“I’ll Have a Number Two, please”
One evening I was waiting in line at a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen fast food restaurant in New Orleans. I know, the sacrilege of eating at a Popeyes in New Orleans. But I was tired from having flown from Washington, DC, for a business conference. It was late. And I wanted to take something out to eat in my hotel room while preparing for my early morning presentation.
Suddenly, a hefty employee lifted herself over the counter and ran past the customers.
“Rats! Dear God, I seen a rat!” she screamed.
Customers scattered. Other employees dashed about frantically.
Finally, a manager emerged.
“Crushed that sucker with a mop,” he exalted.
On my way out, I observed that the other customers were quietly reforming into their queues. I thought about docile people who accepted their circumstances. Like other fast-food outlets, Popeyes serves carefully measured and heavily salted fried food. However, we accept such offerings with little regard for our health. In this circumstance, customers also had little concern for their dignity.
They were trained to meekly stand in line despite knowing that Number Two likely would include vermin droppings. If we don’t value ourselves, how are we to expect that purveyors of fast food will care what they serve?
After that experience, I gave up fast food.
