Read this article today about a man fired from Home Depot for wearing a “One Nation Under God” button on his apron. I found this highly amusing because the guy, from his quotes, just can’t fathom why it is he can’t wear this button. Home Depot was completely in the right in firing him.
Before reading on, you may want to peruse the article linked above as it may help put us on common ground.
First off, seriously… Flair? You are gonna be that guy that wears flair at work? Why not just tell the world, I’m a tool. Oh wait your flair already does that for you. I don’t care if your button says “peace on earth”, or “ask me about the free one million dollars I’m giving away” flair is flair, and it all screams of desperation. Anyone who read my bumper sticker rant knows that I hate this kind of public display of douchery. Basically that’s all flair is, it’s a bumper sticker for your clothes. Just say no.
Getting past the flair aspect lets approach the real issue at hand. Home Depot is a privately owned company. As such, it is in their best interests to always keep their customer demographics as wide as possible. It is important to be a company devoid of any agenda short of giving their customer great products at great prices. Just as you could see why a company probably wouldn’t want an employee wearing an “Allah Loves America” button, the same holds true here. While the message may be one of perceived positivity, the underlying message is that the company is now affiliated with a religion. That is never in a company’s best interest of appealing to the widest possible audience.
Lastly, yes I will concede that unfortunately “In God We Trust” and “One Nation Under God” have become mainstays of our government. But Home Depot is a private institution. They can choose to enforce whatever policies it sees fit to best run it’s business. If this guy was a government worker he may have a case. But as a flair wearing poster boy for why people should pay attention in Politics in high school, he has no case against Home Depot.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree with your position. Now, if this dude wants to get off his duff and open his own hardware store where all of his own employees wear “One Nation Under God” buttons, then I will defend his right to do so against any naysayers complaining against it.
Quick solution: Go apply at Walmart or Chick-Fil-A
They’ll probably even present him with a “martyr” button at those joints.
That’s actually a very good point. There are plenty of corporations out there that embrace being Christian centric. He is free to work for one of those. Home Depot just doesn’t happy to be one of them.
Or he could move to any of the red states…