A Dairy Queen in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, has become the center of a national conversation after a sign outside the business went viral online. The owner of the hand-painted sign, which contained phrases like “Merry Christmas” and a promise of complimentary sundaes for veterans, said it was “politically incorrect.” People from all throughout the country have voiced good and terrible things about it.
The Sign That Started Everything
It was a little sign, but it meant a lot.
The sign outside the ice cream shop said with pride:
“This restaurant doesn’t follow the rules of being politically correct.” We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope that God blesses America. We also want to give service members free sundaes.
In a world when most public messages are very neutral, the statements stuck out. A lot of individuals believed it was a great opportunity to show how much they loved their nation and its traditions. Others complained it was too private and made it seem like only certain individuals could come.
A picture of the sign was posted on social media, and it went all throughout the country in just a few hours. Many people passed it on. Some people complimented Dairy Queen for “standing up for its values,” while others felt the company was losing consumers who didn’t agree with them.
“It’s about respect,” says the owner, Kevin Scheunemann.
Kevin Scheunemann, who owns the Dairy Queen franchise, rapidly had calls from news organizations in the area and around the country that wanted to talk to him. He didn’t think the message was meant to make people angry; he thought it was supposed to show what he believed in.
“I’m not trying to hurt anyone,” Scheunemann told reporters. “I just want to say what I believe: honoring our veterans, our country, and the values I learned as a child.” Everyone is welcome here.
He believed the sign was meant for him, not the store. He stated he put up the sign years ago and never had a problem with it until the picture went viral.
Supporters Praise His Courage
A lot of Americans, especially veterans and small business owners, backed Scheunemann on social media.
A lot of people sent messages of support:
“Finally, someone who isn’t afraid to say what they think.”
“As a veteran, I’ll go a long way to get ice cream from this Dairy Queen.”
“That’s good for him.” We don’t need less kindness and gratitude; we need more of these.
People in Kewaskum, which has just over 4,000 people, felt the same way. For many folks, the Dairy Queen is more than just a place to get ice cream. It’s a location for the community, and families get together there on warm summer nights and kids are happy after Little League games.
Someone said, “It’s always been nice and friendly.” “This sign says a lot about this place: it has a lot of heart, pride, and respect.”
Others think it sends the incorrect message.
But not everyone agreed with that.
Some people who wrote about it online remarked that the sign’s title, which was “politically incorrect,” made things worse than they had to be. “You don’t have to call other people out to say what you think,” one critic stated. “It’s not a place for politics; it’s a place for families to eat.”
Some people stated that the sign could make some customers feel unwelcome by emphasizing on certain greetings and beliefs. “Not everyone celebrates Christmas,” one tweet said. When you say “Happy Holidays,” it’s easy to get everyone interested.
The conversation quickly spread to more than one Dairy Queen. It was part of a bigger conversation about free speech, being open to everyone, and being able to say what you believe in public.
Responses from Dairy Queen Corporation
The Dairy Queen corporate office said that franchisees are in charge of their own businesses and that the sign outside the Kewaskum store merely expressed the owner’s personal beliefs, not those of the whole company.
The company said, “The owner of this place has his own ideas.” “Dairy Queen values diversity and welcomes everyone.”
The answer was short and to the point, and it made people remember that the brand supports all of its franchise owners but also wants everyone to feel welcome.
A sign that means more than merely a sign
People are still talking about the Dairy Queen and the sign that caused a lot of commotion. For some, it means standing up for what they believe in and doing things the way they’ve always done them. It makes them think about how divided talks about language, identity, and belonging have become.
This one sign reflects the difficulty that many people in America today have: how to balance free speech with respect for others and how to stay true to your beliefs while making sure everyone feels welcome.
Not Only Words
People all over the place were talking about the sign, no matter what you thought it read. It reminded people in the US that an ice cream parlor in a small town can be a place where people from different backgrounds meet.
Someone who lives there stated it best:
“You can read that sign however you want.” Everyone can still have ice cream because it’s still Dairy Queen.
