Chick-Fil-A. If you haven’t heard of
the restaurant, you haven’t been watching the news. It’s everywhere. Why?
Because when the owner was asked about his opinion on gay marriage, he said he
supports traditional marriage.
First of all, why would anyone care
what the owner of a fast food chicken restaurant thinks about marriage?
Honestly, people. But that’s when things got crazy.
Apparently it’s created quite the
debate. Pro-same sex marriage groups have suggested a boycott of the restaurant
because he expressed his personal beliefs. Yes, the personal beliefs of the
same company who is CLOSED ON SUNDAY because they believe their employees
should be able to spend the day of rest with their families. Again, why are
people shocked?
On Saturday, my husband and I saw a
movie and afterwards, grabbed some lunch. There just happens to be a
Chick-Fil-A in the mall we were at and I thought it sounded good. On our way
home, I snapped a picture of my cup with the caption, “Grabbed some
lunch after the movie,” and posted it to my Facebook wall. The comments were
positive about how good the food is, how pleasant the employees are, everyone
was very nice.
And then the comment to end all comments appeared. It was
from a friend of mine, someone I’ve known for almost 30 years (keep in mind I’m
only 32). We attended kindergarten through high school together in a class of
40 students. We are (or were) good friends. He was an usher in my wedding just
6 years ago. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
He said, “I've known you long enough
to know that you posted this with a disgusting, smug grin on your face. You
truly are a scumbag and I am done with you. I am de-friending you for life;
from Facebook and from my actual, equality for all, full of love life that you
will never truly understand.”
Wow. Really? Not once did I say I
was against gay marriage. Not once did I say anything “scum-baggery”.
Apparently he forgot that my sister in law is a married to her wife (it is
legal in Iowa) and that my son was their flower boy and I was in attendance.
Apparently he forgot that I support their marriage because I love them and
honestly, what people do in their bedroom is none of my business. Apparently he
forgot that other people have opinions and disagreement does not equal hate.
But I suppose it’s only hateful when it comes from a Conservative and not hate
when a Liberal says it.
Here’s where I have a problem with
the whole debate. When you suppress others first amendment rights to say what
they believe, you’re promoting and participating in bullying and intolerance
(you know, the things the left preaches about).
If you don’t like Chick-Fil-A’s policies enough not to eat there, don’t
eat there. But your argument fails when you preach love and tolerance and turn
around and call someone who posts a picture of a fast food cup a
"scumbag" and throw away a friendship on a complete and total
assumption.
I was hoping maybe he had posted it
in error, a slip of judgement, maybe he was just having a bad evening and
needed to take it out on someone and I just happened to be that someone. I
suggested, in a comment that followed his, that maybe his mom, sister or a
mutual friend would encourage him to practice a bit of love...and tolerance. But
apparently that was not to be. Shortly after I posted my comment, his wife
“liked” his rant and then “unfriended” me too. Tolerance and love at its
finest.
All the more reason for me to
support Chick-Fil-A. I believe the owner has the right to say what he believes.
I support his first amendment rights. After all, isn’t that one of the things
my husband swore to defend when he served in the Army? He had people tell him
he was terrible for serving and that the Army were just killing innocent
Iraqis. I was in awe of him when he’d respond, “That’s your opinion and while I
don’t agree with it, I will defend your right to say it.”
When we're no longer free to say
what we believe without living in fear, what kind of nation have we become?
Tolerance and love versus
intolerance and hate. I know where I sit and I’m comfortable with it. I’m
teaching my children (yes, my boys who love BOTH of their Aunts) the same.
By Sarah Bowman
Communications Director
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