With today's announcement that Chick Fil A will no longer be donating their money to anti-hate organizations, it brought about the usual discussions. I applaud the organization for taking the right steps towards equality, but I also know that there is still a lot of discrimination within that company against homosexuals. However, its a step in the right direction. Big win for the good guys. Kudos to all of those working to make equality happen in America and around the world. Now, I might be able to enjoy a chicken wrap from Chick Fil A again. I am still on the fence about whether or not to start patronizing their company again. I stopped going there because I knew of their views on homosexuals long before it made headlines. So, I might need some nudging.
Anyway, on my Facebook page, I asked the question: Where will those who supported Chick Fil A's anti-gay stance go to eat? And, as usual, I got the whole "Chick Fil A Day was a free speech issue" excuse. Yes. Free speech was merely an excuse. A BIG FAT EXCUSE. It served as a cover for hate. Or at least disdain. And disagreement in some cases. How was Chick Fil A CEO Dan Cathy's free speech silenced, smothered, or suppressed? He said it. It was his right to say it. I don't believe people ever took issue with his right to say it. However, people (including myself) had EVERY right to express their free speech by speaking out against his views. We used our free speech and freedom of expression to not take our business to his restaurants. However, Dan Cathy's free speech was NEVER In danger.
Dubya himself said that "Freedom is a two way street" when responding to Dixie Chicks' lead singer Natalie Maines' controversial comments about him. He was discussing the backlash against them. Of course she could make her statement. And those causing the backlash had every right, as well. They stopped buying Dixie Chicks albums, merchandise and concert tickets. Their albums were burned on street corners. So, how is the backlash against Chick Fil A's Dan Cathy any different? It's okay to lash out at the Dixie Chicks but not Dan Cathy? What is the difference?
Those who flocked to Chick Fil A on what I dubbed Mike Huckabee's "Hate Day," were not there for free speech. If they were, they watch too much Fox News. (Or they didn't care about Chick Fil A's views and just wanted a sandwich.) If you do not agree with the homosexual lifestyle or gay marriage or the LGBT agenda, then just say you don't. Cite whatever reasons you like be it religion, personal, political -- WHATEVER! Just don't hide behind a guise of free speech. Your real motives are you have disdain for or disagree with homosexuals or gay marriage. At least be honest in your opinion or belief. I would respect someone much more if they came out and said "I am here supporting Chick Fil A because marriage should be between a man and a woman." Don't use free speech-- something thousands fought and died for -- so you don't look like a bigot.
Own your truth even if it isn't politically correct. You may look like a real jerk, but at least you're an honest one.
I stopped supporting Chik-Fil-A because they wanted to push their religion into the government by contributing money to gay hate groups that committed hate crimes on gays. There's nothing Biblical about hate or violence, physical or emotional. Hate crimes are NOT okay in mainstream Christianity, yet they were financially supporting it.
ReplyDeleteI also think a lot of Christians also do not understand the first Amendment that insist that while freedom of speech is just fine, the American government shall not and should not endorse a religion or a God. That doesn't mean the Bill of Rights is Atheist, just that we have the freedom to believe what ever we want as individuals, without the government telling us how to worship. For Chik-Fil-A to contribute money to political groups that blasphemously want commit acts of violence in the name of Christ and have it be legal, that's a violation of the 1st Amendment. As a Christian, I do not Chik-Fil-A's attempts to steal the right to freedom of religion from our government because I like practicing *my* denomination of my choosing, not the most popular Christian denomination.