The Chik-Fil-A Controversy and Failed Boycott
First off, I just wanted to lay it out on the table that I'm in favor of marriage equality. I understand that there are some people who may not be, and that's fine. I'm all for civil debate and discussion about the issue.
Lately there's been a lot of news about Chik-Fil-A and comments made by the company's CEO Dan Cathy during an interview with the Baptist Press. Here's what he said that's causing such a firestorm:
Some have opposed the company's support of the traditional family. "Well, guilty as charged," said Cathy when asked about the company's position.
"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.
"We operate as a family business ... our restaurants are typically led by families; some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that," Cathy emphasized.
"We intend to stay the course," he said. "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."
Not one sentence in the entire article bears any ill will or hatred toward the LGBT community, and yet Dan Cathy and Chik-Fil-A have become targets of a witch-hunt and a lot of righteous indignation from the media, celebrities, government leaders, and the LGBT community in general.
Chik-Fil-A: The Right to Be Stupid and Offensive (Huffington Post)
Chik-Fil-A Gay Flap A "Wakeup Call" For Companies (NPR)
Gray opposes Chik-Fil-A expansion; calls it 'hate chicken' (Washington Post)
Mayors of three major U.S. cities - Boston (Mayor Thomas Menino), Chicago (Mayor Rahm Immanuel - also a former Obama administration official) and Washington, D.C. (Vincent C. Gray)have all spoken in opposition to the chain with Menino and Immanuel going so far as to threaten to ban Chik-Fil-A from their cities (Menino has since backed off, no doubt because he realizes it would be an infringement on Cathy's first amendment rights and those of his company due to the SCOTUS Citizens United decision). But there are some sane minds in the fight. Mike "Nanny" Bloomberg, the mayor of NYC who recently proposed a ban on 16 oz. sodas to combat obesity, went on record that he disagrees with people like Menino who would attempt to ban a business from setting up shop. Even the ACLU is backing Chik-Fil-A, stating that attempts by city officials to ban businesses for religious beliefs is a clear-cut case of discrimination.
As for the boycott? It doesn't seem to be working. Twitter users are reporting lines out the door and drive thru lines wrapping around the building at their local Chik-Fil-A establishments. Many even posted pictures to prove the boom in business.
My whole opinion on this issue is that a chicken sandwich isn't a political statement -- it's food. If someone is eating at Chik-Fil-A, 10 to 1 says it was because they were hungry and just wanted something to eat, not because they're looking to stick it to anyone by purchasing some waffle fries. But since we're putting it all on the table here, how about those protesting against Chik-Fil-A have a little consistency?
(Mods: Any way we can get a tag for "free speech" and "marriage", please? Thank you!)
Lately there's been a lot of news about Chik-Fil-A and comments made by the company's CEO Dan Cathy during an interview with the Baptist Press. Here's what he said that's causing such a firestorm:
Some have opposed the company's support of the traditional family. "Well, guilty as charged," said Cathy when asked about the company's position.
"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.
"We operate as a family business ... our restaurants are typically led by families; some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that," Cathy emphasized.
"We intend to stay the course," he said. "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."
Not one sentence in the entire article bears any ill will or hatred toward the LGBT community, and yet Dan Cathy and Chik-Fil-A have become targets of a witch-hunt and a lot of righteous indignation from the media, celebrities, government leaders, and the LGBT community in general.
Chik-Fil-A: The Right to Be Stupid and Offensive (Huffington Post)
Chik-Fil-A Gay Flap A "Wakeup Call" For Companies (NPR)
Gray opposes Chik-Fil-A expansion; calls it 'hate chicken' (Washington Post)
Mayors of three major U.S. cities - Boston (Mayor Thomas Menino), Chicago (Mayor Rahm Immanuel - also a former Obama administration official) and Washington, D.C. (Vincent C. Gray)have all spoken in opposition to the chain with Menino and Immanuel going so far as to threaten to ban Chik-Fil-A from their cities (Menino has since backed off, no doubt because he realizes it would be an infringement on Cathy's first amendment rights and those of his company due to the SCOTUS Citizens United decision). But there are some sane minds in the fight. Mike "Nanny" Bloomberg, the mayor of NYC who recently proposed a ban on 16 oz. sodas to combat obesity, went on record that he disagrees with people like Menino who would attempt to ban a business from setting up shop. Even the ACLU is backing Chik-Fil-A, stating that attempts by city officials to ban businesses for religious beliefs is a clear-cut case of discrimination.
As for the boycott? It doesn't seem to be working. Twitter users are reporting lines out the door and drive thru lines wrapping around the building at their local Chik-Fil-A establishments. Many even posted pictures to prove the boom in business.
My whole opinion on this issue is that a chicken sandwich isn't a political statement -- it's food. If someone is eating at Chik-Fil-A, 10 to 1 says it was because they were hungry and just wanted something to eat, not because they're looking to stick it to anyone by purchasing some waffle fries. But since we're putting it all on the table here, how about those protesting against Chik-Fil-A have a little consistency?
(Mods: Any way we can get a tag for "free speech" and "marriage", please? Thank you!)