Chick-fil-A Ban

Yeah, it was on my local news twice yesterday and there isn't a CFA within 70+ miles of me. I've heard a lot of talk about from both sides over the past few days.

Kevinj said:
“The marriage institution cannot exist among slaves, and one sixth of the population of democratic America is denied it's privileges by the law of the land. What is to be thought of a nation boasting of its liberty, boasting of it's humanity, boasting of its Christianity, boasting of its love of justice and purity, and yet having within its own borders three millions of persons denied by law the right of marriage?”

- Fredrick Douglas, from "My Bondage My Freedom"

I am confused by the intent of this quote. Is he saying he is troubled because slaves cannot marry? Seems like the bigger complaint would be against slavery itself. While I have never been a slave I would have to think that given a choice between freedom and marriage I would take freedom.

I can't speak for the point of quoting that specific text, but the autobiography itself does deal with the larger themes of that era - what freedom really means.

And in that sense, the quote is apt. My Bondage and My Freedom is an excellent read.

Jeff said:
Nothing on Facebook? Which Facebook do you use? Every other post was about it today. It was on NBC Nightly News tonight as well.

Again, it's not about beliefs, it's what you use your corporate influence for with regard to lobbying government.

Yea, I haven't really seen much of anything on facebook, other than perhaps making fun of the outrage from a specific group(s) of people when it was pretty clear all along the Cathy family's beliefs and organizations they supported... Surprised it was on NBC tonight. I haven't seen it anywhere for a couple days. I'm wondering what else could be covered on it that hadn't over the previous week.

Again, it's a privately held business. Chick-fil-A's funds are the Cathy family's fund... They have a right to use their money to lobby the government in ways they see fit and initiatives that align with their beliefs. Just as everyone has a right not to purchase products at a Chick-fil-A.

If the group(s) of people who choose not to purchase Chick-fil-A products is enough because of the Cathy family's beliefs or organizations they support, then we may see the franchise removed from Cedar Fair and other similar locations. But, like I said earlier for every person who "boycotts" a Chick-fil-A you could have another person (or 4-5 person family) who specifically visits a Chick-fil-A due to their beliefs.

I suspect this probably isn't even on the radar screen anymore (if it ever was) of CF management. If people keep buying the chicken sandwiches (has anyone seen any indication they're not?), Chick-fil-A will continue to be there.

Observer2000 said:
Yea, I haven't really seen much of anything on facebook...

Probably because your FB is that of an echo chamber.

They have a right to use their money to lobby the government in ways they see fit and initiatives that align with their beliefs.

Just as others have a right to point out the actions above are fueled by hate and intolerance, along with a healthy dose of hypocrisy. After all, traditional marriage is nothing like what CFA supporters seem to think it is.

My facebook is an echo chamber? Not sure how you could conclude that, but that means it's all I should be hearing about then, because as I said earlier, I support gay marriage.

You can point out what you think is hate and intolerance all day long. I encourage you to do that. Don't purchase products at Chick-fil-A if you think they are fundamentally evil, bigots and hateful. It's a privately held business. Chick-fil-A's funds are the Cathy family's funds. They can do whatever they want with that money. It's unusual to see such a large, national company that is still privately-held that has the ability to do that.

But, I suspect Chick-fil-A isn't going away anytime soon. I just read an article that Chick-fil-A reported yesterday was a record-setting, highest sales day ever throughout their system.

Shades,

The reason I selected that quote is because I think it echoes the voice of many of my gay friends, family, and co-workers, some of whom who have been in relationships with their partners, have been married for years, and some even have children, yet Ohio will not give them a marriage license.

The point being, our country boasts about liberty, freedom, and equal rights, and yet we deny such a simple thing...something most of us take for granted...to so many.

Some have moved to more welcoming, tolerant states. Others have chosen to stay and change Ohio for the better.

Certain freedoms have been extended, yet in some ways the bondage is still there.

I see wehre you are coming from but trying to draw a parallel between slaves not being able to marry and gays not being able to marry is an awful big stretch in my opinion.

I can live with that. :)

It isn't a stretch at all. Being gay is as much a product of nature as being black is. Either all people were created equal or they weren't. It can't be, "We hold these truths to be self-evident...that all men are created equal...except the ones we decide were not".

Exactly, Chief. Oppression is oppression.

I have to disagree. Being a slave is, in my opinion, a greater level of oppression than being unable to marry because of being gay.

So slaves (captured against their will in another country, transported across the ocean in deplorable conditions, sold like animals into a lifetime of hard work for no pay, denied any education, lacking any freedoms, hunted down like dogs if they escaped and tortured/killed if caught, etc.) cannot get married = same sex couple (none of those things) cannot get married.

http://www.foxnews.mobi/quickPage.html?page=22995&external=1629994...._pageNum_1

Ok. So yesterday proved there are still a lot of bigots in this country. What's your point?

^ I bet that make you proud... it makes me sick, how can our country be full of such ignorance.

Shades said:
I have to disagree. Being a slave is, in my opinion, a greater level of oppression than being unable to marry because of being gay.

GoBucks89 said:
So slaves... cannot get married = same sex couple (none of those things) cannot get married.

The magnitude of oppression is obviously not the same, but so what? It's still oppression, and that ain't cool, nor is it in keeping with personal liberty.

Though it does make me wonder... Is that how they sleep soundly at night?

"Well, at least I'm not as evil as a slave owner!" ;)

TheNewGuy said:
http://www.foxnews.mobi/quickPage.html?page=22995&external=1629994...._pageNum_1

I wonder how many of those chicken sandwiches were purchased and fed to the poor. You know, as Jesus instructed them to do.

Yups...

Now let's see if the release a statement about today's sales when same sex couples show up for the "Public Kiss Day at Chick-Fil-A".