PUMA CALL to ACTION?

How come that bus doesn't have enough seats in the front for everybody?

In the year of Barack Obama, Lynette Long tells of an experience in which three restaurant hoodlums held onto two extra seats that they did not need, thus denying Lynette's own group a chance to use the seats for dining. When one of Lynette's friends tried to resolve the matter, she was met with indifference from the restaurant staff.

A drink of water poured onto the head of one of the restaurant hoodlums resulted in a beating and a dragging of Lynette's friend. Restaurant patrons had to intervene and the three hoodlums ran out of the place.

So, what is the lesson? As things stand right now, the lesson is, if three male hoodlums hold onto to two extra seats in a restaurant that they don't need, don't you dare challenge them for the chairs, even if they don't need them and you do.

I am encouraging Lynette to name the restaurant.

(New information provided by Lynette follows immediately).

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THE RESTAURANT
I have gotten many requests from readers and friends to out the restaurant. My hesitancy is it is a small woman owned business. I have met the owner at several events in town and I assure you she was not there Friday night. If she was this would not have happened. I will call her Monday morning and personally discuss the events with her. I appreciate everyones concern and I am personally still processing the event. I have seldom seen such a random and aggressive act of violence two feet from me. I am becoming more and more convinced that the lack of safety for women in this country is underestimated. Why can't I walk down a dark street alone? Why do I have to silence myself because I am the smaller sex? Why is it a crime to "lynch" a dummy of Obama but not a crime to "lynch" a dummy of Sara Palin? Hate crimes are perpetrated against women every minute of the day. Isn't it time we say enough?

(end of Lynette's new article).

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(original article continued)

This would allow other PUMA members who live in the area a chance to visit the restaurant and peacefully protest the behavior of the three restaurant hoodlums. Visit the restaurant, get a table, but do not buy anything. Politely explain upon leaving why you are leaving, and most importantly, don't drop any change in the restaurant.

Use the restaurant for you convenience and your convenience only, the way that the three hoodlums did.

I also would encourage the taking of pictures of the damage done to the friend's face by the hoodlum. Funny how in the year of Barack Obama it looks like the back of the bus is just as busy as ever. (end of article before additional information from Lynette Long was available.)

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The additional information provided by Lynnette Long puts a somewhat different spin on things. However, I am torn as to how much difference it should make when it comes to who actually owns the restaurant. The ultimate result was still an unacceptable one.

Rachel Maddow managed to pull out a very infrequent gem among most of her news turds the other night. Maddow pointed out that Sarah Palin and Rick Davis both thought the Katie Couric interview was going to be a soft interview. Perhaps a girlfriends being girlfriends kind of a thing?

OUCH!

If women expect better treatment from men, for how long should women expect preferential treatment from other women? Is the woman owner financially benefiting from the type of treatment that Lynnette Long's friend was exposed to? If a male worker does not feel comfortable coming to the aid of a woman customer in a restaurant owned by a woman, isn't it possible that that disrespect is going on in other ways as well? Is giving the women owner the benefit of the doubt a form of coddling her and in the process keeping her weaker? Just asking.

It was suggested on another blog that the three hoodlums were holding the chairs just in case some woman came in that they were interested in. If that is true, then maybe the owner looks the other way because it keeps her business busy and thriving.
If a future meeting happens between Lynette and the owner of the restaurant, I would recommend that the employees who were present at the original confrontation also be there. It is important for the owner and Lynette to gauge if any regret is visible among the employees who were there.

If this story had been covered by the mainstream media, it would be a lot bigger deal. Remember that before this incident is forgotten.