Recently, Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy told the Baptist Press that the company values families, and tries to embody a family-values culture. He said:
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.
Cue the liberal boycott and subsequent conservative buycott. It seems like the fastest way to boost a business’s sales is for liberals to try and boycott it for espousing conservative ideals. Remember Whole Foods? CEO John Mackey published in op-ed in 2009 saying that he did not support Obamacare and that it would raise the cost of doing business. Liberals boycotted, and then all of a sudden the health food stores were jammed with freedom (and deodorant!) loving people trying to figure out the difference between 'organic' and 'hormone-free.'
So liberals decided that Chick-fil-A hates the gays, even though that’s not even close to what Dan Cathy said, and therefore must be made to pay for their intolerant ways! Conservatives, eager to stand up for Dan Cathy and his first amendment right to freedom of speech, organized a buycott for Wednesday, August 1, at Chick-fil-A franchises across the country.
It worked. The restaurants in every corner of the nation were packed. Because tasty chicken and free speech are awesome.
As I perused Facebook yesterday, I saw several posts from apolitical friends saying that they were ‘sad’ or ‘scared’ for the future of this country when so many people would go out of their way to support ‘hate.’ It occurred to me that too few people understand what this is about, because it really has very little to do with gay rights.
Chick-fil-A has never refused to serve, or even hire, someone based on his or her sexual orientation. The company does not have an official position on gay marriage; they just value traditional marriage. Having an opinion that marriage is between one man and one woman is nothing new, and in fact is a position held by Barack Obama until very recently. Let me repeat: Chick-fil-A has never, ever discriminated against the homosexual community.
Dan Cathy dared to express a completely valid opinion, and liberals tried to vilify him for it, with the goal of shutting him up. Conservatives rallied around his right to speak his mind in the best way they could: Boosting his business.
Now here’s your feel-good story of the day ... how did the supposedly intolerant Chick-fil-A employees treat protesters accusing them of hate? They passed out cold water to them. Oh yeah, Chick-fil-A is totally evil. Or something.
Do you think Dan Cathy was out of line or within his rights by expressing his opinion on marriage?
Image via Randy Son of Robert/Flickr
Kim and Kanye's Baby Name Predictions!
Moms Love Birthday Parties, Too!
Father Knows Best - Happy Father's Day!
Are Cheaters Entitled to Privacy? - A...
Comments 64
This is why we live in America. We can say and believe what we want to. If you don't want to eat there, don't. If you do, fine. We all have a right to our opinion. I don't agree with Mr. Cathy but I agree with my whole heart he has this right.
You are completely ignorant if you think it has ANYTHING to do with free speech on the parts of individuals or companies boycotting them. As for cities? Absolutely. I don't agree with that at all.
Also, I can see really deep down between the lines here the point you are trying to make and it's a good one, one that I agree with. However, as usual, you coated it with a condescending attitude, generalizations about liberals, cliche hippie insults, ignorance about why people are boycotting in the first place, and general bitchiness. You really should figure out the other side of things before you go on a tangent against it, ya know, if you give a shit.
As for your question, no he was not out of line. He has his right to his beliefs and the right to donate money to whatever organizations he wants. No doubt about it. Cities don't have the right to block them from opening up franchises either. But guess what?! People have their right to express their disappointment, outrage, or simply not spend their money there. Imagine that. What happened to the freedom of speech, free market crap you always go on and on about? It only goes for the bible thumbers?
Freedom of Speech does not equal Freedom from Consequences. If you choose to say something divisive on a national stage, prepare for people to criticize you for it. If that stance if considered by some to be archaic at best and hateful at worst, then so be it. The idea of Freedom of Speech is that you can say pretty much whatever you want without being thrown in jail, you don't get freedom from criticism.
I agree with JAFE. As I stated before. Do or don't. I don't care. None of us should. If you feel against it, be against it, if you are for it, be for it.
Like I said, I am FOR gay marriage. I haven't eaten Chick-Fil-A in years, because I personally like Hardee's better. Get over and just stick to what you believe. I hate Jenny's articles and usually vomit at the ignorance I see afterwards, but in this one she is almost on point and gives valid reasoning as well. You have to learn to do be proactive and positive, helping YOUR belief, just like he does by donating to those organizations! Try doing what he does for YOUR OWN BELIEF!
I still just wish we could have a fiscally Conservative party that wasn't puritanical. I don't want my politics decided by the Bible
Agreed.
The idea of Freedom of Speech is that you can say pretty much whatever you want without being thrown in jail, you don't get freedom from criticism.
Agreed here as well. Too many people can't seem to wrap their brains around it.
I love how the anti-CFA crowd has 'evolved' their stance from "They hate gays!!!" to 'he funds anti-gay causes!'. Oh, heavens - a private citizen donates money he earned to a cause that aligns with his religious beliefs - string him up!!!!!!! I hate to break it to some of you - you support people who aren't you're favorite flavor every damn day. Grow up.
This isn't a right or left issue. This is a human rights issue. So spare me the whiny "liberals this..." "liberals that..." weakminded whine.
Remember the protesters are also expressing their right to protest a company who's CEO's politics they feel doesn't jive with what they find illegitimate and goes against the grain on equal rights.
Dan C. is free to say what he wants and his naysayers are free to disagree. Simply because your views fall on his side doesn't negate the opposing view.
Keep hating on gays & equal rights and the polpulace will hate on you and your business.