Filed under: News
Even in "post-racial" America, some people find their rights to freedom of expression constantly under attack by the PC police. Not a week goes by that we don't find some business owner being criticized by a clueless, oppressive public for merely putting up a sign (or selling "Darkie" soap). A business owner is certainly entitled to their freedom of speech. Right?
There was the Maryland restaurant that put up a "Country First. McCain/Palin" sign during campaign season. A Florida doctor who posted a sign telling anyone who voted for Obama to "seek care elsewhere". A Georgia bar owner put the word "n*gger" on a sign outside his business. And just last week, I told you about some ingrate in Wisconsin who essentially put a "No Coloreds Allowed" sign on the front of his strip club.
And now this guy. Seriously, what is it with quasi-racist small business owners and their signs:
The fuss over a sign in Alabama at an electronics store reading "BBQ PORK RESTURANT (sic) IS SAFEST NO MUSLIMS INSIDE" shocked its longtime owner who said he doesn't understand why it's such a big deal.
Electronic Repair Company owner Chuck Biddinger, who put up the sign last week, said he meant the message as a joke. But he said this sign, which has garnered national attention, has gotten more positive reaction than negative - and he has no plans to apologize to anyone offended.
He told local television station ABC 33/40 that while it was meant as a lighthearted joke, it was true.
"Muslims do not eat pork," he told the television station. "It's a known fact that Muslims have tried to commit crimes in this country."
On Friday, Biddinger said he planned to take the sign down sometime soon, but hadn't quite had the time to do it - and was still looking for something equally eye-catching. Signs outside his shop are changed every week, usually with jokes he receives via email chains.
When asked by The News if he understood why this sign might have gotten more attention than other racist or sexist signs he may have posted, he replied, "No, ma'am." After all, he said, he wasn't worried about people's feelings. "For the local area, if I offend a few Muslims, there will be a lot of people who support it," he said.
Ahhh, the money phrase: "all the coverage of his repair shop from the sign is good for business." Seriously -- this guy sees pissing off a segment of the population as "good for business," even though the business of note (BBQ joint) isn't one Biddinger even owns?
Because the sign isn't related to hiring or directly serving patrons, I doubt there's technically anything illegal about Biddinger's expression of free speech. Tasteless? Sure. Ignorant? Definitely. Racist? Probably. Illegal? Not so much.
If there were any justice in Birmingham, this moron's "electronic repair company" would be out of business.
Questions:
-Do small business owners have the right to put any sign they want onto a business even though it may offend the community?
-What rights to people have to enjoy public spaces free of negative discrimination, even if it is not directly threatening?
Leave your comments below.
Jay Anderson is a freelance writer from Washington, DC, whose work has been featured in the Washington Post and on NPR. When he's not busy talking smack here, he runs the award-winning blog AverageBro.com. Follow him via Twitter @AverageBro.