Restaurant Refuses To Change Name Of Burger (Wopburger)

[matcom]

<snip>

LOUISVILLE, Colo. -- There's a controversy brewing in Colorado over the name of a burger at a family-owned Italian restaurant.

The Blue Parrot in Louisville has a burger on its menu called the "Wopburger." To some, the name has a negative connotation, but to others, it's no big deal.

The Blue Parrot owners, Joe Colacci and Joan Riggins, said since the restaurant opened in 1919, it has never had a controversy quite like this. However, despite the controversy, they said the name of the burger is going to stay.

An Italian-American customer argued that the name "Wopburger" was offensive and is an ethnic slur, while others said the complaints are political correctness gone too far.

"He was giving my grandson a hard time about this Wopburger," Colacci said. "He said, 'you have to take this off the menu.'"

According to Dictionary.com, the term "wop" comes from the word "guappo" meaning "swagger or pimp."

The owners said they considered changing the burger's name, but their customers told them not to.

http://www.wftv.com/irresistible/13374038/detail.html

[underpants]

1. Ghettoburger

http://search.cityguide.aol.com/richmond/restaurants/send-a-chef/v-115867921

[LostinVA]

2. I'm half Sicilian, they're Italian -- it doesn't bother me

But, I can see where it might bother some.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. It looks like crap. That alone would be insulting to Italian Americans.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/irresistible/13374038/detail.html

Some interesting quotes:

"If you were born in New York or some place maybe a wop was derogatory, but not here," said customer Bob Bush. "We love being wops."

"It's just a wopper. It's just a sandwich," said Riggins. "If I out and called you 'a dirty wop,' then that would be a slur. That would be a problem."

That first one has me imagining what would happen if someone put a wopburger on the menu in a Little Italy neighborhood in a big city. I'm guessing the fire department would need to be on standby.:D