Offensensitivity and Anti-Capitalism

Offensensitivity and Anti-Capitalism

The story: The best cheesesteak shop in Philadelphia, Chinks, is the subject of a crusade by offensensitive folks who claim that it is offensive to Asian-Americans. . . even though it is an accepted fact that the name came from a nickname of the original owner. The folks complaining reveal their anti-capitalist leanings in the final paragraph below.

News Gleaner

Now, with a name recognized for great cheesesteaks, does the possibility of changing it threaten to destroy the business?

"Why now?" Groh asks. "We have been here for 50 years. Why now? We never realized the name could be a problem."

According to Park, no prior controversy arose because the shop stands in a predominantly white neighborhood. She suggests changing the name to avoid further offenses. Groh believes any change may hurt business. He recalled customer's outcry after he replaced the old, dilapidated sign on the facade and even when he changed from glass ketchup bottles to squeeze bottles.

"We recognize that they have an interest in keeping their business thriving," Morrison said, "and recognize that there may be some difficulty encountered in changing the name." [emphasis added]

Gees, I wonder how The Ritz-Carlton in NY would do if they had to change their name to avoid offending people? Or maybe Coke? Or Kentucky Fried Chicken? Changing a well-known business name and causing them to lose untold profits is nothing next to some ONE person's sensitivities.

I like the part where the complainer, Sussanah Park, a 21 year-old who obviously knows everything in her advanced age, says that no one has complained before because the restaurant is in a white neighborhood.

Yep. You got it. No Chinese person had ever gone down that street before. Or, better yet, not one Chinese person has even HEARD of Chinks Cheesesteaks before (as Park did). Nope. Not a one.

Unless you count the thousands who probably did over the past 55 years the restaurant has been in business. It's just that they did not have the delicate sensitivities that Park has so as to discover this outrage.