A Dairy Queen restaurant in the charming community of Kewaskum, Wisconsin, has become the focal point of a heated argument because of a provocative sign that is put on the front window of the establishment. The image of the billboard, which brazenly proclaims the establishment’s political incorrectness, has become a viral hit, which has sparked both support and outrage.
The message that is written on the sign does not sugarcoat anything. It says in a brazen manner that the restaurant will continue to greet customers with holiday greetings such as “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Easter,” and “God Bless America.” In addition, it expresses gratitude for those who have served in the armed forces on Veterans Day, proudly promotes the restaurant’s practise of providing complimentary sundaes to veterans, prominently displays the American flag, and displays the flag in a prominent location.
Kevin Scheunemann, the proprietor of the franchise, is the person responsible for making this unrepentant claim. According to Scheunemann, the sign has been a constant presence for close to four years, and it serves as an open and honest depiction of the commitment that he and his staff have to serving both God and the nation. He added that the decision to hang the sign was a direct response to a customer’s complaint about Christian music being played in the restaurant, which was the impetus for making the choice. Since it was put up, the sign has not been the source of any further debates or disagreements.
The sign has recently come to the attention of people all around the country when a tourist from Oregon uploaded a picture of it on Facebook along with some worries about the purported exclusivity of the location. Before it was eventually removed, the post received a large amount of attention; nonetheless, opinions were severely divided about it.
Locals and owners of other businesses in the vicinity have voiced their approval of Scheunemann’s decision, arguing that consumers have the right to choose whether or not they want to patronise the restaurant based on the beliefs it upholds. However, criticism has been directed not only at the sign but also at the person who shared the photograph, which demonstrates the contentious nature of the conversation that has arisen as a result of the image.
Kewaskum is a rather tiny town, and its residents seem to take no issue with the sign, regarding it instead as a representation of the owner’s private values and principles. The parent corporation, Dairy Queen, has dissociated itself from the scandal by claiming that the sign reflects the beliefs of the particular owner and no other party. They emphasised the expectation that all employees and franchisees of the company should treat each and every client with dignity and respect, regardless of the customer’s religious beliefs.
The Wisconsin Dairy Queen is still at the centre of a conversation about the junction of personal values, corporate practises, and public perception in the Midwest of the United States, despite the fact that the controversy is still raging.