One Small Voice

Back in the summer there was a huge hoopla surrounding Chick-Fil-A. I, as I often do, expressed my opinion in a post. The Internet, news media, social media, and print media were filled with those same opinions ranging from Chick-Fil-A was out to get the gay and lesbian population to God himself invented the chicken sandwich. My issue wasn't with the comments that were made, albeit I did not agree. My issue was with the fact that I chose not to spend my money knowing it would trickle down to an anti-gay organization. Many people felt the same as I and decided to no longer patronize Chick-Fil-A. This is not a post to rehash how I feel about Chick-Fil-A. It is a post about how speaking up can make a difference. I know that in my younger days I never really got involved with politics. My attitude was mostly apathetic. What difference can I make? I'm only one person. In the past few years things have changed for me. Maybe it's because everything, every news item, every event is in front of our eyes in seconds. So when the uproar of outrage crashed over this country like a wave in response to Chick-Fil-A, people made their feelings known. Last week, a good friend of mine sent me an article to read. Chick-Fil-A, I am assuming because of public outcry, was pulling their funding from Anti-gay organizations. Yay, Chick-Fil-A! Thank you for listening. Thank you for doing something that I am sure you will take heat on as well, but I feel like it was the right thing. This is a big year for using your one small voice to speak up no matter what side of an issue you're on, folks. Not to sound corny, but we can make a difference, but not by doing nothing or remaining quiet. "Be the change you want to see in the world." ~ Mahatma Ghandi

Eating less Chikin

So, I know this one is going to get me in hot water, but here goes. Yesterday, August 1st, was "Support Chick-Fil-A Day" This was decreed by Mike Huckabee in response to the call to boycott the restaurant chain after Dan Cathy, president and COO, made some statements in a radio interview about "traditional" marriage. People swarmed to the restaurant yesterday in droves to show their support. Well, this girl wasn't in the Drive-thru line yesterday, and let me tell you why. First of all, I'm going on record right now as saying, I love God! I love Jesus! I believe as a member of the group called Christians, that God and Jesus love me, and that Jesus is the Son of God, and he was crucified and died on the cross to save me from my sins, so put away your pitchforks and torches. I hesitated typing the word "Christian" because those zealots from Westboro Baptist Church also call themselves "Christian," and I am definitely not in the same group as them! Many of my friends were at Chick-Fil-A yesterday, and that was their choice and their right to spend their money the way they see fit. I do not condemn them for attending, I'm sure, what they thought was a stand for Christianity. I'm not sure how much money was made yesterday, but apparently a world record was set. That's what I want to talk about, the money! I have heard for well over a year that Chick-Fil-A had ties to groups who are anti-gay. I still went to Chick-Fil-A. The franchises are individually owned, and I didn't think it was fair to punish the "Mom and Pops" who own the individual restaurants because of a stance the Corporation has. In much the same way, I felt for the owners of the independent gas stations who sold Exxon gas when people were boycotting them because of the oil spill. Their livelihoods and the financial support of their families was being threatened because of something they had no control over. I still visited Chick-Fil-A once a week, at least, sometimes more, even when a lot of my friends were saying I shouldn't be giving them my business. Chick-Fil-A has great food! It's always fresh, and the customer service is unmatched! You have no argument from me on that point. I continued to be a loyal patron! Then, about two weeks ago, Dan Cathy gave an interview to the Baptist Press where he addressed the Biblical principles the company is based on. I read the interview. There is nothing in it that actually says that Chick-Fil-A is anti-gay. Here is the part of the interview that addresses the issue of marriage:
              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."The above statement brought down a firestorm of comments, videos, and campaigns from the LGBT community and it's supporters to boycott the chain. I have decided not to spend my money at Chick-Fil-A anymore, but not because a group told me not to. All the press made me do my own research, look up what was really said and mostly where my money was going. I will not address every group that I looked up, but this one statement from one group that received money from Chick-Fil-A, my money, I am sad to say, was enough to make me say, okay, I just don't want to spend my money there if this group is being supported. The group is called The Family Research Council. This is their statement on homosexuality:
                 Family Research Council believes that homosexual conduct is harmful to the persons who engage in it and to society at large, and can never be affirmed.  It is by definition unnatural, and as such is associated with negative physical and psychological health effects.  While the origins of same-sex attractions may be complex, there is no convincing evidence that a homosexual identity is ever something genetic or inborn. We oppose the vigorous efforts of homosexual activists to demand that homosexuality be accepted as equivalent to heterosexuality in law, in the media, and in schools. Attempts to join two men or two women in "marriage" constitute a radical redefinition and falsification of the institution, and FRC supports state and federal constitutional amendments to prevent such redefinition by courts or legislatures.   Sympathy must be extended to those who struggle with unwanted same-sex attractions, and every effort should be made to assist such persons to overcome those attractions, as many already have. 

I'm no scholar, but I'm pretty sure that's blatant discrimination! So, just on the chance that my money went to this group alone, forget all the others, I decided to stop spending my money there. Now to address the issue that I know is going to open a flood gate, Yes, I'm a hypocrite. There's a picture circulating of Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka appearing that he is making this statement:

Have I stopped spending my money with Chick-Fil-A? Yes. Have I stopped putting gas in my car? No. Why the difference? If I'm going to make a stand for one, I should make a stand for all, right? Well, in theory, yes, I should. But we all know that it would be near impossible for me to make a living without a car, and without gas my car would not run. I guess I feel that I could not live without gasoline, as disturbing as being dependent on OPEC is, and I can live without waffle fries and a chicken sandwich. This is one place I can exercise my right and control where a little bit of the money I spend, and I stress the term "little bit", goes and is used. If that makes me a hypocrite then "guilty as charged"

I know Chick-Fil-A does a huge amount of good. They give millions of dollars to scholarships, and foster care and international ministry. Yay for them! I'm all for them giving money to "strengthen the family" Pass some over to this single mom who struggles everyday to keep her family fed and clothed because her "traditional" marriage fell apart. Shockingly gay couples wanting to be recognized legally in committing to a lifetime of love and devotion and caring for each other as married had nothing to do with it. You're right, Dan Cathy, marriage is in trouble in this country, but my homosexual friends who want to be together and have the same rights as my heterosexual friends under the law have nothing to do with it. Bottom line is I don't hate Chick-Fil-A. I don't hate anyone who went to Chick-Fil-A yesterday. I'm not even telling you that you can't spend your money there. I'm just explaining to you why I'm not.