Despite the attempts of ABC, CBS, and NBC to frame yesterday’s “Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day” as support for anti-same-sex marriage, Americans across the country packed the company’s 1600 stores to show their support for Dan Cathy’s freedom of speech. Cathy is the CEO of the privately-held, family owned fast food organization, and his support of “traditional marriage and family values” sparked a firestorm that has several high profile Mayors making threats to keep the company from any future expansions in their areas, a chilling thought that borders on fascism.
Pictures of long lines and great service were plastered on every social media.
At my Chick-Fil-A, the staff had been busy all day, and all managers were on hand to make sure everything went great.
This was not a protest against same-sex marriage, and anyone who tried to frame it as such just didn’t get it. It was heartening to even hear a few gay people being interviewed showing their support for Mr. Cathy’s freedom of speech. I am sure there were many, though we know the media will not permit it to be framed in that way.
So tomorrow, members of the LGBT community have called for a “kiss in”, encouraging same-sex couples to express their freedom of speech by kissing each other in Chick-Fil-A. While those who heed this call would be classified as those who “don’t get it”, thinking this was about marriage equality, I strongly support THEIR RIGHT to exercise their freedom of speech. A pastor on TV today said he debated with a lesbian pastor last night on a radio show about the Chick-Fil-A controversy, and to make his point about the freedom of speech issue and the “government intrusion” being intimidated by the likes of Rahm Emannuel, he told this woman that if she wanted to build a church and the city said “no way” because of her values or beliefs, he would stand with HER to defend her right to build her church.
And that is tolerance.
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August 2, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Stothes
Congratulations! By supporting Chick-fil-a you are also supporting harmful reparative therapy and the death penalty for gays in Uganda. Hooray!
August 3, 2012 at 2:17 am
Interested Bystander
Like most of your comments, this is obviously rhetoric.
Death penalty for gays in Uganda……..why don’t you go to Uganda and protest those penalties with a great big sign that states:
DON’T KILL THOSE GAY PEOPLE
EAT MOR CHIKIN
August 3, 2012 at 6:36 am
Stothes
Unfortunately It is not rhetoric. CFA gives money to Exodus International and FRC.
August 4, 2012 at 10:01 am
Interested Bystander
Where’s YOUR proof??
Or are you simply spewing rhetoric again?
August 3, 2012 at 2:26 am
Interested Bystander
Stothes,
I noticed that you didn’t defend your comment over on the Allen West thread a few days ago.
You know the one where I PROVED your assertion that West was dishonorably discharged was wrong?
So your comments are viewed by me in that light from now on.
Not even man enough to admit that you were wrong, 100% wrong, and PROVEN wrong.
And I’m not bragging, I’m pointing out the TRUTH, you know that little tidbit that you obviously could care less about?
August 3, 2012 at 6:39 am
Stothes
Simmer down, IB. I didn’t see your comment on the West post. I do remember James clarifying that West had not been discharged. I looked it up. He was correct. I was incorrect.
August 3, 2012 at 8:32 am
JAMES
Stothes and IB: Even “I” can be wrong sometimes too!!!
What saddens me in the CFA issue is that the freedom of speech, association, religion, etc., has been lost and overlooked by the media that is more intent on pushing the agenda of the miniscule portion of the population. Instead they should be showing the chilling effects of cmments like those of the Mayors of Chicago, Boston, and DC. And where is our President in this “teachable moment”? Why wasn’t he at a CFA yesterday defending Mr. Cathy’s rights, and then @ CFA today with Reggie Love or Nick Colvin. No, he is MIA, just as he has been on the economy and everything else. Hell, now we are finding out that. allegedly, it is Michelle Obama and Valerie Jarrett calling the shots at the White House, right down to the order on binLaden.
August 4, 2012 at 10:07 am
Interested Bystander
JAMES,
What really ticks me off is that the owner of CFA was simply asked if he supported gay marriage and he said that in HIS opinion marriage is between a man and a woman.
He didn’t sya that his stores didn’t serve gay couples, or that he didn’t hire gay people.
His stores are closed on Sunday also, isn’t that a conflict with seperation of church and STATE?
What a joke this whole thing has become.
I would think the libs would have let it go, but noooo they will pound it in to the masses’ heads until THEY believe whatever THEY want you to believe.
August 3, 2012 at 8:24 am
JAMES
and as the Muslims in this country push for more and more inclusion of Sharia law, you don’t think that the gays of the next generation could face similar actions. Lets be realistic….. OK, gays cannot marry in the US, but they can be gay…. this is the MOST TOLERANT society on the face of the Earth.
August 2, 2012 at 5:40 pm
middleagedhousewife
I am hoping and praying that everyone who supports freedom of speech will provide an example of grace and tolerance and NOT show up to protest at tomorrows LGBT kiss in. If there is even one protest, it will ruin all that yesterdays show of support stood for.
August 3, 2012 at 8:22 am
JAMES
No, if the “kiss in” occurs, and the people involved beleive that is the best way to promote their cause, I support their right to do so. There were protesters at some of the Chick-Fil-A’s on Wednesday, but they weren’t a large contingent.
If anyone saw the ignorant man who harassed the clerk at the drive thru window as he got his “FREE” water at CFA in Tucson, who felt the need in his harassment about CFA being hateful to stress that he was not gay, the update is that the company he works for as the Chief Financial Officer has FIRED him. Yes, he is entitled to his freedom of speech, but Vante Inc. did not want to be associated with his vitriolic hatred.
August 3, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Stothes
That guy was a dick. I’m glad he got fired.
August 4, 2012 at 10:05 am
JAMES
Ah, but the 1st Amendment protects his right to be a “dick”, and since he found the need to “expose himself” to the world with the video, the consequences are his own doing. His employer, while acknowledging his right to freedom of speech, has the right to not let him be a part of their company.
As for Rachel @ Chick-Fil-A, she epitomizes quality customer service… grace under fire.
August 3, 2012 at 8:25 pm
middleagedhousewife
Yes, he learned that while we should be free from Governmental, retribution for exercising our right to free speech, exercising that right can have consequences.