I appreciate Bob Young's position and have the ultimate respect for him.
That said, I am not interested in having yet another entity feel that they have the right to dictate our business strategy. Like it or not, we speak to a large and active demographic and they love our attitude.
This morning I offered Bob an opportunity to have us remove the confederate flag:
Receiver Chris Williams is a customer of Hillbilly Heaven and clear NFL talent with a young family to support - he is in the final year of his contract and has requested his release so he can pursue a position in the
NFL. With a ten-fold income increase, Chris would be able to ensure a bright future for his family.
If the Tiger-Cats were to release Chris Williams by 5:00pm today, I would take down the flag.
For those who view the flag as a restriction of freedom (slavery), I would think that they would find this an acceptable solution. Free Chris Williams and let him and his family benefit from his talent.
At 5:15, Chris is still a member of the Tiger-Cats, struggling to support his young family
Bob Young's Letter to Cameron Bailey:
March 8, 2013
Cameron Bailey Hillbilly Heaven
202 King Street East
Hamilton, Ontario
Dear Cameron,
As the Caretaker of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats I get to take part in a lot of fun behind-the-scenes football stuff. However, because we employ a lot of smart football operations people, I don’t get the opportunity to be a part of one of the most exciting aspects of this business – the ability to make trades. So, it’s with great enthusiasm that I propose the first trade of my Ticats career to you.
Accompanying this letter are the official flags of the State of North Carolina and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. I’d like to trade you these flags in exchange for “future considerations.” (These considerations would see you discontinue the use of the Confederate battle flag for the foreseeable future).
Let me be clear: I love Hillbillies. I like everything about them. When I first moved to North Carolina my wife accused me of making her and my daughters do a "reverse Beverly Hillbillies" by moving from the big city to the hills of North Carolina. She was right, and wrong. From pulled pork (the best in the US by the way) to huntin' turkeys, I've enjoyed everything about living in a modern Southern state for the last 16 years. On the other hand, I have also been a part of teams that have led, and are still leading the technology world, based out of Research Triangle Park here in North Carolina.
The 21st century South is a community much like those of any modern society in the world today, where we embrace all of our fellow citizens as our equals. The old attitudes and beliefs relating to race as symbolized by the battle flag are now part of our distant past. We would like to see these consigned exclusively to museums, and graveyards of fallen Southern civil war soldiers.
As a fellow entrepreneur, Hamiltonian, and Tiger-Cat fan, please accept the flag of the Great State of North Carolina as a much more appropriate symbol of all the positive things you are trying to say with your celebration of all things "Hillbilly.”
Cheers,
Bob Young Caretaker, Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football Club.
Controversy has been the only thing keeping this business from insolvency, as far as I can see. It flopped in Burlington then moved to the Mountain and changed its tune (started whistling "Dixie") then it has been expanding into ever-cheaper rental markets. Taking its race-baiting theatrics to a BIA overtly identified with ethnic cuisine is not a sign of culinary success but entrepreneurial desperation. Prediction: This sub-par joint will go the way of its predecessors sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteToo bad the owner of Hillybilly Heaven can only develop his store on a controversy. Controversy can help some businesses get free publicity. But at what expense?
ReplyDeleteHamilton is a city that has people from all ethnic and racial backgrounds and putting up offensive flags isn't the best way to reach all of our neighbours. I pray that the owner has a change of heart....Only Jesus can soften his heart and I pray to Jesus to make this man see the error of his ways.
First, congrats to Teresa and The Hamiltonian and to Mahesh Butani for restarting this conversation. I read the Spec article as to why they did not on the weekend, and it was lame. News comes first; that's the core business.
ReplyDeleteTo Bailey- you're not as smart as you think. The adage, there's is no such publicity as bad publicity, applies until you cross a line that is taboo. You crossed that line, at least as t is being perceived. So, holding out for the publicity is backfiring big time.
Take The Hamiltonians's advice and take down the sign.
Sorce
Andrew Dreschel wrote about this today. The Spec is catching on that that the story can't be ignored. I don't think Mr. Bailey is making any friends.
ReplyDeleteSevern
I've seen it mentioned that the same flag was on a car in a very popular TV series. I wonder if the same people that are now calling that flag ignorant and offensive thought the same about the flag on the TV series.
ReplyDeleteI'd guess that most people that found that flag offensive then just changed the channel and ignored the show. I wonder why people who now object to the same flag don't do the same and just ignore it.
All their signage says to me is that they serve southern food. If I still lived in Hamilton I'd be at least trying their food.
Burger King's serving pulled pork. It's not bad.
ReplyDeleteanyone that thinks they have anything on this place is stupid as hell....there is a food truck called dirty south that is cruising the streets of hamilton selling food painted in a full confederate flag...the next person that decides they wanna act smart against hillbilly heaven should remember that it's YOUR FAULT they are a lightning rod for controversy...just shut up and remember you can't do ANYTHING cause there are other places that have been doing the same thing for years and anyone that complains is really just a bored moron looking for an ethics argument...just eat it and chill out
ReplyDeletebob young....i though you were smarter than that
ReplyDelete