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Torn Over Chik-Fil-A
Aug. 1st, 2012 02:23 pmIn Indiana, at least, the movement to support Chik-Fil-A by having an "eat there" day seems to have been very successful (check a local story here.
On the one hand, I am saddened by the number of people seeming to support denial of basic human rights to a large segment of the population. I find it hard to understand how anyone can believe that same-sex marriage harms society or heterosexual marriage in any way. Believers in the Bible should not pick and choose the laws they will force other people to follow, otherwise they should be boycotting McDonalds for selling cheeseburgers (Old Testament) or making laws to do everything possible to make marriage a poor second choice to celibacy (Paulists). And yes, I know, in neither case does the Bible say what people tend to think it does, but that level of scholarly discussion isn't going to stand a chance in the emotions surrounding this foofoorah.
On the other hand, if there is a right of people who stand AGAINST Chik-Fil-A's position to take their business elsewhere, how can there NOT be a right for people who support them to take their business to Chik-Fil-A, even for a day? I know some people who specifically are supporting Chik-Fil-A's right to donate to whomever they please - I think that's an act subject to misinterpretation by the religious right-wing, but that's their choice as well. I even find it hard to argue with because of the veiled threat from Boston's mayor Thomas Menino to deny Chik-Fil-A the right to conduct business - while individuals have the right to "reward" or "punish" businesses for their speech or beliefs, government entities have no right to do so, and a government official is assumed to be speaking for the government in these types of matters.
I had to give it hard thought myself, because initially I was under the impression we were talking about Cathy's personal funds and donations. I have a real problem with the idea of boycotting a business because someone who makes money off that business supports something you don't like. That way lies not buying anything from anyone with employees because surely one of them is going to support SOMETHING you don't like.
However, research shows that it is the foundation actually supported by Chik-Fil-A itself making donations to organizations that promote an anti-gay agenda. That's a different story, because it means we aren't talking an INDIRECT but a DIRECT path from my pocket to those organizations.
So, as for me, I will stay away from Chik-Fil-A (a shame, because I find their food choices to be among the healthiest out there), though to be honest we almost never eat fast food any more so it isn't a huge sacrifice except when traveling. I will try not to judge those who choose not to - and I also know people who WILL continue going to Chik-Fil-A but will make it a point to do so in a way that emphasizes their support for gay rights (though how doing things to point it out to individual franchisees is going to send any message to corporate other than continue to provide them funds I don't know). I will continue to support (and vote for those who support) marriage (and other) rights in Indiana (which will become increasingly nasty in the next few years) and do everything I can to thwart the funding that Chik-Fil-A provides.
That is all I can do, really.
On the one hand, I am saddened by the number of people seeming to support denial of basic human rights to a large segment of the population. I find it hard to understand how anyone can believe that same-sex marriage harms society or heterosexual marriage in any way. Believers in the Bible should not pick and choose the laws they will force other people to follow, otherwise they should be boycotting McDonalds for selling cheeseburgers (Old Testament) or making laws to do everything possible to make marriage a poor second choice to celibacy (Paulists). And yes, I know, in neither case does the Bible say what people tend to think it does, but that level of scholarly discussion isn't going to stand a chance in the emotions surrounding this foofoorah.
On the other hand, if there is a right of people who stand AGAINST Chik-Fil-A's position to take their business elsewhere, how can there NOT be a right for people who support them to take their business to Chik-Fil-A, even for a day? I know some people who specifically are supporting Chik-Fil-A's right to donate to whomever they please - I think that's an act subject to misinterpretation by the religious right-wing, but that's their choice as well. I even find it hard to argue with because of the veiled threat from Boston's mayor Thomas Menino to deny Chik-Fil-A the right to conduct business - while individuals have the right to "reward" or "punish" businesses for their speech or beliefs, government entities have no right to do so, and a government official is assumed to be speaking for the government in these types of matters.
I had to give it hard thought myself, because initially I was under the impression we were talking about Cathy's personal funds and donations. I have a real problem with the idea of boycotting a business because someone who makes money off that business supports something you don't like. That way lies not buying anything from anyone with employees because surely one of them is going to support SOMETHING you don't like.
However, research shows that it is the foundation actually supported by Chik-Fil-A itself making donations to organizations that promote an anti-gay agenda. That's a different story, because it means we aren't talking an INDIRECT but a DIRECT path from my pocket to those organizations.
So, as for me, I will stay away from Chik-Fil-A (a shame, because I find their food choices to be among the healthiest out there), though to be honest we almost never eat fast food any more so it isn't a huge sacrifice except when traveling. I will try not to judge those who choose not to - and I also know people who WILL continue going to Chik-Fil-A but will make it a point to do so in a way that emphasizes their support for gay rights (though how doing things to point it out to individual franchisees is going to send any message to corporate other than continue to provide them funds I don't know). I will continue to support (and vote for those who support) marriage (and other) rights in Indiana (which will become increasingly nasty in the next few years) and do everything I can to thwart the funding that Chik-Fil-A provides.
That is all I can do, really.
