Who: Dan Cathy, President and COO of Chick-fil-A
What Cathy Said: “We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit,” Cathy said. “We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.” The Baptist Press 7/16/12
The Responses (Chronologically):
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel: “Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago values.”
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino: The Mayor told the Boston Herald last week he doesn’t want Chick-fil-A in his city. The company is considering opening a location there. “Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong in Boston. You can’t have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against a population,” he said.
Philadelphia City Councilman James Kenney: Kenney sent a letter to Cathy, telling him to “take a hike and take your intolerance with you” and vowing to introduce a resolution at the next council meeting condemning the company.
Mike Huckabee: Declares Wednesday, August 1st, “Chick-fil-A appreciation day.” Participants are asked to eat at the restaurant this day. No signs, no protests, just support Chick-fil-A.
GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation): In Response to Huckabee, encourage participants to donate to the cost of a Chick-fil-A meal to their organization on “Chick-fil-A appreciation day” and have a same sex kiss day at Chick-fil-A.
What Happen on Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day: Over 550,000 people signed up for the event on Huckabee’s Facebook page. Chick-fil-A smashed sales records. Locations throughout the country ran out of chicken.
The National Same Sex Kiss Day: It is today. I have not checked out pictures of same sex couples kissing in Chick-fil-A. Nor have I looked up pictures of heterosexual couples kissing at Chick-fil-A. The only other on-line news that I saw was that a Chick-fil-A in Torrance, CA, was vandalized by activists last night.
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY:
I suppose we do have the first amendment right to protest in silly costumes.
I would like to start by paraphrasing my pastor, Dr. Swoope. She frequently says that sin is sin. But she also couples that with the statement that we all sin and we still need to love each other (Hopefully I conveyed your message OK Pastor). I also am reminded that God says we are not to judge others sins. The Pastor frequently reminds us that marriage out of wedlock is a sin as well. That is by far the most prevalent sexual sin in our society.
We all want to rush to hating each other so easily. Mr. Cathy expressed an opinion about what he believed was Biblically correct. How quickly things got out of proportion. This is not a condemnation of any ideology. This is a comment on how we express our beliefs. God tells us to love each other. In all our actions we need to ask if we are fulfilling the Lord’s commandment.
We have more power than we tend to believe. Without carrying a sign, screaming words of hatred, or donating to a right or left wing political group the people spoke. People spoke by simply going to a restaurant and getting lunch and/or dinner. The results were epic. Christians often complain of diminishing power in a secular world. But the Lord will always have our backs. And God’s power is unmatched. Of course those offended by Cathy’s comments are free to never set foot in the restaurant.
Cows everywhere need our help! Especially with spelling.
Dan Cathy’s comments were simply that- his comments. He has a right to say them. If you don’t want to hear them just don’t read them. I am writing this blog in a coffee shop owned by a gay couple. It is a nice play to write and they have great Chai tea. I don’t need to read the gay magazines that lay around the establishment. We have the first amendment right to free speech, but also the same right to tune out what we don’t want to hear.
Finally, this Blog making me hungry. As the cows says, “EAT MOR CHIKIN” Hopefully I’ll run into some of you. It’s a great, well run restaurant. And please no kissing- it’s gross in a restaurant regardless of your sexual orientation. 🙂
God Bless,
Mark
Docmarks Place's Blog 