I do not know why I avoided this for so long. But I have. And I feel shame.
We live in a country where we can stand up and make our voice be heard. We are free to be on either side of the issue. We can teach and guide our children in our beliefs. We can do the same with a company, a school or a group we found. We can hang it all out there.
To this end, I applaud Chick-fil-A. Good for them for shutting down on Sunday, there is nothing wrong with that. They follow the belief system set out for them by the religion they subscribe to. They voiced an opinion that will gain them a certain following but will lose them a group of consumers as well. In a world that often hides behind the guise and anonymity of the internet (hmm...does the finger point at me here?), they truly put their money where their mouth is.
History will find Chick-fil-A wrong. In fact, on a certain level, history probably already has. That is the beauty of history. But their rote dedication to the instruction of their religion will become their downfall.
The beauty of the human race is that we learn, we evolve, we study our past mistakes. Our forefathers dealt with social issues of their time, it is our turn to deal with the issues we are confronted with today
If you have time, read this CNN.com article by Sarah Aarthun. If not, know that there are plenty who are willing to stand in opposition of Chick-fil-a.
"But at the local level,
Chick-fil-A is meeting resistance from city officials in Boston,
Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
Philadelphia City
Councilman James Kenney sent a letter to Cathy this week, telling the
CEO in blunt terms to "take a hike and take your intolerance with you,"
and vowing to introduce a resolution at the next council meeting
condemning the company.
"There is no place for this type of hate in our great City of Brotherly and Sisterly Affection," Kenney wrote.
San Francisco Mayor
Edwin M. Lee tweeted: "Closest #ChickFilA to San Francisco is 40 miles
away & I strongly recommend that they not try to come any closer."
Mayor Emanuel, a
Democrat, said this week that "Chick-fil-A's values are not Chicago
values. They're not respectful of our residents, our neighbors and our
family members."
And in Boston, where
Chick-fil-A is considering opening a location, Mayor Thomas Menino, also
a Democrat, made it clear the chain would not be welcome.
"I don't want an
individual who will continue to advocate against people's rights. That's
who I am and that's what Boston's all about," he said."
This CNN.com article by Sarah Aarthun as well.
"The Jim Henson Co., whose Jim Henson's Creature Shop toys have been served up in Chick-fil-A's meals for kids, announced last week that it would no longer associate itself with the chain.
"The Jim Henson Co. has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over 50 years and we have notified Chick-fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors,” the company said on its Facebook page."
We are making progress. Too slow at times but despite the resistance, we are moving forward.
"The Jim Henson Co., whose Jim Henson's Creature Shop toys have been served up in Chick-fil-A's meals for kids, announced last week that it would no longer associate itself with the chain.
"The Jim Henson Co. has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over 50 years and we have notified Chick-fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors,” the company said on its Facebook page."
We are making progress. Too slow at times but despite the resistance, we are moving forward.
