...and the horse you rode in on


	The Hooters Restaurant chain has opened up a restaurant in Santa Monica, CA. and the horse you rode in on.com will be a clearing place for information and polemics on the subject.
	"Hooters" Editorial As a woman in our community who sports an admirable rack, I feel not only qualified but compelled to make comment on Saturday's "community forum" at the Santa Monica Hooters. Let's face it, Hooters is for losers. No woman with any degree of intelligence, self-worth, or political sophistication would be caught dead around a guy who digs Hooters...no man, either. But losers have to have a place to hang out too. Doug Schwartz and Larry Klinghofer, co-owners of the Santa Monica Hooters, bank on it. The abundance of these losers across the country created Hooters' financial success (in its press release, Hooters states that its $380 million gross shows "the Hooters concept must be acceptable to a large majority of American consumers." Gosh. The porn film industry topped $8 billion dollars last year...I think this proves financial success is not an accurate yardstick of a consumer majority--or moral rectitude.) Hooters also claims to be a "sports bar" and that alone attracts its 70% male clientele. So tell me: what do owls have to do with sports? is this a team name? what league? did I miss something? Let's tell the truth here: Hooters benefits from the piquing the prurient interests of losers who hope to peek at some chickie's peaks. Otherwise, they'd be just another sports bar. Saturday's community forum at Hooters--attended by local activist Jerry Rubin, attorney Gloria Allred, Hooters Southern California coordinator Greg Seney and Hooters customer/booster Richard Simon, among others--was heartening in that both men and women were there to express their concerns. It was disappointing in that no one seemed to know what the issues actually were. At one point, the discussion devolved into whether or not Hooters Girls were well-endowed and whether or not they personally LIKED being called "Hooters Girls." But friends, the issue is this: Despite a recent comment in the local press that the moniker "Hooters" is only "coincidentally" associated with a derogatory term for women's breasts, and despite market research, lawsuits, and community outrage--Hooters deliberately chooses to use a term that offends the dignity of both men and women in our community and beyond. Hooters management goes on to insult protestors by stating in its press release that "Hooters believes critics of the concept are a vocal minority of politically correct minded individuals..... the chain enjoys and benefits from this debate." What debate? It's clear and simple: Hooters proudly advocates misogyny all over the country with its flagrant disrespect for women and community standards. And Doug Schwartz, also a co-producer pf "Baywatch" who maintains both Hooters and "Baywatch" are "misperceived," says he plans to open nine more stores in the L.A. area. At its opening, the Santa Monica Hooters had a run in with the Police Activities League, a local youth organization that shunned Hooters' opening "benefit event." Hooters called in Make-A-Wish Foundation as a proxy children's charity to publicly demonstrate how Hooters "reaches out to the communities in which it operates." But Make-A-Wish is a well-funded national non-profit, not a community group. Might it be that Hooters was hoping some of that winsome Make-A-Wish reputation would rub off on its own tarnished one? Shame on you, Mr. Schwartz and Mr. Klinghofer; everyone knows that giving gifts ostentatiously in order to look good is NOT a mitzvah. Richard Simon, attorney and former domestic-violence investigator, maintained at the forum that the Hooters concept is "an obvious joke" and "everyone should just lighten up and have some fun." Okay Mr. Simon, here's my joke: if you're a community member and you don't like Hooters, save up and buy a storefront across the street visible from the Hooters patio. Open a cutlery shop and call it...what else? "BOBBITT'S!" HA HAHAHA! And what will the mandatory uniform be? CUT-OFFS!! HAHAHAHA! HOO HOO HOO! HEE HEE! now, see, Mr. Simon? I think that's HILARIOUS. Inevitably the sign over Hooters will tumble into the trash where it belongs, like other signs of the past: "Sambo's," "Gentlemen's Club," "Whites Only." Until then, conscious and intelligent men will continue to demonstrate respect for women by not referring to them in a sexually objectified manner. All you other men can hang out at Hooters and try to figure out why the great-looking self-assured smart women pass you by. Dr. Patsy Butz is a local minister, artist, and activist. Her bra size is 36D and her I.Q. size is 187. She maintains a website at www.andthehorseyourodeinon.com. P.S. Hey everybody! www.andthehorseyourodeinon.com is starting a "Whoo-Whoo's A Loozer at Hooter's" Photo Gallery! Take your photos of Hooters patrons and and send 'em to us!

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