Chick-fil-A

The Chick-Fil-A meme was in response to a campus group demanding the business not build at the school. I would support them eating elsewhere but not shutting it down because of politics. That group didn't want a boycott, they wanted to make policy on three groups, the school, the business and the other students that disagreed with them.

I've never eaten at Chik Fil A. Funny, it was their Christian values that kept me from doing so, but at the same time, I didn't boycott them. Actually, I wanted to do business with them, but the only times I was near one of their restaurants, they were closed because it was Sunday. Funny thing, at that time, they handled Christianity in a non-political manner: Their signs said they were closed to allow their employees to attend religious services. Actually, I found that good PR: no political statement, but a concern for their employees. I'd worked for a restaurant that had a similar policy, although it wasn't a chain or franchise: privately owned. The owner once told me that it didn't bother him because if he had to rely on the business of one day of the week to keep his doors open, then he was in the wrong business. Nothing political there, although he finally did start opening on Sundays back in the 80's, he hated to do so.

Chik Fil A could have had my goodwill and maybe my business, had they not chosen to make their Christianity a political talking point. The minute they did that, they lost all credibility. They are a business, not a church. If they were a church, they could have held services at their restaurants every Sunday. It's a two edged sword: they are betting that they can get enough Christians to be offended by those that don't share their values.

IIRC, the school where the concern is being raised is a state university, funded, in part, by tax dollars. This blurs the line of the government not establishing or endorsing a religion. The students have their right to protest (Read the First Amendment carefully) and while it may not be in tune with your beliefs, they still have that right.

But then, I've been known to offend people by slamming my door in the faces of Jehovah's Witnesses.

I think we both support honest debate and the right to skip businesses that hold values you do not. The issue with Chick-Fla-A as I see it was simple, no student groups should ever make demands on the school or attempt a policy change. Protest all you want, make your case and if the powers that be agree you win but attempting to force your values on other student groups is wrong. I ate Chick-Fla-A yesterday, the first time in years. Not because of their beliefs but because I see a major difference between a protest and an activist turned bully. Generally, I have a live and let live policy but one any group (even ones I like) cross over the line from stating an opinion to making demands I am done with the, I haven't seen a movie in years because I want to see actors thank the people that voted for them, not make political statements. Thanks to hollywood, I have extra time and money. If I had a child in a school that let a student group make policy, i would move my child to another school. If they don't like the policies they should leave or start their own school.

Personally, I can see them doing the protest. If the school decides to go with the students, fine. If they go against the students, that doesn't mean the end of the line. The students have one other option: not doing business with the company. Doesn't need a big protest: word of mouth works best. Sure, corporate could keep it open a few years if it lost money, but eventually, if it continued losing money, it would be shut down.

Unfortunately for Chik Fil A, for the next few decades everything they do will be politicized.

is all to long of comments

As a gay man I eat there... love their food, never had a problem and have actually seen gay people working at Chicks.... every now and then I'll make some jokes, but the bottom line is that I believe in free speech and EVERYONE has a right to their opinion and beliefs.

Wow a comment on a 3yr old meme, good for you and thanks on behalf of Chik-Fil-A, I think they would want me to say that. I think the politics aside, the people that protested them should have measured them against what they do and not what activists claim they do. I am sure you are correct and they hire workers based on ability and not partner choice. I think they make great food so I will buy one when I am around one. I also seek them out because I remember seeing them feeding for free during disasters, they are a great company and good people.