Penzey Spice? I don't remember that one But then Baby Spice was always my favorite.
Posted on 11/17/2016 1:36:43 PM PST by DJ Frisat
Sorry for the vanity, but...
Just received newsletter from Penzey's Spices owner Bill Penzey. We (used to) love the place and have a cabinet full of wonderful spices that delight our noses and our palates. We've been aware of his ideology in the past, and have been able to put it aside and continue to patronize his stores, both brick & mortar and online. But no more.
Here is an excerpt from the newsletter, wherein he seems to attempt to extinguish a previously-set fire with a can of gasoline. This guy needs to learn when to STFU...
"Racism Update: At Penzeys we believe it's not the use of tools that set us on a different path from the rest of the animal world; what has set humanity in motion is cooking. In our nearly a million years gathered together around the fire, cooking shaped our bodies and transformed our minds. Cooking unlocked our potential and gave birth to reason, to religion, and to politics and government. The kindness of tens of thousands of generations of cooks created our humanity, but racism, sexism, and homophobia can all very quickly unravel all the goodness cooking puts out into the world. As the voice of cooks, we will never sit idly by while that happens.You may have read Tuesday Night's email. In it I said: "The open embrace of racism by the Republican Party in this election is now unleashing a wave of ugliness unseen in this country for decades. The American people are taking notice. Let's commit to giving the people a better choice. Our kindness really is our strength."
Since I ask you to read my emails, I feel it's only right that I read each of your replies. In sifting through those replies it was clear that, though not intended, a good number of people seemed to sincerely believe that in my statement I was calling all Republicans racists. In the emails of those Republicans who voted for someone other than the party's nominee, I sensed genuine pain at having the strength of character to not go along with what was happening, but nonetheless be grouped in with those who were. I apologize for writing something that caused you pain; that is not the person I want to be. You are your party's future, and you deserve my admiration and respect, and your country's as well.
For the rest of you, you just voted for an openly racist candidate for the presidency of the United States of America. In your defense, most of you did so without thinking of the consequences of your candidate's racism, because for most of you the heartbreaking destruction racism causes has never been anything you or your loved ones have had to experience. But the thing is elections have their consequences. This is no longer sixty years ago. Whether any of us like it or not, for the next four years the 80% of this country who did not just vote for an openly racist candidate are going to treat you like you are the kind of person who would vote for an openly racist candidate.
You can get angry at everyone else for treating you like you just did the thing you just did, or you can take responsibility for your actions and begin to make amends. If you are lucky and younger family members are still coming over for Thanksgiving, before it's too late, take a moment and honestly think about how your actions must look through their eyes. Simply saying "I never thought he'd win" might be enough. But if you have the means, leaving a receipt from a sizable donation to the ACLU or the SPLC accidentally laying around where you carve the turkey, might go over even better.
Or, just do what you do best and volunteer. Through our customers' support, we've given away a lot of our Penzeys Pepper, the Pepper with heart. More often than not, those we meet cooking and serving food to feed those in need are Republicans. You really are a good bunch, but you just committed the biggest act of racism in American history since Wallace stood in the schoolhouse doorway 53 years ago. Make this right. Take ownership for what you have done and begin the pathway forward.
Thanks for reading,
Bill"
Never used their products but did get their catalog once and always had them in the back of my mind to try.
No way Jose.
Is this the Penzy’s in Overland Park? If so, I will let them know they have lost our business.
Never heard of this outfit, but thanks for the heads up
Any business with a mouthy owner like this, spewing the hate and encouraging hate groups like aclu and splc deserves to lose business.
There’s one in my town. Always empty. Can’t figure out how they stay in business. Mabye their mail orders keep them afloat?
How can someone this idiotic be in charge of successful business is beyond me. Of course, I’m sure that the muslim brotherhood, BLM, and liberal college snowflakes will pick up the slack of the customers he’s going to lose.
(BWahhh - Good luck with that, Bill - just tossed your spices in the trash)
It ain’t “race” ism, it’s “philosophy” ism.
Yeah, Donald has this weird idea that “acting white” will get you along better in this world.
So do I.
Whatever color you are, you will do best if you are a REDNECK.
We need “REDNECK SPICE”
I live in the metro Detroit area, so I can’t directly answer your question, navymom1. It’s highly likely, though, that the store you asked about is under the ownership of this exceptionally stupid businessman...
Penzey Spice? I don't remember that one But then Baby Spice was always my favorite.
WTF!? Great way to lose half your customers. Adios mofo!
(h/t Lazamataz)
My advice to this guy? Grab an ear in each hand and pull. Then wipe the crap outa your eyes.
Thanks for the heads-up - we’ll be in the market for a new purveyor of spices from now on...
Just called them and let them know they’re being boycotted:
1-800-741-7787.
Penzey’s just lost some potential business.
Good bye.
Got the same newsletter and promptly unsubscribed. Have been using My Spice Sage on line for some time.
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