Paisano’s restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico has stirred the pot by posting a sign in front of their restaurant encouraging people to try the tapenade. “Black Olives Matter,” it says, creating a mildly humorous pun based on the Black Lives Matter movement. Because this is the United States of America, someone took offense to the sign and went to their Facebook page to tell them so. She called it a “hateful display of what passes to you as humor.”
So maybe the sign isn’t the most tasteful thing in the world, but I seriously doubt that the owner had any intention other than getting people to come into the restaurant and order some tapenade. In reality, owner Rick Camuglia probably didn’t even come up with the joke himself. A simple Google search of “black olives matter” brings up dozens of hits, showing memes, signs and even t-shirts with the same slogan. For whatever reason, his sign just happened to catch the Internet wave and now people are upset about it.
I say we give the guy a break. I mean, according to their menu, they serve gluten-free pasta. The man is doing God’s work, people. He has to deal with gluten-intolerant people every day of his life and he makes one bad joke and people are going to jump all over him? Besides, this world has plenty of things to be upset about other than a marquis sign in front of a New Mexico restaurant. If people really want to stretch their emotions, why not get pissed off about nut jobs who drive trucks through parade-goers in France? Or let’s focus our energy to the insanity of cops killing innocent people and then people killing innocent cops. Or better yet, watch the Republican National Convention tonight and marvel at that shit show. Or wait until next week when the Democrats have their convention and we can see all the crazies crawl out of the woodwork in Philadelphia. My point don’t waste your energy on a bad pun on a restaurant sign. Who cares?
Do black lives matter? Yes.
Do all lives matter? Sure they do, that goes without saying.
Do black olives matter? Not to me. I fucking hate tapenade.
Johannes Bols
If a black own restaurant put that on their sign it would be cool. Double standard. Pull your sense of humour out of your fucking ass.
I learned racial tolerance in the 1960s when your grandfather was whacking off before third period, sweetheart. I don’t need you to educate me about thinking about of this fucking shite.
steve
That’s funny it’s not 1950 anymore get over it already with 90 percent of blacks in a all sports shit the leader of the country is black come on.get off it.I’m a crip I’m a blood it’s not white people it’s you grow the fuck up already if there’s a race problem that’s a few hundred crackers 10 million blacks shit the fuck up
G. B. Miller
Micro aggression as well as hurt feelings at its finest.
Erika
BLM came about because Black Americans don’t feel their basic humanity, as in their right to simply live and breathe air, is being recognized. To hear a large portion of our society say they are being subjected to a racist genocide and respond “LOL, tapenade,” is callous and tasteless. Not saying he should be burned at the stake, but he should take down the sign, apologize, and educate himself a little bit about what BLM is really about.
mizfitz13
I’m with Erika.
Amanda
Exactly what I was thinking.
Reginald van der Slythe III
I wish I was near enough to give that restaurant my business. That is hilarious. And shows about as much reverence as that movement deserves, thanks to the actions of its members.
Franci
It’s funny! People are way too sensitive these days. And I don’t even like olives….
Nancy
The problem is that people are too thin-skinned nowdays. Yes it is probably not the best time for the sign but it is funny. I would still eat there because I love black olives and tapenade.
Alan
This video says it all!
https://youtu.be/ceS_jkKjIgo
Margaret
Can I fall somewhere in the middle? I don’t think it’s the worst thing ever, but I do think it’s tasteless and insensitive. If I lived there, I’d stop eating at the restaurant, but I wouldn’t call for the guy to be harassed or run out of business or anything. I’d just stop giving him *my* money.
Amanda
Yeah, I’d do the same; I’d also send the management and owner a note explaining my decision and making some reading recommendations so they can better understand WHY the sign is tasteless.
David Cowling
Genius!