Chick-fil-A is a fast food restaurant known for its whole chicken breast sandwiches, waffle fries, and homemade cole slaw.
Today it's going to be known as the center of a minor political storm when a lot of people go out of their way to buy lunch or dinner there as a show of solidarity with the embattled chicken chain. Or for those who oppose the chicken retailer's political stances, it'll be a day of boycotts and possible protests.
Wednesday, August 1, is "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day," so says former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. He's hoping that tea partiers, and other First Amendment stalwarts will put their money where their opinions are and buy up Chick-Fil-A items today.
There are two Chick-fil-A stores near the Land O' Lakes area: one on Bruce B Downs Boulevard in New Tampa and Little Road in Trinity. Many of 1,615 franchises in 39 states are located in malls, although there are some free-standing stores in New Jersey.
The tempest began several weeks ago when Chick-fil-A executive Dan Cathy said in a radio interview that he supports the concept of traditional marriage, versus same-sex marriage. Gay rights groups, activists, and supporters have been attacking Cathy and the chicken chain, even to the point where some politicians, like Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, have been trying to stop Chick-fil-A from opening franchises in their cities.
Tea partiers have taken up the Chick-fil-A banner, and Huckabee—who ran for the Republican nomination for president four years ago— jumped on the bandwagon with the Appreciation Day.
The idea is to make an effort to patronize Chick-fil-A stores today, as a show of support for Cathy and his company's right to express what they say is a dissenting opinion.
Over the years, Chick-fil-A has drawn attention from various groups hostile to the privately-held company's Christian beliefs. The Atlanta-based family-owned firm, for example, has never allowed its stores to be open on Sunday. That was the idea of company founder Truett Cathy, the firm says on their website, when he opened the first store in 1946.
The concept of being closed on Sunday was practical as well as spiritual: they wanted employees to "have an opportunity to rest, spend time with family and friends, and worship if they choose to do so," Chick-fil-A says.
So far, over 624,000 fans on the Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day Facebook page say they'll be loading up on chicken sandwiches and waffle fries today.
Will you patronize Chick-fil-A today, or will you avoid it because of the company owner's beliefs? Share your thoughts in the comments.
If the LGBT crowd disagrees with the owner's opinions, fine, don't patronize his business. But to try to make it sound like Chick-fil-A is actively attacking LGBT and unfairly persecuting them? That's just false and it discredits everything the LGBT crowd says - about anything.
Cathy has already said that he does not want his company in this controversy. Too late. He took a chance, thinking that it would beef up business, and it looks like he may have goofed. The lesson: Don't play chicken with your consumers.
2. I wish people would stop with the name calling the instant someone disagrees with them. I don't agree with Obama's politics and suddenly I'm a racist. Somebody doesn't support gay marriage and suddenly they're a bigot. As Inigo Montoya once said, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." 3. How do you know what Cathy was thinking when he answered the question in the interview? I've seen no indication whatsoever that he was trying to beef up his business. 4. He may have alienated some people, but according to what's being reported about yesterday, he didn't alienate a good share of his clientele. For many of us, this isn't about gay marriage. It's about free speech. It's standing up for someone's right to express their opinion without being bullied by those who disagree with that opinion. You don't like Cathy's opinion? Great, don't eat at Chick-fil-A. Tell all your friends to not eat at Chick-fil-A. But when politicians start saying that they will block the opening of restaurants because the owner doesn't agree with them, that's fascism. When groups start throwing around the "hate" word just because someone doesn't agree with them, that's an attempt to stifle free speech. That's what I was protesting when I ordered my Spicy Chicken combo meal yesterday.
Scientists have given strong evidence that homosexuality is inherent and not learned or "a choice," but even if it is not, American institutions are barred from discriminating against others who have chosen, say, a religion. Therefore, since it hurts no one to allow same-sex marriage, it should be legal. Think of that next time you reap the benefits of "married filing jointly" on your tax forms. Doug: I do not agree with Boston's attempts to stop the building of a CFA. Mark: Look at the historical films of adults lined up outside Little Rock High School taunting the black children that were escorted into the school by armed guards, then you get an idea of what you will look like in twenty years when this is over and same-sex marriage is as common as interracial marriage.
When you have some uninterrupted time and an open mind, watch this video, about what the Good Book says about being Gay and Sin. It is a great presentation that is well thought out, uses historical contents and takes the often quoted bible verses and looks at the whole context of the story that is being told in that chapter to really understand what the Bible is saying. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezQjNJUSraY
You are right, and there are people that will grasp at anything to support their way of thinking. Bottomline for me, We are all Americans I have no rights that you do not, that included the ability to have the state acknowledge union of two people and grant with that all the rights and abilities that our nation has decided that a couple may have. Simple stuff. Wehn we all can respect and accpet one another, this would will be a much better place to be. Gay, straight, male, female, young, old, muslim, christian, skinny, fat, makes no difference, and our laws should reflect that.