Brouhaha at Chi-Chi’s
Dimitri Vassilaros May/June 1998
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When Cora Miller said "No way, Jose," Chi-Chi's Mexican restaurant said "Adios, amiga." The Clinton, Maryland, attendant refused to sing a happy birthday song for a customer. It was her second day of work, and her last.
Cora Miller is a Jehovah's Witness. She chose serving God over enchiladas. Her religion forbids the celebration of all birthdays, including Christ's, so in obedience to her view of the Lord's will, she wouldn't sing the required ditty for the birthday boy.
I went to my local Chi-Chi's to witness for myself what the fuss was all about (and not just because it was an easy way to justify a meal write-off and mileage deduction). The birthday celebration at Chi-Chi's comes in a package called the TFM: Treasures From Mexico. Each child at the party gets a kid's meal, a card for a free meal, a restaurant tour, a hat and picture, and crayons. They also get to hear every server who is not a Jehovah's Witness sing the Chi-Chi's happy birthday song. (Uno, dos, tres . . . )
Aye, yie, yie,
We wish you a happy birthday.
Chi-Chi's gang is here to say,
We wish you have a special day.
So aye, yie, yie,
We wish you a happy birthday.
Ol