Well.....my husband and I made an afterhours run to our local Olive Garden and taped an 8 X 10 Glossy photo of the grease oozing down their facees, right on their front door. We laughed all the way home.
Olive Garden off my list.
But they have been an ongoing abomination against my Italian heritage ever since their opening day.
Their restaurant, their rules. Absolutely right.
My stomach, my rules. Equally right.
I’ll miss Olive Garden right until I find a better place for Italian Food. Won’t take very long.
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