Yes our restaurant is complete unamerican and hates the U.S. military

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

Some stores in our chain were offering free sandwiches for Veteran's Day. Ours wasn't and boy did I hear an earful from customers about it.

Like the title said, I was told my store is Unamerican, does not like the military, is "discriminating against soldiers", is being disrespectful and so on and so forth.
One of my favourites was "<your company> is no better than the Taliban!"

One guy (who claimed to be active duty but I have doubts) actually demanded that I make him a free sandwich anyway and would not give up for 10 minutes when I refused him.

In an attempt to clarify the situation, I called several of our others stores in the area about the promotion and got different answers from each, so I ended up not having a single clue what was going on.

I finally put a sign up by the cash register, but that didn't help much because we all know SCs don't read signs.

[Bright_Star]

Around here, a bunch of places are offering FREE meals but you have to show military ID to get it. They're not going to take your word for it if you're a veteran.
Insisting on getting a FREE meal cause you're a veteran is like insisting on getting a military discount cause you're in the the military. A true person of the military isn't going to insist on getting something free cause of their military affliation & if they do then they're a discredit to everything the military stands for.

[Peppergirl]

One of my favourites was "<your company> is no better than the Taliban!"

The Taliban? For not participating in a free-sandwich offer for veterans?

Wow. That's just....wow.

[EvilEmpryss]

I'm a vet, and I admit to picking up a free lunch this afternoon because of the offers.

I also witnessed a HUGE number of people of questionable association with the military attempting to do the same thing. When I heard "Why should I have to prove I'm a veteran?", I realized just how sucky people can really get.

I'm a vet and I'm proud of my service (even though I was never in a actual war zone I had the same chances of being sent to one as anyone else). I have my VA ID card and my military ID, and the first thing I did when getting ready to place my order was show my ID to my waiter to prove I qualified for the privilege of the free meal they were giving me.

I reminded my children today that these businesses are basically thanking me for having had a job. These free meals aren't an entitlement like retirement pay or medical care, they're a generous gesture by the community and specific businesses who choose to honor military service in a special way. *I* appreciate it, and *I* don't have any problem with the idea that not all businesses are jumping to participate. It's not un-American; it's very American to be able to choose to participate or not participate in something.

What's un-American is thinking that you have the right to demand that businesses give you something for free just because you held a job.

Sorry about standing on the soapbox. I just think that for all that I spent years in the military, you guys here are almost all still in trenches that are worse than what I dealt with. Thank *you*.

[csquared]

EvilEmpryss,

First off, thank you for your service. That also goes to all active and former military too.

Second, that was very well stated.

[chainedbarista]

i agree; it's far too ew to expect a discount or a free meal just because you're military/a vet/from mars/a senior, etc. i despise discount/freebie whores based on their notion of being special and deserving more than others.

i'm ex military and i generally don't say much about it; i served, i'm grateful for my fellow service men and women who also served and remember those that paid the ultimate price for their service.

remember and respect, not demand freebies and discounts.

[Jester]

The Taliban? For not participating in a free-sandwich offer for veterans?

Makes total sense to me.

Think about it. On the one hand you have a group of ultra-fundamentalist men who insist on telling their fellow countrymen how they should live, subjugate women as inferior beings, teach that all other religions are evil, and align themselves with a group that brags about blowing other people up.

On the other hand, you have a private business refusing to give away product they normally sell to people for a nominal fee.

I can't see any differentiation between the two. Can you?


Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go hire a contractor with a crane to help me pull my tongue out of my cheek.

[aurelemsrealm]

I also witnessed a HUGE number of people of questionable association with the military attempting to do the same thing. When I heard "Why should I have to prove I'm a veteran?", I realized just how sucky people can really get.

Why should someone have to prove he or she is a veteran in order to get a free meal on Veteran's Day? You have to prove you are a veteran for the same reason that I have to prove that I'm a student at the University in order to get the student discount. If that's not a valid enough argument to suit you, you have to prove you are a veteran for the same reason that valid ID is required for tobacco, alcohol, or other age-restricted products. If I don't know you, then I don't know whether you are a veteran or not. Taking one's word for it is not sufficient proof because people lie about such things all the time if they think they can get by with it.

Can you tell people with that mentality just piss me off? Why the hell shouldn't you have to prove it when questioned?

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

I'm a vet, and I admit to picking up a free lunch this afternoon because of the offers.

I also witnessed a HUGE number of people of questionable association with the military attempting to do the same thing. When I heard "Why should I have to prove I'm a veteran?", I realized just how sucky people can really get.

I'm a vet and I'm proud of my service (even though I was never in a actual war zone I had the same chances of being sent to one as anyone else). I have my VA ID card and my military ID, and the first thing I did when getting ready to place my order was show my ID to my waiter to prove I qualified for the privilege of the free meal they were giving me.

I reminded my children today that these businesses are basically thanking me for having had a job. These free meals aren't an entitlement like retirement pay or medical care, they're a generous gesture by the community and specific businesses who choose to honor military service in a special way. *I* appreciate it, and *I* don't have any problem with the idea that not all businesses are jumping to participate. It's not un-American; it's very American to be able to choose to participate or not participate in something.

What's un-American is thinking that you have the right to demand that businesses give you something for free just because you held a job.

Sorry about standing on the soapbox. I just think that for all that I spent years in the military, you guys here are almost all still in trenches that are worse than what I dealt with. Thank *you*.

Thanks, this post echoes my sentiment exactly. You're right, people take it way too far.

One thing I've learned since I starting working here: Don't get between people and their sandwiches. Some folks are seriously anal about their food.

The other thing this whole episode demonstrates is how crazy and insane people can get over free stuff. I don't think there's a more dangerous word in marketing than "Free".

[EvilEmpryss]

OMG, Jester! Soda through the nose... it burns!!!!

[Peppergirl]

Don't get between people and their sandwiches. Some folks are seriously anal about their food.

WORD.

I know I've pondered this several times, but WTF is it about that certain 'sub shop' that makes people batshit insane?

[Eisa]

I had class during the time period, so I didn't get to have one/witness it firsthand, but at my uni, they had a free sub at the Student Union Building lobby deal. No need to prove anything...

...I bet people were still EW about it, though.

[sweetj82]

My husband is a veteran. We were out to dinner at a place that was offering free meals to vets. Let me tell you the place was packed we waited for over an hr.

the place was very good at getting people in and out the fast that they can. Very good staff.


About half way through our meal a guy came in. We were pretty close to the check in area.

The very nice guy manning the area told the guy it would be about 1hr wait. The customer went off. He wasnt a vet and didnt think he should have to wait behind "these people"

He demanded that the next place that was empty would be for him and his family. Just than his wife came in and couldnt understand why they had to wait they were not here to get a free meal.

Than she yelled something along the lines that "these people dont have real jobs" and "what did they do sooo special"

A older man stood up and told his story abouy WWII. (had me in tears)

than about 3 -4 other people told stories until these people stormed out.

[lordlundar]

Than she yelled something along the lines that "these people dont have real jobs" and "what did they do sooo special"

Oh I would have lost it then. I'm not in, never have been, and with any luck, never will be in the military. I mean no disrespect with that statement, but I have talked with veterans of various military actions and members still serving and I would never be able to do what those brave people did.

Yes, the soldiers fought for the right for that asshole to be one, but they also fought for my right to verbally ream his ass out for even thinking he's better than them.

When that asshole gets to sit in the mud and the muck for hours on end, barely surviving and in constant fear of being killed by someone who he has never met, assuming <insert disease> doesn't get to him first, THEN he gets to talk about special treatment.

[sweetj82]

i think that the guy telling his story was ownage enough.


that story was just sooo.....man i dont even have a word for it.