Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Logo

Hey, are you gonna represent? | Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Buy Photos and Pages
    • Special Sections
    • Contact Us
    • Plus
    • Newsletters
    • Newspaper in Education
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Services

    • News
    • Local News
    • Photos
    • Crime
    • Databases
    • Education
    • Job Spotlight
    • Georgia
    • Business
    • Nation/World
    • Lottery
    • Sports
    • Alabama
    • Auburn
    • Braves
    • Columbus State University
    • Cottonmouths
    • Falcons
    • Hawks
    • High Schools
    • UGA
    • Blogs & Columns
    • War Eagle Extra
    • Bulldogs Blog
    • Valley Preps
    • Guerry Clegg
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • ToDo
    • Living
    • Dining
    • Celebrations
    • Outdoors
    • Faith
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Blogs & Columns
    • War Eagle Extra
    • Bulldogs Blog
    • Guerry Clegg
    • Tim Chitwood
    • Richard Hyatt
    • Ledger Inquirer
    • Valley Preps
    • Chuck Williams
    • Dimon Kendrick-Holmes
    • Alva James-Johnson
    • Natalia Naman Temesgen
    • Chris Johnson
    • Opinion
    • Forum
    • Letters
    • Dusty Nix
    • Sound Off
  • Obituaries
  • Readers' Choice

  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad

  • About Us
  • Mobile & Apps

Dimon Kendrick-Holmes

Hey, are you gonna represent?

By Dimon Kendrick-Holmes

dkholmes@ledger-enquirer.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

April 22, 2016 09:44 AM

Something happened to me a couple of weeks ago that got me thinking.

It wasn’t a big deal, but it got me thinking.

A co-worker and I were going to lunch downtown on a Thursday. We were supposed to go at noon but on the way out the door I took a phone call I knew I shouldn’t take and we didn’t leave until 12:30.

When we got to the restaurant, all the tables were full, so we stood there waiting and talking. A couple of other parties arrived and waited behind us.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Ledger-Enquirer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

About 10 minutes later, I saw a man and woman walk through the door. They were wearing polo shirts emblazoned with the logo of a large company in town.

A couple of minutes later, a hostess told me she had a table ready, and the corporate logo woman stepped forward and started following her.

Whoa.

I told the woman I was sorry but that was our table. (My Southern upbringing compels me to first apologize in situations in which I’m not sorry in any way. Bless my heart.)

The woman said she’d arrived before us and had been waiting in another part of the restaurant. I said I’d just seen her walk through the door from the street.

Stone cold busted. “Um, you can have the table,” she said.

“Gee thanks,” I said.

The whole thing was unusual. Maybe people act like this in, say, New York City, but not around here.

And notice I didn’t give the name of her employer. That wouldn’t be fair. I’m using an isolated observation to make a bigger point.

The company doesn’t matter. As somebody who supervises people, especially creative people, I know that everybody has bad days or at least a bad moment and does something weird or out of character.

That certainly applies to me as well, and maybe a lot of other human beings.

I know better than to associate that person’s behavior with the company as a whole, but I do have to resist the urge.

My point is this: If you’ve identified yourself as belonging to a larger group — in other words, if you’re wearing the official polo shirt — then you should represent.

For example, if you’ve chosen to put a bumper sticker or metallic emblem on your car that clearly identifies you as a follower of Jesus Christ, then maybe you shouldn’t cut somebody off in traffic and then flip them off.

Or maybe you should just say no to the bumper sticker or the shiny fish and then drive however you want.

One exception would be sports fans. If a person with a “Roll Tide” bumper sticker on his monster truck cuts off an Auburn fan in traffic, the Auburn fan is not disappointed because he now has an even bigger reason to hate the Crimson Tide.

As a Vanderbilt fan, I comfort myself in such times by thinking of 1996, when Vandy punter Bill Marinangel tucked the ball against Bama and sprinted 81 yards untouched up the middle of the field for a touchdown. (We still lost, but of course we did.)

But back to work and companies: When my dad gets exceptionally good service somewhere, he’ll tell the person, “You own this store, don’t you?” He’s usually right.

Or if somebody who clearly doesn’t own the store — like, say, a fast food worker — does a great job, my dad will tell her to call home and thank her mama for raising her to treat people right.

After all, that’s who you and I really represent. Our mamas.

So ask yourself this question today: Am I representing?

I’m asking myself the same thing.

Dimon Kendrick-Holmes: 706-571-8560, dkholmes@ledger-enquirer.com, @dimonkholmes

  Comments  

Videos

'I didn’t go into those people’s store to fight': Woman charged in Columbus Dollar Tree fight speaks out

Caught on Camera: Multiple brawls break out inside Columbus Dollar Tree store

View More Video

Trending Stories

Historic Westville village entering final stretch of preparation for Columbus debut

February 21, 2019 07:56 PM

Judge to rule if grand jury list valid in Kirby Smith cold murder case

February 21, 2019 06:14 PM

Columbus artists shares his street photography at Black Art in America gallery

February 22, 2019 08:00 AM

These 5 Columbus area teams still have a chance to win a 2019 state basketball title

February 22, 2019 05:02 PM

Broadway hit ‘Chicago’ opens Springer 2019 season. Here’s the rest of the line-up

February 22, 2019 02:24 PM

Read Next

The clay pig is gone and, well, now so am I

Dimon Kendrick-Holmes

The clay pig is gone and, well, now so am I

By Dimon Kendrick-Holmes

    ORDER REPRINT →

June 22, 2018 11:25 AM

Behind every click is a human being with a heart and mind – people just happen to read stories on different platforms than they did in 1953. I believe in the Ledger-Enquirer and most of all the reporters, videographers, editors and staff who fight everyday to get the stories that matter to people in the Chattahoochee Valley

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Ledger-Enquirer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE DIMON KENDRICK-HOLMES

The ridiculous looking old car that reminds me of my father

Dimon Kendrick-Holmes

The ridiculous looking old car that reminds me of my father

June 15, 2018 07:28 PM
Don’t let double red flags spoil your Florida beach vacation

Dimon Kendrick-Holmes

Don’t let double red flags spoil your Florida beach vacation

June 08, 2018 07:28 PM
Want to relax? Leave the beach for a 1,000-mile road trip

Dimon Kendrick-Holmes

Want to relax? Leave the beach for a 1,000-mile road trip

June 01, 2018 03:08 PM
His parents should have named him Harvey because he could have handled it

Dimon Kendrick-Holmes

His parents should have named him Harvey because he could have handled it

May 24, 2018 04:29 PM
This birthday is the one that reminds you you’re mortal

Dimon Kendrick-Holmes

This birthday is the one that reminds you you’re mortal

May 18, 2018 07:46 PM

Dimon Kendrick-Holmes

Guess which Columbus museum is among world’s best

May 11, 2018 07:59 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Digital Solutions
  • Niche Solutions
  • Print Solutions
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story