Food cops must’ve hauled off Deen

Whatever happened to Paula Deen? It’s purported that jackbooted Food Vigilantes, with long knives held high, took her away.

At first, people thought the Justice Department was involved. But the disgruntled employee’s lawsuit accusing Deen of racial harassment had been dismissed. The accuser was not even a person of color.

No question then, it had to be the infamous Food Vigilantes: the same bullies who in New York City grab 32-ounce sodas from kids. But this assault was a complete surprise; Deen never heard their jackboots coming until they kicked in the kitchen door.

Deen was living her dream, using recipes that her fans loved but the Food Vigilantes hated. Some thought diversity might save Deen. She was good natured, pleasingly plump and spoke with a Southern accent in a medium of thin, attractive, well-coiffured women practicing liberal gravitas.

Some believed it a conspiracy. True, it was a well-organized, planned assault — swift, decisive, with no remorse. Deen lost everything, including her sponsors. But what happened to compassion, fairness and second chances?

When Paula Deen was last seen, she was depressed, distraught and crying. “I just answered their question truthfully,” she said, “but it was such a long, long time ago.”

PHILLIP W. UNGER
BLACKSBURG

Weather Journal

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