I have a soft spot in my heart for taking part in insanity. That's why I've slept for no more than 3 hours (sometimes, not at all) on Thanksgiving night for the past 10 years so that I can stand in line with the thousands of people for stupid free trinkets from stores that I don't even shop at on Black Friday. So last night when I drove out of my way to stand in line for a Chick-fil-A sandwich, it really wasn't something out of my character. However, my motivation was entirely different this time. I wasn't there for a free sandwich or to buy anyone a gift at a discount, in fact, the end result was really quite selfish- a delicious #4 Spicy Chicken Deluxe with pepper jack (er...provolone...) cheese and some waffle fries. Last night, my motivation was through conviction, not entertainment.
In case you're not aware of why everyone suddenly had a craving for chicken yesterday, let me catch you up. In an interview with the Baptist Press on July 16, President and COO of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy, explained the Christian ethics and beliefs that Chick-fil-A was founded on and operates on. The article was descriptive about the principles of the company's operations, highlighted the successes that God has blessed the company with over the course of their 45 year history, and mentioned scriptures that drive Chick-Fil-A's "way of life", if you will. And then towards the very end of the article, in the midst of gathering Mr. Cathy's opinion on other topics, the issue of traditional marriage came into play. With the simple statement of "Guilty as charged" when asked about the company's conservative position on the matter, Chick-fil-A became the center of a circus that it didn't even ask to join.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said in a statement, "Chick-fil-A doesn't belong in Boston. You can't have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against a population." Chick-fil-A has recently been considering opening a new restaurant in the city, posing the question of whether it is ethical (or constitutional, for that matter) for an elected official to halt commerce over a social issue. Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, also addressed the statement by saying, "Chick-fil-A's values are not Chicago values." So there you have it.
See, everybody's making a big deal about the gay marriage issue, but that's not what bugs me. Absolutely, positively, 100%- I disagree with gay marriage. I believe that marriage is not only an institution and a legal recognition of relationship, but a sacred, holy union created by God, for God at the beginning of time. Adam couldn't find a helper, God created Eve. (Genesis 2:20-23) And through the next two verses after that, the shortest wedding ceremony ever was officiated by God and that was that- marriage. The Bible is a metaphor for marriage. We are called to use marriage to understand the Bible, and to use the Bible to understand marriage. The purpose of marriage itself is for sanctification, to become more like Christ as we love and respect our spouse as He loves and respects us. So, yes, I don't agree with gay marriage. But no, that's not the reason I went to Chick-fil-A yesterday.
I enjoyed my chicken sandwich to show appreciation for the freedoms of my country. Nowhere in Mr. Cathy's interview was anything mentioned about Chick-fil-A not serving homosexuals. No mention of blatant intolerance, no mention of turning away gays or spitting in their food. He simply said that they support a traditional, heterosexual marriage and that they have personally been blessed by God's goodness in that way. How did Chick-fil-A get drug into a firestorm of controversy? I can't understand how anyone is legitimately surprised by their statement. It is no secret that the restaurant is a Christian organization. The doors are closed on Sundays, the bowl game they host in Atlanta is the only bowl game including an invocation and will never be played on Sunday, and for goodness sake- can you think of any other fast food joint that says, "My pleasure," after you've gone to the counter for the fifth time asking for more ranch and Chick-fil-A sauce? So if no one is offended by those Christian stances that the company takes, why are they offended by their Biblically-parallel view on marriage?
It's not an issue of politics or religion, it is simply an issue of hypocrisy.
In 2008, then Senator Barack Obama claimed a Christian faith and supported traditional marriage, opposing same-sex unions and making no promise to ever change legislation regarding the issue. Suddenly, in May of 2012, an election year (nice timing, huh?), he has abandoned those Christian principles that he ran on and is a supporter of gay marriage. It's funny to me how in 2008, most gays were still voting for Obama despite his personal views on their potential marriages. However, when a private business owner (no matter how big the business is) states his beliefs, he and his company, employees, and patrons are hateful bigots who are denying people their "freedom". What the gay community and its supporters are forgetting is the first amendment; you know, the one they lean upon as a crutch whenever they want to protest, make bold homosexual statements, or put down these "bigots" who defend one of God's best creations, marriage. Freedom of speech. How dare they react so immaturely and harmfully to a man, his family, his company, and his customers for holding a belief they are entitled to? This was a private interview with a private man that happened to publicly blow up overnight. No one asked for this attention, but the gay community decided it would be the "hate flavor of the week". If that wasn't enough, there is the hypocrisy of Mayor Menino discouraging commerce and jobs in his own city through a time of economic drought and unemployment simply because his views do not align with the store's president. There are reasons that Congress (and mainly democrats) worked to pass cases such as Roe v. Wade, Brown v. Board of Education, Title IX, and so many others- equality and choice. I guess this is what happens when they don't like the outcome.
Enough of my soapbox, I'll leave the crazy democrats, liberals, gays, gay supporters, and delicious chicken sandwich haters to sit in the corner and pout.
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the workers at the Chick-fil-A on 86th Street in Indianapolis and across the country. Alexis, Alex, Steven, Taylor, Ryan, Amy, and all of the other servers that I forget never stopped smiling. Not when the protestors were standing outside with their "Stop the Hate" posters, not when the occupancy of the store was doubled and then some, not even when the computer system crashed and the orders had to be taken by hand. It was always "their pleasure" to serve the Americans who love their freedom. As I watched hundreds patiently wait in line for hours and families pray publicly for their meals, I realized the pride I had in my country and my freedom. Where else would you see such a band of strength come together to support a belief system, all while smiling?
And after all...what's more American than fried chicken?
....USA....USA....USA....(sorry, I just really wanted someone to start chanting in the restaurant but it never happened...so I'll have to just do it here.)
In case you're not aware of why everyone suddenly had a craving for chicken yesterday, let me catch you up. In an interview with the Baptist Press on July 16, President and COO of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy, explained the Christian ethics and beliefs that Chick-fil-A was founded on and operates on. The article was descriptive about the principles of the company's operations, highlighted the successes that God has blessed the company with over the course of their 45 year history, and mentioned scriptures that drive Chick-Fil-A's "way of life", if you will. And then towards the very end of the article, in the midst of gathering Mr. Cathy's opinion on other topics, the issue of traditional marriage came into play. With the simple statement of "Guilty as charged" when asked about the company's conservative position on the matter, Chick-fil-A became the center of a circus that it didn't even ask to join.
See, everybody's making a big deal about the gay marriage issue, but that's not what bugs me. Absolutely, positively, 100%- I disagree with gay marriage. I believe that marriage is not only an institution and a legal recognition of relationship, but a sacred, holy union created by God, for God at the beginning of time. Adam couldn't find a helper, God created Eve. (Genesis 2:20-23) And through the next two verses after that, the shortest wedding ceremony ever was officiated by God and that was that- marriage. The Bible is a metaphor for marriage. We are called to use marriage to understand the Bible, and to use the Bible to understand marriage. The purpose of marriage itself is for sanctification, to become more like Christ as we love and respect our spouse as He loves and respects us. So, yes, I don't agree with gay marriage. But no, that's not the reason I went to Chick-fil-A yesterday.
I enjoyed my chicken sandwich to show appreciation for the freedoms of my country. Nowhere in Mr. Cathy's interview was anything mentioned about Chick-fil-A not serving homosexuals. No mention of blatant intolerance, no mention of turning away gays or spitting in their food. He simply said that they support a traditional, heterosexual marriage and that they have personally been blessed by God's goodness in that way. How did Chick-fil-A get drug into a firestorm of controversy? I can't understand how anyone is legitimately surprised by their statement. It is no secret that the restaurant is a Christian organization. The doors are closed on Sundays, the bowl game they host in Atlanta is the only bowl game including an invocation and will never be played on Sunday, and for goodness sake- can you think of any other fast food joint that says, "My pleasure," after you've gone to the counter for the fifth time asking for more ranch and Chick-fil-A sauce? So if no one is offended by those Christian stances that the company takes, why are they offended by their Biblically-parallel view on marriage?
It's not an issue of politics or religion, it is simply an issue of hypocrisy.
In 2008, then Senator Barack Obama claimed a Christian faith and supported traditional marriage, opposing same-sex unions and making no promise to ever change legislation regarding the issue. Suddenly, in May of 2012, an election year (nice timing, huh?), he has abandoned those Christian principles that he ran on and is a supporter of gay marriage. It's funny to me how in 2008, most gays were still voting for Obama despite his personal views on their potential marriages. However, when a private business owner (no matter how big the business is) states his beliefs, he and his company, employees, and patrons are hateful bigots who are denying people their "freedom". What the gay community and its supporters are forgetting is the first amendment; you know, the one they lean upon as a crutch whenever they want to protest, make bold homosexual statements, or put down these "bigots" who defend one of God's best creations, marriage. Freedom of speech. How dare they react so immaturely and harmfully to a man, his family, his company, and his customers for holding a belief they are entitled to? This was a private interview with a private man that happened to publicly blow up overnight. No one asked for this attention, but the gay community decided it would be the "hate flavor of the week". If that wasn't enough, there is the hypocrisy of Mayor Menino discouraging commerce and jobs in his own city through a time of economic drought and unemployment simply because his views do not align with the store's president. There are reasons that Congress (and mainly democrats) worked to pass cases such as Roe v. Wade, Brown v. Board of Education, Title IX, and so many others- equality and choice. I guess this is what happens when they don't like the outcome.
Enough of my soapbox, I'll leave the crazy democrats, liberals, gays, gay supporters, and delicious chicken sandwich haters to sit in the corner and pout.
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the workers at the Chick-fil-A on 86th Street in Indianapolis and across the country. Alexis, Alex, Steven, Taylor, Ryan, Amy, and all of the other servers that I forget never stopped smiling. Not when the protestors were standing outside with their "Stop the Hate" posters, not when the occupancy of the store was doubled and then some, not even when the computer system crashed and the orders had to be taken by hand. It was always "their pleasure" to serve the Americans who love their freedom. As I watched hundreds patiently wait in line for hours and families pray publicly for their meals, I realized the pride I had in my country and my freedom. Where else would you see such a band of strength come together to support a belief system, all while smiling?
And after all...what's more American than fried chicken?
....USA....USA....USA....(sorry, I just really wanted someone to start chanting in the restaurant but it never happened...so I'll have to just do it here.)
