Am I the only liberal who thinks this Chic Fil A protest is ridiculous?
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Anonymous
I think this is the point of the whole thing - MOST people on both sides of MOST issues are rational and normal. But it's the extremes on both sides that give us all bad names. And a knee jerk boycott/support response just seeks to divide, not unite. I hate it when an issue pops up like this that just consumes media beyond what is reasonable. It all just gets blown out of proportion. Most of us just want to eat chicken - or not eat fast food chicken - and not think about it through a political lens. Avowed liberal who has worked for a number of liberal NGOs. A few years ago, I was telling a friend how much, now that i had kids, I loved Lands' End. She looked stricken and I stopped and said, why? what's wrong? And she hesitantly said, well, don't' they support conservative causes? And I thought NOOOOOOOO. i Love them. I don't want to stop buying from them. I already avoid Coors (not a big deal) and whatever the other biggie is. So I researched it, and contrary to my friend's impression, LE actually created a scholarship program in the subject matter in which we worked! And right then and there, I decided that unless an active boycott was called for by a specific group on a specific issue with a targeted policy goal (that is, an end point in mind), I was no longer going to follow any of it. I did some work years prior on consumer boycotts and they can be powerful, but the never ending vague ones never really accomplish anything. I've seen in the past on the DCUM listserv a chick fil a explosion when someone was up in the arms about their conservative leanings. Yes, the owners are conservative. I actually respect them for closing on Sundays - not only do they have specific beliefs, but they live with those beliefs in a way that harms them monetarily. And I like their food a lot. I do think there is an argument that can be made about voting with the wallet, and choosing not to give your money to people who are against things that matter to you. I also have been trying to think of analogous situations - like Marge Schott being a racist owner of a baseball team. Which isn't a good analogy because I wasn't in a position to buy anything from her. PEople are able to think what they want to think. But what if he thought the holocaust hadn't happened? Or that blacks and whites shouldn't be able to marry? Those are repellant thoughts, and I would not want to support him. In this case, first, I think the aging owners are at the tail end of a vast sea change that is rippling through our society. They are - ad soon will be - on the losing end of history. Chick Fil A corporate money goes to a number of decent charities. Some money - owner money - goes to a few repellant organizations. And yet, they don't discriminate in the workplace. This just doesn't pass the sniff test for me. And then i wonder if that means I'm not as supportive of gay rights as I should be. And then i just think: SHUT UP BRAIN. It's just chicken. |
Anonymous
| I'm a liberal and I just dont get what the big deal is. Does everyone in America think that every product/business that they patronize supports every single personal belief that they have. The protestors have their right to protest but dont they realize they are causing Chick Fil a's profits to go through the roof? I dont eat there cause I dont like their food. I support gay marriage but I dont want to see a bunch of gay people kissing at the Chick Fil a. I dont want to see a bunch of heterosexual people kissing at the Chick Fil a. Everything isnt for everybody. If you dont like who they contribute money to, dont buy their product. |
Anonymous
| Is it more or less ridiculous than Chick Fil A Appreciation day when a bunch of conservatives lent their whole hearted support to bigotry? I believe that if you're Christian, then be a Christian, even if it means your view of Christianity (not mine) is supporting "Biblical" marriage (whatever that means). It's not Christian to say that children of gay couples are "emotionally handicapped" or that God will condemn a nation that encourages tolerance for homosexuals. |
Anonymous
And that's the point. |
Anonymous
Right, but why can't people just then stop going to Chick-fil-A instead of making a big fucking ruckus about it? Just quit eating their food and giving them your money but for the love of God, stop crowing about your superiority already! |
Anonymous
It's all ridiculous. All of it, on both sides. Mayors saying Chick Fil A can't expand in their cities. Wendy's posting support Chick Fil A on their signs. Kiss ins. Pray ins. Stop the madness. |
Anonymous
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Dan Cathy's recent PUBLIC comments, proudly stating that he was "guilty as charged" in opposing gay marriage, were only a reminder to folks that the owner of Chick Fil A has spent millions donating to organization that very much oppose not just gay marriage, but gays in general just... well.. being gay.
That's what people are (or should be) objecting to. The want to be sure everyone is aware that this company isn't just a place to get a chicken sandwich. Profits from this company are going to hurt gays. I don't hunt down the views of every owner of every company, but when they go out of their way to state publicly opinions that draw attention to the fact that they heavily support anti-gay organizations.... it makes me not want to treat my family to the occasional chicken sandwich there. Here's a blog article from a gay man's perspective that I think is very well written and explains the reasoning behind boycotting Chick Fil A very thoughtfully, I believe: http://citizen-40.tressugar.com/Tempest-Over-More-Than-Chicken-Sandwich-24270734 |
Anonymous
Yes, I agree with this. But I was pretty disgusted by the sheer number of people who proudly went to Chic Fil A on its "appreciation day". To me, that is akin to saying that you proudly support an organization who uses its corporate profits to donate to anti-gay groups. So many people (like OP) seem to think this was simply a man (who happened to be the CEO of Chic Fil A) stating his personal opinion. That really isn't the case at all... |
Anonymous
The Wendy's stuff was photoshopped. http://www.snopes.com/photos/signs/chickfila.asp The mayors were wrong. Boston mayor Menino, at least, realized there wasn't anything legal he could do. He still opposes the restaurant on principle but can't withhold permits and he knows it. http://articles.boston.com/2012-07-27/metro/32869124_1_political-science-gay-marriage-chick-fil-a-stance |
Anonymous
Because for a boycott to be effective, you have to tell everyone why you are doing it and encourage them to join in. |
Anonymous
LOL. Don't exercise your rights every chance you get, but GO, PROTESTERS!! You've got your rights!! This is all too typical of my fellow liberals but it embarasses me. |
Anonymous
| Where are all the people protesting Islam? You know their stance on homosexuality, right? |
Anonymous
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I'm a lesbian mom. I am upset about the money CFA gives to Exodus and Family Research Council. I won't be giving CFA my money ever again, but am not going to join any protests, kiss-ins, etc. I'm showing my disapproval via the free market. I'm going to donate to an LGBT group and call it a day.
The mayors were stupid to get involved. That was pure nonsense. |
Anonymous
| me too. and ever since this brouhaha started, i've been craving a chick fil a sandwich. |
Anonymous
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Op here again. I think the support Chic Fil A people were ridiculous too. I just think it's pointless to hold a Kiss In which will just help fire up the opposing cause. I prefer to boycott the establishment by spending my money elsewhere. It would have better served us if those opposed to Chic Fil A would instead donate money to a cause or campaign that supported gay rights. I just think the Kiss In is as mindless as the Occupy Protestors.
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