Memories. Ahhh Yes, Memories of My Life

Boycott

PROMPT July 18th

Have you ever boycotted a company or product? If so, tell us the story. If not, what would a company have to do for you to boycott its products?

         Have I ever boycotted a company? Yes, a couple of them actually. The first would be the NFL. I realize why Colin Kaepernick took his knee, and I understand why others followed suit. I just think, and this is my opinion, I know what it's worth, that he (they) could have gone about it a different way. To truly understand my viewpoint on this, you have to have served in the US Military, and appreciate what those who serve go through. Seeing them kneel is a slap in the face to those who have given their all to defend our way of life, and to those who took that oath and were willing to do the same, but fortunately didn't have to.

         Let's not stop with the military either. I know they are protesting police brutality, and it does get out of hand. I'd like to see a statistic of the percentage of encounters that do end up wrong. I've never been a police officer, never rode in a police car, but having worked with the techs when I teach class, I can appreciate a little of what they go through each shift. Those who live in 'nice neighborhoods' where little ever occurs that requires a police presence will never understand this. To them, life is 'perfect', and nothing ever goes wrong. Those who live in marginal neighborhoods, or see rotating lights near their homes on a regular basis might appreciate it. But like our military, the officers who work a shift on the 'shadier side of town' put their lives on the line every night. They never know when the tide will turn against them. When a routine call will go the other way, and suddenly, they are the victim. You don't see them taking a knee over them, or a co-worker being attacked every night, do you? I guarantee you that happens at least once every night in a medium-to-large city. So seeing 'Millionaires' who have been given the chance to make that kind of money playing a sport most men would give an eye-tooth to play take a knee really bothers me. If they want to see the whole story, go live a few nights in those neighborhoods. Spend some time with the people. Then spend some time with a police officer patrolling those same neighborhoods, and see if they minds are changed a little. As I said, the police officers efforts do get out of hand, and needs to be corrected. I think they are better ways to go about it than kneeling during the National Anthem.

         My other boycotts? Red Lobster and Olive Garden, and really most any national chain of restaurant. I'd rather eat local, support the local community than a national chain that has millions of dollars on hand. Why did I single out those two? They are (were) owned by the same corporation, I worked at 2 Red Lobsters. I know how they prepare their food. Believe me on this, while the food is good, and prepared properly, it's nothing more than McDonalds. Everything, and I do mean everything, is parceled out. An easy example is Red Lobster's Shrimp Scampi. When the prep those plates the night before, a heart of the house worker (that's what the kitchen staff is called in house) carefully places the shrimp in that circle you're familiar with, then inverts the plate over their hand so the shrimp are in the plate just right. Then they brush the scampi sauce (butter and herbs) over it, and put it on a tray. There are no Saute' pans in the kitchen. The Crab legs are in a steamer most of the day. They just pull out a bag to fit a plate. When you think about it, that's what McDonald's does with the burgers and chicken patties. Dine at Red Lobster, and you pay a higher price for the food, plus you tip the server. I've never worked in an Olive Garden, but I know it's the same. Pasta is in a plastic bag, carefully weighed. It's microwaved in that bag! Then placed on a plate, and the sauce in a cardboard container is heated in a microwave before being poured over the pasta. Rant over.

         I've not boycotted any place else really, but knowing how a large chain runs their restaurant really turned me off on going there all the time. Do I not visit major chains? No, I do, once in a while. But I will not dine at a Red Lobster or Olive Garden, and the same goes for Burger King and McDonald's.






Jim Dorrell