So it seems the fast-food industry has now become the new
battleground for politics in the United States.
No, Mike Bloomberg hasn’t put a hit out on Ronald McDonald...yet. No this time is was the CEO of Chick-fil-A,
Dan T. Cathy, who a few days ago proclaimed his opposition to gay marriage –
setting off a debate not only on gay marriage but also freedom of speech across
the country.
Since his proclamation, groups supporting gay marriage have
issued statements condemning Chick-fil-A and its CEO, calling for boycotts and
the ultimate failure of the company. In
fact his proclamation even prompted the Jim Henson Company to announce that
they would sever ties with the company, even though they’ve had a relationship
for many years.
When I first heard what the CEO of Chick-fil-A said
regarding gay marriage I wasn’t really all that shocked. The last time I was in a Chick-fil-A was
about ten years ago and I then remember hearing Christian music playing in the
lobby and I noticed they were closed on Sundays – I assumed to acknowledge the
Christian Sabbath.
I thought the CEO,
making such a personal opinion public, was selfish at best, considering the
backlash it opened up to all of his employees from those who don’t agree with
him. At worse, it speaks to the
foolishness of a business decision that does nothing but alienating its consumers
– some of the same consumers who’ve probably been patrons for years, simply
because the CEO had to make a grand political statement. Sure it’s well within his rights, but you’re
selling chicken man. You’re not changing
the world one nugget at a time. If you were in business to make grand political
statements versus making a profit then you’d be giving your chickens on a
biscuit away for free, no?
What I always find amazing is how some of us fall
comfortably into our little boxes with the predetermined views that we use to
define and separate ourselves from one another.
It’s one of the reasons why I consider myself a Libertarian. My views aren’t easily sorted and collated. I’m not your typical demographic. I can’t be ‘expected’ to follow marching
orders; voting a certain way like a good little lemming. I hate being grouped and I certainly don’t
fall in line with what “the cool people” think.
Democrats I’m pretty sure don’t like me thinking that I’m probably a
Republican and Republicans think I should be more like them - if I only had a
brain- and yes you can hum the tune to that, I did.
What really annoys me about this poultry fiasco is the
rampant hypocrisy being volleyed back and forth – by each side. You have a few
groups here, all vying to scale the summit of the socially conscious
mountaintop. Take for instance those who
are so incensed by Chick-fil-A’s stance that they’re setting up rallies against
the company around the country. Just as
the CEO of the company was within his rights to make his statement, the folks
who disagree are well within their rights to do so as well.
But it would be nice if they were consistent with their
ire. It was just a few months ago that President
Obama had the very same opinion regarding same sex marriage until he rightfully changed his mind – whether due
to convictions or softening polls with his base is debatable. Where was this group then? Where was the outrage? Quite selective.
Most of us drive a vehicle or are driven by vehicles. Over 50% of the oil the United States uses
comes from OPEC nations. Countries such
as Saudi Arabia have prosecuted homosexuals for their orientation and Iran in particular
has put men and women to death for the crime of being homosexual. In fact while
giving a speech at the UN, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denied the
very existence of homosexuals in Iran all together. I have yet to see a rally at my local Mobil
station decrying that however.
Look I get it; we rely on fuel. It’s the lifeblood of our economy and it’s vital
to our way of life. But that doesn’t
change the facts and because it would put a crimp in many lifestyles, some
choose to take on the evil incarnate that is a fast food joint. It’s very easy and awfully convenient
to thump your chest and scream at the top of your lungs at a ridiculous
decision some owner of a company made – a company that has about 1600 locations
in 39 states. But if that decision
enrages you how can you justify in ANY way the use of OPEC supplied
oil? If you’re going to have righteous
indignation shouldn’t it be somewhat consistent? Or at least look as if you’re being
consistent? Some people are consistent
and walk the walk, but so many others are playing this up far more than the
coverage it deserves.
Then you have those who are calling for a ‘Chick-fil-A Day’,
an idea spawned by the former Arkansas governor – no, not that one –
Mike Huckabee. Even Sarah Palin, the
dimmest bulb in the GOP LiteBrite playset made it a point to head to a
Chick-fil-A and snap a Twitter pic with her husband, giving the thumbs up. You betcha! It reeks of an Al Sharpton move – total
ambulance chasing – and in Palin’s case, in the name of “American Values”. Sorry I call BS. It reeks of cheap personal gratification
politics.
I also get annoyed when the argument is made that marriage
is an ‘institution’, to be respected and honored and somehow homosexuals will
somehow sully that. Yeah, let’s see the
divorce rate for first marriages in the US is between 41 to 50%. Second marriage divorce rates are between 60 and
67% and the third time is certainly not the charm as the rate is between 73 and
74%. But somehow, heterosexuals are
showing marriage great deference and respect and I didn’t even bring up the Kim
Kardashians or Britney Spears of the world.
Everyone needs to step back for a moment and stop trying to
win the award for the most socially conscious citizen in America. Chick-fil-A isn’t the reason gay marriage isn’t
becoming more accepted. The reality is -
it is. But to those who want to equate
religious beliefs automatically with oppression are doing a disservice. I was raised a Roman Catholic. I did the whole Catholic grade school
thing. I have many issues with the
Catholic Church. I believe Jesus didn’t
judge school children by what their parent’s net worth was. I believe Jesus drank out of a carpenter’s
cup and not the 24 karat gold jewel incrusted joke the Pope sips out of at each
mass. Those who claim gay marriage is going
to unravel society as we know it need to admit to themselves that the very
institutions they hold dear have done
far greater damage to society than whether or not Ellen should be allowed to
marry Portia. It’s time for people to
stop listening to the masses, the groups, the parties, the churches, the
states, and start listening to themselves and what is inside themselves. You are your best judge of what is right and
wrong. Never forget that.