Thoughts on Chick-Fil-A, Part 1

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• I think what gets lost is, they aren't all Christians (in fact, most "Christians" aren't Christian) and the support is much more about the crazy implication of government stifling free speech. I certainly disagree with the CFA CEO's personal views but I'm terrified of living in a place where, if you don't agree with the mayor you don't get the permits needed to run a business.

  I know it's fun and convenient to bash Christians but if the tables were turned and it was an anti-gay mayor threatening to deny permits to a company whose CEO had personal views which supported such a cause, it wouldn't be about the religion, it'd be about the terrifying prospect of one person abusing his power to impose his views on the rest of us. I hate to see the important message lost or at least clouded. Shoot, my little speech just included the word "hate". ;)

• Tom: I disagree with the moves to deny Chick-Fil-A permits to open businesses on political grounds. I'm just a "vote with your dollar" guy: Chick-Fil-A's CEO can exercise his right to free speech all he wants as long as he's within the law, as can I.

• There are so many things wrong with this picture. For one, its quite a leap to say these are all christians, isn't it?

  Secondly, people who happen to be christians have been feeding the hungry and homeless since, well forever. In fact the largest food truck in the country (possibly the world?) is run by a church - they drive to places like New Orleans after Katrina, and provide free meals.

  Also, after the city of Joplin, MO was destroyed by a tornado last year, Chick-Fil-A employees were walking around the city, handing out free food to everyone.

• Yeah, I think I'd say that criticizing the Chick-Fil-A crowd for not doing enough charitable work is probably not the best ground to stand on. One of the embarrassing statistics for the atheist/agnostic/humanist crowd is how low their participation rate is in volunteering for food banks and shelters compared to people who identify themselves as Christian/Jewish/Islam/Buddhist/etc.

  Not to say that all or even a majority of the religious are supporters of Chick-Fil-A's political postion (ie are homophobic).

  I think we should criticize the Chick-Fil-A supporters for being homophobic. But it probably doesn't make a lot of sense to criticize the religious for not volunteering enough when we know they are volunteering more than everyone else.

• I think this whole controversy is juvenile. I'm tired of even hearing about it.

  I don't agree with a lot of the policies in China - policies that actually result in the torture and death of people - but I still buy products made in China. Just because the CEO of CFA has some ignorant opinions doesn't make his entire business terrible.

  No one threatened to boycott Apple when it was discovered that their phones were being built in factories with horrible conditions.

  When I find out CFA operates sweat shops that exploit people, i'll start thinking about boycotting the company.

  Also, you'd never see that many "meme-generator" images encouraging people to help out at a food bank or homeless shelter.

  Those noble jobs weren't even on your list of things to do on the civic holiday, dude. :)

• The reason you don't see that many people lined up to help is because trying to volunteer is next to impossible. Food banks and homeless shelter are far more interested in actual cash instead of someone getting down and dirty and using their hands to help.

  Sad, but true. I have attempted to offer my services and have been rebuffed time and again by people asking me to hand over cash. Organized charity is a failure.