I read a very troubling story yesterday which I wanted to share (click here to read the full story). A man by the name of Trevor Keezor was fired from his job at The Home Depot in Okeechobee, FL, for wearing a button on his work apron which had on it a picture of the American flag and the words, “One nation under God, indivisible,” a direct quote from the Pledge of Allegiance. The Home Depot spokesman who spoke to this issue stated that, “This associate chose to wear a button that expressed his religious beliefs,” and that “expressing such personal beliefs is simply not allowed.” While I know there are always two sides to every story and I will give The Home Depot the courtesy of waiting for them to have time to tell their side of the story, this appears to be yet another example of the sad truth that although we may be, “One nation under God, indivisible,” we as a nation are not invincible against the ploys of Satan, the pull of the world, and the pollution of sin.
After reading this story I typed up a letter to send to the Chairman and CEO of The Home Depot, Frank Blake (click here to read his bio). Here is the letter I sent to him:
Dear Mr. Blake:
My name is Brian Parrish and I have been an enthusiastic customer of The Home Depot for several years. My experiences with your stores have always been pleasant ones where I received great service. I have never been disappointed with The Home Depot…that is until now.
I read a story today about a young man, Trevor Keezor, who lost his job at one of your stores in Okeechobee, FL. The story reported that he lost his job for wearing an American Flag button which read, “One nation under God, indivisible.” According to Craig Fishel, a The Home Depot spokesman, “This associate chose to wear a button that expressed his religious beliefs. The issue is not whether or not we agree with the message on the button. That’s not our place to say, which is exactly why we have a blanket policy, which is long-standing and well-communicated to our associates, that only company-provided buttons and badges can be worn on our aprons.” The story also reported that before he was fired Mr. Keezor was offered another button which read, “United We Stand,” in exchange for the button he was wearing.
It is understandable that you are a private company who can set its own policies including dress codes, and that if those dress codes are not followed you can bring disciplinary action against the offending employee. I would never want to take away from the rights our country affords to private businesses, but I do have some questions for you and then some comments.
Question 1: According to your spokesman Mr. Keezor’s expression of his personal “religious beliefs” was part of why he was terminated. Your company has stated, according to the report I read, that “expressing such personal beliefs is simply not allowed.” Was this primarily an expression of personal “religious beliefs” or was it merely an expression of patriotism to the United States being that the quote on his button (one with an American Flag on it) was simply part of our nation’s Pledge of Allegiance? I’m assuming you would never discourage or disallow the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America.
Questions 2: Mr. Keezor was offered a replacement button which read, “United We Stand,” another patriotic button. What makes this button more acceptable and more appropriate? Maybe the button offered said “The Home Depot” on it, I do not know, but assuming it did not why would that button be allowed while the other wasn’t if it was merely a dress code issue?
Question 3: Mr. Keezor has reported that he had been wearing the button since March of 2008. If this report is true, why was his decision to wear this patriotic button never an issue until earlier this month? If this really was a serious breach of company dress code wouldn’t it have been addressed long before now?
Comment 1: Mr. Keezor was wearing a button with an American flag on it along with the words, “One nation under God, indivisible.” As stated above and as you know, this is a direct quote from our nation’s Pledge of Allegiance. It is neither strictly a religious expression nor one-sided political propaganda and to call it either could be construed as unpatriotic. Now, I would never say that you are unpatriotic, Mr. Blake. I saw on your bio that you have publicly served our nation under Vice President Bush and Justice Stevens, and so I am sure you love and support your country very much. Assuming you are a patriotic man leading a company that would never want to be considered unpatriotic, I am confused as to why The Home Depot would do such a thing and take this risk.
Comment 2: I am puzzled and disappointed at the actions of The Home Depot in regard to this issue. However, I am still reserving my decision of whether or not to completely abandon my patronage of The Home Depot because there are always two sides to every story. I will wait in order to allow your company to fully give its side of the story. If Mr. Keezor was proselytizing to customers on company time then that would be a completely different issue. But, if this had been occurring I think it would have been reported by your company so as to avoid the public relations nightmare this could turn into. According to The Home Depot’s spokesman, Mr. Keezor’s termination was merely because he “expressed his religious beliefs” by the button he was wearing thereby breaking the company’s dress code. If this is the simple truth of the matter, I will have to cease any further business with your company as I feel this is a gross overreaction and offense against a person’s patriotism and First Amendment rights.
Final Comment: You being a private company in a free, capitalistic America I fully acknowledge your right to set policies and dress code and hold your employees to certain regulations. Having said that, when it comes to policies that limit a person’s right to reasonably show support for their country, it may be your company’s right to limit this but it will definitely have an effect on your business. In this case, if the facts show that this situation is as cut and dry as it seems then you will have lost this customer’s business and I will make those I know aware of your seemingly unpatriotic stance. And maybe it’s only the parts of American history and patriotism that mention or infer a belief in God (i.e. the Pledge of Allegiance, the Declaration of Independence, our National Anthem, etc.) which your company is against. If this is the case then I do not know how in good conscience you accept U.S. currency since it has printed on it the words, “In God We Trust.” This appears to be a major inconsistency on your part. So, if everything is as it seems, as I would never want to do anything to make your company compromise its convictions, convictions which are guaranteed and protected under the same Constitution which allows Mr. Keezor to express his “beliefs” and support of America in the manner he was, I will kindly withhold my money from your stores. I would not want the inscription “In God We Trust” to cause any offense to The Home Depot or to you.
Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.
A disappointed and most likely previous customer,
Brian Parrish
Here is The Home Depot’s corporate address if you would like to send a letter as well:
The Home Depot Incorporated
2455 Paces Ferry Rd
Atlanta, GA 30339
