A Dairy Queen business in Kewaskum, Wis., drew unexpected attention after a sign went viral. A sign has hung in the front window for years, conveying an undeniably powerful yet provocative message to visitors. The sign, which simply contained a few well-known sayings, attracted attention and led to an argument after an outside visitor spotted it.
Before opening the entrance, the red and white printed post will surely catch your eye. Customers visiting the Kewaskum Dairy Queen are “warned” by a sign clearly visible to everyone that “this restaurant is politically incorrect,” adding that the staff instead wish them a Merry Christmas, Happy Easter, and “God Bless America. “
The sign adds, “We salute and respect the flag” and says “we thank our warriors,” as well as the police, firefighters, and the United States of America. The sign also states that on Veterans Day, the restaurant is offering free cups to service members. It ends with a resounding, clear “In God We Trust.”
Kevin Scheunemann, the franchise owner of this Dairy Queen, said he thought it was appropriate to put up the sign because it was clear about the dedication of the owner and staff to God and country. Such notions and beliefs seem to only divide society.
The owner says the sign was originally put up years ago in response to a customer complaint about the Christian music played in the business, and appeared to be able to quell further objections. An Oregon tourist visiting from out of town saw the sign after it had been up for years without drawing any attention.
A hiker from Oregon posted a picture of Scheunemann’s sign on Facebook along with the statement, “I find it terribly offensive.” She added that the sign was “placed on the front door of the Kewaskum, WI, DQ” and asked Dairy Queen corporate headquarters to “speak to the franchise owner.” The image of the sign quickly went viral.
The initial post was subsequently taken down after it received a lot of attention and expressed concern about what a visitor from Oregon perceived as potentially limiting beliefs inherent in sign language. At least one commenter expressed satisfaction that the message had been taken down and questioned why it had caused such animosity among some people.
Some people agree with the caption, which is acceptable, but also destroy the person who shared the photo and expressed their opinion, which is not acceptable at all, the user of the social network said in a note. However, there was only one answer to the following argument.
Not only did people travel from all over to support the DQ location, but other neighboring business owners supported Scheunemann’s decision to put up the sign, pointing out that customers could choose not to enter if they disagreed with the owner’s expression of his views.
According to April Serwe, another local business owner, he placed it at the entrance so people could see it before entering. April isn’t the only one who feels this way and supports Scheunemann’s right to run his company however he sees fit.
After visiting the DQ with his family, Wisconsin State Representative Jesse Kremer posted the above image on social media along with the message: “Thank you CBS 58 and a kind guest from Oregon for making our local DQ in Kewaskum another Wisconsin tourist destination. pleased that the owner still upholds his First Amendment right to free speech.
That sign, by the way, has been on the door for four years, Kremer noted in his post. and used the hashtags #WITourism and #WICampusFreeSpeech.
Franchisee Kevin Scheunemann has the support of local residents including local legislators and business owners. Responding to questions from the local press, resident Liz Torrison said: “I don’t think it’s a problem in our little community.” We all just get along and enjoy it, she said.
Dairy Queen said it disagreed with the franchise owner’s thinking. DQ’s corporate office released a statement that read: “This sign represents only the views of this independent owner and does not represent ADQ Corporation or any of our other independent franchise owners. They expect their franchisees and employees to deal with everyone who enters the building with respect and dignity Nothing less is acceptable.
Ultimately, the Dairy Queen sign debate serves as a reminder of the value of civil discourse and shared understanding in a multicultural and diversified society. Private companies have the freedom to express their thoughts and opinions, but they also have an obligation to foster an atmosphere that will be inclusive of all clients and workers. It takes careful consideration of both individual rights and the greater good, as well as a willingness to deal with individuals who hold conflicting ideas and ideals in order to strike a balance between these conflicting goals.