So in the news there have been many posts and news updates around about the CEO of Chick-Fil-A stating that he is oppose to Same Sex Marriage. The posts that have been going around are stating that people should boycott Chick-Fil-A stores because of this.... Well, in my humble opinion... They have every right to boycott patronizing a business for whatever reason they have, whether that is because they don't like the food, they had a friend get sick there once, they hate the color of the packaging, they think the business is using products from China... who knows, but they have that right.. I also have a very very strong opinion that the CEO of Chick-Fil-A has every right to make a statement on their beliefs just like you or I... we live in the US for heavens sake and we should all feel safe to state our opinion... that is what makes this country great!!
Ok, so here is the quote that Dan Cathy made (from the Baptist Press http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38271:
quote
"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."
end quote
So, first of all I ask... where is the hate in this statement? Just because he states that they take the stance of following "the biblical definition", does not mean hatred toward "the gay definition". The Bible states it a certain way, depending on the translation or alteration that has been done, and that is largely believed to be between a man and a woman. He also did say that they were married to their "first wives", was that a hate message to everyone that has gone through a divorce? I think not
So, here is where it gets dicey.... and where I get upset on this issue....
Chick-Fil-A has plans to open a new restaurant in Chicago in the 1st Ward area, when news of this statement by Dan Cathy came out all of a sudden Joe Moreno, the alderman of Chicago's 1st Ward began a series of statements rallying people to oppose Chick-Fil-A's expansion into the area. He also got others to enlist to his call...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/25/joe-moreno-chicago-alderm_n_1701646.html
I'm sorry, but that is both unethical and immoral to block businesses based solely on either religious or sexual orientation basis. If the tables were turned there are laws in place to protect people on issues like this, but because it was "pro biblical definition of marriage" it is okay to discriminate, in this alderman's eyes.
There are clear boundaries in place for cities to set up laws that govern what type of businesses can be in certain areas and what rules are around them... If Chick-Fil-A had been wantonly discriminating against people based on sexual orientation, then by all means, do an investigation and then if there is evidence, take them to court and convict them if guilty. If Chick-Fil-A was feeding people tainted food, or not keeping the restaurant in a clean and safe manner, there are agencies that are in place to protect the people from getting sick eating there, and if there was evidence that those things were going on, then shut them down till all the infractions can be remedied.
What this has escalated to is something that I am really worried about... government (or I should say, those in government) being able to just pick and choose the businesses that they like and discriminate on the rest. The act of bullying others due to their beliefs (and yes that is exactly what Joe did) is a slap in the face of everyone that is trying to make equal rights, truly "equal rights".
Whatever your stand on same sex marriage is, I would hope that you find these developments extremely worrisome. I would encourage you to take up the call of action to make certain that people, regardless of opinion, will always have a right to that opinion, and that those in opposition are not permitted legally, to bully them based on that opinion here in the US. I may not agree with those that have different opinions than I, but I will fight for their rights to be heard. I do not have to listen, I do not have to agree, I can even decide based on the statements that I choose not to endorse or patronize a place of business that they may own... but they can still under the rights we have in place, do their best to run their business ethically and successful. They have a right to be honest and state what they believe, and finally they have a right to choose what they will or won't in our society, and not have that dictated for them.
Joe, my question to you is this... if they are not discriminating against gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, and any others in their hiring practice... and are bringing needed jobs to people in your area, where they can start getting back to supporting the needs of their families... shouldn't you help Chick-Fil-A do more of this in your area, not sit there and criticize and bully them based on their beliefs, and drive them out of Chicago, or even the state?
Today was Chick-Fil-A appreciation day due to those that are outraged by these turn of events... I have heard that there are droves of people going into Chick-Fil-A's all over the country... well, if we had one here I would go, not only because it is appreciation day, but because they have good food, I have always received excellent and friendly service from their employees, and they are closed on Sundays which I applaud these days. May we always have our freedoms, and fight like hell for them!!
