The Chik-Fil-A Controversy and Failed Boycott

[dreadfulpenny00.livejournal.com]

First off, I just wanted to lay it out on the table that I'm in favor of marriage equality. I understand that there are some people who may not be, and that's fine. I'm all for civil debate and discussion about the issue.

Lately there's been a lot of news about Chik-Fil-A and comments made by the company's CEO Dan Cathy during an interview with the Baptist Press. Here's what he said that's causing such a firestorm:

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."

Not one sentence in the entire article bears any ill will or hatred toward the LGBT community, and yet Dan Cathy and Chik-Fil-A have become targets of a witch-hunt and a lot of righteous indignation from the media, celebrities, government leaders, and the LGBT community in general.

Chik-Fil-A: The Right to Be Stupid and Offensive (Huffington Post)
Chik-Fil-A Gay Flap A "Wakeup Call" For Companies (NPR)
Gray opposes Chik-Fil-A expansion; calls it 'hate chicken' (Washington Post)

Mayors of three major U.S. cities - Boston (Mayor Thomas Menino), Chicago (Mayor Rahm Immanuel - also a former Obama administration official) and Washington, D.C. (Vincent C. Gray)have all spoken in opposition to the chain with Menino and Immanuel going so far as to threaten to ban Chik-Fil-A from their cities (Menino has since backed off, no doubt because he realizes it would be an infringement on Cathy's first amendment rights and those of his company due to the SCOTUS Citizens United decision). But there are some sane minds in the fight. Mike "Nanny" Bloomberg, the mayor of NYC who recently proposed a ban on 16 oz. sodas to combat obesity, went on record that he disagrees with people like Menino who would attempt to ban a business from setting up shop. Even the ACLU is backing Chik-Fil-A, stating that attempts by city officials to ban businesses for religious beliefs is a clear-cut case of discrimination.

As for the boycott? It doesn't seem to be working. Twitter users are reporting lines out the door and drive thru lines wrapping around the building at their local Chik-Fil-A establishments. Many even posted pictures to prove the boom in business.

My whole opinion on this issue is that a chicken sandwich isn't a political statement -- it's food. If someone is eating at Chik-Fil-A, 10 to 1 says it was because they were hungry and just wanted something to eat, not because they're looking to stick it to anyone by purchasing some waffle fries. But since we're putting it all on the table here, how about those protesting against Chik-Fil-A have a little consistency?



(Mods: Any way we can get a tag for "free speech" and "marriage", please? Thank you!)

Comments

[brendala.livejournal.com]

No one cares if people opt to boycott the company for whatever reason. I think boycotts are a legit form of protest and there are certain companies/people/products that I refuse to spend money on because they conflict with my beliefs.

What people are pissed about (and the thing that triggered CFA appreciation day) is government officials stepping in and dictating that they have the right to keep a business out of their town because they personally disliked the owner's political/religious views.

[glo-unit.livejournal.com]

Well, apparently a lot of people care,I saw a lot of people not even mention the political thing and only focus on gay people, how stupid gay people were for boycotting, how gay people were somehow forcing their opinion on others by boycotting. Basically there were a lot of people going just to give the middle finger to gay people.

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

Oh, please.

Any comment on the point of government officials publicly saying they won't allow CFA in their cities because of the personal view of the owner? (Which view is that he supports traditional family values - nothing outrageous?)

Any response to my multiple comments/requests for evidence for some of your statements?

Any response at all aside from perceived victimhood?

[glo-unit.livejournal.com]

Those mayors are assholes who overstepped their powers in order to grandstand, possibly for votes. I would like to also point out that they are straight.

An internet argument is not a top concern for me, as such I tend to keep pushing it down on my list of things to do.

Well, it's not like I have a corner on the perceived victim-hood market.