- I Timothy 6:10a
The Tilted Kilt, the Valley Mall's newest restaurant, is opening on Monday, a part of a franchise founded in Las Vegas ten years ago and one someone has described as a "trashier Hooters with better food."
Like other eateries known by some as "breastaurants," it's designed to appeal to males who enjoy a little leer with their beer, and where one can pick up copies of pin-up calendars and other publications featuring "World Famous Kilt Girls."
All of this is justified by the local General Manager, who assures us that “It’s going to bring a lot of revenue to the area as far as tax revenue, and we’re creating a lot of jobs for the community.” He goes on to insist the company is built on "a core set of values and principles.”
Those values, I assume, allow for discriminating against all male waiter applicants, along with any females considered to be past their prime or inadequately endowed.
I'm used to being seen as a prude when it comes to being against objectifying women (or men) for profit, but I would point out that prude is closely aligned with prudent. For me, that means that any enterprise I wouldn't feel comfortable having our daughter associated with or our sons patronize, I'll simply avoid. There is no lack of good locally owned eating establishments in our area to choose from.
Having said all that, obscenity comes in many forms, including our culture's inordinate pursuit of most things our malls are trying to sell us, like garments manufactured in death traps in Bangladesh by workers earning a mere $40 a month. Worship of both Mammon and Eros are at the root of so many of the evils associated with our addiction to self-gratification.
See also http://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2012/06/how-our-addiction-to-stuff-is.htm.
THIS is the part of Corporate-Boy's claim that makes me laugh and gag: “It’s going to bring a lot of revenue to the area as far as tax revenue, and we’re creating a lot of jobs for the community.”
ReplyDeleteThanks, Harvey, for bringing this issue to community attention. I always appreciate your blog posts so much.
And how great to have a loyal and supportive reader like you!
DeleteThank you for your thoughtful post on this important topic, Harvey. I hope that residents of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County will resist this business model with their pens, voices, and pocketbooks.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rita, I'll be looking forward too your op-ed piece on this topic.
DeleteSpeaking as an escort; I have to say that just because you have this "prudent" view doesn't mean that women like myself shouldn't have the right to use our bodies to earn a living in any way we see fit.
ReplyDeleteFact of the matter is that this location is providing jobs, and they aren't forcing anyone to work there. It's not a brothel, it's a restaurant, and I'm very certain no one held a gun to these girls' heads and forced them to fill out the application form.
We are all free to earn a living in any way we see fit, and we ALL whore our body out in one way or another, be it our mind in an office, our brawn at a jobsite, or even a girl using her cleavage.
Thanks for your willingness to comment. Each of us has the right (and responsibility) to exercise both our freedom of speech and our freedom of choice.
ReplyDeleteAt 73, and with three adult children, six grandkids and a truly good wife, I just wish everyone the fewest possible regrets and the greatest possibility of "happily ever after."
Best wishes.