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| Cole enjoys a Chick Fil A milkshake recently. |
Dear Chick Fil A,
You are one of my family’s favorite restaurant chains and I need you to get out of the news. You weren’t in the news for your piping hot waffle fries, your fresh peach milkshakes, or your delicious original chicken sandwich. It wasn’t even for your great service or community initiatives. You were in the news because of what some consider a political stance made by your president and COO, Dan Cathy.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, an uproar ensued after Cathy gave interviews saying he supports “the biblical definition of the family unit”, which many people around the country understand as opposition to gay marriage. Some activists see it as an example of a homophobic or anti-gay business. I just see it as a shame.
Now I’m not going to go all political on you. I think everyone has the right to their own opinions. I’m obviously in a “traditional” marriage. I attend a conservative Christian church. I grew up in a very conservative city and family. I get where Dan Cathy is coming from, but I don’t think he should have said what he said in such a public forum. I think you, Chick Fil A, should stick to making those darn good sandwiches and leave politics and polarizing social issues alone.
I’ve always appreciated your Christian values and believed that you followed the Golden Rule very well. As far as I could see, you treat everyone with the same respect you’d expect in return. I sure hope that’s still the case. I choose to believe that it is.
I don’t want to give up my Chick Fil A fix, but I also don’t want to be associated with Mike Huckabee. I just want to eat some chicken, let the kids play in the play areas, and enjoy a nice lunch. So Chick Fil A, please stay out of the news, stay out of politics, and just stay in your delicious chicken-making lane. I don’t want to make a statement with my lunch.
Sincerely,
Maria
I definitely agree. Having gay friends, I want to show them my support. I also like eating Chick-fil-a. It’s not a dilemma I want to have to worry about.
Well said!
I agree with you Maria! I have two gay cousin who has been married to his husband for 1 year and together for 10 yrs. Everyone has the right to love who ever that want and married whoever they love. Chick-fil-a should make more chicken and stay out of politics and the news!
Kimberly
I think you are downplaying what has happened considerably. That is not all he said. He also said, “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, `We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.'” I think he is quite clearly anti-gay and not just pro-“traditional” family.
Additionally the Cathy’s foundation has given millions to groups such as The Family Research Council, whose main purpose seems to be defaming the gay and lesbian community, and not only fighting the advancement of gay rights but also further limiting them.
When you give Chick-Fil-A money. You give the Cathy family money. And they in turn choose to use that money to hurt others.
You are free to make that choice. You are free to your own opinions. So is the owner of a business. But every dollar you spend there is a political statement whether you want it to be or not. He might shut up. This might blow over. But they will still be funneling a portion of their profits into hate groups.
Which is just not okay by my book.
I want to applaud you for making a comment on this situation. But I can’t. Because you don’t seem to care what they are doing. You just seem to care that people might be judging you for eating there. You just want him to shut up. So that no one will pay attention to the fact that you helping to fund hatred.
Sorry if you feel my comments are unwelcome. But I happened upon your article because we are “Facebook friends”. Feel free to change that.
I was raised in the same conservative town you were. By a conservative christian family (though not so much conservative anymore). But I am also a lesbian. Happily married in the eyes of family, friends and God, if not the law. And I am not going stand by and watch this be downplayed so you can all feel okay about eating a chicken sandwich.
Well, to the last post I disagree. What I do not like is when “GAY” people think everyone should support them! People believe what they want and just because more and more people are becoming openly accepting of the lifestyle doesn’t mean you should look BAD upon people who don’t agree with homosexuality. Yes, love you want to love BUT don’t say we HATE YOU because we don’t believe in that. If you are a Christian and the GOD you serve says one thing, why would you openly go against it. I like Chik-fil-a and I will keep eating their food. I like president Obama. I do not support Gay marriage but I still plan to vote for him. Everyone has a choice. I do not HATE GAY people. I just don’t support Gay Marriage.
I definitely understand that some of his comments were offensive to others, but in America, Dan Cathy has a right to his own opinion – ALL of us are allowed free speech. Cities are banning Chick-Fil-A… are they banning the Christian Bookstores? Mom & Pop stores owned by people who have an opinion like Dan Cathy? Where would it stop? I am not opposed to marriage of any kind – I think people should be free to make their own choices. No one has to eat at Chick-Fil-A; by all means, boycott the place if you think it makes a statement that’s right for you. But when governments (Chicago, Boston, San Francisco) begin to get involved in a business because of religious/political affilitation, I get very concerned. Whose to say what they can and cannot ban? Church and state, people, church and state.
I, too, prefer my chicken sandwich served without a side of politics but must admit I find it courageous for a business to demonstrate the courage of its conviction by taking an unpopular stand in a public forum on a topic as controversial as gay marriage. The fact is Chick-Fil-A has been serving diverse populations (straight & gays) for years. Gays were welcome at Chick-fil-A before the company spoke out against gay marriage and gays will continue to be welcome there now that its values are common knowledge, although most gays will likely spend their money elsewhere as a matter of political protest. That is smart and their prerogative. This is America and there’s a restaurant for everybody even if there food isn’t as good. Zaxby’s, Wendy’s & McDonald’s, so far, remain neutral parties in this increasingly polarizing debate.
Too often, it’s convenient to automatically categorize others in terms of “black or white”, as if there is no grey area. It pains me to think that some believe opposing gay marriage is tantamount to hating gays. A good segment of the U.S. voting population believes that anatomically a man was designed to complement woman, and anything outside of that male-female model is unnatural. This view may be construed as an anti-gay sentiment but it is far from hatred. I support Chick-Fil-A in its belief that a God-sanctioned marriage can only occur between a man and a woman although it’s unpopular to say as much in the current climate of political correctness, and I do not hate gays. Many Christians (myself included) stand in solidarity with gays and their efforts to fight violence and job discrimination, but draw the line at gay marriage. Therein lies the complexity.
Needless to say, the uproar over gay marriage has taken on a life of its own. On August 1st, there’s an “Eat In” at Chick-Fil-A. Whether some care to acknowledge it or not, Chick-Fil-A has done and continues to do a lot for the communities it serves- “Family Night” events, summer camps, scholarship awards for students, leadership training, community fundraising partnerships, and donations to charities, etc. and for that it should be applauded. Chick-Fil-A closes on Sundays in observance of the sabbath as many Christians do, the restaurants are clean, catering is available and the food is good. Another bonus for me is the chicken strips/ nuggets are real chicken instead of processed and spongy in texture plus there’s a play area for my girls. I will continue to support Chick-Fil-A and hope that others who recognize the value of such businesses in our communities will do the same.
The world is accustomed to passive Christianity. I’m happy that Chick-fi-la has not embraced the Spirit of Ahab.