Submitted by
Charles Burns
In a very odd move for a business, Sliders has put up a sign inviting a boycott. (“We eat at Chick-Fil-A. Please boycott us.”) So, why would I boycott Sliders? I live nearby. It’s convenient to go there once in awhile.
Some background: The sign refers to eating at Chick-Fil-A. For those who live in a cave, Chick-Fil-A was a big item in the news several weeks ago when it became apparent that the owners of the restaurant chain, for many years, have been giving money to organizations that support anti-gay causes. This is done primarily through their WinShape Foundation. Further information about this is available at the Equality Matters website (Click here).
It should be noted that Dan Cathy, the President of Chick-Fil-A, has not been covert about this. In fact, he’s been quite open for years. It happened to have caught on in the press recently. As a result, various liberal groups called for a boycott of Chick-Fil-A. In response, Mike Huckabee called for a Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day. Shepard Smith, the resident contrarian on Fox News, said on the air, “It’s National Badminton Day. Let’s forget National Day of Intolerance. Let’s just stay with badminton.” The result of all this was a day of cash register busting receipts for Chick-Fil-A. The L.A. Times (click here) carried that story.
Considering the fact this is after all, an advertising sign at Sliders, placed out front in order to bring in business, it appears that Sliders is trying to whip up adrenaline among people who are intolerant towards gays in order to make money. To me, it just doesn’t get lower than that. Well, maybe giving out ax-handles in your restaurant, like Lester Maddox used to do, would be lower.
Gay people are our friends, our children, sometimes even our parents. In other words, they’re us. We’re all in this together. It might be a good idea for all of us to look into our various intolerances to see just what it is we’re so afraid of.
I believe gays should have the same rights as everyone else. They work, they pay taxes. Why should they be treated as second-class citizens?
As for Sliders, many of us have long made a practice of boycotting institutions and businesses that discriminate against any class of people. I’m taking Sliders up on its invitation.
August 12, 2012 8:33 p.m.
Slider’s owners and management are entitled to a personal opinion; however, the signage was public and therefore offensive. They cannot retract their bigotry. What cowards: they leave the public no similar public forum to contradict their poison. Leaving the roundabout, drivers could not mistake the vitriol or the intent. This was irresponsible and needlessly combative. It solves nothing and inspires intolerance on both sides of the issue. After years of my patronage, I will no longer be giving Sliders my patronage.
As a patrons for years my partner and I will follow suit and will no longer support sliders – to bad we really loved the Macy’s
Scott & Michael
Gay people are our friends, our children, sometimes even our parents. In other words, they’re us. We’re all in this together. It might be a good idea for all of us to look into our various intolerance’s to see just what it is we’re so afraid of.
I believe gays should have the same rights as everyone else. They work, they pay taxes. Why should they be treated as second-class citizens?
Well said “Charles Burns”!
I know it’s called “Freedom of Speech” but why say it or display it if you’re going to hurt someone??
I’m going to miss you Scott and Michael!!
Kathy
I used to bring relatives and kids to Sliders to enjoy the friendly vibe and our fun-loving community – at least I thought it was friendly and fun-loving. The sign made Sliders seem mean spirited and nasty. They should have just ‘shut up and served their beer’ (to rephrase the servers’ t-shirts), and I’ll drink mine somewhere else.
I agree with the above. I have no dog in this fight but we do have plenty of division in our country we do not need more.
I am very disappointed in Sliders position. When my partner and I moved to Fernandina, our first date was held there. In fact, we continued to patronage Sliders on a very regular basis. One evening, many staff members and Mamagement told us, “You two are just what we need here and in Fernamdina”. In fact, we relocated to Jax but, insist on coming down regularly and bringing family & friends to have the best crabcakes ever. Based on this slap in the face, we will be taking on our business, friends and family to Brett’s or PLAE; where ALL are welcome.
Too bad that someone at Slider’s decided to place their own arrogant, personal opinion above that of a business and a diverse community. Sadly, this fans the flames of intolerance, change and community growth breeding contempt in an already economically suffering, Florida beach town.
I too think it’s awful that Sliders did this stupid sign. We have enough hate and discrimination in this world that we don’t need it here, or support it here. We’re kind of a live and let live town, where we care for each other and help each other. NOT slam people to the ground like this. Really tacky. So long, Sliders.
I wonder if anyone has taken the time to contact the owners to learn of the intent of the sign. Was the intent to make a stance of bigotry and hatred? It is so easy to misunderstand things and make rash decisions that don’t need to be made.When I read the sign, I did not take it negative or offensive. It seems to be saying, in a backdoor way, we would love to be as busy as Chic Fil A. Don’t get me wrong, if the intent was to use the sign as a springboard of hatred, then who would want to patronize this establishment? I would not. However, if it has been taken out of context and was not meant with ill intent, they should not be shunned to the point of destroying the business. I have no connection to this business and am not trying to defend them. I think I have only eaten here twice in my 12 years of living in the area. I am just a big advocate of communication and discussing situations.
I tried to look at it this way as well, but don’t you think they would be more careful with their wording while playing off this controversy? I know if I were going to try such a thing, I’d make sure it was very clear what I meant to avoid being seen as hateful…
Why would you even put something up that would potentially be taken out of context. When I read it I took it as “We support CFA’s decision, so if you dont agree then boycott us as well. I have heard the owner’s “intent” through friends and his snarky apology (please forgive me, for I know not what I do). In my opinion; his intent was a reach to say the least. But if you didn’t take offense, then by all means eat there. Next time I am in town they wont get a dime of my money the way they have in the past.
As a former thirty-five year resident of Fernandina, I heartily agree with Charles, Ron and others. What dastardly vitriol! Not to mention, poor business acumen. We all deserve equal respect and rights. Every US citizen. Every world citizen. Please show your own wisdom with your boycott of this historic – but, alas, clinging to the past – former site of conviviality. And, show your wisdom with your November vote!
Yes, because of the ignorance of the owners at Sliders, I will no longer be a patron and that’s too bad because since March I have eaten there over 50 times…no more!
As you wish…
“We would love to be as busy as Chick-Fil-A.” So, you saw a chance to make money off of people’s bigotry, and other people’s pain? Slimy. And I think it underestimates the longetivity of the issue. Who has a longer memory- the pro-rights folks who boycott CFA, or the pro-bigotry folks who poured in for- what was it, one special designated day? Time will tell. But consider this: I have been boycotting CFA for 2 years already, with no intentions of ever going back. There is such a thing as rightous anger. And it lasts for as long as it needs to. I have my doubts that the pro-bigotry crowd will eat at CFA enough to compensate for the pro-rights crowd who has left forever. CFA is hardly a business model to emulate.
Aside from whether you are “pro-Chic” or “anti-Chic”, keep this economic fact in mind: If you boycott a business, you don’t hurt the owner, you hurt the employees. If Sliders is boycotted and business drops ten percent, the owners will simply reduce employee hours by ten percent, and order ten percent fewer supplies and foods. It won’t change the profit much.
Boycotts are conducted by people who think that boycotts affect the owners. The truth is that they mostly affect the employees. If you want to participate in the layoff of a cook or server, boycott a restaurant. If you want to affect the owner, you’ll have to do something else.
If my employer put up a sign like that, I’d begin looking for another restaurant job that same day.
This all sounds like a giant red herring.The sign may have been in poor taste,but it’s his sign on his property It is alittle thing called freedom of speech.As I read these comments,the intolerance seems to be coming from those who appear to have problems with traditional values.I have patronized Slider’s for decades and will continue to do so,perhaps more frequently.
P.S.Regarding boycotts,the above comments are right on the money.Who’s your target?