EAT MOR CHIKIN!

Posted by guest blogger BroKen

You might recall that in mid July the president of Chick-Fil-A, Dan Cathy, made a statement that he supported traditional marriage. He also said that he thinks it is arrogant to try to change the definition of marriage. His innocuous statements led some mayors around the country to express outrage. They said that they didn't want businesses like Chick-Fil-A in their cities. In response to the mayors' threats, former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee used Facebook to urge people to support Chick-Fil-A by eating there on August 1st.

So, that first week of August I appeared on the front page of the Messenger-Inquirer along with others waiting for our orders to be filled at the Chick-Fil-A in Owensboro. The picture in the paper shows me with my son and daughter on either side reading the entry form for a road race sponsored by Chick-Fil-A. Our food was handed to us fifteen or twenty minutes after the photo and then we joined the rest of the family outside to eat. While the article described the controversy that led to the massive crowds there that day, nothing indicated why I was there. I could have been there merely to get some chicken. Now, I want to take a moment to explain a few reasons why I was there.

In the first place, I was there to support Mr. Cathy's right to speak his mind without government threats. It is quite chilling for an official to condemn a person for speaking their mind and also insinuate that the government will seek to block the speaker's business through licensing or zoning laws. The mayors are entitled to their opinions, of course. But they overstep the bounds of their power when they seek to punish the opinions of others.

I was also there because I agree with Mr. Cathy that redefining marriage is arrogant. Consider this little exchange between Alice and Humpty Dumpty in Wonderland.

But 'glory' doesn't mean 'a nice knock-down argument',” Alice objected.

“When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean —neither more nor less."

"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."

"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master—that's all."

You can easily imagine Alice objecting, “But 'marriage' doesn't mean 'two people of the same sex.'” Those who argue that marriage can mean two people of the same sex are just as absurdly arrogant as Humpty Dumpty.

But mainly I was there at Chick-Fil-A because traditional views of marriage and family are under attack. These views, which should be seen as decent and wholesome, are often equated even with racism. Such attacks are an attempt to shun or shame we who hold these views into silence. Buying a chicken sandwich is a simple way to say we will not be silent.

Oh, and the chicken tastes good, too!

Comments

[Patricia]

I love Big Fur Hat's rejoinder to that disgruntled crowd of anti-Americans, as real Americans flocked to Appreciation Day: "Eat more crow!"

[Zoe]

I agree wholeheartedly, the government should not put itself in the position to regulate a persons beliefs - or lack of.