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Houston Waiter Speaks Out: I Refused a Customer Service Because he Insulted 5-Year-Old With Down Syndrome

Jan. 21, 2013 10:00pm Becket Adams

If you heard someone make a cruel remark about a person with Down syndrome, what would you do?

One Houston waiter responded in his own way: He refused to serve a customer who, he says, made insulting remarks toward a five-year-old with Down syndrome.

“Michael Garcia, a waiter at Laurenzo’s, was serving a family who have been regulars since the restaurant opened. The family includes 5-year-old Milo, who has Down syndrome,” FoxNews.com explains.

Garcia told FoxNews.com that Milo “wasn’t being bad, he was just talking and making little noises.”

However, the boy’s noises were enough to irritate a nearby customer and his family.

“The customer got up from the table and moved his family to another table further away from Milo, but still in Garcia’s serving section,” the report explains.

Things came to a head when the customer started talking about Milo, at one point saying, “special needs children need to be special somewhere else,” according to Garcia.

“My personal feelings took over because that’s ignorance in my opinion and I told him ‘Sir, I won’t be able to serve you,’” Garcia tells FoxNews.com.

The customer and his family exited the restaurant.

“Maybe there were other ways I could have handled it, but Milo is such an angel, he is a gift from God as are all special needs children,” Garcia said.

Milo’s family was completely unaware of what had happened between their server and the other table and only found out because one of Garcia’s colleagues told them.

“We can’t lose track of what this is about,” Garcia said, referring to the amount of attention the story has drawn.

“It is about Milo, it is about educating ourselves and when people are different, why should you treat them any different?”

“It’s fear of the unknown,” he added.

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This post has been updated.

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Comments (122)

jfc1068
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 8:39am
Too many people think it is their right to go somewhere and not be offended.

Years ago I took my daughter to a restaurant for breakfast. She was throwing everything within reach on the floor, pushing the boudaries to see where they were. All 2-3 year olds do that. Each time I picked up the item, set it back on the table, tapped the back of her hand and said “We don’t act this way.”

When she finally ran out of things to drop of the floor she got mad and screamed. Once again I tapped the back of her hand and told her, “We don’t act that way.”

A little old woman who had no idea what was going on, came to our table and started yelling at me for abusing my daughter. She called the police and filed a complaint against me.

I ended up spending the next 3 months away from my family simply because I trieds to teach my daughter how to behave in public.

These people need to get a life and leave real parents alone, to teach their children how to behave.

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- mopman64
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 8:48am
  All 2-3 yr olds act that way. Really? I hate to tell you but they don’t. Please do not lump all of us in to your group. Making all children in the world seem like they act like yours did is not true. Please do not use this to justify you being a ****** parent.
  
  Report this comment
- PDfromToledo
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 8:51am
  After the first time you get up and leave. There should never be a 2nd and 3rd time for anything when it comes to raising children. Temper tantrums … leave the store, the restaurant or wherever you may be. Take control for heavens sake.
  
  Report this comment
- Enchanted
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 9:03am
  You probably started too late. You have to socialize your children from a very early age. You have to start teaching them from the get go what is acceptable behavior. By the time they are 2-3 and have not had much ‘outside’ contact what they believe to be acceptable may not be. I remember when my daughter was about 8 months old. My daughter and I were eating at a local restaurant. When we were finished eating a couple came up to me and remarked how well-behaved my daughter was during dinner. That is because I had been working with her, getting her used to being in the public – being socialized. This is an important aspect of growing up and being able to assimilate into society.
  
  Report this comment
- Enchanted
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 9:05am
  Oh and I forgot to menion. When she was younger, if she started having a trantrum, we left. No one wants to hear a screaming baby, no one.
  
  Report this comment
- AlthenArtren
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 9:26am
  Mop, parents have the right to discipline their children. Most children, if not disciplined,
  become spoiled brats who think the world owes them something. In other words, Democrats.
  Get off your high horse, and if you’re a parent, swat your kids when they are bad.
  
  Report this comment
- mdlwoods
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 9:39am
  After the first time, if done again, I would have been marched right out of that restaurant (probably throwing a fit because I didn’t want to go where I was going) out to the car where I would promptly receive my just rewards!!! This also was the case with my own children. I have complete respect for my elders and other people. My children have complete respect for their elders and other people. Hmmm. I have never and neither have my children ever backtalked, been rude to, or disrespected another person that they didn’t know. Can’t say the same for a whooole lot of kids in this world today. Probably including your JFC if you don’t get a grip on your child!!!
  
  Report this comment
- Rickfromillinois
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 9:54am
  No, not all 2-3 year old act like that, and when your daughter did, why did you take her to a public place to eat and disturb other people? How about considering other people before you take your badly behaved children out in public to eat? More then a few times when eating at a restaurant with my wife we have been unable to even speak to each other because of misbehaving and loud children, and also misbehaving and loud adults. Let me hasten to add then the waiter said that the child with Downs syndrome wasn’t misbehaving or was overly loud.
  
  Report this comment
- Detroit paperboy
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 10:11am
  I’ve been to that restaurant, overpriced bad food and terrible service……sorry but it’s true, usually the staff outnumber the guests…..
  
  Report this comment
- Bloody Sam
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 10:20am
  “It is about Milo, it is about educating ourselves and when people are different, why should you treat them any different?”
  
  So Mr. Garcia wouldn’t be treating Milo “any different” if he were to try to buy an “assault rifle” when he is of age? Or…how about a pistol?
  Right….mmm hmm.
  
  Report this comment
- emmett518
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 11:00am
  I have to feel for that customer. Parents seem to think that they can bring unruly children into restaurants even though it spoils the experience for others. If the child was well behaved, I’d have no problem, but children who roam, kick the seats, throw things, and make an abnormal amount of noise belong at home, and not in public places.
  
  Sorry.
  
  Report this comment
- buttpatriot
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 11:22am
  jfc the crowd you want to hang with, will turn on you, at any time, like an angry rino.
  
  Report this comment
- Silvertruth
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 11:42am
  The issue is there is no cultural consistency with children in public, as the comments here demonstrate. One person expects one thing, another expects something entirely different.
  
  There used to be a practice called ‘teaching manners’ but it has long gone by the wayside and is now “what every parent is comfortable with”. This has led to a very public set of anarchy rule when it comes to kids.
  
  Ever sit in a theater where the kids talk through the whole movie? Usually just down from the 2 or 3 adult couples doing the same thing… wonder where they learned it.
  
  Ever wonder why the kids pitch a fit and cry when they don’t get what they want? Just look at any celebrity magazine and comment board like this one, you don’t have to wonder much longer.
  
  How about those kids that hit, fight, and throw things, wonder why they do that? Take a moment and see what the kids get to watch the parents watching at home on TV.
  
  My 2 year old throws things in the house and he gets warned then timed out. He doesn’t get to throw things at restaurants or he gets taken to the car or home. We expect a level of behavior and when he doesn’t meet it, we deal with it and try not to inconvenience others with our discipline issues, even if that means we don’t get to finish our meal or have a nice time out. It is not everyone elses responsibility to put up with our child. It’s our responsibility to teach him how to act in public.
  
  Report this comment
- toto
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 12:33pm
  To say that all children are different is, of course, an understatement. Having 2, the first a girl, was “easy” and we could take her anywhere without offense to others, our son however, (though fitting well within the definition of “normal rambunctious boy”) between the ages of about 2 and 4, usually had to be taken outside at some point during the course of a meal because “still and quiet” could not be maintained. We were the same parents, the child was different, but inflicting unruly children on others in restaurants is rude and inconsiderate. At what point, should parents consider the sensibilities of others, I am not sure, and the fact the child has Down’s is a factor, but consideration for other patrons should be important to all parents, and that is the lesson they ultimately teach their children. In today’s world, one person believes they have the right to disrupt entire groups of people if makes them happy to do so. That is a part of what is wrong in this country. Another is that people feel completely free to say unkind things.
  
  Report this comment
- cliffvettej
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 1:03pm
  All three year olds are not like yours. My children were taught that there were “inside” voices and “outside” voices. They were talked to before entering the restaurants about what was expected of them as far as their conduct was concerned. Consequently, I can never remember even ONE time that I had a disciplinary problem in a restaurant with my two sons. Parenting is work and if children are trained properly you will rarely have an issue with them in a restaurant.
  
  Report this comment
- tradcatholicgirl
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 1:14pm
  ENCHANTED,
  
  How many kids do you have? Is it just the one darling daughter who, at eight months, mastered her emotional responses?
  
  For you new parents or prospective parents: every kid is different, as are boys from girls. If you have three kids, you might find that at least one of them was a difficult kid, or an “exuberant” kid.
  
  You might see that little boys, especially when together, are a different experience altogether from just one little girl.
  
  It is also true that most kids go through phases. A once-docile angel will suddenly turn into a difficult kid for a few months.
  
  The second or third time around, you take it all with a grain of salt. You stay consistent with your parenting choices, but you learn to flex on expectations……..you realize that each of your kids is an individual with a unique personality and a different set of reactions to stimuli.
  
  Knowing when to get a screaming kid out of a restaurant is essential. But it is totally unrealistic to expect your kids to behave with perfect manners at each public outing.
  
  Children are a work in progress. Parents are too! If you think you “know it all” when the kid is a year old, then you are in for some kind of surprise in the next 17 years.
  
  Report this comment
- vwilson
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 4:41pm
  Good for the waiter!! I live in Houston and will seek out this restaurant and the waiter. I hope that family never goes back to that restaurant and should stay home from now on!
  
  Report this comment
longun45
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 8:13am
This has a trap in it.

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- buttpatriot
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 11:39am
  boycott this restaurant for not standing up for the first amendment! the damn libs wont let us call a ******, a ******…now its an african american special needs entitled obama angel.
  
  Report this comment
Ron Staiger
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 8:00am
What parents of ANY child need to understand is that a restaurant is not behavior modification training grounds for your child. It is not a place to unleash your precious progeny on others because you’re too lazy to parent your child. On the other hand, you have a right to bring your child anywhere you damned well please and if someone is offended by their presence, they can leave. Milo was not being disruptive, he was simply being a child

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- UncommonlyCommonSense
  Posted on January 23, 2013 at 5:42am
  Thank you, Ron, for your words of, well ….. common sense. Milo is the real topic here–not basic parenting skills and how others train their children.
  I applaud the waiter for his courteous but firm response. So often people are wrapped up only in themselves and lack perspective that the center of the universe does not begin and end with them.
  
  As an illustration of how perspective can change a situation, I offer this experience:
  While at church several years ago, I looked over the printed program and was unimpressed with the typewritten copy. With computers being so commonplace, I could hardly believe someone had actually typed — on a regular typewriter — and the obvious mistakes and overstrikes on the copy were a source of personal irritation. I thought to myself, “I could do a much better job.” When I commented to a friend after services, I was informed that the program had been prepared by a woman with Cerebral Palsey who used a headband device with a pointer designed to strike the keys with the movement of her head. She wanted to serve and this was the only way she could do so–and she did it each Sunday!
  What a perspective shift! Suddenly, that program became a thing of great value.
  
  Milo seems to have been behaving appropriately for his level of ability, and his family should not have to be worried about what others think who have a great lack of perspective. How wonderful that they have been able to enjoy this outing as a family on a regular basis
  
  Report this comment
Uhavegot2Bkidding
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 7:52am
I am grateful for this waiter and his restaurant for supporting him. The waiter said that the child in question was not making unreasonable noises. As a Mom of a special needs child thank you. I have run into people that judge before they know. It is hard. Some of those that have judged before knowing were regular education teachers. They had decided that because my child was “special needs” that he didn’t belong in their room. I guess he was supposed to move into a closet. Sadly, I have run into this bias more and more as my child has gotten older. He is a freshman in high school. A demanding high school academically. Currently, he has one C which I fully expect him to bring up and the rest are A’s and B’s. He does the same work as everybody else. He takes the same tests as everybody else. In fact he has been asked to be a peer tutor in math because he has done such a good job. What would have happened to my child if he had been shoved aside? For those with special needs that cannot achieve grade level work, they deserve to find out what they can do, they should be allowed to have dreams too. They are human beings and deserve to be treated with basic levels of respect

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- yougottabekidding
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 10:06am
  Very original handle
  
  So let me get this straight.
  A family of American citizens sitting in a resturant were disturbed by some thing. They moved away and did not make a big deal over it, thats obvious from the story as the other family had no idea it happened.
  Then a waiter over hearing a private conversation (which he has not been invited to participate) between two or more other people decides that he is going to censor their free speech, which they are entitled to, and throw them out! (I do believe tha’s what is called a civil rights violation) So if I’m talking about not being even remotely happy with the king I should have a waiter throw me out? How about I like chevy and he likes fords? At what point is it okay to take away my first ammendment rights?
  So where is this a story that should be rejoiced in a free society?
  I could understand it if they were screaming it or making a big deal about it. But on the face of the story someone just had their 1st ammendment rights removed from them by someone that had no right to do so and it’s being celebrated as the right thing to do!
  
  Report this comment
- Thornyrose13
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 10:19am
  I don’t see a problem. A server was defending regular customers, and simply said he could not serve the family. He said they were still “in his section”, which implies there was another area where another server could attend to them. The family chose to leave. Both parties expressed their views. The server’s view cost him a tip, and the owner the profits from serving the family. The family simply had to find another place to eat. Private situation privately handled.
  
  Report this comment
- yougottabekidding
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 10:45am
  Thornyrose13
  
  Defending them from what? Is he the thought police now?
  How about a family of thives that are steady customers and someone says they don’t like what they do and is overheard, then what?
  He deciedes what they or anyone else can say or can think? Go to iran that’s what they do.
  This, no matter how anyone feels about the kid, is about freedom of speech that was overheard in a private conversation. If you think this is a good idea or do not see a problem with it, then you are in the wrong country!
  
  Report this comment
- yougottabekidding
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 10:49am
  One more thing
  
  It is not private it is serving the public at large and can not refuse service to anyone that is not creating an illegal situation.
  So basically that’s two civil rights violations!
  
  Report this comment
- jinxycat
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 12:03pm
  It does not matter that he was serving the ‘public’. The restaurant is a private business and they may ask ANYONE to leave for any reason. Period. A customer can walk in with a political shirt on and the owner can ask them to leave because they don’t like that person. It wouldn’t be smart on the owner’s part, but it’s private property and they can chose NOT to serve someone for ANY reason.
  
  Report this comment
- yougottabekidding
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 12:20pm
  jinxycat
  
  So they can refuse to serve milo!
  A black man walks in, I don’t like him I can refuse to serve him?
  Your wheelchair is blocking the isle, get out!
  Do you realize how stupid you sound?
  The owner of that restaurant right now could face a federal law suit for discrimination, plain and simple.
  
  The waiter has already admitted to millions of people that he threw them out due to his discrimination no other reason! Not loud, not unruly, simply because of what they were thinking!
  
  Report this comment
- yougottabekidding
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 12:32pm
  The Federal Civil Rights Act guarantees all people the right to “full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation, without discrimination or segregation
  Like many issues involving constitutional law, the law against discrimination in public accommodations is in a constant state of change. Some argue that anti-discrimination laws in matters of public accommodations create a conflict between the ideal of equality and individual rights. Does the guaranteed right to public access mean the business owner’s private right to exclude is violated? For the most part, courts have decided that the constitutional interest in providing equal access to public accommodations outweighs the individual liberties involved.
  
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- donsfirstwife
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 2:12pm
  I would just say to Yougottabekidding that the waiter did not throw anybody out. He, for personal reasons apparently, decided not to serve the people who moved to a different table. he may have overstepped his authority there, but please, sir, he did not throw anybody out. He merely said he, the waiter in that area of the eatery, could not serve them due to their remarks about a Downs Syndrome afflicted child. The people decided then and there to take their business elsewhere.
  
  Report this comment
- yougottabekidding
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 2:27pm
  donsfirstwife
  
  What don’t you understand?
  Refused service!
  
  Report this comment
- Freedomlover_US
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 7:27pm
  I 100% agree – can’t believe the support on this site isn’t unanimous. I’d have punched the creep in the face.
  
  Report this comment
- autumnsnow
  Posted on January 23, 2013 at 12:57am
  YOUGOTTABEKIDDING,
  The restaurant did not refuse service. PERIOD. The family ASKED to be moved and they were moved. The WAITER said “I had considered whether or not I would lose my job, but I knew it wasn’t right. I could find another job and my guests would follow me. … I was pissed.” That is ABSOLUTELY his right as an individual to make that choice and risk losing his job. The family left ON THEIR OWN. This is a clear-cut case. There was absolutely NO violation of rights.
  What do you want? For the restaurant to put a gun to the waiter’s head and say “serve them or die”?
  
  Report this comment
- UncommonlyCommonSense
  Posted on January 23, 2013 at 5:49am
  @Yougottabekidding–”We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone” is a guaranteed freedom in a private business and/or establshment, too. Maybe it had an effect on the party that left the restaurant, maybe it didn’t. Obviously,it had an effect on the waiter and the rest of his collegues.
  Good enough.
  
  Report this comment
Simonne
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 5:22am
I’m proud of the waiter as he did the right thing as he showed his humanity.

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- buttpatriot
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 1:07pm
  by humanity you mean LIBERALISM
  
  Report this comment
- Freedomlover_US
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 7:29pm
  SIMMONE – HeII yeah!!!
  
  BUTPATRIOT – You gotta be kidding me… You got the right to say whatever you want; doesn’t mean I have to put up with it… you’re a moron to make this a political issue
  
  Report this comment
- Zejaybee
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 12:36pm
  Sounds like Buttpatriot sits on his brains
  
  Report this comment
Kristal99
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 2:46am
How long before we find out the waiter’s gay and that we shouldn’t judge him because he was born that way just like little Milo was born the way he is?

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- RightUnite
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 5:50am
  Topic… Can we stay on topic, FOR ONCE???
  
  Report this comment
Margyt
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 2:06am
I get a burr under my saddle when people bring little kids into adult “atmosphere” restaurants. The prices are usually high and the menus not kid oriented. I can’t understand why they need to put the kids in that kind of uncomfortable “must behave” kind of situation. In a family restaurant, though, kids will be kids and the jerk who found offense at that needs to just go away. Hurray for this waiter and the restaurant owner who supported him in his action.

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- Danthebugman
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 6:16am
  MORON! You can take your “burr” and put it up high and then some, for all the other morons on the planet.
  
  Report this comment
- kaydeebeau
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 7:00am
  Back in the days of my childhood – my parents required us to behave whereever we were and if we didn’t – an effective reminder was applied to our back sides. Behaving requires practice by the kids and enforcement by the parents – unfortunately too may parents find the task too difficult and choose to do little or nothing to “encourage” discipline on the little darlings.
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 7:00am
  When my Down Syndrome child (now almost 23) was little we went out to eat at as nice of a restuarant as we could afford at least once a week. Why? So we could teach him how to behave in public. I also served dinner on the fine china once a month or so, just to teach him how to eat with manners. At first, when he was in a high chair, we ended up tipping more than normal, because he was really messy but he was quiet.
  
  Report this comment
- Uhavegot2Bkidding
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 7:36am
  So because you do not like children at certain restaurants that makes it okay to insult fellow dinners with a child. wow. My parents took to me as a kid to nice restaurants and, imagine that, I learned how to behave….
  
  Report this comment
- Melika
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 8:38am
  Wow, did any of you people read what the OP wrote? She clearly states the waiter was in the right, however, the point of misbehaving “little darlings” IS an issue in today’s society. There is a proper place for children. If you drag the little darling to an adult oriented restaurant (and I was taken to those plenty of times as a kid as a lesson), then the kid either needs to be trained properly or you need to be prepared to walk out in the middle of your dinner. “Special needs” doesn’t mean we all need to be subjected to screaming, bad behavior. I don’t go to an expensive restaurant dress to the nines just to be subjected to your precious little angel from hell, which was the point of the OP.
  While I feel sorry for special needs kids, the idea that they are somehow more precious and darling than normal children is disturbing. Like it or not, they have genetic abnormalities which make them unfit for certain situations.
  
  Report this comment
- UncommonlyCommonSense
  Posted on January 23, 2013 at 5:53am
  @Danthebugman: Hmmmm. “Moron?” You got the word right, but the application wrong!
  
  @Margyt: Couldn’t have said it better myself!
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on January 23, 2013 at 8:35am
  Melika, so now talking and making little noises is being a really bad child? Did you read the article? The child wasn’t making a scene, just talking an making little noises. And just because I have a special needs child, doesn’t mean *I* can’t go to a nice place to eat.
  
  Report this comment
wowjustwow
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 1:33am
Special needs programs exist because the state can rely on the federal gov’t to help support the programs (fact and easily proveable). That’s socialism. Remember your sentiment toward this child when you go on your ridiculous rants about socialism.

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- k8ti
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 4:39am
  wowjustwow….do you even know what socialism is, because it doesn’t sound like it. Btw…many churches, and private schools also have special needs programs too!
  
  Report this comment
- stm62
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 5:30am
  I thought the Federal Government was a product of the States.
  
  Report this comment
- Uhavegot2Bkidding
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 7:41am
  wow. so any program from the government is socialism? maybe you need to look up the definition. Besides those that want less government , aren’t saying that want nongovernment as that would be anarchy. Anarchy doesn’t work. We have laws protecting people’s rights as a citizen regardless of their gender or race. So having rules to protect those that a vulnerable because they are special needs is socialism….. wow.
  
  Report this comment
- Average_Joseph
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 8:14am
  @wowjustwow
  Bottom line, if the government would get out of everyone’s way and become what it was meant to be, there would be more money in people’s pockets so individual’s, charitable organizations and businesses could provide these services, not the government. Just ask yourself, how did families in the 50′s and 60′s have a single provider of income but still managed a better lifestyle than today? (Hint, it has to do with less social programs and better tax structure)
  
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wowjustwow
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 1:15am
So, you’re all for “special needs” schools, right? They are funded by the state and that is socialism. I am 100% for these schools…are you?

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- Kuurus
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 1:18am
  yes by the state not the feds.
  
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- wowjustwow
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 1:23am
  They are also funded federally…is that okay, too?
  
  Report this comment
- Aeryn
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 2:46am
  Most schools are funded by the state, not just special needs schools. Even some states require books to be bought at the beginning of the school year ($55/per student when I went to school). Not socialism. Besides, socialism supporters also believe special needs children need to be aborted. Under socialism there would be no need for special needs schools.
  
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- val_d
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 4:39am
  @LID.SMOKER
  You can’t be serious. Even if you’re not, this isn’t funny. Not all people with handicaps can work. It sounds cruel, honestly
  
  Report this comment
- IvanK
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 5:51am
  Awwww, LID.SMOKER needs some mommy attention…
  
  WOWJUSTWOW, Programs for special needs children don’t fall under Socialism exclusively. On the contrary, a state run program is generally MUCH more efficient on not only costs, but the over-all effectiveness of the program itself. The states have had programs for this kind of situation for a very long time.There are huge differences between a state run and federally run program. The state run programs benefit the special needs child where-as the federally run programs benefit ITSELF. All federal agencies are mostly self serving entities with their main focus being self preservation and internal growth. This would be analogous to a school. You have Principal and teachers like you have a fed and states, A federally run program wold be much like a principal trying to each every child in the building. It could work but only with diasterous results (like we see today). We all know that the students are best served by their individual teachers instead.
  ‘nuff said… BTW, if socialism is your panacea – then perhaps Canada or England would better serve you. I encourage you to go there and reap all the benefits socialism has to offer… Like much higher taxes and year long waits for surgery desperately needed. Go on – Get!
  
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- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 10:07am
  I believe that the taxpayers in a school district should choose how they want their taxes spent on education. The best government is the government closest to the people. I graduated from high school in 1965. Our school district was funded throught the special levy process. Local voters got to decide what was important.
  
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RationalMan
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 1:05am
What about all those who are against “Abortion”, where are they now???

I’m just say-in…..

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- Kuurus
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 1:16am
  You would have the insulter aborted? Kinda extreme don’t ya think /SARC
  
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LeadNotFollow
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 12:31am
When you go to Laurenzo’s, be sure to give Michael a huge tip.
God bless him.

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- Kichiokami
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 12:50am
  God Bless This Man !!!
  
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Iam4America
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:46pm
Thanks for standing up.

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- decendentof56
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:59pm
  Good for Michael!
  I have a special needs bro-in-law (not downs and 62) who has lived with me and his sister for 30 years. We should all be as little trouble as “Chuck” is. He works, and is happy with the little things in life. Chuck is always the same, calm temperment, day in and day out. I help him shave, attend to his hygene needs if necessary, and other than that he takes care of himself.
  He used to be involved in a social group which had mostly Downs members. They are very loving and quite harmless. I’ve not experienced anything other than people occasionally looking at my brother-in-law. Most realize he is handicapped, but don’t pay him any mind, as he acts quite normal.
  Some who have never been around the handicapped just don’t have the social skills to deal with it. It is definitely the bad side of humanity when you witness that reaction.
  
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paultard
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:45pm
“It is about Milo, it is about educating ourselves and when people are different, why should you treat them any different?”

The Blaze and Glenn should take a good hard look a the above statement… Glenn Pat and Stu pass judgement all the time. Ridicule and mock.. Smear and attack..

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- AmericaMustBeFree
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 1:22am
  Its not the same at all.. the people they mock have all their faculties.. but don’t use them to benefit anyone but themselves!
  
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DZ-015
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:42pm
I assume the management of the restaurant supported his actions. If so, good for them.

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uncledave3000
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:38pm
if you make fun of my “normal” kid i’m probably going to have problems with you…special needs, you’re getting your ass beat, i have bond money…if they choose to make an arrest…

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- DirtyHarry7
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:48pm
  Ditto, brother!
  
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- tnman65
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 1:56am
  Save your money, I’ll come bail you out.
  
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banjarmon
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:15pm
I wish I could treat some people at my store that way, and tell them to NEVER come back!!

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- dwilco77
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:39pm
  The waiter is a hero. What a real Man should be. Someone who will stand up for what is right, and just. The customer that made the comments, is a good example of a weasel, a wimp, a baffoon. Hopefully, he does not have children, or God willing they were not there to observe what a loser they have for a Dad.
  
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- jcizarter
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 4:13am
  I told a lady who was in my place of business that we did not need her business and that she should shop at other places. She was super rude to my employees every time she came in. It was not called for and we put up with her for several visits. She left and never came back and we were happy.
  
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Xylliab_of_the_Znarghh
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 10:55pm
I kind of sympathize with the customer. I don’t even like sitting next to other people’s normal kids. As far as I’m concerned kids are like farts – everybody likes their own, but that’s about it. The customer’s joke may have been snarky, but it’s not like he said it TO the family that was bothering him.

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- Wolf73b
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:01pm
  So don’t go out. That way, you can have it your way!
  
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- dwilco77
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:34pm
  Guess what? You were a kid once. And you are likely a Liberal, and pro abortion. You could have easily ended up in pieces in a suction waste jar. The irony of you liberals in your arrogance that somehow you deserve the right to exist, and occupy space, but your justification of choosing that those you consider inferior to “be somewhere else”, or to be denied the right to exist, sickens me.
  
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- DirtyHarry7
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:50pm
  XYLLIAB_OF_THE_ZNARGHH, gosh that took courage. To step up and tell the world that you have no class, that took courage.
  
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- Xylliab_of_the_Znarghh
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 5:30am
  Okay, you all think I’m a jerk. Even if I am, I can still go out and be treated nicely in a restaurant. You know why? Because that’s their job, being nice to people even if they’re jerks. That’s the part of the job that makes it a job, the part of the job that makes it something that you pay a human to do instead of something you build a robot to do.
  
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- RaydocX
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 11:27am
  @xyla… it’s their job to tolerate you if you are rude to THEM.
  being rude to other customers puts their business at risk, as soon it might be ONLY you, the rude customer.
  
  there is over the top misbehavior by kids, and that should be addressed by the parents or the family should leave. being uncomfortable because of a genetic abnormality causing an atypical appearance in someone else… even if they make more noise than you deem ‘appropriate’ falls on YOU, not them… it’s no different than the ridiculous sexual harrassment suits in the 80′s over family photos and calendars with swimsuit models… if you are uncomfortable, it’s on you… until they start to say things that are intended to make you uncomfortable.
  
  hopefully you can find a restaurant that excludes kids if you are so allergic to them… there are some, but they tend to charge a premium, since their clientelle is more limited.
  
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- Xylliab_of_the_Znarghh
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 3:52pm
  RaydocX
  The guy didn’t put the business at risk by being rude to other customers. He said something rude about other customers, which would have been none of their business and which they never would have heard about, if he had a waiter who was trained to do his job properly instead of a hothead who thinks he gets to decide who can or can’t eat in the restaurant.
  
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- dwilco77
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 4:11pm
  @ X of Z
  
  A business owner has every right to toss anyone out that they want. They are by no means obligated to serve anyone that is deemed distasteful by the owner. I would have told the guy to leave, and not come back. You have missed the point of the posts that have commented about your statements. It has nothing to do with the restaurant, or the guy that was low-life enough to say something about the Down’s child, your statement puts you in no better fare than the idiot in the restaurant. Your superiority complex I am sure is based on your own opinion of your self-importance that I am sure the rest of us would find appalling that you consider yourself worth anything at all. Anyone that cannot see the beauty in the existence of a child, with or without Down’s syndrome, is seriously lacking in their own worthiness.
  
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- Xylliab_of_the_Znarghh
  Posted on January 23, 2013 at 5:05am
  dwilco77
  Who says I can’t see the beauty in the existence of a child. I see it. I also see the beauty in the existence of a water buffalo, and a leopard seal, and a capuchin monkey. I just don’t want any of them in the dining room with me when I’m trying to enjoy a nice meal.
  
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sparky239
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 10:43pm
about time people stood up and kicked these morons out of restaurants for cussing and making fun of handicap children ..great job Garcia

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BlackBeaver
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 10:37pm
It is so refreshing to find someone daring to do the right thing! Thank you, Mr. Garcia!

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just happy
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 10:19pm
Glad you are being supported. Maybe the restaurant should be publicly behind you. It certainly won’t up set anyone with good sense. Too bad this is news. What I mean by that is it should be common practice to call someone on their ignorance, as long as it is done in a polite and educational way. The TV people said you asked them to leave but the story says “they left”. When you said you couldn’t serve them, did they have the option of another waiter or was that an invitation to leave?

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ga.conservative
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 10:17pm
Good job Garcia

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forthepeople
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 10:16pm
Freedoms come in many ways besides speech and this is another called choice !
Bravo ……

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willbedone
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 10:12pm
We need more like him.

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Maxim Crux
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 10:12pm
First off, who names their kid Milo? It means BAD.

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- Xylliab_of_the_Znarghh
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:11pm
  Malo means bad. Milo means merciful.
  
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- Timmy_NorthWest
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:14pm
  In what language? Are you confused? In Spanish M A L O is the word for bad not M I L O.
  
  My Ancestor Said,”Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death!”
  
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3monkeysmomma
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 10:11pm
My autistic son at age four patted and old guy on the head and a Phoenix Suns game and you would have thought the old bastard was bleeding given how he reacted.

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- Al J Zira
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 11:03pm
  You should have obliged.
  
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- A. NonyMoose
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 10:29am
  Sounds like he overreacted. But I would like to know….
  
  If that person had turned to face you, and in a reasonable tone of voice said:
  
  “I can see your son doesn’t understand, but many people, myself included, don’t like to be touched unexpectedly. Could you please stop him from doing that again?”
  
  Is that a valid request in your opinion?
  
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- yougottabekidding
  Posted on January 22, 2013 at 2:22pm
  So your son inappropriately hit an old gentleman on the head, which you allowed to happen. This is a normal thing for some downs syndrome kids to do, so you should have been prepared. YOUR FAULT!
  You are calling the old gentleman a bastard because he objected. I would have slapped you!
  
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