Posted on 04/21/2014 2:04:20 PM PDT by grundle
Above: “Gang colors” that reportedly offended a Pizza Hut manager in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
According to a Facebook post by a user calling himself Rick Libertas Semper, a popular pizza chain refused to serve him because he was wearing four patches signifying his service as a U.S. Marine. According to his profile, he lives in Green Bay, Wis.
“I decided to go to Pizza Hut for their lunch buffet after work and was approached by the manager who came to tell me that for the safety of the patrons and staff they do not allow people in the restaurant wearing gang colors,” he wrote.
Of course, according to his account, the only ‘gang’ his colors represent is the Marine Corps.
“I was wearing my black leather jacket that has 4 patches and the back of the jacket is embroidered,” he recalled. “One patch says USMC, the other patch says Marine Combat Veteran, the 3rd patch is the unit patch for 3rd Marines 3rd Batallion and there is a patch of the US flag on it.”
The back of his jacket, he explained, is covered by an embroidered USMC emblem.
“I pointed out that these are not gang colors but represent one of the branches of our military,” he wrote, explaining he is a veteran and has “earned the right to wear them.”
The manager, however, reportedly “said he can’t be expected to know” the difference between patches “so they just don’t allow any of them in the restaurant.”
The veteran recounted his experience as evidence that the “world is full of idiots,” though he recognized the incident was isolated and doesn’t necessarily represent the views of all Pizza Hut franchises.
In a response to his initial post, he wrote that he believes it was just a case of a “young manager trying to look like he was in control.”
Nevertheless, reports of companies treating veterans with disrespect continue to surface across the nation. Making matters worse, our government is not only shrinking our active military ranks; it is providing fewer and fewer resources for those returning with physical and mental needs.
Yet I can’t tell a minority, gay or transgender to leave my business, can I? See, that’s where your argument falls apart.
Out of curiosity, I’d like to see a pic of the offending jacket just to be sure. It’ not impossible to think that he could actually look similar to local gang members when he walked in.
Regardless, after he had explained the colors and meaning, the manager could have shown true managerial leadership and apologized for the misunderstanding. Also, the restaurants rule is pretty stupid. Schools try to pull that crap sometimes and it just doesn’t work. You can’t tell an entire school they can’t wear blue or red and expect that to not cause problems.
It doesn't seem like he was kicked out, he could have taken the jacket off. While I don't agree with what happened I can understand how a business that has problems with such things would stick to the rule without exception for fear of being sued. If they start deciding what type of patch is OK and which is not-- there no doubt will be somebody that screams discrimination.
“Let me guess. He dressed like a 1% biker and is pissed because he was treated like a 1% biker.”
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Really? Really?
Let me guess. Post 16 has two rows of “colors”. I guess the veteran who is the subject of this thread was wearing the “colors” in the first row. And I (based solely on your comment) guess that YOU wear the colors of the 2nd row.
I would boycott Pizza Hut, except that Pizza Hut pizzas are crap that no one in his right mind would eat.
Your rights are being violated ... infringed ... trod upon ... by the self appointed leaders of the racial minorities, the sodomites, the perverts, the self-mutilators ... and by the congressthings who pander to such low-life. You have the right to tell them to leave. That right violated by statute.
That said, race is not something one chooses. Race is not a behavior. Sexual perversion is a chosen behavior, but is not necessarily a behavior actually engaged in when one is eating "pizza" (I use the term loosely in this case) at Pizza Hut. So your attempt to equate race, and sexual perversion, with manner of dress in public is mistaken in addition to being irrelevant.
Again, the management and ownership of this Pizza Hut establishment has a right to have, and to enforce, a dress code. And if the rest of us think that their dress code is idiotic we have the right to say so. And we have the right to NOT patronize their establishment. And we have the right to urge others to do likewise.
I wouldn't be caught dead in that joint. The manager is an idiot, and a jerk, and he doesn't deserve my business.
To address your point, though, I'm sick to death of government at all levels sticking its nasty nose and dirty fingers into every aspect of private life. That includes the manner in which private businesses deal with their customers.
If you can't handle that, tough. Learn to live with it.
There’s no need to boycott anybody. Its just an immature and not very bright store manager blindly following rules without using any common sense. He’’ll someday have a fulfilling career as a government bureaucrat most likely.
Okay, let’s do this. Take KFC and Taco Bell off the list too as they all belong to the same corporate.
Email to pizza hut corporate from all vets might help our point some. This manager needs to go back to the washing dishes job until he figures out just who earned him his right to breath free air.
There’s at least three Pizza Huts in Green Bay. For some reason the phone numbers for all three, (920) 499-4554, (920) 468-4988 and (920) 432-8844 have been temporarily disconnected.
I wonder if junior has been told how much business his stupidity cost the franchise.
Manager must’ve been growing up when Military people were considered baby killers by the Democrats and not sources of votes.
Boycott ‘em!
“Let me guess. He dressed like a 1% biker and is pissed because he was treated like a 1% biker.”
Now that is a little ignorant.
I am a biker and ride with to groups, a Veterans group and a Christian biker group. I wear leathers and I have various patches that represent my military service and my respect for others that served and for my Country. I also wear gear identifying me as a Christian In both sets of attire I raise money and awareness for veterans issues and children’s issues such as hospitals, child abuse awareness etc. What a shame that anyone would treat me poorly because of my looks
Easiest. Boycott. Ever.
I already boycott Pizza Hut, because of their long-standing policy of firing employees who defend their lives during armed robberies.
Your stupid comment comes from willful ignorance.
That diner was not kicked out for 1% outlaw patches, he was kicked out for wearing USMC patches.
Assuming that the diner may have rode in on a motorcycle and wore protective clothing designed for motorycyclists does not make that person an outlaw 1%.
That’s quite a leap....
I looked at bad company’s profile page, and discovered he dresses like Leisure Suit Larry In The Land Of The Lounge Lizards. That just added to the comic effect of him supporting throwing military vets out of public establishments because of their looks. SMDH
Haven’t eaten there in years, all the more reason not to eat there again.
Update from his Facebook page:
Ok, most of you following me and what happened this week here is the deal. No need to boycott Pizza Hut as it is not a company policy, it never was a company policy and they do hire people, pay wages and do good things in the community Earlier this week before I had my confrontation a group of gang banger wanna be’s did go into the Pizza Hut and caused problems. One of the guys had a Field Jacket that had patches and stuff on it and he was the main instigator of trouble. The young manager was trying to be proactive when I came in and avoid a similar problem which is why he confronted me. The manager didn’t think you could go and buy a military jacket and spice it up with all of the patches.
If you want to be mad, be mad at young punks who dress in military attire and do not show the uniform or colors the respect it deserves. Be mad at posers who never earned the uniform, ribbons or badges that live off of the honor of our veterans. Be mad at celebrities who wear our uniforms ike costumes to the award shows, be mad at the schools that don’t teach our youth what the uniforms mean....there are plenty of things to be mad at but Pizza Hut......hell there are bigger fish to fry than over zealous managers.
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