173 Responses to:
FRIED CHICKEN FOR MLK DAY?

# 1. 1/22/08 10:11 PM by Dr. Pavlov
Another mouth watering column.

# 2. 1/22/08 10:26 PM by Ross - Rochester,NY
Strange, I did not get either email. Maybe it went to those living in the dorms. Not in the spam either. (Though apparently lots of people think that I need enhancements and have cheap fake meds to sell me)

One thing that impressed me about the last RIT president was that he was willing to be the adult in the room and not cower to the PC crowd.

I have not read enough from the new guy to know if this still holds

# 3. 1/23/08 12:23 AM
What a bunch of ungrateful jerks! These people in the dining area took the time to make special HOMEMADE food and the spoiled students/faculty see that as disrespectful? (Oh dear, controversy must have been lacking this week to come up with this one.)

Disrespect is to turn your nose up at food which has nourished the heart, soul and stomach of the people of this country. It is disgraceful to slam a dining hall which has taken the time to make you a meal so you don’t have to eat from a vending machine.

I would gladly eat the food prepared by this staff, in remembrance of a great man.

# 4. 1/23/08 12:25 AM by DJ
Come 5 May, those racist bigots at the RIT cafeteria will probably be serving tacos and enchiladas. The nerve!

# 5. 1/23/08 2:11 AM by DR (betty) - Phoenix, AZ
What! No watermelon? See they weren't trying to be racist!

Ok, in all sincerity, the DUMBING donw of this nation requires explanations of intent on every single thing, less someone cries foul.

As I've said before, "To be offended requires you to WANT to be offended."

A supposwe if the served a traditional seder meal near passover it would be racist too? Or maybe the dumb-downers would understand it to be offended.

I suppose the menu could have simply stated a disclaimer on the menu that the cuisine was in respect for MLK and was typical food eaten in the south at that time.

# 6. 1/23/08 2:35 AM by On Golden Pond - Henrietta, NY
One of the worst things that has happened with electronic communications is the need for instant and hasty responses to such correspondence. We are in such a hurry to rebut, that we do not take time to comprehend the total message, or try to understand the theme of the thought. What a sad state of affairs.

Slow down and think about the message ... stop reading words and start thinking about the concept.

# 7. 1/23/08 3:58 AM by MIKE
How freaking ridiculous.

I am now worried that if I get in my car and drive home using my black tires that I might offend someone who thinks I'm putting down black people because they they blacks are only good enough to be driven all over.

How freaking ridiculous.

I liked how Tiger Woods seems to have handled the whole deal about being lynched. He seems to have taken a "who gives a crap" approach, and I think I like him more for it.

Editor's Note: thought the noose on the cover of the golfing magazine was pretty creepy

# 8. 1/23/08 4:05 AM by Bill - Washington DC
" We've had too much sensitivity training. We've trained people to look for offense where none was meant."

Brigham Young said (I paraphrase), "Anyone who takes offense when none was intended is a fool, anyone who takes offense when it was intended is a bigger fool".

# 9. 1/23/08 4:52 AM by Dave - Hilton,NY
Serving fried chicken, collards, yams, black-eyed peas, and red beans and rice is not racism. Free meals for unwed Mothers or anyone with a crack pipe would be racism. How are we ever going to get along when most blacks want to be separate. Should of served Jäger Schnitzel or Matzo ball soup. Don't get me started on watermelon.

# 10. 1/23/08 5:37 AM by Mario - Brockport
A couple of years back I was a refereeing a football game. One team was all Italian and the other all black.

First play of the game the black QB throws a perfect pass to his receiver who had badly beaten the man covering him. Pass goes right in his hands and then out. He drops a sure TD pass.

The Italian kid catches up to him and says, "if that was a watermelon you wouldn't have dropped it!!"

Those were the good old days.

Editor's Note: i hope the guy punched him in the face.

# 11. 1/23/08 5:50 AM by Crystal
Think about this, EVERYONE here has corned beef and cabbage with green beer on St. Patrick's Day. (Irish or not)

# 12. 1/23/08 5:52 AM by steven thomasson - roy, utah
Civil rights was the good thing that came from Dr. King. But, his full dream would have only come under full communism.

Editor's Note: in his latter years it was forced economic equality he sought

# 13. 1/23/08 6:00 AM by Mike - Hemlock
I was all set to fire off some witticisms about how ridiculous RIT is for apologizing, but I lost my sense of humor when I read about Herman Parson. Like all good chefs, Herman designed a great traditional menu to celebrate and honor a great American on the very holiday that was designed to celebrate and honor a great American. Herman's menu was a tribute to Dr. King and RIT STUPIDLY punished Herman and the rest of us for giving a damn about our country, our traditions, and our heritage. Way to go, RIT!

# 14. 1/23/08 6:00 AM by Woody - Lakeville
I wish I've been there sounds like a fine meal.Did not know you had to be black to enjoy collards,black eyed peas,fried chicken,and red beans and rice.I'm white and have enjoyed those foods for years.I hope I have not offended anyone because I enjoy "BLACK food".Seems to me that was an appropriate meal to "HONOR" a man who was standing up for the rights of the black community . Also I might ask I attended the funeral of a coworker and friend who was black and at the dinner after the funeral those very same foods were served was that disrespect?

# 15. 1/23/08 6:16 AM by Rick G. - Spencerport, NY
Was Monday MLK Day? Oh yeah- no mail delivery.

Sorry - that one got by me.

Seriously though - my holiday-dementia is fair to all parties, I usually forget President's Day too. I've also been known to let a Columbus Day slip by me.

See, when you don't have kids in school, or when you don't work for the government, these "holidays" really don't mean much.

OK, I suppose the menu was a little stereotypical (what, no watermelon?) but c'mon people... can't we get past this nonsense?

Tell you what - if somebody wants to get their nose out of joint and complain about something offensive, then they should do something about that new Bada-Bling lottery commercial.

# 16. 1/23/08 6:16 AM by Big Jack
It's stuff like this which is the reason why I've never donated any $$$ to my Alma Mater! What a bunch of hand wringing sob sisters!

# 17. 1/23/08 6:24 AM by Leon - Muncie, In
As Flo used to say " KISS MY GRITS"! By the way, I can remember when we always had fish on Fridays. As a Protestant I should have been offended by being subjected to this terrible injustice. (but I like fish)

# 18. 1/23/08 6:39 AM by Lucky wife - Mt. Morris,N.Y.
You've got to be kidding me ? I don't think you have to worry about St. Patricks day, We Irish are a tough and honorable bunch of people. We work hard for a living and appreciate it when someone is paying tribute to our country and our people. The African Americans who have grown accustomed to whinning everytime the wind blows, need to get a grip. The Al Sharptons and Jesse Jacksons of this world have done more to harm the blacks in this country than racism ever did or could. Have they no pride ?

# 19. 1/23/08 6:39 AM by Liberty Tom - Rochester, NY
I hope that Herman has learned his lesson. No good deed (or good intention) goes unpunished in today's sensitive world. Recommendation - next year, offer sweet and sour pork, chicken fingers, beef stroganoff, corn, and a salad bar.

# 20. 1/23/08 6:47 AM by Eric J. - Rochester, NY
I was going to say that as a group, Blacks should develop a thicker skin, but then I realized that that comment might be construed as racist.

# 21. 1/23/08 6:54 AM by Rick - Henrietta, NY
You can tell the man has passion for his work by just reading his menu.

What uproar from the people “stuck on stupid” would there have been had he offered, an Italian, German or Polish dish on MLK day?

Herman, don’t let the fool’s get to you. The students and staff at RIT are lucky to have a man like you.

# 22. 1/23/08 6:58 AM by A Patriot - Lockport, NY
As they like to say, "No good deed goes unpunished". Hats off to Herman, who did a great job with that menu. Would love to be a guest at his table.

# 23. 1/23/08 7:03 AM by Joe
On Columbus day if they served every Italian meal that they could think of, I would bet no one would consider that racist?

Except maybe if it was made by an African American.

Does that last statement sound ridiculous, it sure as he!! does.

I wonder if the person who cried racism on MLK day was Black, or some liberal white activist arse with some contorted idea of right and wrong?

You want to serve all Italian food on Columbus day be my guest. As an Italian I would love it, even if is was made by the African American Gentleman.

These people who are offended so easily need to find an island to live, maybe they would all eventually annihilate themselves with political correctness?

# 24. 1/23/08 7:10 AM
I bet $10 that many other colleges in the area offered a very similar menu and are keeping their heads low right now.

# 25. 1/23/08 7:10 AM by Dave H - Rochester, NY
Bob: Why am I not surprised? But what is worse-those brain fried twits waiting to be offended or the wimp infused bureaucrats falling all over themselves to apologize? The cook,who happens to be a black guy, is probably as thoroughly disgusted as anyone could be.And who can blame him?He works hard to put out a meal, and what happens? Hijacking takes many forms,and this most recent one at RIT makes me think of the American Soviet Socialist University System as a co-contributor to all things stingy and mean.By the way,plenty of white children grow up eating just the sort of food featured on the RIT menu. I know I did.So whassupwidat? Dave

# 26. 1/23/08 7:11 AM
On Eid, can we serve Osamaburgers?

# 27. 1/23/08 7:16 AM
Isn't red beans and rice a Caribbean and/or South American dish?

Also, macaroni and cheese - wasn't that Italian in origin?

And wasn't MLK an AFRICAN-American?

So therefore wasn't RIT "disrespecting" the man by serving food from the Caribbean and Italy?

Or were they doing the right thing by not serving foods that are, somehow, "black"? If I and my family eat and enjoy red beans and rice and macaroni and cheese and, even, fried chicken, does that make them "white" foods?

I'm offended.

# 28. 1/23/08 7:17 AM
Imagine that whole region of the United States eating these foods on a daily basis, never once suspecting that they are offending black people when they do it.

# 29. 1/23/08 7:18 AM by Suzie - Penfield
I did a google search for MLK food. Apparently Stanford University had a similar menu. They actually called it sould food.

# 30. 1/23/08 7:22 AM by Joe Balls - Seneca Falls
I really don't care who is offended by this. I have become de-sensitized to all this nonsense. You can't say anything nowadays if you're white,,,,but blacks are not held to the same standards. There's a reason we still have quotas and affirmative action. They can't compete. Period.

Editor's Note: you better ask barak obama about that. he seems to be holding his own pretty well.

# 31. 1/23/08 7:23 AM
thats too bad - if hes half the cook I think he is, he was proud to share his culture through the food -

collards ROCK !

FYI - Im having grits this morning just like I have for quite sometime.......and Im Italian

Soul food is king

# 32. 1/23/08 7:25 AM
Political correctness has done more harm to to the preferred races than to anyone, promoting in those individuals who are impressionable bad personal traits like hypersensitivity.

# 33. 1/23/08 7:30 AM by Mike - Penn Yan, NY
Does the Jewish community complain when everyone gets a day off at college for rosh hashanah or yom kippur? While attending Oswego State we got these two Jewish holidays off and I never heard any other religious or ethnic group say they were offended about not having to go to class.

I like fried chicken and the collard greens served at the Syracuse Dinosaur BBQ on Fridays are great.

GROW UP!!! Once you enter the real world after graduating from college you will not be insulated from actions perceived to be racist or insulting. As an employer I do the right thing but I am not afraid of my employees regardless of their race or religion etc...

# 34. 1/23/08 7:33 AM by Keith - Brockport,NY
I actually thought about making a "soul food" dinner on monday. And I'm as liberal as they come. Can't disagree here, Bob. Pretty soon, I won't be able to wear a leek on my hat for St. David's Day.

Editor's Note: if you're a liberal, and it will help, i'll leak in your hat.

# 35. 1/23/08 7:34 AM by Feed up
I heard this on the news last night. Give me a break. There was no intent to dishonor MLK it was a chance for us Crackers to experience southern cooking. No it's racism. Black people should learn that pulling that race card crap, is really getting old. They use in the work place. They use it court and not there using in a CAFETERIA.

# 36. 1/23/08 7:35 AM
Whitey needs to stop quivering in the black man's wake every time the black man gets his feathers ruffled over some stupid thing such as chicken on the menu. Good grief!

# 37. 1/23/08 7:39 AM by Tim - Rochester, NY
Go watch PCU, it'll give you a good laugh...until you realize it's the truth!

# 38. 1/23/08 7:58 AM
Ohhhhhhh, so you're saying that blacks eating fried chicken was never a BULLYING, MOCKING thing of their race by people who saw black people as inferior.

Well, I guess I was just stupid perceiving it as a form of passive aggression. Come to find out its no different than the Irish liking corned beef and cabbage a favorite dish of theirs that was NEVER used as a passive aggressive insult to their culture.

But hold on, there is a group of people who are always unfairly savaged bitterly in this country----the poor conservative and ain't you one who reminds us of the plight of the conservative who always gets picked on. Poor, poor conservative. What's their favorite food? Bloody raw meat ain't it.

Editor's Note: johnny cake. corn bread in a bowl with milk over it. prick.

# 39. 1/23/08 8:05 AM by george - Rochester
Other highly offensive holiday foods

Turkey and Squash on Thanksgiving.

Ham on Easter.

Hot Dogs on the 4th of July.

I want an appology. NOW

# 40. 1/23/08 8:06 AM
How about a roast ham or pork chops on Yom Kipper to celebrate the Jewish culture?

At Christmas some unleavended bread to celebrate the Jews who killed Jesus, maybe?

Hey, for people who are afraid of snakes how about a cafeteria special of broiled rattlesnake----YUM!

Editor's Note: my sins and yours killed jesus.

# 41. 1/23/08 8:06 AM by Boomer - Scottsville ny
Would anyone expect anything esle but complaining. The bottom line with the black population is not discrimination , but the fact they are black and cant be white ,color I am talking about , and that will never happen Michael Jackson gave it a try.

Editor's Note: ok, you're a freak

# 42. 1/23/08 8:10 AM
Bob,

I would kill for a meal like this.

"Southern Fried Chicken, Black-eyed Peas, Rice & Cornbread, Slow-roasted BBQ Ribs, "Baked Macaroni & Cheese and even grits with Butter.

But as a Northerner that has spent a moderate amount of time in the South and being a White man to boot;

I have got to draw the line on "Collard Greens", yuck....

Even those liberal PC idiots who cry foul at the drop of a hat would not call me a racist for not being able to eat "Collard Greens".

Martin Luther King Day and they're serving fried chicken,

Editor's Note: i actually like collard greens a lot, but the place i buy them lately makes them with little bits of bone in there, and too much grease.

# 43. 1/23/08 8:12 AM by Graham Slack
Do you have a rat in your pocket? Who are you to say "we have had enough".?

How surprising you find the best pres candidate is Morman Romney. Giving fifty bucks to another candidate was a ruse.

Mormons and the LDS church are dumping millions in order to "get control" of the government. Not unlike Scientologists want control of media.

# 44. 1/23/08 8:14 AM by Abe - Greece
MLK Day and Kwanza are both bogus holidays

Editor's Note: true for kwanzaa, not for mlk day

# 45. 1/23/08 8:15 AM
Here we go aqain!!!!

# 46. 1/23/08 8:19 AM
Okay, I'm not black so I just don't get this, but how come black people are offended by a cafeteria trying to honor MLK by serving fried chicken but they are not, apparently, offended by those incredibly stupid movies that have all black actors, often in drag, using the crudest, most vulgar dialogue imaginable?

# 47. 1/23/08 8:20 AM
I'd be hugely honored if a cafeteria director wanted to make English food to commemorate me.

Not that anyone would be able to choke down steak and kidney pie.

# 48. 1/23/08 8:21 AM by jaymor
#38: "Passive agressive insult" ?

The term itself indicates the extremes the political correctness crowd goes to in inventing reasons to take offense.

# 49. 1/23/08 8:22 AM
We should be thankful MLK wasn't a Scot, or we'd be burping up haggis all week long.

# 50. 1/23/08 8:23 AM by Brian - Hammondsport
# 34. 1/23/08 7:33 AM by Keith - Brockport,NY I actually thought about making a "soul food" dinner on monday. And I'm as liberal as they come. Can't disagree here, Bob. Pretty soon, I won't be able to wear a leek on my hat for St. David's Day.

Editor's Note: if you're a liberal, and it will help, i'll leak in your hat.

Beautiful! Those liberals are so easy and are fun to have around.

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