Diner at restaurant did not enjoy forced patriotism

To the Editor:

I had dinner at The Lighthouse with my dad on Saturday night. We got there about 5 p.m. and expected a long wait. To our pleasant surprise, we got a table immediately. Unfortunately, it was closest to the entrance and when the lobby got crowded, some patrons didn’t get the hint to WAIT OUTSIDE! A group of three clueless tourists were glomming on so close to me I had to STAND UP and say, “Excuse me!” to get a little space. Our server was great, food was good. However, there was a moment of uncomfortable, forced patriotism at when the manager BLASTED the National Anthem over the speakers. I get it. LOTS of Vets in The Villages. Know your customers. Naturally, nearly everyone put their happy hour drink down to stand, salute, and sing along. No thanks.

My Dad is in a wheelchair, so he can’t stand. Whereas, I have NEVER liked our National Anthem, let alone Lee Greenwood’s version! It’s a glorification of war and just a stupid song. Personally, I would prefer a national anthem with a more INCLUSIVE message, like “This Land is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie. And for the record, I would generally be more inclined to KNEEL for our current anthem before putting my hand over heart. So, excuse me for remaining seated while I TRIED to enjoy my meal. It was rather off-putting to say the least. Now, if the manager played, “Proud to be an American,” afterwards, I would have demanded our meal be comp-ed and wheeled dad out the door. THAT is the WORST song of all time! If I want to be patriotic at dinner, I will eat at a VFW.

Todd Baker
Village of Hillsborough