This day is a red letter day for many but especially so for poor college slackers, retirees and anyone else willing to get up before six. Today marks the second annual Denny's free Grand Slam Giveaway (phrase not copyrighted) where you can get a Grand Slam for no charge at all, your drink and extras you still have to pay for though. Being as the Denny's Grand Slam breakfast is on my list of favorite things ever, maybe between twenty and thirty, I made it a point to go.
I didn't have to work today so I took my time getting there as well as eating my meal. I remember last year this event went on I had several classes during the day and I only had about an hour break in which I could take advantage of the deal. When I got to Denny's the wait was about 45 minutes. Disappointed I left without a Grand Slam to feed my hunger. Little did I know that this was to become an annual event and I would have another chance at the goodness that was two eggs, two 'cakes, two slices of bacon, and two sausage links (or any other combination of breakfast delights that you would like to arrange).
While waiting in the lobby, book in hand, a thought struck me. This Grand Slam gala is not just a corporate promotion luring in millions of hungry Americans into a single chain of restaurants, it is much more. Denny's has struck at becoming the Great Uniter! Around the country today, many are headed for the familiar green and gold and it's there that they are assembled together with no pretense. People of all kinds, with different beliefs and values, young and old are joined together under one accord: free food.
At the the tables you can see families enjoying each other, some might even be reuniting. Go to the bar and find that strangers are strangers no longer. Friends are there too and they are doing what they do best, simply being friends. All around this little microcosm there are no hard feelings, no disagreements. This is peace, and it is good.
What puzzles me is how this is so easy for Denny's to accomplish and yet for the leaders of our Nation it becomes a difficult feat. Capitol Hill needs to take note and emulate if they want to unity this country.
Such has been done to pit person against person these last few years with the Red State/Blue State debate that it's natural to want to tear the head off your neighbor. With so much controversy that has been stirred around it's almost as if the average Americans every were have been set down in a boxing ring with pundits in each corner screaming "Fight, fight, fright!" It's time for some deprogramming.
If you want to unite people, here's an idea: Give something away for free, something that is unanimously popular, but hold back the amenities; it's those you have to pay for. People will absolutely love you. Let's take an example, something like...phone service. Give your users free phone service but then have the options of paid texting or data. What an amazing plan this is that people will be jumping off their iPhone's just to sign up.
The premise here is simple. Just as I am more willing to drop a very generous tip (as I did) after enjoying a free meal so will consumers that might not take advantage of various products or services will instantly want them after being provided with something on the cheap. The law of subsidy needs to be closely reviewed here.
These syrup drenched thoughts of post-lard utopia are rather lofty but hey, so was the US Constitution. If they could do it then we can do it now with more bang than the framers could even dream of (and they could dream big, "Star-Spangled Banner anyone?) I'm just glad they didn't decide to pen the constitution in a breakfast serving tavern. A syrup stain would really ruin the symbolism.
My only question for you is if we can achieve peace at such a small level who is to say that we can't have world peace? I believe that every person; and I do mean every person, has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of pancakes!
