Here's what I believe about the Chick-fil-A controversy:
The owner expressed an opinion about his religious beliefs. He has broken no laws, donates to charity, and helps feed volunteers who help people in need.
Since then, he has been vilified as a hater and has been the target of harassment and other bullying tactics. The people participating in the backlash against him claim to be exercising free speech, but the manner in which they do so is questionable at best. American citizens have the right to assembly and peaceful protest. However, when the participants start yelling and getting in the face of restaurant patrons, the participants are breaking the law. To physically prevent people from entering the restaurant is illegal. The political representatives elected to office are violating the trust of the voters by making statements and performing actions to bar a legitimate business from building and establishing itself in the community. In short, these are bullying tactics taken against someone for simply stating what he believes in, a first amendment right. These bullies are not helping the cause they are trying to promote. They are, in fact, hurting themselves and their message. They are doing the very things that they claim other people have done to them because they were gay. Two wrongs don't make a right.
Haven't they learned by now that these protests and bans don't work? The backlash bullies need to find another tactic because judging from the photos posted since the backlash began, they're only making Chick-fil-A more popular as business has nearly tripled. Remember when gay people protested Basic Instinct (the movie) because they claimed gay people were being portrayed unfaily as psychologically unbalanced? Sales increased. Remember when the movie The Last Temptation of Christ was protested because Jesus was portrayed to have sex with Mary Magdalene? The movie would have bombed at the box office, but because of the protests, they turned it into a hit. Remember when a housewife started a protest against the television show Married with Children? The show lost a few sponsors, but other companies took their place and the show became even more popular than ever with increased ratings.
Now, before anyone starts in on me about being anti-gay or a gay basher, here are some facts to chew on: (1) I purchased my last two vehicles from a dealership whos president is openly gay; (2) I frequently recommend a restaurant that is owned and operated by an openly gay person to people looking for a restaurant that serves good food. I would eat there more often if his hours were expanded; I purchased discount coupons for this restaurant one time, but I never got a chance to use them. I also consider this person a friend of mine; (3) I have written in my blog my belief that gay couples should be allowed to have the same relationship rights and priviledges on a civil union level as heterosexual couples. My parents had a civil union, not a marriage because they were married by the justice of the peace at the courthouse. It was not a religious ceremony ... but that's just how I see things. Even though I am 100 percent heterosexual and a zionist christian, I have gay friends and I respect their feelings and their beliefs and do not hold it against them.
Having said all this, when I go to Chick-fil-A to pick up dinner for myself, it will be because I enjoy their food or to show support for dealing with the bullying they're receiving right now.
