Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Chick-Fil-A and a nation divided..

     I told myself I wouldn't weigh in on the Chick-Fil-A debate. I told myself, "I will not divide myself from my friends." But, here I am, blogging about it... a blog.. a quite public forum. Here is what I have to say about the situation. It will be brief, and I will try to be kind to all, regardless of belief.

     Is anyone really surprised that a Bible-believing man and his family, who own a business, which he closes on Sunday because it is the protestant Sabbath, supports an organization that is pro-straight marriage exclusively? I'm not. I don't understand why Mr. Cathy's stating his belief has shocked a nation. Wouldn't it be safe to assume that a Southern-Baptist man, strictly religious, would feel this way?

     Furthermore, his business is privately owned. If he wanted to use some of his earnings to support a Muslim family organization, would that be such a media circus? I mean, if I'm not mistaken, homosexuals are killed in some Muslim countries. Would support of a Muslim organization be more politically correct? (Please note than I am not Muslim-bashing, I am making a comparison based on some practices of some Muslim extremists.)

   And then we have the goverment officials who are almost threatening the Cathy family, daring them to try to open a business in their jurisdictions. My friends, this is a dangerous and slippery slope. My take is this: If an individual chooses, based upon his or her beliefs, not to patronize a business, he or she certainly has the right to do so. But by the same right, Mr. Cathy is able to support whatever organization he chooses using money earned from his business, as long as the organization isn't doing anything illegal. When government leaders squelch businesses based on the beliefs of the owners, though, we tread into unconstitutional territory. I find this to be particulary dangerous and disheartening when we are in a period of high unemployment rates. We must not forget that even though many do not agree with Mr. Cathy's position, his company employs thousands and thousands of people in our country. To do away with his business would be to our detriment.

     And if we do shut down his business, do we also shut down Wal-Mart, AutoZone, or any of the other prominent businesses whose owners contribute to the same organization as Dan Cathy? What about those employees?

   Regardless of your beliefs on gay marriage and the organizations Mr. Cathy supports, don't you think this is a scary time for commerce in our country? It scares me that we are coming to a point in time where good, honest commerce can be thwarted due to religious and moral beliefs. Wasn't our country founded on religious liberty? Or does that not count for conservative Christians?

    Whatever your take on the Chick-Fil-A debacle, I don't think Mr. Cathy's intent is hate. I think he is simply supporting an organization he believes worthy. I haven't heard him tell anyone they're going to hell, or that if you don't believe a certain way your aren't welcome, or that he hates anyone else due to their beliefs. That being said, if you choose not to do business with his company, that is your right, and I won't be the least bit upset, disappointed, shocked, or appalled. But please, if others DO choose to "eat mor chikin," allow them the same courtesy as well. In a time where ALL of our freedoms are tested and tried, allow a little grace toward someone who uses theirs differently than you might choose to do.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Actually if a business came out and publicly announced they supported Muslim organizations you can bet your bottom dollar that Conservatives would wail louder than any Tehran Mullah about it being un-American. I don't know that I agree with mayor's preventing Chick-Fil-A from opening in their cities, but I do know that there is a vast difference between someone supporting their religious freedom, and someone supporting organizations that actively seek to prevent Americans from exercising their basic human rights, and that is exactly what many of the groups Chick-Fil-A funds do.

DontBothertoKnock said...

I'm picking up what you're putting down, sir.

Faith said...

Well stated!!!!
If both sides would shut up long enough, they would see they are fighting for the same thing: freedom of speech, freedom!!! This whole thing is beyond ridiculous but I think I figured out why to Chicken crossed the road....to get away from the politics!!!!

DontBothertoKnock said...

Like, like, like! Run, chicken, run!

Arrow Point Consulting said...

I also said that I would not get involved BUT... for me it's not so much his statement, and I think most of the people that have followed this story for years agree that it is the money Mr. Cathy uses to fund anti-marriage equality organizations that is the most upsetting. I agree with Faith in that the company should stay out of politics, however as a gay man we are not asking for conservative Christians to see things our way. We are asking the government for our civil rights under the law and not a blessing from the church.

Unknown said...

This is not about freedom of speech, Faith. No one is saying that Mr. Cathy doesn't have the right to say what he wants, or do what he wants with his money. This is about people saying that they do not wish to give their money to an organization that will then take that money and donate it to organizations that are actively trying to make homosexuality illegal. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from criticism. The First Amendment merely protects citizens from being prosecuted by the government for said speech.

DontBothertoKnock said...

Well stated, Sam. Thanks for providing that link.

Marius, mainly my point was I don't think it's fair to "shut out" businesses in certain jurisdictions due to beliefs and contributions. By the same token, I wouldn't want, for example, Mike Huckabee to try to shut down American Apparel for producing LGBT t-shirts, or "Shadyville General Hospital" for providing abortions.

I just think any business owner should be allowed to contribute where they wish. Then, if one chooses not patronize so that his or her money doesn't contribute to the cause, that's that. I just don't think government officials should be saying "you don't have the right to do business here." Let the public decide with their patronage. If they don't show up, the business won't last anyway.

I hope that made sense, I'm running on fumes.

Unknown said...

I 100% agree with you on that point. Mayor's keeping any company out on such grounds isn't right.