Tear Down This Marquee!
By David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier
Hi-Lo Burger at 17111 Lee Hwy., Abingdon, Va.
A reader alerted us late Wednesday to this sign, photographed Thursday outside the Hi Lo Burger Drive In, on Lee Highway in Abingdon. It reads: “Kevins a retard.”
The owner’s daughter told one of our readers, who called to complain, that it was playful banter between siblings. After the owner’s son posted on the sign “Kevin is awesome,” his sister supposedly posted the latest sign. Later Thursday, the sign was changed to read: “Kevins ADHD.”
This is more than a violation of political correctness. This demeans other people and is inappropriate, not to mention juvenile. It’s confusing to passers-by and offensive to people with disabilities and their loved ones. Customers have called to complain, and the owners have apparently tried to laugh it off.
We tried calling the business several times Thursday, but it was closed. No answering machine fielded our calls.
Consider a bit of business advice: If you want to pull a prank on a family member, do it without offending potential customers, disabled people and anyone who drives by.
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Reader Reactions
I just wonder how many mentally handicapped people actually saw the sign, and were offended by it.
Ah, but then you might think to reply “one is too many”.
Give me a break! There are many more things in the region that are far more offensive to certsin groups of people.
Groups that far outnumber the mentally handicapped who actually saw the sign and were really offended by it.
If the BHC wants to take on the job of regional moral police they need to start doing a better job. They are missing a whole lot of offensive actions and activities that are offending a far greater number of people!
I need to go on record here again. Sick is sick and offensive is offensive. Would I put something like this on a sign like they did at Hi Lo? Heck no. It’s offensive to some.
Would I say a woman puts on makeup to look like a cheap airline stewardess smut and insinuate that her 14 year old daughter was knocked up in the 7th inning of a baseball game at Yankee Stadium by A-Rod? I think not. This is purely sick.
I guess you see no distinction? I surely do. If the Hi Lo thing is real, I hope they quit it. I believe Letterman never will, but I hope he does.
BTW, I’ll still eat at Hi Lo. Good burgers, Dogs, and fries. Beats the heck out of other fast food places.
Maybe you mis-understood… I was not condoning what the hi-low burger posted on their sign.
I mean no offence by saying this but i belive that if Mr.Letterman had said something about msrose49’s handicapped brother that it suddenly would matter, regaurdles of what “big city” he is in. My point is that offensive is offensive period, be it about the mentaly challenged or personal attacks on a minor (like in Mr.Letterman’s situation). What I am getting at is where, like I should have stated before, is the news coverage in reference to Mr.Letterman’s offense. Which by the way, was more that heard or seen in S.W. Virginia, but on a national level. You didnt have to drive down lee hwy to see what was on tv!
It’s one thing to subscribe and pay for something that offends you on a daily basis, b/c you’re asking for it. It’s another to pass a place of business that advertises it’s daily specials on a sign and to read something that you weren’t expecting that is completely offensive to a huge group of people. An apology is still in order.
Letterman is in N.Y. (or where some other big city) where ignorance is rampant. This is S.W. Virginia and we love our handicapped people…..
As for the sign NOW saying “thanks for the publicity” maybe they can’t afford or are to cheap to buy letters that will also say “and apology for any offense taken”. Yes ForLessGvt. they do have good food but good food does not make for good sense. I won’t be eating there anymore (and won’t be bringing my mentally handicapped brother either!)
kinda of arrogant of BHC to give advise on buisnes managment dont you think… Also, the BHC offends me on a daily basis, but if I post a comment about it im ask to “look the other way” if I dont like what it says. Maybe all of the authors of the negative posts on this page should be advised of the same thing. Like for less govt said, there is no pitty for the people that Mr.Letterman may have hurt with his offensive comments.
Good burgers, Dogs and Fries but….
Tim,
I agree, I thought that instead of seeing the sign about the free advert. they would offer an apology for their insensitivity. Silly me to think that.
Ugh. Ok.
Innocent prank or not, the owners seem to condone it. At the very least they should have offered an apology for their children. As of 2 hours ago the sign said “Thank you for the free publicity”.
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