 Editor's Note: Steve McDonagh owns and operates Hearty Restaurant and The Hearty Boys Caterers with his partner, Dan Smith. In addition to winning the first season of Food Network's hit series "Food Network Star," Smith and McDonagh live in Chicago with their son, Nate. I am not a Dan Cathy basher. I respect Chick-fil-A's Chief Operating Officer for taking an honest stand and putting his business in the line of fire by clarifying the company’s stance on gay marriage. It takes guts to be responsible for your words. It takes a person of conviction who is willing to bear the repercussions from those who dislike what he has to say. And in a political climate where our politicians are afraid to say anything off-prompter, lest it be twisted and dissected for hidden meaning, the responsible are difficult to find. I’ve been vocal about my political and social convictions for years. My guess is that Cathy would be surprised at how much he and I have in common. Like Cathy, we are a family-run business. We cherish the remembered moments of covering our son in a fresh tablecloth when meetings and naptime collided, know the exhaustion of late night pillow talk being business-related, and the pride we felt when Nate first said he wants to someday run the business (be warned, he wants to make it a combo Chinese takeout and veterinary clinic). Like Cathy, we use the power of our brand to back up our beliefs - and this is where the tricky part of responsibility starts. Unlike the nameless Internet ninjas, what we say not only reflects on us as individuals but onto our businesses. And by “business,” I don't mean just our bottom line but the people who work for us and those that do business with us. How does what Steve McDonagh says reflect on someone who holds a position in The Hearty Boys? How does what Dan Cathy says make his gay and lesbian employees feel? Or gay and lesbian franchise owners? Or gay and lesbian stockholders? Like Cathy, “we want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families." But when Dan Cathy says “strengthen families,” he’s excluding my family: Dan, Steve and Nate. He means except Abby, Julie and Carly, or Brad, John, Max and Jack-Jack. We obviously don’t fall under the “families” heading and we must be marginalized. No longer. So, when Mike Huckabee called for August 1 to be Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, we decided to make August 1 Chick-fil-Gay Appreciation Day at Hearty Restaurant in Chicago. When a guest purchases a fried chicken sandwich with pickles on a toasted buttered bun, the proceeds will go directly to Equality Illinois to help families that some feel don’t deserve strengthening. And here the similarities completely end. Unlike Cathy, I have no interest in alienating my client base or offending my guests. I run on a business plan of inclusion. A Chick-fil-A statement stressed that the chain is inclusive as well. Its more than 1,600 stores are committed to treating gay and lesbian employees and guests with the same “honor, dignity and respect” that they give everyone else, but my community knows better. There’s no honor, dignity and respect in thanking a client for a purchase and using LGBT dollars to fund programs aimed at destroying our families. Finally, we stand on different sides of history. Sadly, Dan Cathy is on the wrong side. Cathy can refer to us a “prideful and arrogant,” but I think those words are well-suited to those who sit in judgment and speak for their version of God. Sixty years of civil rights history teach us that basic human rights will always win out. You can’t stop equal rights anymore than you can take back that seat on the bus. This is our new reality. You can’t stop progress, as the man says. The tide has changed, and the escalating shouts we hear are the cries of the self-righteous who never imagined they’d be the ones fighting the current. More on Chick-fil-A and religion: Are you eating at Chick-fil-A on August 1? Share your story with CNN iReport Christian groups allege threats to religious freedom in anti-Chick-fil-A campaigns A social media storm over Chick-fil-A Overheard on CNN.com: Readers defend Chick-fil-A Ed Helms has beef with Chick-fil-A Eatocracy: Fast food with a side of faith 10 religious companies besides Chick-fil-A Chick-fil-A controversy sheds light on restaurant's Christian DNA |
Mr. Cathy never said he hated gays nor did he ever refuse to serve them in his restaurants. He simply stated his faith.
We need to remember that tolerance is not a Christian virtue. Charity, justice, mercy, prudence, honesty — these are Christian virtues.Evil preaches tolerance until it is dominate and then it seeks to silence good. We should be mindful when the secular world demands tolerance for all, tolerance for all means we cannot have standards of our faith to live by, because those standards obviously require we be intolerant of sins this world has embraced. We are to love everyone but not to accept ways that are against God's word.
And so on it goes, Chckengate continues, wake me when this silliness is over ;)
We need to focus on the needs of the people not having health care, homes and jobs. the rich getting richer by the day, the house shot down raising taxes on the rich. I don't agree with Obama on certain issues but he is trying to help the middle and poor. Last thing we need is same sex marriage or some issue that should not be a concern. LGBT needs to get right with God and the GOP need to get right with God. Everyone needs to get right with God. Country is sinking because of the morals of America and the direction it's going. Money problems because the Rich want to make more money and GOP is the leading runner of this money situation. Now, there is a few Dems doing the same darn thing! Come on people wake up!!
An organiztion I worked for told me after I'd been there for 9 months that I'd have to accept homosexuality as a valid lifestyle or I could be terminated. I'd just had a great performance review and decent raise. Rather than try to fight it, I just quit. I'm not really digging the g/l community's swakings of outrage
I'm an atheist and bisexual – I support gay marriage and I certainly disagree with the views expressed by Dan Cathy. That is my right as an individual and as an individual I am free to protest if I choose.
However I am very disturbed by the government thugs in DC, Chicago, Philadelphia and Boston that seem to think that it is acceptable to abuse their power to punish Chick Fil-A for having a different opinion than they do. None of us should tolerate this tyranny. These "Mayor's" should be ashamed and every citizen should be alarmed at the arrogance and pompous attitudes of these goons that think that these actions are acceptable.
Not in my name!!
I agree 100%. Its interesting that someone like Rhom will try to legislate HIS morality. His old Boss feels the same way, that his opinion is all that mattrers and everyone else hould accept it.
The LGBT community has become too entitled. At some point there has to be acceptance that not everyone has to accept the LGBT lifestyle. This is not to condone discrimination, this is simply to say that there are those of us with a distinct preference for a more traditional set of values and the LGBT community is going to have to accept this.
They should just marry themselves without the authority of the government and eventually the government will have to recognize. Government is a symbol of power, and loses authority when it is no longer recognized. Just bypass them and do your own ceremonies and recognize another authority which grants your rights.
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You are right Steve, you are a lot like Dan Cathy. Just like Dan some of your values and beliefs offend others. How do your conservative employees and customers feel about your stance on gay marriage? There are some people who truly believe that the union between two men or two women is a complete mockery of what God himself intended. The Bottom line is that everyone has an opinion, everyone is different. And quite frankly, Chick fil a doesn't need gay people's money to continue to be succesful. I do not have anything against gay people nordo I have a hate agenda. I just think that we should all learn how to respect the opinons of others. Stop trying to force your lifestyle on people who's values are insteeled in them by a creature who will say yay or nay on Judgement Day. Go home protestors, there is nothing you can do.
I agree with you. I love the headline "throngs" of people go to kiss off. How ridiculous. I would like to see the numbers for Wednesday and the numbers for Friday.
Just one more thing: If you ask a gay woman to kiss a a straight man she would say that would make her gag. Well, gayness makes me gag. So what....
So maybe the solution is for you not to kiss a gay person. Problem solved. If that Gay person wants to marry another gay person, it's no differnent than two people sharing a flavor of ice cream you don't like, but it doesn't have to ruin your ice cream. However most people who gag the thought of someone else's sexual orientation there is probably some unresolved sexual issue on their own ends. In your case, perhaps it's those recurring Gay lesbian fantasies you just can't shake off that disturb you?
I am proud to be an American who knows what God intended. He certainly did not intend thousand island dressing for fried chicken sandwiches. Thousand Island dressing is Gay.
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Cathy is only wrong if you have the morals of a ally cat or a dog in heat in a third world country. Evolution alone begs to differ with the homosexual agenda that cannot reproduce but ideas. You can only reproduce ideas – no natural born children. Sex is a strong motivator. Unnatural sex is even a stronger motivator because those trapped by it will defend their desire above the scientific evidence against it and the theological evidence to destroy it. Look at Sodom and Gomorrah and you will see the extent to which perversion controls every aspect of the prisoners body, soul, and mind. God will forgive them if they are willing to turn. He forgives us all of we are willing to turn.
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I some questions: Why is it that the only religious freedom that needs protection is the Republcian right wing one? What about the Chistians that love everyone regardless? Why do Huckabee and company want to deny us our freedom? Finally: how and when do they talk to God AND get a response?
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To all the upset straight folks. You may deny the right to love and marry, all you wish. You may turn your heads at the sight of a same gender kiss. But like it or not gay people have always existed and always will exist. If you choose to hate, refuse to see and continue to hold tight to your bible, your traditions of marriage will destroy family's. You allow us the right to exist but refuse us the right to live. You have allowed your bible, your traditions of marriage to speak hate. You have allowed your opinion to prevent my right to love, to live. You will not make me love someone I do not. You will not prevent me from loving someone I do. I can not expect you to give me the right to love, to live. For it is not yours to give. I have the right to love, to live I gave it to myself. It was mine to give. It will be mine to marry. You will know it, It was never your choice. -LOVE-
sadly you have swallowed the lies perpetuated by this lifestyle. As we look across the landscape of the world We see Gender. Not just females, not just males. That is evidence God created us that way. He gave us his laws that we are to live by. The sexual relationship is exclusive to married male and female relationship. Of course you have the right to live how you want. But GOd reveals the consequences in his word. It is too your wisdom to heed it's warnings. Otherwise the day will come when salvation and forgiveness are no longer possible. Many who live a gay lifesyle are tragically finding out the consequences of their choice when they die, their eternal spirit is plunged into hades, the place of torment and punishment. They cry, and suffer, but no one hears. For them it is too late. God speaks in his word, now is the day of salvation. call out to him while he still may be found. open the bible and read it with an open mind. Allow the lord to speak to you. God can reveal truth and change our hearts.
God is a God of mercy and love. He sent Jesus his son to die on a cross to pay the price for yours and my sin. He states " the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus christ the lord". He also states " GOd does not want anyone to perish but all to be saved and come to the truth in Jesus Christ" When GOd created the world he included his laws. Does not he have the right. We owe God everything. we live on his earth, breath his air, Use resources that belong to him. We owe our exsistence to God. I am grateful to be here and desire to honor and obey him. history is changing very soon. THe lord will establish his kingdom on the earth as God foretold centurys ago. I want to be included in that era not against him. "for God so loved the word that he gave his only begotten son that Whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life"
To all the upset straight folks. Im straight and I 'm not upset. You may deny the right to love and marry, all you wish. Yes we can advocate our opinion and vote accordingly. You may turn your heads at the sight of a same gender kiss. I do turn away just as my gay friends don't like seeing straight people kiss. But like it or not gay people have always existed and always will exist. They exist for alot of reasons, somre born taht wayt, some molested as children,,,some choose an alternative lifestyle. If you choose to hate, refuse to see and continue to hold tight to your bible, your traditions of marriage will destroy family's.The gay argument is that I am hater and I am not. I simplly don't agree with your views on this issue. And family is not destroyed but I do know that if put all the gay guys on an island their species would die out because they cann procreate. You allow us the right to exist but refuse us the right to live. No one has ever refused you the right to live. You have allowed your bible, your traditions of marriage to speak hate.The bible does not speak hate. You have allowed your opinion to prevent my right to love, to live. /Go and love someone and live your life. You will not make me love someone I do not. You will not prevent me from loving someone I do. I can not expect you to give me the right to love, to live. For it is not yours to give. I have the right to love, to live I gave it to myself. It was mine to give. It will be mine to marry. You will know it, It was never your choice. -LOVE
TORRANCE CALIF. CHICK-FIL-A VANDALISED BY HATEFUL GAY ACTIVISTS.
yeah right
Read on, genius...
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Chick-fil-A-Protest-Kiss-Demonstration-Torrance-Vandalism-164878736.html
so no vandalism from the conservatives but can't say so about the gay activist or the bully who drove through the chick fi la and harrassed that poor woman who was trying to do her job. tacky
We're a group of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with helpful information to paintings on. You have done an impressive task and our whole neighborhood will probably be grateful to you.
Where I Chic Fil a, I think I would go to where most people don't care what the CEO thinks as long as the product and the service is good. I suspect that that is probably 75% of the country. I would withdraw from Chicago and Boston and their PC politicians and never look back.
I would like to remind everyone to be vigilant in protecting their bigotry and ignorance at all costs, otherwise the left leaning commie liberal media will take away your guns, freedoms, and raise your taxes as well as destroy your marriages. In fact if a single gay marriage would occur millions of traditional marriages would spontaneously self destruct and Americans would start to play Gay tea-sipping Cricket instead of masculine tobacco chewing baseball.
Leave cricket out of your rubbish. There is nothing masculine about baseball. It evolved from a woman's game called Rounders
I'm going tomorrow just because I go every Friday. PDA is annoying no matter who's doing it. As long as noone gets in the way of my two chicken sandwiches, large waffle fries and Dr. Pepper there won't be a problem
amen!
I would show up because they gave $5 gift ccertificates away...pretty sure most that showed up for that reason. Incentives will draw. Now if they were giving out cholesteral tests that would probably deter a few. The owner can say anything he wants it's his belief. They don't print in on their boxes, bags or put it on their logo. People will continue to kill themselves with crappy food no matter what you say. If this guy really cared about values how about coming up with a better choice than fried everything. He's killing them softly and getting rich doing it.
You do know that they serve grilled chicken and salads as well, don't you?
I think some people miss the point in this controversy. Politicians can have personal opinions and make their own personal choices, such as don't eat the chiken. But the audacity of fools like Mobster Don Rham Emanuel (mayor of Chicago) to act as the Thought-police for its citizenry and ignore law by threatening free enterprise and Freedom of Speech (as does his good buddy President Obama) is what the American people should stand against. These "representatives' should be booted from the political body post haste. This is one of numerous reasons for term limits and voting rights legislation requiring stricter standards. Voting is a privilege, not a right. We don't need another term with King Obama and his serfdom playing the race card, class warfare, and the list goes on...
because you are a grease-gobbling xian bigot?
OUR GOD IS AN AWSOME GOD. UNCHANGING FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME TO THIS DAY. HIS PRINCIPLES ARE CONSTANT, HIS LAWS ARE UNCHANGING. THE ENTIRE OF RECORDED HISTORY IS BUT A DAY IN THE EYES OF OUR GOD. TRUTH IS A THING YOU CANNOT CHANGE. WE LOVE YOU FOR BEING GAY MAKES YOU NO LESS LOVEABLE IN GODS EYES THAT WHO I AM DOES. BUT DO NOT BE MISTAKEN IN THIS. MY SIN IS STILL SIN. UNCHANGING UNRLENTNING UNFORGIVEN....BUT FOR THE BLOOD OF CHRIST......
All I heard was static.
cram it clown
Putting things into caps actually makes it harder to read. It would be an issue if the stuff you wrote wasn't actually drivel.
I find it funny that many LGBT groups don't want marriage to be called "Gay Marriage" but want to use words like "LGBT dollars"... dollars are dollars. In that respect, ether way you look at it, all companies have the right to support who they want and you have the right to support their views as you did with your restaurant. What you really wan't is Chick-Fil-A to believe what you believe, that's what it boils down to. Your really being a bigot in this case.
No, chik fil hate wants to deny civil rights to citizens. But you keep drinking your poison Tea and gobbling those greasy chickens and patting yourself on the back. You'll need it when that stroke hits.
I have yet to see ANYONE give one example of Chick-Fil-A firing someone because of their orientation, or denying service or anything for that matter. MR Kyte is correct, the issue here is that the gay ciommunity is going after the restaurants because they have the odacity of not agreeing with them....well boo hoo hoo. Freedom of speach is allowing others to say thing you do not like. Government should not get involved in what is essentially a consumer issue. Deal with it
I have yet to see ANYONE give one example of Chick-Fil-A firing someone because of their orientation, or denying service or anything for that matter. MR Kyte is correct, the issue here is that the gay community is going after the restaurants because they have the odacity of not agreeing with them....well boo hoo hoo. Freedom of speach is allowing others to say things you do not like. Government should not get involved in what is essentially a consumer issue. Deal with it
What civil right does CFA want to take away? Adults already have the right to marry and that right is not under fire. Adults just don't have the right to marry a person of the same sex, that would be special consideration not a right. So again, what civil right is CFA trying to take away?
@Tara C. you are right
maybe gays are gay because they cant get a girl.. lol jk
I'm an atheist, liberal, pro-gay-rights woman, but I believe Chik-Fil-A has a right to its opinion without having the wrath of a nation heaped upon it. It's clear that, in valuing diversity, we are not allowed to have diverse opinions without bullies acting as mindless drones spewing the same type of hate they pretend to combat. CFA is a freaking restaurant chain. If you want change, go protest the politicians that aren't acting to establish gay rights. Also, the picture you posted is clearly a deliberate attempt to make CFA food seem wilted and unappealing. The food is obviously not from Chik-Fil-A, and that little bit of attempted manipulation is just tacky.
You are correct Tara; however I absolutely disagree with Dan Cathy, and I will not be returning to his restaurant chain (not that I ate there all that often before this). It is up to the consumer to deal with this matter; we don't need to condemn the man for his opinion, but I believe that since he decided to make his personal stance the stance of his business, he does have the right to be judged by the consumer. There's no point in protesting such a philosophy; simply don't eat there.
you lost me at atheist being that anyone who says in their hearts that there is no God is by definition a fool. I don;t listen to fools.
@omar – well, ya made me look up the definition of 'fool', and by golly-gee, it didn't match what you said. But guess what, your statement matched.
Fool – a weak-minded or idiotic person. a silly or stupid person; a person who lacks judgment or sense
I wonder how many ChiKKK fil A employees are g-ay, or even g-ay married.
ChiKKK fil A is in good company, the first amendment allows hate groups like the KKK to have a discriminatory "opinion" too.
Good work trashy CNN journalist, The KKK is just "standing up for what it believes in" too.
so now we should only say that we support gays,no other way???are we still a free country ??
Perhaps we should just support each other as human beings, period.
Gay people are people too and they are citizens and need the same protection under the SECULAR law! These conservative Bible thumpers are in the wrong and growing in the minority. The Nation is moving towards greater freedom for Gays and can't be stopped. Bigoted religion should stay out of it, besides Jesus said to love god and treat others well. He never said a thing about gays or even abortion!
I was only in fourth grade when I realized that I was attracted to men and, at the time, I thought it was just a sexual problem. But as I began to explore the roots of my homosexuality I discovered that my sexual attractions were actually the result of an emotional need. When I reached adolescence my body started telling me I wanted sex from a man, but in my heart I knew it wasn't really about sex. Even before adolescence I didn't fantasize about sex. My fantasy was that a man would just wrap his arms around me, look me in the eye, and tell me that I meant something to him.
That's what I was Missing.
It wasn't a desire for sex, it was a desire for genuine love and affirmation from someone of my own gender. In fact, the most healing experience I've had since realizing that I didn't have to be gay was meeting a man named Lenny Carluzzi who walked away from homosexuality 28 years ago.
When I first met Lenny at an Italian restaurant in Chicago, he instantly wrapped his arms around me, looked me in the eye, and told me that he loved me. That moment was the beginning of my healing process and, since then, God has put dozens of men in my life to provide the non-sexual love and affirmation that I need in order to heal the wounds of my past and grow into heterosexuality. These relationships have meant the world to me. They nurture my soul. Like a light in an underground tunnel, they provide a path of escape from the prison of disconnection and abandonment. It's a prison that I still remember, although the memory fades a little more each time one of these guys opens his arms, and I walk right in.
Many of the men that I counsel are desperate for this kind of healthy male intimacy. They will not share their homosexual struggle with the men in their church because they fear rejection. These men dream of being held in the arms of another man and hearing the words "I love you." Indeed, some them will literally cry into the phone when I tell them that I love them because they have never heard these words from another man before. One man put it well when he said, "As a gay man, I've found it's easier for me to get sex on the streets than to get a hug in church."
If you're not sure how to hug someone who is struggling with homosexuality, just open your arms. If they need your touch, they'll walk right in. Allowing someone who has struggled with homosexuality to get close to you is the greatest gift you can give them. Whether this takes the form of touch, talk, or even something as cliché as going to a movie, learn their love language, and then speak it!
By Chad W. Thompson (Author of Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would)
http://lovinghomosexuals.com/gay-pride-meets-christian-humility.html
Well gays have to try so hard to change nature! Man and Woman! That is how we are born that is how it should be..I am tired of all the gays whining about equal rights.....last time I checked Gays still can have great jobs, drive nice cars, work wherever they want and pay the same taxes as everyoen else! Stop bitching
Oh and the Bible (word of God) mentions that it is an abomination several times. Love the sinner, hate the sin.
SoWhat,
I'm so sorry for you.. you don't know what the bible says because it obvious you dont' read it.. so please know your facts of the Bible before you say anything! Not once did Don Cathy say he Hated gay's, nor did he say God hated gay's. Its not about you being gay, its about sin, Every on has it. Sin is Sin... Being Gay is just one of many sins... I love Gays, Jesus loves Gays. Its the SIN that God cannot accept. Just like there is some Sin in my life, the difference is, I have to ask for Forgiveness everyday, and for the people who sin and don't and for forgiveness, are the ones that are lost. I don't have a problem with Gays.. I'm just sad for their souls.
I'm pretty sure abortion falls under Thou Shal Not Kill.
I have to point out, that the writer here has done exactly what Cathy did. The author has openly stated his beliefs in a forum that many people will read. So that does beg the question, will the LGBT community now come out in full support of his company? Will the news run his quote at 5 o'clock, and make a huge deal out of it, will the extreme right wing come out and blast him for professing his support for gay marriage? Will city leaders, and politicians rail against him, and his company, for making such a statement? No. that is what makes the Chic Fil a story so over the top. The people who work for that company are well aware of the values of the company they work for, just as this man's employees are quite aware of his values. If this man were to franchise out his company, the people who opened stores would be well aware of his viewpoints, and beliefs, just as the people who opened Chic fil a stores were and are aware. All this story really shows is how un-responsible the media, the politicians, and the city leaders have been when one person states a belief they do not agree with. The tolerant have been shown to be anything but tolerant, and that is for both sides. And quiet honestly, both sides lose on this one.
I wonder if a bunch of hetros will show up and start making out at their resturant??
The more you try to push your agenda of acceptance on people via courts and media stunts, the less legitimate your concerns seem. When your idea of marriage is that you watch tv together and then go find some other man to have sex with because you're bored with your partner, or he has AIDS and doesn't want you to get infected, or you're his dominate and want to humiliate him again by showing him you don't value him sexually, or, in short, you don't recognize that marriage implies monogamy, and then have the audacity to question how it threatens traditional marriage, people stop listening to you.
For all the vote and attention-seeking these politicians are doing, they would do well to remember this. Gay people make up less than 10% of the population, no matter how vocal they are. Those of us who you've now shown you would violate our first amendment rights by using the power of government to control, hide, or change our opinions, otherwise we won't be allowed to run businesses, or be employed, etc have now seen the truth of your heart.
You support totalitarianism over freedom. It isn't gay marriage and rights you support, it's restricting the rights of free citizens to contribute their ideas, even the ones you don't support, to the discussion. It's the tool of those who would hide the truth rather than free it, and we can no longer trust you.
Resign from your offices in shame. There's nothing wrong with not supporting Chik-fil-a with your money, but there is something wrong with restricting building permits based on the free speach of one man, no matter who that man is to a company, especially when there's absolutely nothing illegal about that speach, and the debate over the 'rightness' of the issue is far from over.
You are the villian in this story.
Funny, because I saw that CFA's consumer rating went down 41% this past week.
As a gay man, I exercise my power to protest by not giving a person or business my money. I may disagree with Dan Cathy's stance on the GLBT community and marriage equality, but I respect his right to have his opinion, just as I want others to respect my right to have my opinion even though they don't agree with me.
The bottom line is that if you're a GLBT person as I am, you can make the choice to patronize Chik-Fil-A or not. I choose NOT to. There are many GLBT owned and operated business in my area that I patronize.
you're gay .. you probably have aids.
AIDS is not a gay disease. You can get it from your girlfriend too.
If his hand had AIDS the rest of him would too.
ARE you Serious – Too bad your mother didn't flush you when she had the miscarriage.
Thank you. Believe that there are many straight people who share your feelings on this. If you had a restaurant in my area, and you had the best chicken, I would eat there. And I would support your right to state your opinion whether I agree with it or not. That is the American way.
Jules.. to imply that one cannot conduct commerce based on ones views.. and to even go as far as to take action on that stance is a violation constitutional rights. Secondly, to attack the way you lefties have attacked those of faith, is an attack on religious liberty. The fact is Dan Cathy said that he believed in the traditional since of the word for marriage.. as does 90% of the world.. The media and gay rights activists put words in his mouth to get you little lemmings all riled up. The first thing you do is start attacking people of faith calling them intolerant bigots when nothing could be farther from the truth.. Bottom line here Jules, is that the disgusting acts by gay rights activists is far more intolerant and bigoted than anything Chick-Fil-A has done. Fact.. Chick-Fil-A only expressed their views, but did not discriminate and treated everyone exactly the same.. I mean really, you can't tell a gay person from a straight person anyone.. I do not approve of homosexuality, and my gay friends know this.. But I don't look at them as though they were gay.. I look at them as people.. but now, I wonder, thanks to you and intolerant bigoted j@ck@$$'s like yourself, I have to wonder if they too harbor hateful nasty feelings towards me.
If you support Chick-fil-a, you support discrimination. If you don't realize this, you need to step out of your bubble. It's is protecting you from intelligence.
Here's some intelligence for ya.. There is no discrimination.. the 14th Amendment guarantees everyone their individual rights equally. You have the same individual rights as I do. We both have the right to decide we wish to be gay or not to be gay. The marriage issue is a states rights issue and we all have limits on who we can marry. I cannot have 5 wives and I cannot marry my mom, your 5 yr old niece or another man. Neither can you.. and in that way, the laws apply equally to everyone.. and therefore, there is no discrimination. I believe marriage is between one man and one woman as do millions of others.. including Muslims, Hindu's and other religions around the world.. Christians are the only ones stepping up to defend that view. That view has been the same view since the dawn of civilization. It is none of my business if you want to be gay, but you make it my business when you want to redefine marriage.. Notice, I never said I anything about civil unions, because gay people are going to be around. I don't approve of nor will I celebrate anyone's desire to be gay. You will never get my approval even if so called "Hate crime" legislation is introduced. Either way, that would be violating my religious liberty.. Christians for the most part, and Chick-Fil-A have done nothing to discriminate against gays.. But plenty has been done to attack them. However, the powers that be would have you believe we hate gays and so on..not true.. Secondly, Chick-Fil-A did not differentiate between gays and straights. They served everyone exactly the same regardless of views. I have several gay friends and co-workers.. they know exactly where I stand and they don't call me names and they don't go around attacking me for my beliefs. I mean what are you going to do? Start protesting at churches now? You going to start having Christians locked up or fined because of their beliefs? Sounds an awful lot like persecution to me.. As far as I can tell, you and your kind are the intolerant bigots..and most of you are just sheep jumping on the bandwagon.. let me tell you this.. I as a Christian will never back down, even to the point of death.
I'm a heterosexual Christian, but you Jeff, are something bigger than I am – you are also an arrogant ignoramus. That perfect blend of arrogance and stupidity that makes us Americans feared by the rest of the world. You are also dangerous. So you believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, but instead of limiting your views to your own marriage, you feel the entitlement to force your view down the throats of others. So to arrogance and ignorance, add coerciveness to your list of redeeming qualities. "I have several Gay" – speaks volumes about your condescension towards these friends of yours, who like pet dogs might earn your affection but never your full respect. For the record, the remarks by Dan Cathy were completely inappropriate for someone running a business. I happen to despise bigots but I wouldn't turn them away by speaking out against them. For time immemorial people like you have discriminated against minorities in various categories – be it sexual preference, skin color, gender in the workplace. You sir, are what America has had to overcome to get to where it is. You are the Joker of Gotham City – that unpleasant arrogant bigot who opposes anything that does not confirm to his petty definition of the universe. You really make me sick.
If you don't realize that supporting a ban on same sex marriage is discrimination, you seriously need to educate yourself. Marriage was a ritual long before man invented god.
BTW, you are no friend to anyone in the LGBT community. You support discrimination and aren't even intelligent enough to know it.
"Finally, we stand on different sides of history. Sadly, Dan Cathy is on the wrong side."
that depends on the historian. do we take into account the oldest, longest-lived history? [China] or do we take into account archaeological history [Darwin, natch]?
its my view of said hisotry that no civilization that was in support of pro-same-sex culture has thrived. ever. i can name a few history that have died, though. i guess reference to Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim and Bela as referenced in the Bible, Torah and the Quran do not count as historical reference, right? they are just scary folk tales meant to instill a ridiculous sense of fear into population for the sake of control. i guess i could site Rome as having failed to support a secular [oppulent] culture that was gay-inclusive.
sadly, pro-gay-rights supports are typically revisionistic in their view of noting any true 'history'.
ask yourself. what happens when China takes over as the global power. do you plan to protest the other 25% of the manufactured goods in the world due to their [communists's] stance on gay-rights?
yeh, i thought not. the fact is that those whom are perpetuating genetic diversity through heterosexual procreation, have perpetuated ALL of history since the dawn of man. anything else is support of a fantasy world where everyone is happy-go-lucky; free to do whatever they want with whomever they want, all the time. forever.
there is no consequence for trying to be happy, right?
personally i cant wait till China takes over as a global power, if only to destroy these illusions.
If you support Chick-fil-a, you support discrimination. PERIOD. No way to argue your point.
I was only in fourth grade when I realized that I was attracted to men and, at the time, I thought it was just a sexual problem. But as I began to explore the roots of my homosexuality I discovered that my sexual attractions were actually the result of an emotional need. When I reached adolescence my body started telling me I wanted sex from a man, but in my heart I knew it wasn't really about sex. Even before adolescence I didn't fantasize about sex. My fantasy was that a man would just wrap his arms around me, look me in the eye, and tell me that I meant something to him.
That's what I was Missing.
It wasn't a desire for sex, it was a desire for genuine love and affirmation from someone of my own gender. In fact, the most healing experience I've had since realizing that I didn't have to be gay was meeting a man named Lenny Carluzzi who walked away from homosexuality 28 years ago.
When I first met Lenny at an Italian restaurant in Chicago, he instantly wrapped his arms around me, looked me in the eye, and told me that he loved me. That moment was the beginning of my healing process and, since then, God has put dozens of men in my life to provide the non-sexual love and affirmation that I need in order to heal the wounds of my past and grow into heterosexuality. These relationships have meant the world to me. They nurture my soul. Like a light in an underground tunnel, they provide a path of escape from the prison of disconnection and abandonment. It's a prison that I still remember, although the memory fades a little more each time one of these guys opens his arms, and I walk right in.
Many of the men that I counsel are desperate for this kind of healthy male intimacy. They will not share their homosexual struggle with the men in their church because they fear rejection. These men dream of being held in the arms of another man and hearing the words "I love you." Indeed, some them will literally cry into the phone when I tell them that I love them because they have never heard these words from another man before. One man put it well when he said, "As a gay man, I've found it's easier for me to get sex on the streets than to get a hug in church."
If you're not sure how to hug someone who is struggling with homosexuality, just open your arms. If they need your touch, they'll walk right in. Allowing someone who has struggled with homosexuality to get close to you is the greatest gift you can give them.
By Chad W. Thompson (Author of Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would)
http://lovinghomosexuals.com/gay-pride-meets-christian-humility.html
"In fact, the most healing experience I’ve had since realizing that I didn’t have to be gay..."
No you don't. You can lie to yourself and be miserable or you can accept who you are and be ok with it. I'm sorry you had a poor relationship with the men in your life, but that is not the case for most gay men.
Typical uninformed Texan.
Not one word of any of your posts is true. Like I said, typical uninformed Texan. Democrats will win in November. If you bigots want to start another civil war, you will lose again.
Thoughtful and intelligent comment in the op-ed.... some crazies in the comments. My thoughts: http://careyonlovely.blogspot.com/2012/08/bbq-chicken-sans-marriage-politics.html#
who violated his right to free speech? no one. he can say whatever his bigoted brain wants to say. we have the right to not support him or that fantasy religion.
Isn't it a right to speak your opinion publicly and not have the government censor you by threatening to shut down your business? How would you feel if the mayor refused the Hearty Boys from being a business because they are LGBT? If Chick-Fil-A is so out of touch with Chicago values, let the residents decide, not the government.
the government has not censored Chikfila. there were some mayors that jumped on this issue, and said they didnt want them in their cities. However, they have no legal right to actually do that, and admitted that. until there is actually an example of what you describe happening, you are wrong. those mayors were speaking their mind as mr. cathy was. the coin has two sides sir.
Just one of the morons here with something so say. If you want to get into another war 3rd to be in progress, , then Mitt is your man. Halliburtion is hurting for more ways to rip the USA off. Obama may not be perfect same with Nancy but he has tried to dig out from under the mess the Bushes left us in so give him some credit. With all the opposiiton from the Grand Old Piece of you know what it is no wonder that he could get very little accomplished. Talk about Morons, Is Romney the best that the Republicans can offer this nation? Sad Lessor of the two evils – Obama
How do you know how much Chaney's rip-off company Haliburton paid in taxes you hunyuck
Pretty sure Reagan dealt with double-digit unemployment during his first term, so your point about Obama having the largest unemployment rate in US history is already wrong. But, hey, that was all Carter's fault, right?
Somebody please stop the planet.....I want off....
Yeah me too....we just missed the bus to Mars...
marriage is a religious rite and if you are not religious you have no business being married, plain and simple.
There needs to be equal marriage rights for religious and atheists. Civil unions need to have equal rights, I will not be involved in the religious bigotry that is marriage and I think gays who want to use the religious rite of marriage as some kind of a "sticking" it to these people are complete morons of the highest order.
marriage is a civil right, as stated by the supreme court in loving vs. virginia (1967)
@gleasse, ignorance is bliss isn't it? Get an education about marriage before talking. It's a civil legal arrangement in the United States, not religious.
Should ANYONE really care who someone else sleeps with? Is it anyone else business? Just as with abortion – my body – my decision so take care of your life and body and stay out of mine. I am female and like males but if you don't think the same I don't care. These people protesting need to volunteer at a clinic or food kitchen or better yet find a job.
do whatever you want with your body. just dont use my tax money to support it. im not willing to fund personal freedoms.
this is great publicity for the restaurant and now other crappy restaurants want to jump on the wagon. I never even think of Chick-Fil-A unless I read that they won't hire blacks or hate gays.
I heard that many Chick Fil A employees across the country organized a 'spit in customer's food' day yesterday, which is gross, but funny at the same time. If it's true, then there will be a lot of unhappy people when they find out. :P
That is an absolute LIE. Nice try to stop people from going to CF.
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your grasp of the English language is impressive!
I was more impress with his English than I was with your ignorance.
WHAT?
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I can't believe it. This topic is so ridiculous to me. Why is it getting so much publicity anyways? Calgon....take me away....
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Most people share the same view as the owner of Chik-fil-a on the defintion of marriage. Most owners of other business share that same view. So why all this outrage against chik-fil-a? The outrage should be against these mayors who are going against the people they are suppose to represent. CNN should be asking that question too. It seems that they have too many homosexuals working there to trust them to report the news without bias. Is there any wonder why FOX news keeps getting more viewers?
Yes, something like that – thus enshrining the practice of cruelty to fellow human beings and justifying it as Bible speak. Curiously that bit about love for your neighbor and universal brotherhood, turning the other cheek, etc. None of the self professed Christians here seem to remember any of that.
How true!! There's no Honor, Dignity, or Respect when someone doesn't believe the way You do!! Why don't we consider removing Chick-fil-A from areas where majority gay communities don't want them and removing any gay businesses from majority non-gay communities. That way everyone can keep their Honor, Dignity, and Respect in the way they believe and in their own areas (just doesn't make sense and not what the USA is about). You claim Kathy is trying to destroy Your family becasue he doesn'st believe in gay marriage (yes, contributing to a cause to keep traditional marriage), That's the hypocracy, because You want to destroy his belief in traditional marriage and family (by contributing to a cause to push Your beliefs, not necessarily with money, but legislation nonetheless). "Civil Unions" for the sake of equal rights (taxes, health insurance, adoption, etc.) was a noble idea, had a lot of backing and would have likely succeeded some time ago, but that wasn't quite good enough. Gays had to attack tradition and mandate it be called "marriage". That's what caused the National uproar (key being "National") and caused the quest to backslide.
he's not destroying anything, he's just an idiot. XD
I'll post this again...
You people and your precious "marriage" Call it what you want but only people can get married...dullard. this excludes pets. plants or whatever you right winging pieces of crap are afraid of. Love is a human value. If two people want to get married and it is not detrimental to anyone else including the fetus..then it is non of your faaaacking business. end of story.
Sadly it is Steve who is and will be on the wrong side of history, God will not be mocked.
For someone who won't be mocked, he sure takes a lot of it.
The easiest way for God to avoid mockery is to quit saying such stupid things and to reign in his self-appointed mouthpieces here in the real world.
It's no surprise liberals are against the 1st amendment when it doesn't go their way.
We're fighting for the 14th ammendment. Its Due Process Clause prohibits state and local governments from depriving persons of life, liberty, or property without certain steps being taken to ensure fairness.
We should hang the liberals out to dry for what they are – those educated and enlightened scum that ruined America by introducing reform, scientific progress, advancement in the Arts, etc. None of which were necessary when we ruled this country with guns and Bibles.
edweird69 – Lately demcorats have been misappropriating the word "fair"
So do tell... what's your definition of "fair". Denying gays marital benefits?
What benefits?
edweird69 – If you're for gay marriage you would be (by the liberal standard) a hypocrite and bigot yourself if you weren't for the supporting of all other types of marriages. I take it you are?
If any consenting adults want to marry, I'm all for it. I'm not sure if this is true, but polygamy is quite common on planet earth. It is more common than just 2 people being married. LIke I said, I'm not 100% sure if that's true, but I did read it somewhere. If consenting adults love each other, want to share their lives together, raise children together... I'm all for it!
Considering gay marriage can't procreate I'd say having children isn't a prerequisite to getting married and by your post there.incestual.marriages would be allowed if both were over 18 and no they do not have to procreate.
You people and your precious "marriage" Call it what you want but only people can get married...dullard. this excludes pets. plants or whatever you right winging pieces of crap are afraid of. Love is a human value. If two people want to get married and it is not detrimental to anyone else including the fetus..then it is non of your faaaacking business. end of story.
Thanks Jid i think you nailed it!!!
It never stops amazing me on why you people feel so threatened?! this is like some sort of straight pride march for fu@CS sake!
It's amazing how people will be all for ME ME ME while ignoring society in general.
Not sure what you mean by "ignoring society". Society does not vote on my right to pursue happiness. That is guaranteed to me by the 14th ammendment. It is not subject to opinions, votes, etc. Gays are no threat to society. My gay relationship is no threat to anyone elses relationship.
Look up and read my last comment....dullard
edweird69 – By your argument ther eneither is any other type of marriage which is the point.
@Jid: perhaps those secret Gay dreams make some heteros nervous about their own sexuality. I for one as a Hetero couldn't care less who my friend or neighbor chooses to sleep with. If two people love each other they should, go for it. love is in short supply along with an IQ > 90.
The Bible is right. Sodomy is evil. The Earth is at the center of the universe. Women should be stoned to death for committing adultery. Or bestiality. The universe was created in seven days. Seafood was created in three? And above all man created God in man's image. As a white Christian man, I believe only in a white Christian God. Darwin and Galileo were heretics. Don't even get me started on Einstein (a Jewish heathen at that). Where is the White Hetero Christian Gun loving America I need to protect me?
I'M 100 % SURE THAT JESUS WOULD NOT APPROVE OF GAY MARRIAGE... WHY DID HE PICK ADAM AND EVE ??? a man and a woman ???
How come Jesus did not pick 2 men ???
Can gay people answer that ??????
Adam and Eve slept together, and were not married. They fornicated.
Adam and Eve were not married! Where did their sons, Cain and Abel get their wives?
Cain and Abel got their wives through incest. And probably adultery. And Cain probably had a gay crush on Abel too. When rebuffed, he killed him.
Read the good book, my friend. Adam and Eve weren't created by Jesus. They were created by his father. Who happened to impregnate the fertile Mary, wife of an impotent Joseph, an adulterous act that was relabeled as immaculate conception. It's great to put a divine spin on worldly events. And I wonder if anyone ever gave any thought to the fact that the Bible was written in metaphors? And it's too advanced for most bible thumpers to grasp. Hence the inherent dangers of any organized religion.
Yes, the Xtian god impregnated an innocent woman, put her thru the horrible pain of childbirth, so her baby could be used as a sacrifice to appease himself, for making imperfect humans. Something bizarre like that...
She did agree to it.
jose...you seem to be obsessed with two guys having sex. are there some issues you wish to discuss?
i thought adam and eve were way before jesus, jose
WENT TO CHICK–FIL–L IN CHICAGO.. GAYS THINK THAT THEY CAN SHUT DOWN FREEDOM OF SPEECH, WRONG. I BLAME OBAMA FOR GIVING THEM TOO MUCH. GIVE THEN ONE MILE AND THEY WILL DEMAND 5 MILES.
Thanks for punishing gay teens. The next time one commits suicide, their blood is on your hands. Hope you can live with that. I couldn't !! Child killer !!
How do you live with the fact that you and your gay buddies ruin the lives of young boys by molesting them?
I have never molested anybody. You seem fixed on the idea of molestation. Were you molested by an adult or something as a child? There's something definitely wrong with you, and everyone on this blog tonight has noticed it. You are a sick individual. LIke others on here have told you.. GET HELP !
I think you like little boys, you perv.
And I think you rape little girls, you little rapist.
who exactly is punishing gay teens and in what manner? and by the way–teen suicide is rampant among all teens, regardless of sexual orientation. the gay community seems convinced that bullying and suicide is only a problem for gay kids. or at least that it only matters when it happens to a gay kid. meanwhile, the gay community repeatedly employs the very bully tactics it so vociferously condemns. palpable irony.
What "gays" think that? I find Cathy's comments offensive, but he has the right to voice them. And of course, people have the right not to support Cathy's endeavors. The government, of course, cannot prohibit companies from building merely because of the owners' beliefs. Lot of people–mainly pundits and politicians–are using this event as some sort of clarion call, which it isn't.
Hummmm... it seems as a child growing up in the South I recall hearing fundamental preachers saying the same thing about blacks. They were liars then and they are liars now.
Yeah, Jose....equal rights always bother bigots. Obama (or any president) doesn't "give" them rights. The constitution does....including equal protection under the law
Dear heavenly father,
Please hear my prayer. Although I am a lowly sinner and a gay man, please save the country I love. I care not for marriage only equal treatment. Our government leaders are abusing their powers to exclude people because of their beliefs. They want to stop Chik-Fil-A from building and this is wrong. However, it is also wrong when government leaders use their beliefs to stop companies that support secular policies from building. I would like for you to touch the hearts of all Americans tonight to remove the perversity of thinking so much about who sleeps with whom. Let us instead concentrate on the true Christian principles of charity and love. We should love our neighbors and help them in their hour of need, but we are too concerned about who is sleeping with whom. Lord protect our children because we are too busy worrying about who is sleeping with whom. Lord shelter our homeless because we are too worried about who is sleeping with whom. Lord feed our hungry because we are too worried about who is sleeping with whom. Lord please turn our eyes towards the true problems and heal us of our perversion of worrying more about who is sleeping with whom. In Jesus most precious name. AMEN!
Tony - sweet prayer... but free yourself from the Xtian premise that there are invisible people watching, judging us. There's no reason to believe it. There's no proof, whatsoever of the existence of any god or gods. I freed myself from it long ago, and have a much more peaceful state of mind.
Peaceful state of mind, eh? As they say, ignorance is bliss.
You're living proof of that!
no one cares who sleeps with who. but people do care about who marries who (marriage has never been unrestricted). marriage is a social contract that engages all society. it's not just about "two people who love each other." you can get plenty of love and charity from christians, whether you're gay or whatnot. witness, for instance, mother theresa's work with mostly gay aids victims (in the early days, when having aids made you persona non grata even within the gay community). love who you like, sleep with who you like. but don't deform marriage.
I am confused. You do not sleep with the person you are married to? You do not sleep with the one you love? Just trying to make sense here.
the laws don't regulate who you love or sleep with, nor restrict it to marriage. so you're not restricted about who you love and sleep with. get it yet? marriage is a social contract, and entails restrictions. for instance, your mama & your sister are off limits for marriage, as is someone underage, or multiple spouses.
Bunch of Sheep yall are, Religion is just an old and corrupt form of Government..... keep your heads in the sand.
We'll all find out in the end. Better for me to be wrong, than you, though.
Pascal's Wager isn't faith, and of course, that's only true if a vengeful deity punishes good people who live good lives for simply being non-believers. Now that just sounds egotistical and selfish, truly ungodly. But if you lead a horrible life–perhaps at least a moralizing, intolerant, world-denying life–in the name of a vengeful god who punishes non-believers, then you probably aren't living.
It's not a wager if you're guaranteed to win, and I know for a fact that I'm going to receive God's promise of eternal life. And truly good people love God and accept His son as their Savior. The Bible is very clear on how to get to Heaven, and good deeds doesn't cut the mustard. Everyone is given the opportunity to know the Lord, and it isn't vengeful if you refuse His gracious gift. You choose your own fate.
Question: Is Marriage a Civil Right?
Answer: Recognized federal civil rights law in the United States is grounded in the U.S. Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court. By this standard, marriage has long been established as a civil right.
The operative constitutional text is section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which was ratified in 1868. The relevant passages read as follows:
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
and how would you feel if all the Christian mayors came out and denied you permits because of your belief?
GOOD POINT
Well, for the situation to be fully equivalent, the restaurant would have to be donating to a couple of places that use "therapy" to turn people gay, and another organization that lobbies the U.S. government not to intervene when other countries pass laws condemning Christians to death. And an organization that spreads the word that all Christians are likely to be pedophiles. And he would have to rewrite this column to say that Christians had twisted minds and, since they were wrong about God, would bring God's wrath upon America unless we made sure not to allow them to marry or adopt children.
For starters.
It doesn't matter what he uses his money for, or what the board of Chick-fil-A uses their money for. Not allowing a business to open in a community based on belief is discrimination. The Gay and Lesbian community should be behind Chick-fil-A on that one because in the end, it would only help you.
It's ok Angela... I've heard they're childish rants all of my life. It's nothing new, and I"m certainly not scared. Only bullies have low-self esteem.
I would rather live my life, die and burn in hell for being who I am... than any one of the people that participated in today's chicken sandwich Chik Fil A hatred day. I can look in the mirror and know that no teen committed suicide today because of some hate campaign I blatantly, purposefully, and carefully thought-out, and participated in. In my book, you participated in aiding someone's suicide.
@Scott – so where's your reply on this? Child killer?
I'm just glad I'm not a child rapist. I hope you and Jerry Sandusky can share a cell one day, and bang each other all night long.
That just proves your complete lack of intelligence. You'll be begging for forgiveness while you burn.
@Scott – you will be burning beside me. You bully gay people and your behavior is a direct cause of their suicidal tendencies. I may burn for loving someone. You will burn for not "loving thy neighbor as thyself", for not "doing unto others as you'd have done to you" , etc. See you in hell pal !
You don't know me, so don't tell me what I do. I treat all people equally, and have never bullied anyone. I've shared many a beers with gay people, and I'm quite sure that none went home and committed suicide afterwards. The only one here acting like a bully and a bigot is YOU, so you might as well pipe down with that silly talk.
I'm straight but if I had to have beers and listen to you all night I'd go home and commit suicide
I don't know you, but I know you're kind. And your Chik Fil A, judgmentental hypocricy, is the very reason gay teens commit suicide. Their blood is on your hands dude... not mine.
@Jim – I wouldn't shed a tear.
@ed – That's seriously the lamest argument I've ever seen from a gay liberal. Suicides are my fault? LMAO!!!! you are so silly. Thanks for the laughs tonight.
So, let me make sure I understand the nucleus of this contentious debate... Southern Californians can legally purchase weed; Nevadans can legally pay for sexual intercourse; Female Central Ohioans can legally parade topless in downtown Columbus; but, a reputable tax-paying CEO of a major fortune 500 US corporation can’t exercise his First Amendment Constitutional rights? Really?...
"How does what Dan Cathy says make his gay and lesbian employees feel?" – I would ask the same question for Steve McDonagh. How does what he says make his religious (Christian, Jewish, Muslim) employees feel?
Unlike Cathy, I doubt that Steve hires anyone that doesn't share in his beliefs.
Steve hypocritically fails to mention that the LGBT community and its hollywood donors, hire legions of thugs [human rights campaign and "equality" groups] to bully, harass, boycott, intimidate and threaten anyone [and hold hostage legions of companies] so that anyone who holds any contrary views on sexual preference is bullied into recanting. Steve presents himself as 'just an ordinary family man' but behind the scenes, the gay-gestapo is hunting down all who disagree with them. Dan Cathy is different. He's happy to serve anyone, without forfeiting his contrary view, and his 1st amendment rights to speak them when asked. And thankfully, in the face of bullies and thugs, he is not willing to be pushed around. Neither are we.
Yup, he's a real man, unfortunately plagued by secret Gay fantasies and issues anti gay statements to make peace with himself for the urges he can't control. Gayaholics anonymous for him, maybe?
My what a lot of traffic in my beautiful America. Oh beautiful for spacious skies and specious arguments from the Biblical right – they make make me proud to be an American. Be careful, my fellow Bible thumpers. If Cathy can't get away with a simple homophobic diatribe the government will soon take away our guns, our freedom, and require that we get an education. And then they will raise our taxes and give us healthcare we don't need. Patronize Chick Fil A and save the Biblical right.
JESUS! Save us from your followers!
Amen!
Poor Jesus. He was so into that Judas fellow, till he dumped him for Mary Magdalene, so Judas got his revenge with a kiss (or so you'd be led to think). The great thing about the Bible thumpers is that they don't actually read the book.
Why should G&L couples opinions carry any more weight than a heterosexual? I for one am tired of having MY rights trampled on for all the whiny fusses that have to have their whole life legislated for them.
To most of us, the issue is about excessive government reach and not about the personal view of one man about gay marriage. I am a conservative/ Libertarian and think the government needs to stay out of peoples bedrooms and mind their business to defense and economy. The Government way over stepped their lanes by banning businesses from their cities over personal views and opinions. These backwards cities (Boston, DC, Chicago) effectively put us back into a pre civil rights era where people and business were banned for the color of their skin and their intolerance to other peoples opinions or beliefs. The Government has no right in a democracy to make that kind of statement in 21st century society. Those words are why Jefferson warned citizen about tyranny
This isn't about equal rights although the under current theme may indicate it as such. It's about beliefs and ideals. If we can't let people have their own opinions, even if that means they contradict ours, then we shouldn't have ours. How would the gays like it if a bunch of us went down to their restaurants and shouted absurdities at them. Or better yet have a couple of politcal players personally tell them they're not welcomed at their city and if they were thinking of opening up a restaurant that supports lgbt lifestyles they needn't bother cos they don't want your kind. Then that would be wrong, right? the true bigots are those gays who want to have their opinons but when those are challenged they immediately want to start a lynch mob citing hateful & bigoted remarks. Hipocrites much?
If gays were out to deprive someone of their rights, I would agree with you. However, the reverse is true... so your point is moot.
Stevie,
please don't even think of comparing yourself with Dan Cathy who owns Chick fil A.
A MAN he is, & sorry I don't dare say the same about you.
As a business owner in Chicago, I am sure you melt away the winter snows with yourself, your "spouse"? Dan & Nate all in your QUEEN sized bed.
So, is Dan the "mother"? and you the "father"? and as you say your "son" Nate came about thru procreation? I sure do hope that "mother" Dan didn't have a hard time in "delivering" Nate:)
You also state "the exhaustion of late night pillow talk" and I won't ask what that means:)
Since you also cater, you could consider stocking an AMPLE supply of Kellog's fruit loop cereal:)
"A man he is"... what does that mean? Sounds like you've been looking down some britches to me.
Vincent, it's time for you and Scott to put down the bottles, go to bed and leave this blog to the grow-ups. You're beginning to see things that arn't there and I'm afraid it's clouding your reasoning.
I was curious about your remark "...and as you say your "son" Nate came about thru procreation..." where did that come from?, certainly not from the article.
You and Scott both appear to be overly concerned about private matters within a consenting relationship. It's unhealthy, and a little suspect. I'm encouraging you both to go seek help.
Cry me a river Steve McDonagh. Nobody is against your family. Nobody is trying to harm your family. Nobody is trying to take your child away, or take away your gay lover. You people obviously have no problems finding mates and having happy homes. Why must you try to destroy what marriage is all about? Marriage is between a man and a woman. That's just the way that it is, and the way that it should remain. So get over yourself. Stop your crying, and live your life. You don't need a piece of paper to have a family. And you know this. The only reason that you are fighting it is to get attention for yourselves.
What a childish post! We are excluded from over 1100 rights granted to straight couples. Maybe your definition is man and woman, but that's your definition. If that's what you want, go for it. Nobody's holding votes on your rights. Just ours!
1100 rights, my azz. I call BS on that. Marriage isn't a right.
Marriage is a right, and yes there are 1100 rights we are deprived of... if you ever read before you blab, you wouldn't look so ridiculous! Here is a list of rights married couples get, that me and my partner do not. http://preview.hrc.org/issues/5478.htm
Marriage is not a right. Neither are most of those things on your list. But I'll support your cause to receive every one of those things except for marriage. You can have a wedding. You can get a "civil union" certificate from the state. And you can have any benefit that married couples get. Just leave God's covenant of marriage alone.
if this right to marry someone of the same sex is so self-evident, where has it been for the past untold millenia? the gay goons are the ones trying to force others to comply with them by completely redefining marriage. this is no small request. what is being sought is a catastrophic sea change in the most fundamental of all human institutions. it is not about a right, it is about an identity–the essential being of marriage. and marriage has been established by nature as well as by God as constituted solely between one man and one woman. that is the formula for reproduction and so the formula for marriage.
What a childish RANT, edweird...it's not my definition or your definition that counts...it's GOD's definition. You may rant and rave all you want, but at the end of the day, you're sinning against yourself and against God by pursuing a same-sex lifestyle. There is hope in Jesus Christ, and I urge you to turn from your sin and embrace Christ by faith. God loves you, bro! He wants the best for you...Peace
Excellent post ITA
This is not going to go down well with America's homosexual Taliban!
This man owns a restaurant that is supposed to serve ALL the public that walk in there. It is a place of work...not a place for your personal agenda/baggage. I have to wonder how supportive of his employees' right to free spoeech Mr Cathy wiould be if any of them happen to disagree with him on any issues...this is a place of business...leave the personal agendas out of it. What if every business decided to behave the way Mr. Cathy has??? What next...only whites at the lunch counters???
The man doesnt support gay marriage he isnt banning them from his restaurant get a clue
Mr Cathy was being interviewed by the Baptist press a religious. News site dedicated to Christians. He never said he discriminated against gays or hates them. ALL HE SAID direct from the the interview was. Direct quote read the story in the Baptist press if you don't believe me. " Some have opposed the company's support of the traditional family. "Well, guilty as charged," said Cathy when asked about the company's position.
"We are very much supportive of the family - the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that." No Hate such that is being spewed here.
I love Chik-Fil-A's food. For all I care, their CEO/management/employees/supporters can all believe the earth is only 6k years old, and some old man in a cloud with a long beard came down, grabbed some clay, made a man, then subsequently ripped one of his ribs out, grabbed some more clay, made a woman out of that, and stopped there. (so no steve). But you don't see me donating company money toward constitutional amendments to define all of that as utter hogwash. So yeah, I think the LGBT community should cry foul when irrational, fantasy-based legislation is funded and forced upon any modern day public. I say, if Chik Fil A activity contributes financially to anti-gay legislation, then the matter is political action, not religious belief. Someone can believe angels fart rainbows, but if they pay millions of dollars to define rainbows as 'angel farts', then they are committing a political act. Not a religious one. Political actions have political consequences, such as denial of local zoning permits based on the authorization of the zoning alderman, elected by that community to uphold the values of that neighborhood. Anyone can believe anything they want in this country, but actions based on ones believes are not entitled to the same respect.
You don't have a right to do business anywhere you want to in this country. That's why we HAVE permits. You need to acquire some level of permission! That's not Fascism, as most religious zealots whine about. It's community-based democracy at work. You keep your angel farts in your neighborhood, and I'll keep my rainbows in mine.
And another thing, it pisses me off people say they "don't believe in gay marriage." I don't believe in the tooth fairy, because the tooth fairy doesn't exist! Gay marriages exist, whether you accept them or not. At the very least have the courage to say, "I don't like the idea of gay marriage." Or just flat out say, "I wish gays wouldnt exist.". But no..... That would constitute an opinion. Not a belief, which is of course is much more respectable than an opinion.
Why the 2 or 3 percent of the population wants to dictate over the 97%. Marriage is for a woman and a man, you can not go against the nature there a+b=c. otherwise w+w=0, m+m= the end of the colon is an exit. So bite the bullet there is not equality there, keep it simple with civil union.
Your mob rule mentality is apalling. I don't care if there was only 1 gay couple on this planet... they deserve their rights.
And that's true. But marriage is not legally a "civil right" therefore, no gay couple is missing "their rights!"
Marriage is a civil right! Google the courts decision on Loving vs Virginia. Know the facts before you post.
Marriage is not a civil right. Loving vs Virginia was about racism. Learn your history before spouting nonsense.
@Scott – Modern day religious and political leaders cite the union between men as ungodly and unnatural, much the same as the 1967 argument against interracial couples.
And they're right. If it was natural, you and your boyfriend could procreate. Can you do that?
@Scott – procreation is not mandatory for a marriage license. My mom married my step dad, when they were both 65. Did they procreate? uhhh.... noooo... but they sure had no problem getting a marriage license.
If only one "couple" was left on the planet, I do hope and pray that they have an ample supply of Kellog's fruit loop cereal:)
Please.. this topic and blog is for adults only. Please post your grade school comments elsewhere.
Completely agree. I made sure to go support Chick-fil-a today as well.....enough of the 1% shoving it down the 99%'s throat.
99% of the people on this planet used think the earth was flat. The 99% was wrong then, and they're wrong now.
What??? I've seen Kansas. You telling me that the Earth isn't flat after all? What about all those ships that cross the horizon and fall off the edge??? How unChristian and how aBiblical of you.
Sounds to me like you want the 97% to dictate how the 3% can live - you advocate preventing them from being able to marry. They NEVER advocated against your right to marry. NEVER. So how did they exactly dictate, in your opinion, how YOU can live? Explain how they want to deprive you of a right and I will understand your point better.
Note: you don't have a right to define other people's marriage - that is not a right, it is being nosy and intrusive on someone else's rights. So... what rights have they tried to take away from you again?
this issue is not about taking anybody's rights away. marriage has never been between two people of the same sex (all revisionist history aside). it is the gay mafia that's trying to force a redefining of marriage that reduces it to a travesty. those of us–like mr. cathy–who value true marriage, have every right to fight for its integrity.
cute:) and agree 110%
Cathy also noted that in addition to man-woman-only marriage, he/they were still married to their first wives. Implication is that divorcees are not too welcome at Chickfila either – since he noted that, his opinion is that people with failed marriages are on a lesser level? And since his purpose of marriage is tied to sex for procreation, all you married people without kids are probably on the fringe list of welcome there too. Given the Georgia origins of the business – where I grew up in the 70's but luckily escaped – he probably welcomes most all black people, but really would like them to sit in a special place in the restaurant.
Here's a simple litmus test for whether or not your morality is "right". Is the behavior in question going to bring harm to anyone? Tell me, does h0mos3xuality or g@y marriage hurt anyone in a moral or tort sense? Well, let's look at the most common arguments against g@y marriage.
1) Most religions consider h0mos3xuality a sin. Well, ho harm is defined here. And religion should not drive legislation.
2) It would weaken the definition and respect for the inst1tution of marriage. No harm is defined here. Simply legislating marriage won't make it any more likely to succeed for heteros3xuals.
3) It would further weaken the traditional family values essential to our society. I postulate that our society's strength comes from individual behaviors taken together. The sum of our individuals efforts, choices, and behaviors defines who we are. Sooooo, again I see no harm being done here.
4) It could provide a slippery slope in the legality of marriage (e.g. having multiple wives or marrying an animal could be next). Again, I see no harm being done to any other individuals. You can't say there is "harm to society" without defining how this harms individuals directly.
5) It confuses children about gender roles and expectations of society, and only a man & woman can pro-create. And this harms children how, exactly??
6) The g@y lifestyle is not something to be encouraged, as a lot of research shows it leads to a much lower life expectancy, psychological disorders, and other problems. People do things all the time that result in lower life expectancy and other problems including eating McDonald's, smoking, drinking to excess, being sedentary, taking drugs, and so on. Why should this be legislated while these other things are not?
I welcome your reasoned responses.
and why exactly should that be the "litmus test"? do you think that's somehow a self-evident starting point? or perhaps its an arbitrary grounding for a morality without any grounding. yet at the same time you then list a number of proposed ways in which same-sex marriage could be considered as injurious to others–to society as a whole. marriage should not be remade in the queer image.
Well said and completely right. The problem is that the media set the course for this agenda (Gay marriage) and have done absolutely all they can to fan the flames and to gradually wear down the publics values into thinking that something like this would be acceptable. Its not only gay marriage, but so many other issues involving sexuality, having children out of wedlock, traditional families mocked in sitcoms and other media, etc. The family is under assault like never before, and even seen from a secular world-view, that's a bit disconcerting, but seen through a Christian worldview it's really frightening.
I see, so it's OK for The Hearty Boys to donate to Equality Illinois, but it's NOT OK for Chick-fil-a to donate to an opposing organization... how hypocritical is THAT?
beyond hypocritical everyone wants Christians to shut there mouths and not say anything but Its about time people started standing up for truth.
So you have the truth huh Brandon? Everyone else is wrong, but not Brandon. Gee, what a genious you must think you are.
Jesus is the Truth and everyone thats heard the Gospel has that Truth also whether you choose to believe in it or not. Jesus is coming whether you like or not and if you dont except his TRUTH then I hope he has mercy on you
If Brandon is talking about the Gospel, then yes he does have the truth, and so do I :D
You "think" you have the truth. I don't want his mercy, and I don't want to spend eternity with him. I want my civil rights on this earth. If I choose to burn forever, that is my decision. And I choose to burn forever. Now give me my rights !
@ Brandon- You said, "Jesus is coming whether you like it or not". What happens if he shows up with his boyfriend? I suspect he's going to be somewhat pissed at tiny-minded bigoted cretins such as you
exactly Brandon, Jesus is the truth, the light and the way. Edweird we are not talking about your truth, my truth or brandon's truth, we are talking about the ULTIMATE truth, found in God. Morality is not relative, truth is objective, not subjective. No matter how seared your conscience is, brother, you can turn from this lifestyle and embrace Christ by faith for the forgiveness of your sins! The past doesn't have to equal the future for you, Ed, and you can move into the joy of forgiveness and righteousness. God loves you, he has a plan for you. Turn from your sin, bro...
You will never inflict your horrible religion on me with guilt, eternal death threats, or any other method. You believe in ivisible sky daddies... think about that! You think there's a magic person living in the clouds. You are psychotic.
I'm smiling at your post...thanks for a bit of levity! I will pray for you bro, may God bless you and open your eyes to His truth. He loves you, even when you turn your back on him. Just know this...as long as you are still alive, it's not too late to turn from him. It's not a complex thing, you need only to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you will be SAVED! What great news! God has the power to heal you, Ed, in a way that no thing on this earth can do. You can say you don't believe him, but one day we all have to face Him to account for our lives on this earth. There is hope for you, Ed. There really is! And this hope can be found, and only found, in Jesus Christ. You are loved!
In response to Guy Van Wyke's:
"I see, so it's OK for The Hearty Boys to donate to Equality Illinois, but it's NOT OK for Chick-fil-a to donate to an opposing organization... how hypocritical is THAT?"
The article says: "When a guest purchases a fried chicken sandwich with pickles on a toasted buttered bun, the proceeds will go directly to Equality Illinois"
As in that particular sandwich is queue, that you would like to donate to their cause. They are SPECIFICALLY not taking their total profits and donating to a cause, only profits generated by this on sandwich.
Dan Cathy isnt on the wrong side hes on the right side the side of TRUTH. Being married and Gay is a sin plan and simple but its just as sinful as all sins and people lose sight of this. At the end of the day Christians that follow Jesus and the words he teaches understand you love the sinner not the sin. I beg of people to stop comparing the civil rights movement to the LGBT movement its not the same not even close I cant hide being black I cant fake it but people that are gay can hide this and fake it. No one is sending someone thats gay to the back of the bus its an insult to compare this movement to the civil rights movement.
I am fighting for my civil rights. I'm being put on the back of the bus. What's wrong with your brain dude. Marriage is a civil right. See Loving vs Virginia please. This is a civil rights issue.
But according to the bible which this law is based on you dont have a right to be married PERIOD
I Am an Atheist. Your bible means nothing to me. I should not have to follow your bible any more than you have to follow the Koran. Quit forcing your beliefs on me!
Well i hope Jesus can touch your heart and maybe in time you'll change.
Since Jesus does not exist, it will make it impossible for him to touch my heart. I want nothing to do with him.. PERIOD.
Denying His existence won't spare you in the end. Repent or perish. That's the choice we all have, my brother.
Ed, I bet there are more than a few of us reading your posts tonight who will remember you in prayer. I really hope that God touches you and heals you. He will wait, He is very patient. He loves you.
Using the Bible as a justification for any United States law is an automatic fail... remember separation of chuch & state? If you start using the bible for a definition of marriage, you are advocating towards every religion that uses that book as holy, and against every religion that does not.
It is utterly simple: use a different justification, or don't do it. I realize that we, the citizens of the United States, will be able to take your law to the Supreme Court (which has shot down such defenses before, quite often) - but you will be costing the taxpayers time and money. Why not accept that the United States of America (founded by a large group of men who were primarily non-christian) is NOT a christian nation? There are plenty of other nations that are based on religion - why not join one of those?
The Bible says "Thou shalt not kill". So I guess we should legalize murder to keep that separation of church and state thing, right?
The Supreme Court of the U.S. has not weighed in on it, nor will they for a while, but this may be the start. I could see this being the start of a growing storm that leads to a decision so don't go to far :)
So if a brother and a sister want to get married, is that okay as well?
Try to stay on topic please! That's not part of the topic.
If someone wants to argue that this is the same as multi-racial couples or blacks sitting at a lunch counter, I believe that this is on topic.
Nunya, so right. What's funny is there is not a single person who supports gay marriage for reasons of "well, it's their right as two consenting adults to marry, because it harms no one", but yet if you ask them why is that different from an adult brother and sister who want to marry, they cannot give you an answer...please, feel free to comment!
This is NOT a civil rights, this is an issue of M O R A L I T Y!!!!!!! something that I don't think your feeble mind can grasp.
It is the same as comparing apples and oranges........or perhaps whatever other FRUIT you may wish to throw into your discussion:)
Marriage is not a civil right. Neither is molesting little boys, you sicko.
Using children as a tool to promote your hatred makes you the sicko!
@Scott – there are over 30 major religions on this planet.. and you have the right one! I've never met a religionist yet that had the wrong one. Congratulations for being the chosen one out of billions and billions of those before you. It's must be so great to know how much sky daddy loves you, and is waiting to give you a mansion of pure gold on a hill. bahahhahaha
Mocking God seems funny and pithy, but God will not be mocked and in the end we will all face judgement for what we do on this earth. Ed, I was once like you, I didn't believe in God, I thought the whole thing was rubbish, fairy tales, etc. My eyes were opened to the truth, as I pray they will be for you. God loves you and has a plan for you, He wants your happiness not just on this earth but for eternity. There is joy like you have never known, Ed, to be found in salvation. Go on, turn from your sin and embrace Christ by faith. You will enter in to a life and a joy beyond compare!
sorry to enlighten you, but marrying whomever you choose is not and has never been a fundamental right. "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" does not mean ANY possible means of pursuing happiness. and marriage is not in that equation. you have the right to marry. what you want is the right to rewrite the definition of marriage and reduce it to a travesty. find the right girl, ed, and you can marry away.
The Taliban agrees with you lockstep.
I believe in FREEDOM OF SPEECH. I support CHICK-FLI-A 100 % . This is America the last time I looked. If you don't like it that's fine that is your right.
Yes, and Freedom of Speech protects Chik-Fil-A utterly... against government retribution. Not against retribution by private citizens... not at all.
So... the mayor of Chicago CANNOT deny Chik-Fil-A based on its owner's beliefs or campaign contributions, but citizens CAN, legally.
FOOD ROCKS.
MEH OWNER CAN HAVE HIS OPINION, EVERYONE CALM THE HECK DOWN.
SHAKES ARE FABULOUS.
chick filet a had a great day. Now there is a way to increase the tax coffers, start bashing something Christian. Chick filet a will have to pay taxes on the zillion dollars it made today. I hope people turn out in November to oust our first gay president.
I hope that they took in 10 zillion in revenue today, and yes, out that man in the white house, Mr. "O" supports a concept of 2 females trying to procreate, it doesn't work because the parts are not correct, nor is it correct with 2 males trying to procreate.
The latter may just end up in adult diapers, that colon muscle wasn't meant for trying to "procreate"
I love it!
The food is not good.
The food is not good for you.
And the place is run by a backward close minided christian.
Why would want to eat here?
one simple reason, because you don't.
ouch...what biting wit
Unnecessary dude! Wow. That is NOT what today is about. Today is about supporting Cathy and his business because a) He took a big risk by saying what he said b) We agree with him c) They lost some business because of what he said so we want to help make up for it.
At this rate they are going to be expanding in the areas where they are welcome to build!
Speak for yourself Norm. I ate at Chick-fil-A today because (a) I support free speech and (b) they make one hell of a chicken sandwich. I don't hold their beliefs and don't care where they donate their money once they provide me a product.
Because I believe in Freedom of Speech and the Biblical doctrine of marriage-a man & a woman. And I am fed up with the Liberals in this country referring to anyone who has a different opinion as a hater, racist, evil, etc. I will never accept as "normal" a sinful lifestyle that is described by God as being an "abomination".
For all of you who back the Bible and say you are against gay marriage, somebody PLEASE answer me this: If a person is born with BOTH sexes, who do they get to marry? (meanwhile, insert Jeopardy music while answer is being created)...
what is closed minided?
Don't know about anybody else, but that picture of that chicken sandwich and fries looked nasty to me. ICK. If that is their big million dollar recipe, I think I'll pass... gay or straight.
LOL! Lucky for us that's not a picture of their food :)
That is not a sandwich or fries from Chick-fil-A (they have waffle-cut fries for chrissakes). I'm sure that the hardcore leftist that put together that picture couldn't bring himself/herself to purchase anything from Chick-fil-A.
I'm sure it tastes better than the feces covered appendages that you put in your mouth.
In the 1790's, it was believed women should not vote, and some people were actually only 3/5 of a person. And in the 1960's, a large number of Americans believes "Separate but equal" was fine. It's not about your "opinion" or "religious belief". It's about what's really fair and equal, and not based on your personal interpretation of religious or philosophical beliefs. The Constitution was amended to accommodate those changes in perspective. It's not out of the question to do it again.
Freedom of speech should always be allowed this nation is supposed to be under GOD. GOD knows what's right and whats wrong so all these "same sex" marriage people will get judged and everyone going against christians over what they believe will also be punished.
Excellent article. I support gay marriage, but I ate at Chick-Fil-A today because I didn't see the harm in an opinion, however unpopular it may be. I've read numerous articles that bash the company with false & completely silly claims, and it only fueled my irritation of the situation. This article is great & has me thinking of another set of facts that I hadn't considered before reading this. Had this been the initial public response to Dan Cathy's statements, there would have likely been a far less ridiculous outcome. Sadly, there are just as many obnoxious gay supporters as there are those claiming to be Christian, so the nonsense will continue.
It's a bit more complex than just respecting beliefs. It's not just about a difference of *opinion*, it's about gays being discriminated against, hated, bullied, and... not having a lot of the same rights in our society.
How do you respect people that *believe* you don't deserve equality under the law like everyone else, because they think you are less than, or a sinner, etc... and that think your 'soul' is going to burn for ever in 'eternal dam-nation.' ...?
If the guy said "I don't think black people should be allowed to get married, but I welcome them in my restaurant", would you still eat there? I don't see why so many Americans can't see how blatantly disgusting the anti-gay stance is. Do what you want, but let others live their lives.
If a restaurant owner said that a brother and a sister should never get married, would you boycott?
People are upset that Cathay supports groups that want to take away the LGBT communities rights
Lets get something clear. Support of an existing legal institution is not taking away rights. It is preventing the extension of new rights.
I am so sick of people making arguments on social issues based on Christian or so-called Biblical beliefs, especially on issues that have absolutely nothing to do with them. You can tell me all you want that your god condemns my homosexual lifestyle, and I could just as well argue with you that the god I believe in condemns the way in which you live your life. However, the fact remains that neither of us have ever, nor will ever, sit down with the god we each believe in and truly understand the motivations behind the principles that we each so passionately stand for. So I suppose you can settle for what is written in your Bible and I will settle for what is written in my Bible. Just to give you an idea, my Bible states that (1) stubborn kids should be killed by their parents, (2) a rape victim must marry his/her rapist, and (3) you cannot come in my god's house of worship if you do not have complete testicles. I'm guessing you're probably inclined right now to start condemning these believes and criticize my Bible.
Here's the kicker though, those three laws actually come from the Old and New Testaments of your Christian Bible. Don't believe me? Look these verses up: (1) Deuteronomy 21:18-21, (2) Deuteronomy 22:28-29, (3) Deuteronomy 23:1.
What do you have to say for yourselves now?
Edweird69, Christian are not to take fellow brothers to court. The reason that Court is called "Ungodly" is because most of judges thruout the history have been corrupt and greedy! Please learn your lessons before commenting! And since when did homosexuals started to create their own families??? Please explain. They may adopt into something that was already created previously by a Natural family union between a man and a woman. Homosexuals cannot create their own family, so end of story. If homosexuals want to have federal benefits they can always call their union a civil union and write a trust or will to leave benefits to each other. There is no point of changing and rewritng what was since the begining just to make them feel good. Adopt call themselves a civil union, leave wills and trusts, and life is no difference than regular traditional marriage. But never confuse a traditional (Natural) marriage with homosexual union. Sincerecly and I hope I didn't offend anyone, but even if I did you have a write to be offended as you have a write to free speech!
Christians, they love to talk about how loving, dutiful and compassionate they are, yet I have yet to meet ONE who does not practice hypocrisy to the highest degree. Their willful ignorance of the Bible combined with their two faced idealism to preach it, has made us sick, hasn’t it? For nearly two thousand years Biblicists have been lecturing people on the importance of adhering to the Bible’s teachings on ethics, manners, and morality. They quote Jesus and Paul profusely, with a liberal sprinkling of Old Testament moralism. The problem with their approach lies not only in an oft- noted failure to practice what they preach, but an equally pronounced tendency to ignore what the Bible itself, preaches. Christians practice what can only be described as “selective morality”.
We have room for one more
What you fail to realize is that Christians are sinners as well and just because one is a Christian does not mean someone is perfect and prone not to make mistakes and error. We live in a fallen world, therefore not one individual is free from sin except Christ Himself. Your idea seems lathered in a theory that Christians are any lesser sinners than non-believers. However, when it comes to sin, we are all on equal footing: Non-believers and Christians alike. Biggest difference is that Christians, although we all fail quite often, we look to the one who can save us: Jesus.
What they like, they cling to and shove down other’s throats; what they don’t like, they ignore vehemently. That which is palatable and acceptable is supposedly applicable to all; while that which is obnoxious, inconvenient, or self-denying is only applicable to those addressed 2,000 years ago. Their hypocrisy is so rampant that even the validity of calling oneself “Christian” is in question. I see so many people enjoy quoting the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, and some of Paul’s sermons, but don’t even PRETEND to heed other, equally valid, maxims
Sir, you are generalizing. Your perspective encompasses that of your own experiences, which I respect. However, you compartmentalize Christians...I too have come across hypocritical Christians, however, I have also come across an equal amount of extremely pious and loving believers of Christ.
I agree with what you are saying. I read an article this past week that was asking why people were leaving the church and was it because churches have become to liberal. Actually I think it is the opposite. Many people, myself included, are tired of the hippocracy of many organized churches. Many churches have become big business putting money and material growth ahead of peoples needs but also being very intolerant of other people's faith. Just look at all the atrocities that have been committed in the name of Christianity. I keep remembering what Jesus said "when you do it unto the least of these my brethren, you do it unto me." I believe people are leaving their churches, not because they have become too liberal but because they have become intolerant.
I know several christians who are not pompous hypocrites... but I agree that they are a tiny minority of that group.
I'm a pompous Christan basking in the throes of my self righteousness when I say that hell has no danger greater than some half witted nitwit clutching a book of powerful metaphors and symbolism that he or she doesn't understand. Which is why I guess I am also a part of the minority, and not a Christian Taliban.
As a Christian, I am deeply saddened by those who judge and condemn others in the name of Christianity. There is a story in the Bible, sometimes called The Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32). Most people focus on the younger son who lost his way and lives an "immoral" life, but asks for forgiveness and is welcomed back by his Father's open arms in great celebration. But the real focus for many Christians should be the older son who looks down on his brother and feel superior to him because he led a "moral" life. At the end of the story it is the older brother who is left out of the Father's celebration, not the younger one. Christians - make sure you understand, Jesus' harshest words were directed at the self-righteous high priests, not those who committed sins of the flesh. You may be the one who ends up outside the kingdom.
Mark, great post, thanks for that. I agree with everything you said, and it's a very thin line between hating the sin and feeling anger and bitterness, and yes, even hatred, toward the sinner. However, that was not what Jesus instructed us to do. He said "love one another as I have loved you". I think one of our greatest challenges is to be loving and openhearted on this issue, while at the same time not being afraid to speak to the truth and stand up for what we know to be right. It's a complex, difficult task, and one I've failed at on more than one occassion. I think the challenge for me personally is not to become angry when God's word or God's people or God's law is mocked, as it so often is these days and especially in the arena of the debate on this issue. We are a fallen world, we are all sinners, there are none righteous, but we have hope in the King of Kings and in his loving forgiveness. Christ died for all of us, so that our sins can be washed away and we can be made anew. We, I, need to spend a lot more time in prayer on this issue and I hope that we can all dial down the rhetoric and stand a shining examples of loving acceptance...not of the sin, for it will never be acceptable, but of the sinner...
Wise words, uncharacteristically Un-American.
We all live and we all die. It's too bad we drag our lives, which ever side we stand, into this worthless pit of nowhere, nohow conclusions meaning absolutely nothing. We all are products of self induced pride being blind to what really matters and believing that somehow we are very important. It won't be long when we all will have the chance to take our last breath and what will all this matter to our families and friends.
It matters a lot to those who are affected (not me, luckily). Do you think it was dumb for people to fight against slavery? If we don't fight against blatantly wrong stances (like those who are for inequality), why bother living at all? I couldn't live with myself if I didn't speak up against evil people like this guy.
Oh puhleeez. Being gay is a civil rights thing?? Some guys like women with blond hair. Some like red heads. Some like "D" cups. Some tribes in Africa like women with long necks. Some guys like....guys. Your sexual preference is not a civil rights issue.
Wonder how many people that lined up at Chic-fil-a today to support free speech ran out to buy a Dixie Chicks cd a few years ago....
Personally I would love to see them go out of business as their values are not mine. Bigotry & Open Discrimination have no place in the world! This contributes to bullying in schools , society being intolerant and can lead to violence.
Gr8 post! Hard to believe Americans hating other Americans. Aren't we all supposed to be united? With all the hatred we get from other countries, it's hard to cope with the hatred from within.
The irony is that conservatives don't realize the hypocrisy of pretending to love America and hating the diversity of America at the same time. Our country is supposed to be about freedom – why are those who fight against freedom the same ones who call the rest of us "un-American"?
Only because of your intolerance of those who disagree with you.
He wasn't saying anything hateful. Its so sad that you think that! He merely said he supports the traditional biblical sense of marriage. Just as you do not support those views, no one hates you for that support. I see more hate and judgement coming from the gay and lesbians even though that is the very thing they were fighting against. They still employ gay people, they still serve gay people, and they still treat gay people as an equal. Guess what, God loves you and God loves Cath, and God loves everyone! So how about we just stop the hating, cause there is no place for this!! We live in the greatest country in the world and we have the freedom of choice to support what we want. I am straight man, but I have many gay friends and they are some of my closest friends and the funny thing is, they are they ones that went to Chik-Fil-A today and sat down, ate, and thanked the staff for being so nice!!! I support anyones view point...but I do not support a hated view point!
He said he is against gay marriage. That is blatantly hateful towards gays. Why would he think that gay people shouldn't have the same rights that he has? It's no different than saying that black people have to sit at the back of the bus. This is 2012 and it's pathetic how far we are behind the rest of the world in things like this. Luckily, it's inevitable that we'll evolve and catch up.
Now I am not the confrontational type, but I think you are just the same as the rest of the haters. No were in the interview did he say he was against gay marriage. This is what he said:
Chick-fil-A Chief Executive Dan Cathy said in a recent interview with the Baptist Press that although he doesn't consider Chick-fil-A a "Christian business," he does operate on "biblical principles." "We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit," Cathy continued. "We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."
He did mention another paragraph that I cannot find about what god may think about us for changing his view of a marriage. Again a perfectly good opinion.
But where you are getting this "him against the gays thing is that every article written now says something about him hating gays. Which is not true! He is not quoted ever hating or being against anyone. All the hate is on your side of the table! Everyone is changing the wording to spark up this whole damn thing because he is big time person. But anyone with an education and actually reading the interview and who does not get swayed by savvy journalism knows he does not hate gays and lesbians!
Well said Johnny!
I don't hate anybody! I hate their religion. Just like their quote "we don't hate the sinner, just the sin". I don't hate the religionist, just the religion. I just want my friggin' rights! I don't care what Dan Cathy, or a line of Chik Fil A buyers think. I'm a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen. I'm in a 14 year relationship. We deserve our rights, I'm entitled to my rights.
Then you probably have no values!
I hope you don't have a opinion some one disagrees with and bankrupts you. All it was is his opinion and all he said was Mr Cathy was being interviewed by the Baptist press a religious. News site dedicated to Christians. He never said he discriminated against gays or hates them. ALL HE SAID direct from the the interview was. Direct quote read the story in the Baptist press if you don't believe me. " Some have opposed the company's support of the traditional family. "Well, guilty as charged," said Cathy when asked about the company's position.
"We are very much supportive of the family - the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that." No Hate such that is being spewed here.
U R AN IDIOT AND MY MONEY AND SO DO MANY OTHERS WILL GO ELSE WHERE, ENJOY YOUR CHICKEN.. U WILL HAVE PLENTY LEFT OVERS
We have seen your influence today deviant.
We know straight people are NEVER deviant. Bahahhaha
sorry we sold out. go eat red meat it will give u cancer.
Not today they needed extra.
The chick filet a fiasco is not about free speech,or gay marriage it is about equality, as long as obtaining a marriage license is a state function, any couple of any nationality or race or sex should be eligible based on equality, how would christians react if legal marriage was only allowed for same sex couples ? Unfortunatly certain people will never change, like those that are against interracial marriage, Equality can only mean one thing, equality for all not the chosen few. OBAMA BEIDEN 2012
Spot on !
Anyone else notice he mis-spelled BIDEN?? :) Epic fail!
Christians are not supposed to take their disputes before non-Christian courts or judges. (“If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints?” - 1 Corinthians 6:1 NIV) How interesting! Considering that state is separate from church all courts are supposedly “ungodly”. Does this stop Christians from tying up the supreme court with law suits concerning school prayer, abortion, or numerous other absurdities? Hell no it doesn’t, and my taxes are paying the bill for their hypocrisy!
That passage is true *nods* So. If someone wishes to agree to go before a pastor with a christian and let the pastor make a binding choice, then people can do that.
If you dont wish to go before an elder ( which means church leaders) with a christian, they have no choice but to go to the legal courts. also consider that scholars analyzing that passage feel that the "another" refrenced means another christian.
Oh, if we ALL just had your wisdom edweird69, the problems of the world would all be solved! You have SUCH a grasp on the truth. LOL!
Well thanks Guy. I know I have the truth. Why Jesus just spoke to me the other night, and told me I was right. Now please buy some chicken from me, when I open my new restaurant.
edweird69.... well stated. I believe you :)
Jesus speaks to us in mysterious ways. I for one call him each time I am constipated, by yelling, Jesus! And he usually helps, but only after I take my Metamucil -for He helps only those who help themselves.
hey idiot.. the constitution prevents government from imposing their religious ideologies on the people. Secondly, the Fed. Government over reached and violated states rights with the abortion issue and prayer in school. Secondly, it is my right to believe what I wish to believe. And it is not your right to violate my 1st Amendment rights.
Alot of BS about nothing !
Most CEO's are smart enough not to spout out about what they feel sisne it is what they feel not what we feel !
The BS about boycotting or saying that they cannot do business in their town is still stupid ! I am sure that there are gay and lesbian folks that work for that company but NOW will not say a damn thing .
So again it is alot of BS about nothing !
Sodomites are utterly incapable of repenting. God has given them over to a reprobate mind as judgement against their gross idolatry (Romans 1). Trying to normalize or cure the cursed of God makes you no better than any other Arminian heretic. Sodomites are sodomites NOT because they hate God, but because GOD HATES THEM! What this world needs is a thousand King Josiah's to tear down the filthy huts of the sodomites. These perverts have two rights: AIDS and DEATH.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am here to tell that you are WRONG and out of line. We as children of God are instructed to love EVERYONE. Did you miss the lesson on loving your enemy? Anyone can love those who are like them, it takes a true child of God to love those who are different. You don't have to agree with their opinions and you’re allowed to voice your own opinion but in Christ's LOVE. To spout this kind of hatred screams loud and clear that YOU need to get YOUR heart right with God.
If you need proof of what Jesus said, read the New Testament. It’s very clear.
Someone who has read and internalized the Bible. A misfit.
edwired69...is a N@ZIs he wants to M0B us if we do not agree
The tides have changed? lol hey Steve have you watched the news today? Have you seen the number of people who have showed up to support Chickfila ? lol
I have so much respect for Chick fil A for standing up for what they believe in....everyone should be like that.
do you also have the same respect for those in the gay and lesbian communities standing up for their basic human right to be treated as equals?
do you have that same respect for those in the gay and lesbian communities who are standing up for their basic human rights to be treated as equals?
After having eaten Chik-Fil-A's food once, I assume people are going there just to support their marriage stance. The chicken patties they serve taste like tanned rubber tire. The bread looks like it got run over by a 18 wheeler.
Go to McDonalds instead– better fast food, and you don't get a side order of God with it.
Y0u sh0uld Wake up.. what's wr0ng with you... Y0u want to hurt anyone who doesn't believe like you... look at your "BoyCott" schedule on friday... That would hurt all chickfla's employee's and their famlies..
BUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU DONT CARE about that.... What;s next... you want th3m out of business too???
Why so many hateful posts from both sides? Let people speak their minds, listen to what they say, and form your own opinion based on logic and human decency. A discussion about a topic like this should include factual information from both sides. If you want to call someone out about an opinion ask them questions about the facts and when their facts are wrong post the truth. The right to an opinion is not wrong, but bullying from either side is. The majority of posts seem mean-spirited, hateful, and rude. How about a little civil discourse? Objective dispassionate conversations never hurt anyone!
My rights should not be subjecated to public opinion. They're supposed to be granted to me under the equal protection clause.
People also have the right to disagree. No one is being "silenced". If they guy loses business because of public opinion that's a problem of his own making.
I'm supposed to be protected, not subjected to mob rule.
but yet you denounce the owner's right to free speech..... nice..... your just as much of a bigot as the owner of chic-fil-a.....
Lining up to make the rich even richer. Shows the mentality of the American people. Many advanced countries gave gays their rights years and years ago.
Get me i break you make blank statements like this.. You must be a N@Z! G@Y
Yeah, Europe is doing great now.
*looks at Bill of Rights*
Exactly what right on there is being denied to you because of your sexual preference?
People are broke.. and the GAY5 in there self rightous talk are really just like the N@Z!'5 they want to force their
idea's on everyone.. mariage is between a male and female, and like it or not GAY5 should not get special considerations for their descision to be GAY5. H0m0s3xuallaty is a descision..
Too bad stupidity isn't a choice. Perhaps you would have chosen to be smart.
What is wrong with you? Try to think, please. You speak as if gay people are trying to force straight people to turn gay. Gay people aren't trying to force their reality on anyone, crazy religious people are trying to force their pathetic insane version of reality on others. Wake up and live.
You should Wake up.. what's wrong with you... You want to hurt anyone who doesn't believe like you... look at your "BoyCott" schedule on friday... That would hurt all chickfla's employee's and their famlies..
BUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU DONT CARE about that.... What;s next... you want them out of business too???
Descisions, DeCISIONs – (spellcheck is a wonderful thing) Oh and by the way, I'm one of those GAYS (I believe there are a few more than just 5 of us) – no decision was made on my part just like you unless, of course, you DECIDED to be straight?
YOU OWN A RESTAURANT AND YOUR AN ATHEIST. GOD WALKS IN FOR LUNCH. DO YOU SERVE HIM?
GOD, party of 1, your table is ready.....
Of course.
Atheists and agnostics are not known for being selective, unlike their religious counterparts.
I'd have him arrested for crimes against humanity.
There is nothing wrong with having an opinion. There is nothing wrong with having morals. There is nothing wrong with deviating from what is acceptable. There is nothing wrong with standing for what you believe in. Note that whether you are gay or not, you will probably agree with these statements. Having said this, there is nothing wrong with Chic-Fil-A's stance on gay relationships. It is the Presidents perrogative to make a personal choice. It is his business. If you dont like how he conducts it, dont go there. You cant force someone to promote something they do not agree with. Be careful when you accuse someone of discrimination. To discriminate means to assess, examine, categorize.... TO discriminate between people is to actually acknowledge differences . It does not require that you agree with differences. Get over yourselves. Be open minded. Open minded means to accept that we have differences, not to necessarily agree with someone else, but to accept that we agree to disagree. Stop trying to make everyone conform to your mindset or to the idea that there is no differentiation between people. What a boring world that would be!
People seem to be more upset about the money chik donates to organizations that work against gay rights. It's good to know at any rate. What if you found out your favorite restaurant gave to the KKK? You wouldn't be angry? People have the right to get angry, boycott and talk about their opinion. I think it's fair to pass on this information as often as possible.
If I found out my favorite restaurant supported the KKK, I wouldn't go there anymore. What they do with their money, their time, etc. is their business so long as it isn’t illegal. If I found out my favorite hairstylist liked to date little green men from Mars, I wouldn't go there. (mostly because that one’s kinda creepy) but what she does is her business. We are not asking you to stop being gay. We are not asking you to change. What you do is your business. What we are saying is that God created marriage to be between one man and one woman and we’re not going to sit back quietly while you try to change the definition. If you would like to invent your own form of legal union, that's fine. Most of us won't care and those that do are unimportant. But we will not change what WE believe just to suit YOUR beliefs.
We don't hate you. As has been said here, we just disagree.
As long as we're just disagreeing, let's stop the forcing of religion upon people. Marriage, despite what you are implying, is in no way a uniquely christian thing. Buddhists get married. Hindi get married. Native peoples get married. All without concern or regard for your religion's opinion on their marriage. So too, I wager, do you get married without concern for their religion. Taking a civil issue and making it a religious imperative is straw man argument at best.
The CNN Editors Note is a flagrant, diabolical lie (to be expected). That is your enemy!
I wonder what those people over at the local Burger Bag think?
Listen, everyone is free to express their opinions. If Cathy wants to say that, fine. He will get support, but he will have to be able to handle the consequences too.
I, personally, think his opinion is totally screwed up. Don't bring God into everything! God doesn't support divorce, yet millions of Americans still do it, ignoring the bible. But when it works for them, suddenly: "God does not want this to be!" For God's sake (no pun intended,) THE BIBLE IS SOME OLD BOOK WITH UNKNOWN AUTHORS. Yes, God did not write it. Books simply don't fall from the sky.
Can you help loving the opposite sex? Well, it's the same for Gays. And, anyway, do you ask permission for the entire state just so you can get married? Why do Gays have to if you don't? Its none of your business if they are legally married or not! It doesn't even effect you, so stop acting like it does!
For the 18 millionth time, nobody cares what Dan Cathy thinks or says. It's a free country. He's free to say what he wants. He's free to practices his own religion as he wants. He's free to run his business as he wants. And all of us are free to patronize or not patronize as he wants.
Freedom is a two way street though. Just as he's free to say what he wants, none of us are forced to agree with him. Starbucks, General Mills and Amazon ALL faced boycotts over their SUPPORT for gay marriage, and no one on either side was the slightest bit concerned about that. That is their freedom to do so.
The issue is not his "support of traditional marriage", but his support of groups that actively seek to oppress gay people, be in actually by politicians by supporting bans on their freedoms or even by their death (groups that seek the death penalty for gay people in Africa). These are as inexcusable to some as if Dan Cathy gave a single cent to an abortion clinic.
So yes, it's a free country, and no one is stopping him from saying anything. But freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. In a free country, we must take responsibility for both our words and our actions.
Bravo, Joe!
Thank you, Joe!
You are wrong! I care. Even if I am the only one, which I am not. I CARE WHAT THAT LOUDMOUTH DAN CATHY SAYS!
I am for equal rights, and E-Q-U-A-L does not spell O-N-L-Y US! Its means everyone. Yes it matters what people say. Because a vocal bigotted minority can, and in the past has, intimidated the silent majority. So we have to stop bigotry in speech with equally vocal speech and a call to arms. Boycott this offensive man and his products. Speak up! Sound off on the airwaves and online. Tweet, tweet, tweet! Hold picket signs up in front of his business, until he is silenced. There must never rise again those voices that make others cower and feel afraid. Those voices that bring out the worst in humankind, not the best. So, start to care what happens in your world or it will come home to haunt you in the end.
Cheney and I are War Criminasl and I do agree with what Hussein Obama the prejudiced, race-baiter says... ALL Christians SUCK...
Well said Joe!
For the 18th million and first time – the issue is not whether or not someone has the personal right to boycott a business but whether government has the right to deny a business the right to exist based on government's opinion of what is politically correct which is exactly what Chicago was trying to do.
Exactly, the market will decide whether Chick-Fil-A stays in business there, or anywhere else (or opens new stores). If the majority are offended, CFA will go under.
If it turns out that not enough people were offended enough to bring the company down on this issue, well then, it will continue doing business as usual.
I would like to see some hard evidence from those stating that C-FA money firectly funds anti-gay programs. Not saying unequivically that it doesn't, just saying I am not aware of this and would like to see some facts relative to that
Stop, this is not about free speech. It's about keeping Church and State seperate. I think there's an important document in Washington that keeps that..... I guess the Good Christians forgot about that.....
If its about "breeding" then shouldn't we frown on people who get married without the intention or ability to have children? How about people with genetic based disabilities or just unattractive? How about people getting married in their old age? Or forcing them to divorce in their old age? Steven Hawking is married. Maybe we shouldn't have allowed THAT to happen. Or maybe, we should just mind our own business and let people live their own lives? That's a value I'm sure most Americans can actually appreciate. If people want to dictate other people's lives right down to which consenting adult they can marry, maybe we should care about whether or not they have guns, whether their home is their castle and all those other "values" conservatives seem to claim is no one's business. There can't be an argument about freedom until both parties actually start acting like they care about it.
Who cares? They can voice their opinion of they want to. The Gay Rights Group voice their opinion so why can 't Mr. Cathy.People.....get a life. The only one we have to explain our choices to is God when we go to the gate of Heaven.
I do not believe in Gay Marriage but that is my right but I really don't care what other people do...that is their business.
I don't eat that junk food to begin with. And since they are bigots in addition ....
Why do you hate gay people's freedom of speech? Why are you trying to silence gay people? No one is saying Dan Cathy can't say anyone, but apparently it's wrong when other people do???
So no one is allowed to say they disagree with you? If you don't want people to disagree with you, don't say anything at all. Easy. Already chik is regretting even starting the argument.
People aren't angry at Chick-Fil-A for having the opinion that homosexuality is wrong; they're boycotting the company because they don't want their money to go to support anti-homosexual organizations, which Chick-Fil-A donates to. Please have your facts right before you make erroneous insults towards a group of people.
Sources:
http://www.advocate.com/business/2012/07/02/chick-fil-donates-2-mil-antigay-groups
http://www.slate.com/blogs/spitzer/2012/07/31/chick_fil_a_brawny_angel_soft_why_i_am_boycotting_the_chicken_restaurant_and_koch_brothers_products_.html
I always wonder why these hate groups called Churches don't have to pay taxes. They take in so much money and use it against so many people. It's time to change that.
Hey Marc, I'm Marc. Just wanna let you in on a little piece of world history. The last time someone tried to regulate religion, a bunch of Christians stockpiled a few guns and formed the United States. You're not on hometurf, buddy. Go back to England if you want state regulated religion. They can't even elect a Bishop without asking the Prime Minister for permission. Sounds like you'd be at home there.
Sounds like he said "churches should be taxed," not "churches should be run by the government." Quite an imagination you have there.
Seek the word "regulation". Taxation falls under that. Quite the lack of imagination ya got there buddy.
Except a fair number of them (e.g. Jefferson) weren't christians.
Lol...nice.
Yes, I agree. It's outrageous.
Right on, Marc.
And I wonder why the government GIVES my tax money to fractoral segments of society that represent a sliver of the total population so they can use that money to run add campaigns to bash those who stand for their belief systems. Get over yourself. You do not understand the Christian religion if you think it is a hate group. But guess what, I will pray for you anyway.
Churches do not get funded by Government...so all their money comes from the people that are part of the church.
WRONG! Churches get their $$$ from donations, the art, jewelry, property they stole over the years, the banks they own, investments in Switzerland, etc. Just face the truth, ALL RELIGIONS ARE BUSINESSES and they simply avoid taxes by calling themselves a CHURCH!
The Vatican has more gold than Fort Knox, they own more property than the entire USA Government… and yet we have massive poverty, everywhere…
Just sayin’
agree. tax them! they use that money for political purposes all the time without regard what all of the members think. Just a few people in power. Pharisees!
We have freedom of speech and religion !!!
You're right, we do have freedom of speech and religion!! BUT, when religion takes a side it's called moralistic high ground, when someone takes a stance opposing religion it's called an attack on the church. Churches, religion, and their leaders have a severe double standard when it comes to free will. If YOUR free will agrees with the church (place denomination here), then you are are good guy. If your opinion disagrees with the SAME church, then you are an evil do'er (to quote a backwaters idiot). It's a matter of opinion that the non-church follower seem to get and those that preach equality and peace seem to miss. ironic.
Der- religion that is neutral is not a belief system, it would be a piece of card board. That is what some people want; a society totally devoid of opinion, thought, differentiation, morals, beliefs..... and if someone does have beliefs, they want them to hide in the closet and keep them to themselves rather than to practice those beliefs openly. What a brainless, thoughtless, cardboard society that would be.
" a society totally devoid of opinion, thought, differentiation, morals, beliefs." oh you mean equal... yeah that would be bad, a place where everyone can be EQUAL huh... .
As well as freedom of choice, and if we don't want to have our money go to groups that fund oppression, we shouldn't have to! YAY FREEDOM!
I really don't like Chick Fil A, but I'm tempted to go there, not in support of one side or the other, but in support of free speech and allowing people to have their own beliefs.
Careful SMS, you probably gonna be called a hater and bigot
who's suppressing who here? Its just a bunch of disrespect and dislike all the way around. The Southern Baptists are known to be bigoted, racist and insanely conservative, to the point of insisting on teaching children that myths are factual history and people hung out with dinosaurs. Gay people just want to be accepted for who they are and want the same rights as everyone else in America. Land of the Free, remember? Free to be gay, free to be religious. Who is suppressing whom?
I saw an interesting opinion earlier that I'd like to share:
"If you stopped buying chicken because the restaurant owner took a stand for traditional marriage....are you also going to stop buying Gasoline because the owner of Opec executes gay people?"
Why would you do that? We get our gas from gay marriage lovin' Canada and gay marriage lovin' Mexico!
aw, shut up. Sounds like you'll be going there
We have Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech in the U.S.!
Chick-fil-A is a private company and could express their opinion freely, so shut up.
PS! America is a Christian country and will always be. Same-sex marriage is not recognized according to the holy Bible.
*******************************************
I saw an interesting opinion earlier that I'd like to share:
"If you stopped buying chicken because the restaurant owner took a stand against gay marriage....are you also going to stop buying Gasoline because the owner of Opec executes homosexuals?"
I think this is exactly what the Founding Fathers were thinking when they thought up free speech. Great job Chick Fil A for standing up for God's law and Biblical Principles. The same principles that the Founding Fathers fought for.
Actually, the founder's intent was NOT to have "God's" law interpreted as being the law of the land – which is the purpose of the first amendment.
Your opinion that God exists is just that – an opinion. And opinions should NEVER be made into the law of the land.
Not a history major were you.
The Founding Fathers were about business not GAYS....the people in these lines are not there for chicken...they are there because they believe being Gay is a sin and many of them believe that being Gay is despicable....wonder how many of them have 'closet Gays' in their family or members who are being put to shame for who they are?
What is it with religeous types that makes them believe that lying through your teeth is a Christian value?? Our founding fathers did not base ANY of our founding documents on God, religion or any other hocus pocus. Or is it that they simply can't read??? Does CFA have aright to take a stance against Gay Marriage? Of course they do, this is America! Do gays have a right to marry? Of course they do thisis America and NO ONE has the right to "qualify" other Americans rights to pusue happiness in a way that tehy so choose. To say otherwise is your right since you have the right to be Anti-American.
"The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion." Treaty of Tripoli, signed by the Founding Fathers
erm, no. They were thinking that the common man had the right to speak out against injustices perpetrated by those in authority. Such as your oppressed gay person vs the monolith known as the Southern Baptist Convention.
Dah founding sisters were mostly deists and believed in many gods, some believed in none, and some thought Jesus was just a good philosophical person, a philosopher, if you will. Thomas Jefferson re-wrote the entire bible w/out all the miracles in it. Please do not confuse the psychotic ramblings of what your religion taught you with reality!
Sodomites have this nation's leaders by the balls (probably in more ways than one...) I applaud Chick-Fil-A for standing up to the filthy sodomite juggernaut and spitting in its feces covered face.
Wow! Talk about nut balls R us.
Nothing like a little holier-than-thou post protected by anonymity to prove that you certainly are not.
WOW! I am a Christian and I stand strong behind Chic-Fil-A for declaring their beliefs and standing firm on them without compromise in the face of pressure. Having said that, YOU are obviously the reason Christians get a bad name- your tone is full of hate. Christ calls us to love the person and hate the sin. He does not call us to spit all over them. What if he had done that to those he encountered? I believe that you may REALLY be a gay person posing as a Christian in order to "stir the pot". I believe your post is a "plant" to make Christians look bad. Didnt work with me. I know better.
You are a Bible ignoramus. The notion that Christ "hates the sin, loves the sinner" is a lie from Hell. Was Esau a person? What do you do with the following passages: Romans 9:13, Psalm 5:5, Malachi 1:3, Leviticus 20:23, etc. Does Christ love the people He sends to Hell?, and will He love them for all of eternity as they beg for mercy from the unquenchable flames of Hell? In this life, you are predestinated to be either Jacob or Esau - you sound like an Esau.
And I ask you... who wrote this garbage? In what context? In what time period? In what frame of society? That's what's wrong with many 'fundamentalist types'... YOU believe exactly what's written without considering the context of the writings. When this was written the issues it portrayed were important and unknown. NOW, in the era of a little bit of reason (notice I said a little to appease these people), we know there are certain things that are born into people and certain things that are learned. Science, also known as compiled information (not theory), is showing homosexuality is a hard wired natural issue, not a 'gay-dom' choice used to irritate mommy and daddy. Read something else besides the bible, something a little more recent and FACTUAL; something corroborated with actual facts than that piece of POLITICAL (yes, political propaganda against the ROMANS) fiction. Do your research and get back to me.
Christian do aGREAT job of making themselves look bad, they really don't need any help from an imaginary god or "plant."
You could use the help of a proofreader.
Today dear friends... I learned something. I learned that in the fight between gay marriage, hypocritical christians, intolerant liberals, and chicken sandwiches.... There can truly be only one winner. And that winner is...
Batman.
I pretty much think this entire thing is overblown and stupid, and redundant. So screw you guys...
I'm going to watch Dark Knight Rises Again.
Honestly Wuce Brayne I completely agree it is overblown and stupid – enough already just let it go. I mean we would much rather read about Katie, Suri and Tom – NOT.
I respect Dan Cathy's right to his opinion. I don't agree with it but it is not my private company to run. I applaud your opinion and your willingness to contribute profits in the interest of achieving equality. I am neither gay, nor christian and Chick-fil-A can do whatever they please as long as it is legal. Doesn't mean I respect their feelings, more that I respect people can have those feelings. Personally, I'll vote with my wallet and never eat at a Chick-fil-A again. Were I local I would patronize your establishment without hesitation. Live and let live, people.
Right on Bubba!
Well, it was nice of him to say where he donates funds to so people who don't agree with him can eat somewhere else. The food there is tasty, but high on calories and that's the primary reason why I don't eat there.
What a coward, wont even use his real name. You have got to be one of them bible beaters from the south that interprets the bible as the law of the land.
The real story here is the people that didn't show up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Of course the media cannot film them.
Why would the quintessential CHICKEN eat CHICKEN... because they don't know any better!
People have stances on gay marriage not companies. Oh yea I forgot, corporations are people.
Ever had a "Chic-Fil-ET"? Overpriced and pretty tasteless. Put the catsup on the box with a lot of salt and you'll enjoy it more. Instead of falling in line with pseudo religion (yes you Huck baby, remember all the dead cops in Seattle?) why don't you check your bibles and see if they say King James Version, or KKK version.
and Christians are close minded, judgmental and hateful... Examine yourself. you are so prejudice against Christians. You obviously are not declaring a belief system or supporting a moral belief or conviction but rather a hate message. Congratulations, you just joined prejudice society. Christians , like any other religious group, are to be commended and admired for taking a stand in what they believe. Without the determination to weather the storm and the integrity to admit to it, the fiber of society would erode. We would be a whatever, whenever society. That could open the door to a good deal of perversions and deviations. Child abuse, the sex trade, rape.....
Funny how liberals want to come out and claim Cathy and anyone who doesnt support same sex marriage is a bigot. It doesnt matter that they haven't said a word about banning anyone or personally attacked anyone or any group of people. It doesnt matter that they just stood there in line quietly and ordered their sandwich. How enlightened of you. I should become enlightened myself and decide to call anyone a bigot who doesn't share my opinion.
How many Good Christians in those long lines have had a divorce or an abortion? They show up and say look at me, a good Christian. I'm not sure of anything other than love for everyone. So sad, all I saw today was a ton of hate. Sure we saw a ton of support for the Chick place today. What about the long run? No one likes hate......
You are the TYPICAL CHRISTIAN... you hate EVERYTHING and are full of self-loathing; GREAT EXAMPLE YOU ARE!
You & Julie should get together and create troglodytes...
The key word here is hate. You seem to be obsessed with it.
I learned 2 things looking at MANY of the people in line for Chic-Fil-A:
1. MANY of those people do not need to be eating there.
2. MANY of the people have a very very very short memory of how they used to be treated by the same people.
Just saying.....
You learned all that just by looking at their appearance huh?
They judge by appearance when it is convenient for them.
I also wonder if that poster will send a letter of apology to the fat acceptance movement. Hey, their ideology requires tolerance and sensitivity, not mine.
Kind of a ridiculous situation. People protesting someone's bigoted opinion...so other people protest their opinion of the bigot by supporting the bigot and giving him money.
Did I miss anything?
Yeah you did. He's not a bigot. He never once said anything against gay people or that he wants them out of his restaurants. He just made his stance known on the issue of same sex marriage.
One man makes a statement about marriage between a man and a woman and all the gays get their panties in a wad. Show me two men or two women that can have sex and conceive a child WITHOUT going to a doctor for an implant or using anyone else as a surrogate. You can't do it! God said "be fruitful and multiply." Now if it's impossible for you to do that, why do you think it is OK for gays to get married? What purpose would your marriage serve? Read the first chapter of Romans in the New Testament. Pay attention if you believe in God. Being gay is a choice one makes. Mr. Cathy is a good man and God has surely blessed him today! Freedom of speech. Peaceful people went for their meals at CFA today. Gays are going there Friday to "kiss". It wouldn't surprise me a bit if there was a lot of fights.
Why does the company have "a stance" on Gay Marriage? I remember when Congressman Craig of Idaho had a stance on Gay Marriage. I believe he called it a "wide stance" after he was busted for sex in public.
If gay people, like so many insane straight people, think that their relationships can be somehow strengthened by co-signing a piece of paper, why not let them?
Everyone who thinks this is a regressive company: let's all show up to buy Chick-fil-A this Sunday.
Oh, wait....
Because America is a nation built on values - including freedom of expression, liberty, faith, and family - values much blood has been spilled to earn and protect. How odd that the liberal left would rally against a man (and his company) simply because they voice their opinion that they AGREE with the same values this nation has stood and fought for for hundreds of years to protect. I stand with Chick Fil A 100% ... I'm proud of their courage and strength. I'm disappointed and ashamed to be in a country which now ATTACKS people for holding the same values my ancestors died to protect. The vast majority of Americans STILL hold these values dear ... it's the few loud-mouths who can't tolerate the values and beliefs of others who disagree with them.
so maybe we should outlaw divorce to protect those "values" you hold so dear
Now theres a good idea, doesnt the Bible frown on DIVORCE
maybe we should. Then maybe people would take the institution seriously and kids wont grow up in broken homes or without a father or mother.
Love your suggestion. What about gluttony? Isn't the bible pretty explicit about how God feels about Gluttony?
It's far easier to blame it on "da gays"!
Why do religious nut jobs always lie so much???? Many of my family memebers have been in the service and I've heard a LOT of stories about this and that but NEVER have I heard one of them say they fought to deny Gays the rigth to the pursuit of happiness. These liesmake one want to vomit. The "people" (Republicans) somehow believe that the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence was written ONLY for straight-white-men. That notion alone should make any real American loathe the party.
Yep, those same great values including slavery, gender discrimination, race discrimination. Wow, you're not very evolved.
Paul, your ancestors came to this country to leave a place that did not allow them to worship as they wished...and when they arrived, they slaughtered its native habitants b/c they didn't believe in what they did.
I am glad that makes you proud.
Sorry, my bad .... I thought those were YOUR ancenstors
@exlonghorn – evolved? really? if you think this country is so bad, go try living somewhere that truly doesnt believe in civil rights or freedom of speech. You'll be on the first plane back...guaranteed. Cathy never said he wouldnt serve gay people or hated them or wanted to create an environment in his restaurants free of them. He only stated his own stance on same sex marriage. This isnt oppression or bigotry. Its his opinion that is his right per the constitution.
I agree with you 100% Paul!
I'm NOT anti-gay ... and I'm not anti-gay marriage. But I'm against ANY people who want to shut down a restaurant chain simply because the owner doesn't agree with their beliefs, especially when the restaurant owner's values align with the vast majority of Americans.
oh well then I'm sure debbie doesn't agree 100%
I am not against C F because they are 'against Gay Marriage'....the people who are weighing in to support them are saying the most despicable remarks about 'being Gay'....GAY MARRIAGE is the tip of the iceberg....
Meh. If someone decides they don't share a business's "values" and decide to take their business somewhere else, that's hardly anti-capitalism.
Hate is NOT a value! if you on the 'right' are so into freedom and liberty, how about respecting people's liberty to be the way they were born and their freedom to marry the person they love?? oh, right, you only believe in the freedom to do what you think is right, not what anyone else thinks is right. what hypocrites the 'right' are.
Paul, no. Just. No. You are so misguided it's actually sort of funny. It's interesting that the first two values you're defending are freedom of expression and liberty, and the last is family, and then you make some kind of convoluted argument about how people have died in war defending these ambiguous ideals. The other that you mentioned is, of course, faith, which is another of our liberties. We all have the freedom to follow (or not follow) whichever religion we want, which means Christian "values" are not required of every American. By the way, where in the Bible did Jesus say anything about gays? Oh yeah, it was nowhere. I also hope you've never eaten shellfish, because if you have, then you should be killed. Or is that one of those silly admissible rules that we overlook because it's clearly absurd and antiquated?
But I digress. What you've done is presented the exact argument for why gay marriage is not a concern of yours. Americans believe in liberty, which means the government and/or bigoted morons should not interfere with matters that don't concern them; freedom of expression–this one seems pretty obvious, but you're pretty narrow-minded so I'll elaborate–which gives one the freedom to be who and what they want to be, again without governmental or idiotic intervention; family, which is a partnership of love and unity; and, of course, as you so eloquently stated, faith, which means the right to believe in anything one damn-well pleases, instead of being forced into conforming with some sort of national religion. So, congratulations. You've presented a perfect case for gay marriage. Thanks for that. I'm glad you're finally coming around.
Oh, and also, your ancestors were clearly ignorant too. That's why this country had that little period known as slavery. And the whole civil war. And that's why black men couldn't vote until 1920, and all women couldn't until 1921, and that whole segregation thing. Remember that? And the civil rights movement. And, who could forget how miscegenation was still an issue in the 20th century but it was cool to marry your first cousin in most states (still more available than gay marriage)?
Lastly, your assertion that the "vast majority" of Americans are still as misguided as you is both offensive and just plain wrong. Studies show that, as of late 2010, more Americans support gay marriage than oppose it, and that trend is only growing. Look it up if you don't believe me.
Turns out that a "few loud-mouths who can't tolerate the values and beliefs of others who disagree with them" is a tragically fitting way to end your port. Who'd have known you'd turn into such a gay rights activist?
When is Mr Cathy going to come out and say that he believes divorce and adultery are wrong. When are ALL the christians going to say they hate divorce? God hates those things too, doesn't he?
Now you've done it: speaking logically. Anathema to the ignorant.
Christians have been speaking out against divorce and the fact that it is running rampant in this country. That just doesn't make the media's special interest. True Christians are against divorce and are appalled at the divorce rates not just in our country but more predominantly in our churches.
Christians like Newt Gingrich.
Nice general conclusion you've made there about all Christians. I suppose I can safely assume that all those who are gay are into hard-core pornography because some of them are? Or that all gays are pedophiles because Jerry Sandusky was? Clearly this is not the case. Neither is it the case that all Christians support Newt Gingrich. Any man who disregards his family in that way without any signs of regret/repentance is not earning my vote either.
Christians have been. Unfortunately, society at large has accepted divorce and adultry. It's not news when a minister rants on it for the 1 billionth time. Its only news when one picks a politically correct hot-button topic like same-sex marriage.
He already has. Guess you didn't catch the part where he said that he is married to his first and only wife. Also these so-called hate groups he donates to are against divorce and have family counseling seminars to keep families together.
Have you heard a christian say thye like those things? I haven't
As one wise person put it, gay and lesbian teenagers commit suicide all the time because of all the hateful things said about them publicly. Is any 15 year old going to take their own life because they can't go to a Chick-fil-A in Boston or Chicago?
I'm 100% for Gay marriage. Why shouldn't they be miserable like the rest of us!
Tolerance is a two way street. Apparently that is something that both sides of this "debate" are forgetting.
that is easy to say for someone who has not been hated just for how they were born....
I do know how it feels...being a black woman in the south I have seen the face for those who judge me by the color of my skin but my God calls me to love them in spite of their hate which also means I cannot agree with same-sex marriage. BUT again my God calls me to love them as well. I believe gays and lesbians have human rights that no one should infringe upon but I also have the right to disagree respectfully with their choice of lifestyle.
Personally, if I was a gay man, I'd be organizing to flood all CFA franchises with gay customers. Standing in line, in your face gays packing the place (no pun intended) till it got a reputation as a gay, lesbian, transgender hangout. That would be a great practical joke and a classy way to turn the tables on the bible thumpers. But then I have an evil sense of humor!
I had suggested the exact same thing, gay people should stand in line and hold hands. Apply for jobs, they can't be discriminated against.
"Heeeyyyy, Welcome to Chick-Fil-AAAaaaaa"
Brilliant!
It's Friday. Gays are being encourage to visit their local CFA and engage in PDAs while there.
That's a great idea! True Christians will love them and embrace them and preach the gospel to them. Then they will follow Jesus when they realize how good and loving He really is.
Great idea! And then bible thumpers could go to gay bars and read scripture out loud all night. Civility and respect for all!
Suppose Chick-fil-A was against Inter-racial marriage or against Marriage between Jews and Gentiles? Would that be just free speech? Just asking?
Opinions are opinions. They just should not be the law of the land.
Or a better analogy might be people who love and want to marry their dog, cat, or horse ..... or multiple partners, or children, or teens, or whatever. Many are attracted to children ... and BORN with that desire, so perhaps we should legalize that as well to keep everyone happy??????
A False analogy.
How so? It follows the same logic.
Wow, so you are one of those nice people who consider homosexuality in the same catagory as pedophilia?
Man...is your god gonna have a fun time judging you for thinking that way of one of his children.
Good idea Paul, because we all know that, just like adults, children, cats, and dogs are legally allowed to enter into legal contracts.
Frankly, the comparison to inter-racial marriage is perfect. That fight was only 50 years ago, so if you want to argue "traditional", then you have to exclude inter-racial. And some Christian groups still reject it, along with gay marriage.
Biblical is more accurate, not traditional. There are plenty of interracial marriages in the Bible but not a single gay marriage.
False equivalence logical fallacy. May want to look into it.
I'll give you a head start: What you're saying is no different then saying, "Geez we gave black people the right to vote, what next...dogs and cats?" It assumes from the outset that giving Black people the right to vote would be as silly as giving dogs and cats the right to vote, and equates the two.
You equate homosexuality with besitality and child abuse because all involve a form of sexual gratification you disaprove of. Doesn't make them equivalent, it just makes you an illogical bigot.
That's the same tired, ridiculous argument that's been trotted out against gay people wanting to marry for years. it didn't make any sense then and still doesn't. civil marriage should be open to two people over the age of consent who are not closely related. period! and i absolutely respect the rights of churches to deny 'holy matrimony' to folks they don't want to marry. but this is not a theocracy so the government has no business discriminating in that way.
Very well said.
wow...wasn't your last comment that you are not anti gay or anti gay marriage???? and the you pull this ridiculous and baseless bestiality comment out? sure, you are not antigay
Although I know that most think that the conservatives are basing their objections because of religious beliefs, the MAIN reason why they are against such things is that without marriage, gays will not receive the same RIGHTS an BENEFITS that straight couples have – and there are too many to even go into here.
Believe me when I say that Gay people could care less what the CEO of Chick-Fil-A or anyone else thinks of them or their lifestyle PERSONALLY. It is the removal of public rights and access that bothers them, and I for one completely agree with them.
The only question we should ask ourselves when it comes to Gay people wanting to marry is WHO CARES?
Solex, don't you see?
If you let gays marry, then the marriages of people like Kim Kardashian and Britney Spears would be less special.
You know, gotta preserve the sanctity of marriage and that 50%+ divorce rate.
Power blip. To continue: Our government should be focusing on those issues that affect the nation as a whole, not wasting time and tax payer money dealing with personal, individual sexual preferences, a woman's right to discuss options for her own body with her physician and family, athletes taking steroids, local law enforcement handling of crime in their jurisdiction, and the list (so far as a national government is concerned) goes on and on. Reminds one of that commercial for stomach acid – doctor should not be running a jack hammer and worker should not do his own diagnosing. The First Amendment is the only issue in the Chic-Fil-A debaucle and the only reason the media is beating it to death is because of the mental bent of the media. Odd that the only time a liberal concedes to the right of free speech is when they agree with what is being said.
Where did that picture of a chicken sandwich come from? Not Chick-Fil-A for sure............
My guess would be that it came from the restaurant that the story is about.
I would challenge the author(s) to back up his claim that the Winshape Foundation funds programs aimed at destroying LGBT families. They have given to Marriage and Family Legacy Fund, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and National Christian Foundation to name a few, none of which have an anti gay agenda but do uphold traditional heterosexual marriage. They have also given millions to educational programs. Sorry Steve and Dan but your attempt to denigrate Chik Fil A fails.
I don't get why anyone (straight, gay, whatever) would ever want to get married. It just makes breaking up later that much more expensive.
But since people keep wanting to bring up the bible (no, I do not believe in any god, thank you). Evolution says that the strongest and superior genes survive. So where's that leave gays? At an evolutionary dead end? What is it about their genes that makes them want to end the line?
Yeah, the above was meant sorta as sarcasm. So please don't go off attacking me (we'd call that hate now, wouldn't we?).
Sounds like you have never been in love pal. The rules change when the heart is involved.
And when that wanes another divorce. So yeah (you will note the national divorce rate)
Sure, but you have to admit he has a point from a biology perspective. If you're born gay, and that makes it impossible for that set of genes to reproduce, doesn't that seriously bring into question the whole idea that s3xual orientation is genetic in the first place?
No, because gay folks have kids all the time. so your argument is invalid. just because you are gay doesn't mean you don't have the capacity to reproduce and be a loving, caring, supporting parent of healthy, happy, well-adjusted children, which also happens all the time. join the 21st century, why don't you? you might like it here. ;-)
Liz the First, listen very carefully. Being gay SHOULD make it impossible to reproduce. I'm not considering folks using alternative fertilization and gestation methods. Of course I recognize that happens, but it shows you're missing the point. In nature, that simply can't happen as humans are currently configured. So if it's REALLY genetic, that particular genetic trait should be eliminated after only a few generations. more likely, it's a chromosomal anomaly, or a combination of natural and environmental circumstances. Can't just say people are "born this way". Better to say "I'm gay, and nobody is really sure why".
I'm supporting Chik-Fil-A this day because I have a gin-u-wine hankerin' for some greasy, fat-filled, low rent fast food chikin'!
Very well written article. I'm originally from Chicago and if I was in town right now I'd see you for dinner. I did share your ariticle with many of my friends back home so I hope they can check out your food. In this day and age the fact that there are so many fearful people using some obscure reference in an old book to justify whatever it is they are afraid of is astounding. Why anyone can possibly feel threatened by anyone else's relationship is pretty silly. Owning a business and turning away potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars is simply bad buisness. They will have a surge while the controversey is broiling, but then people will find other things to have drama about and they will lose in the end. I don't think Cathy is much of a human being or a businessman, but who cares? I don't eat fast food. Never even heard of Chick-whatever until now.
The ONLY thing about this suppossed democracy is you can spend your money any way you want to!!! I don't agree with gay marriage but will patronize gay businesses if they politic on their personal time and money. I care more about the serviice and product I recieve. If they want to advertise they are a "gay" business I will pass on patronizing that business. I am sick of all the sexual politics.. So all you wise and annoying people let me know when I patronize your business I am stupid, and ignorant, and old fashion and not aympathetic to your cause. Insult me when I come into your place of business so I can close my wallet and leave.
Well REGARDLESS of how you look at it, straight or gay, it is still JUST a piece of paper.
Anon- it is so much more than just a piece of paper. And that is the point. Take away the religious reasons 9 no church should be forced to marry anyone they feel goes agianst its teaching), there are tax emplications – single people pay hire taxes. Health issues- only family and spouces can make emergency medical decisions. Relatives can keep life long partners away from loved ones bedside. Buying a house becomes more dificult. Insurance benefits, pensions, social security survivor benefits are all in play for non-married people.
Yes, most of this can be addressed though legal documents- 10,000 of them to be exact and at prohibitive costs. We are suppoosed to all be equal in this country. do away with all the benefits given married people and families and gay people will not have the same argument. but more realistically, is to grant same sex marriage though the license required by every state, not a church.
One that straight people have a choice to enter, but gay people do not.
Why do we care about what other people do with their lives? I would think that we should care about our own lives and leave other people to theirs. Everyone is so adept at quoting the bible in these situations. What about "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
Because child think types live for being holier-than-thou
So...bottom line is while you support his right to say so, YOU at the end of your statement tell the world how you REALLY feel. "Finally, we stand on different sides of history. Sadly, Dan Cathy is on the wrong side. "
So in other words, if you DON'T support the LGBT agenda, you and yours will lose out in the end.
Sounds pretty hateful to me.
Chic-fil-A does not have a gay day. Stop lying CNN!
Grow up! Do all straight people have to throw it in gay peoples face that they are getting married? What you are saying is something Hitler would say. What a loser! Again grow up and get into the real world.
Ummm I believe that's exactly what the wedding announcements section of every newspaper in this country allows them to do on a daily basis.
Actually, straight people make it into nationwide prime time events like "The Bachelor" and the Karshadian's wedding. Or when Lady Di married Prince Charles. Seriously, are you that unaware?
CNN put this story on to make Chic-Fil-A look bad. People who click on the link are made to think this article is about Chic-Fil-A, when its not. Its about a resturant called Hearty Restaurant that is owned by a gay couple. The picture of the sandwich and fries is supposed to make people think that food at Chic-Fil-A is horrible looking. The flag on top and the name of the article is supposed to make the reader think at first glace that Chic-Fil-A support gay marriage. CNN is extremely biased and this article only supports that.
You're right about the picture. I wouldn't eat there.
Are you serious? Grow up.
FOR EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW THE TRUTH:
Chick-fil-A distributed a statement about the ongoing controversy, which says: “Chick-fil-A is a family-owned and family-led company serving the communities in which it operates. From the day Truett Cathy started the company, he began applying biblically based principles to managing his business. For example, we believe that closing on Sundays, operating debt-free and devoting a percentage of our profits back to our communities are what make us a stronger company and Chick-fil-A family.
“The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. We will continue this tradition in the over 1,600 restaurants run by independent owner/operators. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.
“Our mission is simple: to serve great food, provide genuine hospitality and have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”
I am not against gays at all. I think they should have civil rights like anyone . I just can't wrap my head around this: husband & husband, wife & wife scenario. It is like "strange & stranger".
When I see entire "weddings" for gays it is too much in your face for me.
I am not sure I will evolve (unlike Obummer the faux pres)
Do all gays need to have a conventional wedding or will they be happy with a day at the court house ?
You are right, if Gays had conventional weddings it would void all the conventional weddings that we heteros would have and lead to instant dissolution of all marriages, and the destruction of society as we know it. I think the literature you are quoting said "Curious and Curiouser", not "Strange and Stranger". But then, this is no Wonderland. This is the America for Christians, and those who don't agree with us can just move to Canada.
You are definitely not an American. A true Christian would never say these things. What a bigot! I feel worry for you. Maybe one day you will grow up "Proud to be American". You are not American.
You use the words American and Christian interchangeably, contrary to popular belief there actually are some educated Christian Americans who view the Bible as a book of metaphors but not as a divine mandate. The core of Christ's teaching was about love and forgiveness, a fact conveniently forgotten by backward illiterate buffoons posting here.
Why are you so arrogant about "traditional" marriage? The divorce rate is over 50%. I am straight and a father as well. I am married under the law. Why is it that I feel no different about my love now than what it was before I was married. The answer is that there is nothing special other than the tax breaks I get and the fact that we can see each other in an emergency situation at the hospital. Your opinion is based on your beliefs. I respect your right to an opinion but if you really think the world will end with gays getting equal treatment under the law, then this is exactly why our educational system is going down the toilet. Gays have been around for centuries and gays can get married in other countries. Did the world end? If you believe being gay is wrong, then don't be gay. I assume you think it's still a choice.
Sorry Proud.. Where does it say in our constitution that the USA is a christian nation. I live here pay taxes etc. im not moving so deal with it mr. Christian. Read about what Jesus was all about too.
Dear Proud–my husband and I (I am a woman) have been happily married for 37 years and in no way would anyone's "Gay" conventional wedding void or dissolve my marriage or cause destruction of our society as we know it. The things that cause destruction of our society are intolerance and lack of compassion by people whose views differ from another's but yet still contend they are Christians–people who are supposed to be compassionate and tolerant and forgiving–among other kind attributes. You are right–this is not Wonderland–it is America–for everyone–not just people who "call" themselves Christians. Additionally, I know many fine Canadians and I'm not sure they would want someone who posts unkindness, as you do, in their country either!
Dear Lolla, I'm married, straight, and absolutely feel any consenting adults should be allowed to marry. I'd only bar bigots from marrying each other. Whether through procreation or adoption that will create more bigots.
When I read your ignorant and intolerant comments I am NOT proud to be an American.
no, we just want to have a backyard bbq and argue about money like "real married" people do.! LOL
Love is love no matter what. I hate ignorant straight people. Again, grow up and get into the real world.
What IS love?
Isn't it peculiar that with the drop in straight couples tying the knot under the premise that it's purely a govt. thing, and here we have gay couples scratching and clawing at whoever disagrees with them just to have the govt. okay?
Straights aren't the ones who need to grow up. Straights are evolving and moving PAST the archaic and oppressive system known as marriage where gays are lunging for it. Marriage is archaic and oppressive. this is the 21st century. It's time for EVERYONE to move on.
Check the stats. on children from broken homes in this country, and you might have a little insight into the reason marriage has existed for centuries in every culture. Percentage of men in prison from single parent homes: 75%. Check drop out rates, drug abuse, crime statistics, poverty, and on and on. In every case, children raised by single parents are much, much worse off. That is why every society supports marriage – it is best for the children in society. Unfortunately, our society has become the "me" society.
Yeah I feel the same way about catholic weddings. Why do they have to be soooo in your face. Why can't they have a 20 minute ceremony like normal christians. It disrupts MY life so much when other people have weddings that do not fit in to exactly what I believe! The audacity of some people to want to wed their soulmate in a way that honors their own beliefs, morals, and ideals. Everyone should agree with me because I am obviously right.
LOL! Layla! You are right! Everyone should agree with you! Actually I entered into a civil union with my partner (we are hetero) because, hey, they say it's the same thing right? Wrong! IT doesn't make you next of kin, a lot of insurance companies don't recognize a domestic partnership. Our company does, but many don't. You don't always have the same survivorship rights. Marriage is a legal contract that gives the participants certain legal rights. That is why it should be available to everyone or everyone should be in a civil union and each individual can choose a religious or spiritual ceremony that is meaningful to them. I think christianity is ridiculous. I don't go around trying to enact laws to make it illegal because I don't believe in it.
What kind of question is that? To go from, "I am not against gays at all. I think they should have civil rights like anyone", to " Do all gays need to have a conventional wedding or will they be happy with a day at the court house ?" is not only um, odd, but easily shows your inability to make a decision. I hope you're unemployed...
I agree Jason. Obviously she is very ignorant. LOL
If gays want to get married, tell them to get married. What is stopping them? Find a church that supports gay marriage, and go get married. What a bunch of hooey about nothing. Gays can tell people they are married. If that makes them feel good, great. No one will think they are no longer gay, unless that is what gays want. Why does everyone have to tell everyone else what marriage is? For people that want traditional marriage only, let them have it. Don't force them to think otherwise. I don't get the whole thing. Get the government out of it. Like most things, when the government touches it, it gets messed up.
Your comment about ;'obummer the faux president' says you haven't evolved and i'm not going to hold my breath waiting for that to happen. i guess you actually think Bush the Lesser was actually 'elected.' if you were gay, would you be happy being religated to the courthouse while your friends had their dream wedding? and i'm hoping all gay couples start referring to their partner as wife or husband. the more folks hear it, the more it will become familiar and accepted, as it should be.
The people who spit on our President and call him names are racist morons. Usually bigots, uneducated, ignorant and arrogant as well. I suppose they will vote against their best interest for Mittens who will laugh all the way to the bank ... in Switzerland and the Caymans....
lol. So Obama, who single-handedly put America into the worst recession since the Great Depression, it the best choice for Americans? Only a fool would think that.
Why can't gays have weddings? Just because they can't get state licenses doesn't mean that the can't blow $50k on a "fabulous" ceremony.
looks like a meal you would get in a school caffeteria because you didn't have any other choices. I prefer Snickers from the vending machine in the hall
If you don't like what's on TV, turn the channel. That was the liberal argument for so many years when Christians wanted the smut off of TV. Well.....if you don't like what Chick Filet stands for, don't buy a chicken sandwich there. SIMPLE!! Just because I consider Cathay to be an American hero doesn't mean YOU have to be forced to think that. So all you anti-Chick Filet.......... just sit back and take a chill pill.
The sad thing about those against Chick-fil-A is the tollerance they ask for is a one way street. I don't agree with the gay movement, but I commanded to love those who are involved in that protest. Does that make me a homophobic? If I am a true Christian I will love my neighbor, but hate the sin. That means if I see my brother or sister whom I disagree with on this issue, I am not in judgement of them. Only my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the just judge. But I do pray for them out of love for them. Regarding those who are against traditional marriage, I would only say this. If it were not for traditional marriage many of those against traditional would not be here to carry out their protests.
That sandwich and fries look horrible. The fries are dried out and the bun is all wrinkled and sad looking.
Why this story about Hearty Restaurant? CNN is so biased.
Why did the chicken cross the road? To eat it's poop at Chick fil-A
as do most all the other stupid Americans, LOL. losers.
I love Chik-Fil-A's food. For all I care, their CEO/management/employees/supporters can all believe the earth is only 6k years old, and some old man in a cloud with a long beard came down, grabbed some clay, made a man, then subsequently ripped one of his ribs out, grabbed some more clay, made a woman out of that, and stopped there. (so no steve). But you don't see me donating company money toward constitutional amendments to define all of that as utter hogwash. So yeah, I think the LGBT community should cry foul when irrational, fantasy-based legislation is funded and forced upon any modern day public. I say, if Chik Fil A activity contributes financially to anti-gay legislation, then the matter is political action, not religious belief. Someone can believe angels fart rainbows, but if they pay millions of dollars to define rainbows as 'angel farts', then they are committing a political act. Not a religious one. Political actions have political consequences, such as denial of local zoning permits based on the authorization of the zoning alderman, elected by that community to uphold the values of that neighborhood. Anyone can believe anything they want in this country, but actions based on ones believes are not entitled to the same rights.
You don't have a right to do business anywhere you want to in this country. That's why we HAVE permits. You need to acquire at least some level of permission! That's not Fascism, as most religious zealots whine about. It's community-based democracy at work. You keep your angel farts in your neighborhood, and I'll keep my rainbows in mine.
The hatred coming from those who disagree with Cathy's beliefs is just staggering. And this from people who profess to be educated and enlightened. I guess only if you agree with them 100% of the time. You have truly exposed yourselves as the true haters in this fine country. The writer of this article simply hates Cathy and tries to disguise it through his "smarter" business practices. I guess one of those is to shut down your competition.
LBGT are PITA... can we please live a day w/o your constant whining ?
I wanna know what the chickens have to say about all of this!
Hideous food....wouldnt eat it even if it was free.
Who gives a S***!!.... eating a chicken sandwhich doesn't make you anti gay rights or a homophobe... do people really think that giving Chic-Fil-A their buisness, in any way helps support anti gay activists. If you like their food eat if not then dont...This shouldn't be on the news!!!
The real narrative that needs to be addressed is this deep hatred that is growing in America. Hatred of fellow Americans, hatred for free speech that goes against our individual values. This hatred is so clear between conservative and liberals with both side to blame. Both sides addressing the issues with jihad like fervor. Make no mistake, Americans will always disagree. But do we act like adults or like immature 8th Graders will make the difference in the outcome.
its not both sides. dems do it all the time without any issue. there are idiots on both sides but the evidence of hate comes from one most of the time.
Here here! And shock jock radio hosts are a big part of the problem. In their quest for ratings, they use drama to overblow issues and try to fuel the spirit of antipathy. This is so wrong.
We will eat at Chick-A-Fil whenever we are in a city with the business.
Living in a rural area makes it difficult to visit Chick-A-Fil .
Why all the anger folks. Really, most of you all need to smoke more weed...
legalize marijuana campaign
...jobs
I don't eat at Chick-fil-a because they have a Christian point of view they make plain in their business plan; I just want a sandwich, I don't want their religion. Or any religion. But they're free to have the religion. I wish we could be more precise in the use of the language. Having a differing opinion does not make one a 'hater'. Doing or saying hateful things is normally required. I've heard no hateful things by any of the principals. You can't protect your freedoms by stomping on other folks' freedoms. Unless it's Olbermann's or Limbaugh's and then I say let's get to stompin'.
Rush protects freedom but the other, maybe not.
I support gay marriage. But Dan Cathy is speaking his mind and being punished by the government for his ideas. This is tyranny – an abuse of authority. That is why people are standing in line – not because of the gay marriage issue.
Not so. The company contributes to organizations whose goal is to fight equal rights for our gay citizens. Knowing that, why on earth would I ever want to support their position by spending my money there? That actively pursue an anti-homosexual agenda and I'm not going to help them do that.
Not so. The company contributes to organizations whose goal is to fight equal rights for our gay citizens. Knowing that, why on earth would I ever want to support their position by spending my money there? They actively pursue an anti-homosexual agenda and I'm not going to help them do that.
How exactly are they being punished by the government?
Explanation of punished – Chicago is restricting the business from their jurisdiction. As is other jurisdictions, if I'm not mistaken.
By the simple fact that Government Authorites, ie mayors in Boston and San Fran, have legitemately expressed a rejection of Chick-fil-A business plans based on a personal belief stance of a CEO and not the business practices themselves. So long as Chick-fil-A doesn't turn down gays in both regards, food and hiring, they should be allowed to opperate. The government denying that right is a form of punishment.
This is the best statement yet
Cathy is using your money to pay for hate. To stop freedom for other people that don't fit into his family. He can say whatever he wants but he is not getting my money to donate to a cause I don't believe in.
As you should, because you are entitled to your opinion, and should spend your money anywhere you want – without the government restricting your access. Otherwise the government is doing your thinking for you, and Dan Candy is being punished by the "thought pollice."
Facts?
The subversive lame-stream media must really be bummed out that a bunch of gays and lesbians didn't show up to make-out at Chick-fil-A, huh? In fact, there were more folks showing up to support the companies' stance on traditional marriage *zing*
oh yeah........hahahahaha
Heya, lametard. Gay make-out day is this FRIDAY. Way to pay attention to details. Looks like the joke's on you; I have a feeling this isn't the first time. It certainly won't be the last.
Enjoy being on the wrong side of history, twatwaffle.
Cute trick CNN. Try to make someone who is skimming your web site think that the long line in the picture is for Chick Fil Gay Day, not the appreciation day. There are packed Chick Fil a all over the country right now. The bigots who hate Cathy for being christian just made Chick Fil a billions!!!
thanks CNN for helping drive in customers!!!!!! hahahahaha
Has it occurred to you that people who eat fast food are generally less intelligent and more bigoted? Intelligent people support equality (because it makes obvious logical sense to do so for many reasons, no matter what your personal views). Idiots try to cling to their beliefs and force everyone else to follow them. It would be fun to check the IQs of the people in line! Zero doubt they're well below average.
The only reason to support it is if you are a homophobe.
what a dumb word.
I don't understand what the big deal is. It's a bunch a fat under educated slobs in print polyester over sized clothes sporting mullets and jethrine hairdos standing in line to gorge themselves on fast food in the worst parts of town. Translated, it's Wednesday in the worst parts of America. Who cares? The people who are trying to make a statement are not the movers and shakers in this country. They are the dregs. Always have been, always will be. They are of little or no consequence to anything (maybe except WalMart). So, enjoy your chicken sandwich. The people that matter aren't paying attention.
so friday's crowd will be any better?
ELITIST!!!
Get that POOP off your lip!
Another VERY valid point regarding sin, bible passages, etc... GLUTTONY. The bible is pretty explicit about this. So explicit in fact, I think it's referred to as a deadly sin. Why do these so called Christians think that homosexuality is a sin and that Gluttony is not? Has anyone noticed the size of the majority of these folks standing in line at Chick-Fil-A? Is there anyone that can disprove this as a sin?
My, what enlightened comments. Utterly dripping with prejudice against those with whom you disagree. What, no tolerance and acceptance for those that don't agree with you, though you and your liberal friends want tolerance and acceptance for your point of view?
What will you do when the non mover-and-shaker dregs vote your favorite democrat out of office? Bitterly cling to your prejudice and broken-down philosopy?
Did I say 'enlightened'? I meant poser.
It's not prejudice, it's a logical observation. People who are religious and / or anti-equality tend to be less intelligent. People who eat fast food regularly tend to be less intelligent. Those are simply facts. So it's fair to conclude that the people who flock to Chick-fill-a to support this company's stance are pretty likely to be idiots.
It might be wise for you to buy a mirror, friend. With regard to elections that matter, I'm not worried. It's not my problem if you identify with the folks standing in line, just own it.
Fair enough. It would be nice if everyone had the same world view and belief systems never collided. What am I saying, it would be a Disney nightmare. Hearty Boys, you go ahead and support your own belief system. Cathy never said you couldn't. Just so you don't stop him from his. I believe the lesson learned in this is "Who the hel.. does the government (Mayor of Boston, Chicago) think they are to tell a business "stay out of my City." I have a message for them. GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY!!!! I would go to Chic Fillet if there was one within 100 miles of me just to piss off these so called mayors.
Articles with a gay agenda (like this one) is why CNN is losing in the media game. Americans spoke with their time, patience and respect today as they supported a business who has been bashed wrongly. WE are on the right side of history and the right sight of the Word – this Word runs contrary to those who oppose Chick-Fil-A and biblical based beliefs. Proud to be an American today and proud to be Christian.
"we are on the right side of history"
As you were when using the Bible to defend slavery and oppose marriage between people of different color skin.
As you were when using the Bible to oppose giving women the right to vote.
When you point to that book and say "this is the WORD and it makes us right!" you turn a blind eye to all the hateful things in it that society has already moved past.
This will be no different.
nice try. the good old tricks don't work anymore.
Very well said, Damo12345.
Let's see...
Southern bible-thumping democrats didn't want to give up slavery so we fought a war. (the states rights argument was really about slavery.)
Southern democrats started the KKK.
southern democrats enacted jim crow laws.
Southern democrats fought against civil rights.
What side of history did you say you were on??
Let's see...
Southern bible-thumping democrats didn't want to give up slavery so we fought a war. (the states rights argument was really about slavery.)
Southern democrats started everyone's favorite klan.
southern democrats enacted jim crow laws.
Southern democrats fought against civil rights.
What side of history did you say you were on??
mj, what exactly are you proud about?
Faith that could stand up to any form of reason is long gone. Our knowledge of the world from 2000 years ago to what we now know about the world has irrevocably changed the need for religion. We do not need God to explain things; and religion becomes obsolete as an explanation when it becomes optional or one among many different beliefs. We now see that the leap of faith is not just one leap; it is a leap repeatedly made, and a leap that becomes more difficult to take the more it is taken, reaching its pinnacle in blind allegiance and active denial and rejection of any other possibilities. At that point, the credibility of the faithful is entirely lost.
We no longer believe the Earth is flat.
We no longer believe the Sun Revolves around the Earth.
We no longer believe demons cause disease.
We no longer believe the earth is 6000 years old.
We have ideas about weather and how it is formed.
We no longer believe flying and space travel are impossible.
We now understand the physics behind rainbows, gravity, lightning, thunder, and fire. These are no longer spooky, supernatural events. It's all explainable, verifiable, and repeatable.
Eventually we will understand the true nature of the universe. We finally proved the existence of the Higgs boson last month. Mathematics already points to the existence of multiple dimensions. We will continue to learn, and the universe will become smaller, more understood, and less mysterious. And with those gains in knowledge, the less religion will mean as a source of explaining our world. Trite phrases like "It was God's will" will ring increasingly hollow. Free will
I think both sides of this issue should simply shut up and vote with their dollars. If you don't like what CFA does, don't eat there! Simple as that. CFA owners and employees have their right to free speech, and LGBT supporters share that same right. So be it.
The gays are throwing a hissy fit since they didn't get their way. Here's a thought, let's agree to disagree.
Would you be upset too if Cathy had said something personal to you? About your race? Your wife, husband, kids, parents? Everyone has an issue important to them, so who has the right to diss other people just because they don't like them? Everyone has a right to free speech, but you don't have the right to be an ass!
and the Christians are throwing a Bible cause they didnt get theirs either !
where is the outcry from remarried people? Kathy did say marreied to the first spouses.
WHY aren't you speaking the TRUTH CNN?
it isn't JUST his comment.
it's that his comment came AFTER
it was made public that Chick-fil-A has donated MILLIONS to ANTI-homosexual causes.
All the people in the picture in ine supporting chik fil a are old.
because everyone else is working.
Seriously? If I have a business and I employ you you, here is what i expect: 1) Get to work on time everyday: 2) Be clean, presentable, and weel-groomed; 3) Be polite, respectful, courteous, and helpful to your boss and co-workers;
4) Do your job WELL; 5) Be polite, respectful, courteous, friendly, and helpful to the customers. If you are a customer
here is what I expect: 1) Treat my staff with courtesy and respect; 2) Be courteous and respectful to other customers;
3) Carry yourself in a respectable manner; 4) Respect the facilities. After that, I could not possibly care less about the
the person to whom you are married, sleep with, or kiss goodnight!!! This is a business!! If you claim to treat everyone
equally, why even bother to mention marriage??? It is a sad day when people feel they have to go out of their way to
judge and condemn others.
nobody condenmed anyone and no one is discriminating the gays....thats just his view on marriage....and you ask why he said it....he was asked by a reporter....he told the truth....let them be and don't eat there....they will be ok without you.
Uh, his view on marriage discriminates against gays. You contradict yourself in your first line!
So the fact that you state your views on marriage or anything else that differs from my opinion is discriminating against me? IT IS HIS BELIEF! He did not state that he hated or would not serve anyone that was gay. If he had then that would be discrimination.
I might be laughing out loud at the authors remark about "..a combo Chinese takeout and veterinary clinic", yet had the writer not have been gay and liberal, the politically correct screams of racism woud be deafening.
that is why most dems are racists and bigots.
Did your mother have any children who lived?
Steve McDonagh says it all when he says "I think those words are well-suited to those who sit in judgment and speak for their version of God". Is not Steve McDonagh sitting in judgement and speaking for his version of God? "Their" version of God should be everyones' version – one God, the creator and sustainer of life. God set the standards in the Bible, not man. We all have a choice to live by them or not. Good article for the first three paragraphs, then what he really wanted to write comes out.
"God set the standards in the Bible"
But sadly nobody follows the standards any more.
It says it right there in the Bible: marriage is between one man and one woman who must be a virgin on her wedding night or everyone should stone her to death, and who must never disagree with her husband, and who can never get a divorce.
Oh, and however many concubines and slaves the man wants (just make sure the slaves come from neighboring countries as God set forth in the Bible).
When will people stand up for these good old-fashioned values?
God did not write the Bible; Man did and as we all know, Man is full of faults.
You got the one part right – we are all sinners. Jesus said "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." Yes, there have always been the leagalistic Christians. Even God's chosen people, the Jews, crucified our saviour. Please try reading the Bible, especially the New testament
which I believe you would see different.
Jesus wore dresses and hung out mostly with 12 other guys. He ocassionally hung out with prostitutes.
Whether you agree or disagree with the right, you always know where they stand. And this whole anit-Chick-fil-A issue is just another perfect example of the liberal right saying that everyone should love everyone and that everyone should be able to do (marry) and say anything they want, anytime, anywhere, no consequences, just peace and harmony......AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T GO AGAINST WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN! If you truly want a world of "live and let live", then accept the fact that not everyone will agree on everything and that IS OK, and a right of living in this country.
Where is this "liberal right" party you speak of? ...That's the one I've been looking for !
Yes, yes, we've heard it a million times before.
"The liberals are being so mean, being intolerant of my intolerance. They're the REAL bigots, for not liking my bigotry!"
Sorry, was eating my chicken sandwich and had a typo: "liberal right" should be "liberal left"
My guess is that the Gay agenda in the US isn't nearly as popular as this author assumes. The media and some of our leaders might be on board, but push come to shove, when asked the vast majority of Americans would support a more conservative approach on this issue.
Polls indicate it's far from a "vast majority" situation.
Today other fast food restaurants business is slow
What did other fast food chain did wrong?
Politics every where shame
I don't support Dan Cathy's definition of a traditional family. But I do fully support his freedom to believe what he chooses to believe, and I will continue to enjoy eating at Chick-fil-A. There is no reason why those who realize that the re-definition of marriage is as inevitable as tomorrow's sunrise cannot co-exist with the dwindling numbers of those who are currently bound to the traditional definition of marriage.
very well said....someone who understands and respects freedom of speech.
Just because you have the right to free speech, you should say something hurtful. What if Cathy had said he did not believe in the Civil Rights Act or that immigrants should go back to their country or that women should stay home and produce children, would you support that too? If you answer YES, you should go back to school to learn more about responsibilities and freedom.
who said I support what he said? I just support his RIGHT to say it
Gay and Lesbian stockholders? Uh, no. Chick Fil A is a privately held company.
the old statement: I disagree with what you say but I'll fight to the death for your right to say it. I am SO proud of our citizens standing up for the Constitution. In my area (NC), there are a surprising amount of gays being interviewed who are standing in line because of the government in Chicago & Boston trying to discriminate against this CEO.
I have never eaten at this place and now i know i never will. Even if he supported gay marriage, I still wouldn't eat there.
Sir, you are are after my money, and now you won't get it. Your free speech isn't so free now is it? Foolish, foolish man.
James...have you seen the TV today? The lines are blocks and blocks long and freeways are snarled. Read up sir, before you make yourself look foolish.
Exactly my point. It's about greed, not "free speech". It's always about the bottom line.
Interesting how we react when it is our ox being gored. We have a President as well as politicians who confess to be Christians and some even go to church. But donnnnn't hold their feet to the fire to walk the talk. Then when a man such as the CEO of Chik-Fil-A does they want to crucify him. Sorry that has already been done. How did ti work out for us all? Civil Unions, Equal Legal Rights, yes we should all have them. Church sanctioned same sex marriages.....doesn"t look good from what I read in my Bible....Government sanctioned marriage is just another terrm for civil unions which is ok with me.
Seriously, that gay sandwich in the picture looks GREY. No wonder the reviews the restaurant gets are not very good.
"Average food at above average prices" seems to be the most common comment. Maybe this guy should worry less about blogs and gay politics and worry more about improving the quality of the food he serves.
see the lines....they are doing great
They'll have a short bump in business from those who agree, but this will hurt them financially in the long run. I've got years of business analysis experience and have seen how this works. People who agree will support him then forget about it and go back to their normal eating routine. People who don't agree will never come back.
That photo is not a Chick-Fil-A sandwich and fries. Chick-Fil-A sandwiches look (and taste) much better than that.
Every one is entitled to their opinions and beliefs. And every one loves to use the Bible to suport their own agenda/beliefs that is why we have so many different religions, demoninations, etc. In the past the Bible was used to support the denial of equal rights for women and minorities. Now the bible is being used to deny LGBT their equal rights. I am a christian who believes in God and believes in equal rights for all americans. If this company supported/funded groups or organization that denied African American or Hispanic their rights based on their religious beliefs there would be a different attitude toward Chick fil A.......we all need to learn tolerance
That's what I'm saying. This guy is trying to profit from the gay agenda by offering a really nasty looking version of what he thinks is a Chik Fil A sandwich. In the end, if your food is good, your business will be good, and if your food is not good, you will try to prop it up by blogging about gay rights.
Marketing ploy, plain and simple by you... God excluded you, not Cathy...We follow the beliefs STRAIGHT (no pun intended) from the Bible. Being a Sodomite isn't a right, it's a SIN. Don't get me wrong, I love you as a human being, but your lifestyle is sinful and an abomination.
You are darned right it's a sin, as is having an IQ over 90.
Straight from the Bible, eh? Do you beat your wife if she wears red, assuming you have only one wife? Do you eat shellfish or wear clothing made up of composite fibers? Do you advocate stoning people in the street? Give me a frigging break...
You are a prime example of what bigotry is all about. I'm personally not gay but do not discriminate against anyone human being for their sexual preferences, color of their skin, religious beliefs or otherwise. You are quite simply defined as a hater trying to hide behind your religious beliefs ( The Bible ). Your bible is not everyone's cup of tea and you shouldn't expect others to trust in what you say because it has no merit.
Do your knuckles hurt? You know, from all the dragging?
Chick-fil-a is a private company and the president should be able to hold whatever view he wants. Cities can’t stop them from opening up because they disagree with his free speech. The chain does not discriminate against gays…that’s just his view about marriage…deal with it. If you feel those cities have the right to stop a business because they don’t like the CEO’s view should have no problem with Cities that have a more conservative view point, could then ask all Starbucks to leave their town as they give equal benefits to gays and their partners…..would you libs be ok with that? of course not….free speech is just that. If it bothers you that much don’t go there….Chick-Fil-A will survive without your business.
He is allowed to say whatever he wants. In a free society, he has to reap the consequences too. Unless freedom to you is only freedom for people you agree with.
And the 'consequenses' are showing blocks and blocks of customers waiting in line to get in, freeways shut down because exits are jammed with people trying to get off to get into the parking lot, etc.
Me personally? I do NOT have a biased bone in my body, but I sure am totally offended that Chicago and Boston governments are trying to pull building permits BASED ON SOMEONE'S OPINION!
you are correct and that and they are wrong and it's un-american
that's right.....so don't eat there if that bugs you....other than that...shut up and move on
And in case it's not blatantly obvious to you -if you don't believe the government can / should be able to prevent a business to open based on the views of its CEO, then the government also can't / shouldn't be able to decide who can / can't get married based on their views. Pick one: Either you let the government tell us how to live our lives or we go with freedom. I'll never understand how the right wing is considered the small government party. Other than financially, they seem to be all about government!
We have First Amendment rights that prevent the impeding of the free exercise of religion. This country, founded on freedoms, include free enterprise. If a company wants to respect the Bible and close on Sunday, to criticize is the same as criticizing that Amendment. And to criticize the founder's beliefs in Biblical marriage – the same. No one is saying gays/lesbians cannot purchase Chick-fil-A products, or be respected in their personhood. I can't believe how quickly the gay/lesbian camp become intolerant. They want diversity and tolerance . . . well, learn to extend the same respect to those whom you may disagree with, as they do you. Otherwise, YOU are the bigots.
No, criticizing is fair game. What's not is muffling the speech itself. Do you not understand the difference?
we understand the differance, but you and yours seem to agree that some of these states can kick them out for feeling that way.....bash all you want, don't eat there.....they do not care.
If a company wanted to truly respect the Bible, than they would be closed on the real Sabbath – Saturday, not Sunday. But I suspect most of these so-called Christians don't read their Bibles.
could not tell you I'm an atheist......
Having a religious view is perfectly fine. What is not fine is trying to force other people to follow the rules of your religion. That is all this is about – plain and simple. If this guy wants to support his church, I think he's a moron for doing so, but he has every right. He does not have any right however to tell other people how to live their lives. Of course, he can try and lose a lot of business in the process in hopes that god pays him back when he dies...good luck with that!
Maybe Romney should be invited
It's a first amendment issue. If you as an individual don't agree with Dan Cathy then don't patronize his business. But the government at any level doesn't have the right to censor him or control his business. If they can do it to him then they can do it to anyone they choose.
And the government also does not have the right to given preferential tax treatment to people based on sexual preference. This doesn't really have anything to do with freedom of speech. No one is saying that guy can't legally say what he said. It was just a dumb thing for him to say as CEO of a business. There are millions of people who will never eat there as a result and I'm one of them (a straight one at that).
Dan Cathy can say whatever he wants. It's fine with me if he says he doesn't support gay marriage. The problem is Chik-fil-a has a charitable branch that gives to anti-gay causes. Causes that promote bigotry, intolerance and actively try to marginalize homosexuals. That means when I purchase a chik-fil-a sandwich, part of my money goes to a cause I find abhorrant! I refuse to knowingly take part in that.
Again, I support ones right to voice their opinion; however, I will not give you my money to use in an effort to promote your hatred and intolerance.
Oh Lawd! The man and his company which is not publicly traded mind you, said he believes marriage is for one man and one woman. The company gives money to support such families. I figure if you give money to support gay families and he gives money to support traditional families, what's the beef. We have free speech here! Say what ya want but I believe that one should not hide from deep religious convictions regarding social issues. Our differences are what make this country great and our ability to voice our differences make it even greater. We are not talking about a publicly traded company that must tippy toe around social issues. We are speaking of a man that started a company, made it successful and kept it in the family. If we boycotted every company that did not share our values we would all be living in caves, eating berries and using leaves as toilet paper. Chick Fil A is not alone in their stance and religious conviction regarding social issues....Do your homework before bullying or boycotting cause there are a lot more like Chick Fil A out there. I am off to Hobby Lobby.
Sorry but there's a big difference. Dan Cathy's company has spent millions of dollars to support the oppression of a group of people. Gay rights supports do not want to suppress your rights to marry your straight parnter.
Who's suppressing gay rights to marry? Go ahead, find a partner of opposite sex, marry and be gay! Homosexual people though, have nothing to suppress as historically, that has ALWAYS been deemed as perverted behaviour, right along with bestiality, etc. There is no way that type of behaviour should be accepted in society. They can do whatever they want to in their bedrooms, but they can't force the majority of people to accept their deviant behaviour as new normal.
Are you kidding me? How are gays oppressed?? They can vote. They can be a doctor, lawyer, business owner, politician, soldier, entreprenuer, home owner, etc.. They are not segregated by where they can sit on a putblic bus. They are not segregated in restaurants, hotels or movie theaters because of their sexual orientation. They do not have segregated bathrooms. They are allowed to attend any university of their choice. They do not have to contend with riot control dogs attacking them. They do not have to contend with police hitting them with billy clubs. They do not have police turning high powered water hoses on them. They are not hung or have crosses burning in their front lawns.
So tell me again how gays are oppressed?
Are you in a closest and have no idea what is going on, gays think that they should be able to be as vulgar and dirty as they want to and you have no right at all to tell them anything different. However if you make any statement against their beliefs then yiu are a racists from the word go. Although a racist is one that believes that one race is superior to another and gay is a lifestyle and has nothing to do with what race you are but that is the current PC thing to say since we have a few gay politicians that are pushing their agenda down our throuats.
So you equate being gay with being vulgar and dirty? You have so much to learn. Most gay people are regular, ordinary people who simply want to live their lives as their straight brothers and sisters do. I am a married gay woman with a job in public service and a wonderful kid who is growing up with two Moms who love her and wants the best for her. I want my marraige recognized by my government. I don't give a flying flip as to whether any church recognizes it or not.
He is welcome to marry a woman. He is not welcome to tell anyone else who to marry. This is not complicated! By doing so, he is a bigot. We all have certain views that are biased in one way or another (I admit, I have a general negative view towards lawyers, for example), but when you're the CEO of a fast food company, you don't say something so divisive unless you want to lose half your business! Just idiotic more than anything.
Doubt half of the business is lost. Looked like they were doing pretty well at lunch time. Gay's in the urban city I live in generally like more hipster eatery's anyway. I doubt many frequent Chick Fil A as a rule.
I'm not gay and I'll never go there again. You're right, maybe not half their business because their average customer is likely the less-educated, more-religious, anti-equality type in the first place. But they will lose more business than they gain from this, that's for sure. I'd say 10% at an a minimum, 25% most likely, 30-40% worst (or best?) case scenario.
if you don't like his veiw don't eat there....then shut up already. no one cares your gay....
I'm not gay, but I certainly won't ever eat there.
Free speech is fine if you can suffer through the wrath of your clients. If you own a business you sort of cannot root for the Yankees or Cowboys as you would alienate many of your clients. But if you got the cash and can afford loosing customers in today's economy, then go for it. I raise my own chickens and I do not care if they are gay or bi or whatever. They all taste the same to me.
I support Chick-fil-a the bible states clearly that a man shall not lay with a man, it's an abomination unto God. Later it staes that a man shall cleave unto his wife ( not partner). Therefore a marrage is 1 man + 1 women. God wants the married couple to go fourth and multiply and same sex couples cannot do that on their own power because the plumbing doesn't work. Gays however are as anyone else in other respects other than marriage and should and better be respected.
The Bible is a work of fiction. I'm not sure if you noticed but fewer and fewer people are being fooled by the construct of religion.
When you go the dust pile and have to meet your maker you will wonder why he does not know you.
Stacy your life will be a work of fiction when you die, and let’s make no mistake about it 100% of all people die, if you don't accept Christ as your savior. God will say He never knew you and YOU will have made the choice to spend an eternity in torment. Please accept Christ today...This is not about anyone else but you and God. Only Christ can save you and He loves you fully as you are today. Don't delay...if you choose to be saved say this prayer and mean it with all your heart and you too will be saved
“Father God, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”
I grew up Baptist. My brother is a minister. I know the song and dance. I do not believe in any of it. I am happy that you have a make believe friend to cling to when you cannot think for yourself. I will stick with logic and reason.
Here we go. Religion does not dictate equal rights. The bible also says it's ok to own a slave. Do you have one of those in your house Brenda?
The bible says a lot of things that folks no longer follow. Do you eat pork? Do you beat your kids? I could go on, but the list of things is far too long.
Jesus threw out the old laws. That was an old law. And you do not worship on the Sabbath, hence you are breaking one of the 10 Commandments which were the only laws that Jesus did not throw out. So, you, by the words of the bible, going to hell!
The bible also states that we should not eat shellfish or pork, yet most Christians do. I am always amazed at how people pick scriptures from the bible that support their stance on an issue, but totally ignore all of the scriptures that are against what they want to believe in.
so true!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe marriage should only be between six women and three men. If you do not agree, you are a bigot and a hater.
Six women, three men, a stuffed buffalo and a nine iron. Anything else should not be recognized by the government.
You are clearly unfit to be American since you threaten to destroy our monogamous heterosexual gun loving divorce happy social fabric. Shame on you, Jake and VOR. You should move to that bastion of perversion – Berkeley.
And a penguin...Must have a penguin!
Let's make this simple:
1) The government should have no part in defining marriage because no one should get any tax benefits / special treatment for being married.
2) As long as the government is giving benefits for people getting married, they have no business excluding people based on sexual preference any more than on race.
3) If religious people don't want to recognize gay people as married according to their religious views, that's their business but it has nothing place in the laws of our country!
4) It is ironic that right wing always pretends to want less government – clearly not the case here.
Oh, the irony...
History is VERY clear. The "gay" issue isn't new to humankind. History is full of societies, nations, and empires throughout history having "evolved” and become "tolerant" and "enlightened" and whatever else you may want to call this "civil rights" movement. Only to end in ruin. Christians are well aware of this. The Bible shows God's people, the Israelites time and time again, straying from God's direction, tempted by the surrounding customs…and ending in ruin. The rest of you guys can pick up a World History book and see the same Now, I’ll be the first to admit this destruction isn’t BECAUSE of homosexuals in a society. Their contribution to their society is irrelevant. However, ACCEPTANCE of homosexuality as mainstream is a signal that a society AS A WHOLE has made a conscious decision (long ago I might add) to turn from God and adopt their own sense of morality and righteousness. No God, No blessings. An “enlightened” nation without God is like a king without his clothes. No one will tell him something’s wrong.
~Jesus loves the little children ~ ALL the children of the world ~ red and yellow black and white they are precious in His sight ~ YES, Jesus love the little children. Stop the bickering and LOVE your neighbor as thy self!
God is the author of life and He knows what works and what doesn't. He has given us guide lines to protect us and show us how to live to the fullest . In Romans, He talks about going against the natural use of our bodies. God does loves everyone, but not some of the decisions that we have made. Oh yes, there are devil spirits that want us to make stupid decisions and convince us that the lies that we hear is the truth or "that it is okay". God has given us freedom of will, but not from the consequences of those decisions.
History has shown us that every country that gives way to the gay movements ends up being defeated. You can research this yourself. Start with Sodom and Gomorrah, and Ancient Rome. Guess what city is on the bottom on the dead sea?
Lets get honest – It is not okay to kill, steal and destroy. It is not okay to be gay, It is not okay to lie and have sex with everything that moves. It is not okay to kill babies (Sex is good but not that good), It is not okay to sell your soul so you can be president, a movie star or just plain famous. What is 60, 70 and 80 years on earth compared to eternity?
The "gays" may win battles, but they have all ready lost the war. There are more of us against the same sex marriages, but the "gays" whine the loudest. They are like spoiled children, if they cry loud or make a scene, they get what they want. As an American, you have certain rights but doing what you damned well please is not one of them.
I know of several establishments that are own by gays and I don't know of a straight person protesting them.
the issue is not with this guy as an individual and his rights to whatever he believes, the issue is the statement that this is the companies belief which flings feces in the face of all of the employees that work for the corporation and do not have the same beliefs. This is no different than a Congreeman or Senator stating this is what all Americans believe or the moron politicians that made the comment that they will work to prevent this company from moving into their city and/or state. Who gives any of these people the right to indicate that they represent me in any way. This guy should have made it clear that this is his personal belief and is not a representation of the corporation that he works for. This is a corporation not a sole proprietorship.........................
And unions do the same thing. It's a privately held company and if you don't like it, don't work there or eat there. Go the Hearty Restaurant instead. That's if you can get there, 'cause there's only one.
Regrettably I pay more in taxes than you probably make in a few years ..
Name calling is the first resort of the weak minded. You make the anti-gay community proud. Besides there's no dishonor in being a fork lift driver.
Poor Semper, you can't spell properly, can't even punctuate, and you use caps to make a point. May you go far in whatever it is you do for a living.
Are you kidding me? This is freedom of speech at its finest hour. Shame on you gay community for being way too sensitive and over dramatic based on ONE guys stance. The CEO voiced his opinion. Props for him for not caring and telling the truth. I will continue to enjoy the delicious sandwiches that this place offers.
The CEO is clearly an idiot...both for his bigoted stance and the fact that he was too dumb to keep it to himself. Then again, people who eat fast food tend to be idiots too, so maybe this will actually help their business.
So he is a bigot b/c his religious beliefs state marriage is between a man and a woman and he's willing to support groups with that same belief? Oh that's right his religious beliefs are outdated and not in step with the current culture. Who's the bigot again? The hypocriscy is amazing. What if a conservative state decided to boycot General Mills products and state they couldn't open up new factocries in the state b/c their "values" were not consistent with that state's values?
He is a bigot because he expects our government to have laws consistent with his religious beliefs, thus forcing people who don't share his religious beliefs to live by the rules of his religion. It's quite simple really. He can believe whatever he wants, but there's no reason he should expect anyone else to live by his religion's rules and certainly the government shouldn't care about his religion's views.
I don't think the government should prevent General Mills or Chick-fill-A from doing business based on their views any more than the government should prevent people from getting married based on their views. If the people don't want to support the business because if its views, the business will fail. And if a religious group doesn't want to recognize a marriage, that's perfectly fine too. Neither are the government's business!
Jake, sorry I could not reply to your subsequent posts. I see your viewpoint, though I don't completely agree with it (and that's ok b/c we're allowed to disagree :)). Taking this strictly from a "values" viewpoint vice any religious beliefs, many in the nation still believe marriage should still just be between a man and a woman. This is evidenced by state referendums on gay marriage. There are also states that allow it but there many more that do not. So which "values" do the government endorse. That's why gay marriage, at this point, should be a state issue, not a federal issue. However, do note, that DOMA is still law of the land, whether you agree with it or not and until Congress repeals it or SCOTUS rules it unconstitutional, it will remain the law of the land. In the same way, Conservative states should not be stating "well I just disagree with ACA and won'tenforce any of it." SCOTUS ruled it constitutional so until Congress repeals it in this case, it too is the law of the land. My solution to this whole debate: complete overhaul of the tax code, no more tax exemptions for "marriage" and let marriage be a religious thing and if the secular authority (state or federal) wants to devise something similar and call it whatever they want so be it. And thus, everyone has same rights across board (visitation rights, estate rights, etc). Thoughts Jake?
No, they are bigoted for donating to various anti-gay groups, including one which supported the death penalty for being gay in Uganda. Sorry, but that is bigotry. This is a bit like finding out your local restaurant supports the Klan and then someone gets out there and says the Jewish community is being overly dramatic about the Klan-supporting restaurant.
Adrian can you please provide a link or other proof of the Uganda claim? I have not seen that yet. Thanks.
It's true about Uganda, and Foucs on the Family funnels money to the party that created this law.
Right on Chris! Great sandwhiches!!
I can see it months from now, after a night of partying, the gays will head over to Chik-Fil-A to satisfy their munchies. Then think to themselves, "aren't we supposed to be "boycotting" this place? Ah, to hell with it, these sandwhiches and nuggets are AWESOME!"
Who friggin' cares! Chick Fil A is entitled to their opinion and does not tell gays they cannot eat there. So what is the big deal? You know what it is? Gays think that 100% of America must agree with what they want. In no other realm does 100% inclusion or agreement necessary, but gays think they are special. GET OVER YOURSELVES! 75% of people agree with gays. You woudl think that is good enough! But no. Besides, eat wherever you want!
Awesome. Folks like Cathy will be viewed just as George Wallace and his ilk are viewed today – as bigots. For those of you supporting Cathy, enjoy that bigotry sandwich. And, maybe, some self-reflection is an order as to why you feel the need to think about same-sex marriage so much.
I can understand both parties have an issue with the way things are. I feel get over it. People will be people. If these Christian people are as Christian as they say then there would be NO judgement. GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEADS, IT IS NOT OUR PLACE TO JUDGE. THAT IS GOD AND ONLY GOD'S DECISION. Sorry if you don't like it. I teach my children to love all of gods children, NO MATTER what race, religion, or sex orientation they are. If you cannot stand someone to come in your place because you do not believe what they are doing, then lock yourself up in the woods like a hermit. This world is changing every day. GET ON BOARD OR GET OUT.
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I'm sure he sent in the copy to a CNN editor and they plopped it into their website template.
Have those people protesting chick-fil-A about how you are further dividing America. If a gay company makes a statement in support, do non-gays ever stand out on the sidewalk and protest that business. Probably not. Have these same people protesting Chick-fil-A ever thought about the fact that in most cases you would not have been born if it were not for traditional marriage? Probably not.
And if not for "straight" couples there would be now gays. Toobad too SAD
You are an idiot for thinking marriage is required to have offspring. Did you ever take a biology class?
I dont know how the boycott is going anywhere else. I work across the street from a chick fil a and you can not get near that place. I enjoy chick fil a. What I dont enjoy is being attacked because I dont support same sex marriage. I am not a hater or part of a hate group. I am a believer by faith. Does this mean I hate gays, nope. It just means I dont support same sex. I also dont support men or women who cheat on their spouse, or child abuse, or underfunding our schools. Everyone is entitled to their first amendment rights.
I'm all for people beleiving whatever silly religious nonsense they want. Even if they think their religion tells them to hate people who are different. I'm even in favor of them thiking that people who think differently from them will go to Hell.
That's all fine and good. Stupidity is not illegal. But when people fight with every fiber in their body and try to hurt those they disagree with, based on their own person belief, then I have a problem.
We are all entitled to our opinions and our beliefs, but we are all entitled to be shielded by the beliefs of others.
Nobody has the right to hold anyone else back because of YOUR religion.
Who gives a @#$t !!!! There are worse pressing matters in the world and our society than one persons opinion on gay marriage.
The Hearty Boys all about inclusion eh? Wonder how they would treat an employee who didnt believe in same sex marriage, he'd be fired in a second.
Looking forward to lunch at Chick-fil-A today. Some friends and I are going to buy a bunch of their good, healthy food and deliver it to the homeless shelter.
You think that is good, healthy food? Just keep eating it, that's excellent. Then watch your blood pressure and weight go up, and the generation of haters will just die out quicker, leaving the people who are not against equality for everyone.
What would Jesus do? I doubt he would spout hatred for a group of people, but that's what most religious people seem to do.
Well said marilee!
which is hate, one is taking food to the homeless. and one is wishing death upon the other.
I dont see a lot of love on either side
Don't forget to try their new menu item – the Bacon Leviticus and Tomato Sandwich.
I am a straight laced heterosexual proud Christian American. There's nothing I admire more than the ignorant American pretending to uphold Christianity through bigotry and divisiveness. The Christianity I grew up with had no room for hatred – and I congratulate all of you here on your success in altering the definition of the faith to suit your purpose. I would however recommend that some of you seek psychiatric help: perhaps it is is the hidden Gay in you, that makes you despise the "Gay lifestyle genetic disorder so much". Two consenting people in a loving and caring relationship doesn't make me insecure about my sexuality and my own choices. It's those Gay dreams that haunt you, right?
I do not approve of the gay lifestyle myself, but if they want to get married, they should be able to. The issue here started out about the restaurant and the owner's right to choose his clientel. Have you not read the sign in every business that "we reserve the right to refuse business" to anyone? he has every right to chose who he wants to do business with. I don't think that makes us all gay haters or bigots, it makes us free to make our own choices as to what we believe. Most of the bible quotes were from the old testament, that mainly does not apply to us once Christ died for our sins (and he was SO NOT GAY). Yes he does say to love everyone as he does, but he also says to distance yourselves from sinners so that you are not drawn away from God by the alliance with them that choose to do evil. All of the bloggers that are throwing out the quotes from the bible and using it as an argument for their cause are not talking very reverent and I think that speaks very loudly about how much you really incorporate His word into your life. Practice what you preach to those who do not agree with you and your gay opinions!
Curious, Becky, as a Christian – I'm puzzled why Christ would have labeled Gays as sinners? Was loving another human being a crime? "And he was so NOT gay". I guess you must have known him in some special way to figure that out? Genius, Becky, you make me truly proud to be American. You've succeeded in redefining Christ!!
You know, you're not too bright. Jesus told us to hold close every word of scripture. Did you know that, genius? Of course not. But you are so cynical of Becki, yet your response clearly indicates you know nothing, So do us all a favor and just shut up. Or! Go find a single passage in the Torah that glorifies homosexuality. Well, go on, brainiac. Check back here in about a year or two and tell us you came up empty.
Jesus spoke to you? On Facebook, perhaps? This is why I am proud to be American. You and Becky make me proud to be American. You guys are in touch personally with deceased maverick social reformers.
So while you're busy eating your chicken sandwich, Dean, here's a side of scripture for you to chew on. John 4:20 "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen."
Becki, I'm not sure that businesses can legally refuse to service to a homosexual person any more than they could refuse service to black person or a Jewish person.
I agreed with your argument until the last sentence...rather derogatory, don't you think? Ironic. Remember the addage: "Hate the sin, not the sinner." Don't assassinate the person. Further, it is not our place to place judgment, a person will meet their maker and face their fate then. Let the sinner live in sin and worry about yourself and how you (as in us) can be a good Christian.
@Proud to be American – I totally agree. Are you as amused with the name calling as I am? :P
Ummm, Becky? I think the American Civil Liberties act prohibits business from refusing to serve people based on their gender, color, sexual preference etc. They could no more prohibit gay people from eating than they could prohibit an African American. What I don't understand is why anyone cares so much about who loves who. How is that a threat to anyone in anyway? As for your book– why anyone believes a 2000 year old book written by men before anyone even knew where babies came from is beyond me. Just because a lot of people choose to believe in myth doesn't make it any less a myth.
"Alienate client base"? How so? Dan Cathy did not come out and say "I hate Gays" He did not come out and say "Gays are not welcomed at Chick-Fil-A". As usual, the gay community blew it out of proportion. I did support the gay agenda (I'm not gay) but it seems the gays cannot/will not accept any views other than theirs. They want acceptance and tolerance. They need to do the same. I'll having my Chick-Fil-A today.
Did you just miss this part or not read the article: There’s no honor, dignity and respect in thanking a client for a purchase and using LGBT dollars to fund programs aimed at destroying our families." Supporting CHick Fil A's business is supporting denying your fellow citizens their civil rights.
Uh....do you mean homosexual 'families?' Can anyone imagine being 'born' into this kind of 'family?' What an embarrassing nightmare it must be for any child to have to tell his/her classmates his 'parents' are homosexuals. Would probably lie about it. Don't blame the child one bit. I fully suspect that many gay 'parents' deliberately indoctrinate children into becoming homosexuals themselves while trying to make the country believe that homosexuality is not a choice, that we are forced to commit these VOLUNTARY acts every day, that every single bomosexual act ever committed in history was not due to choice but to birth! What a preposterous claim.. The idea that a man can marry a man is just laughable. To be sure, homosexuality is a birth defect, nature's way of controlling population growth just like plague, famine, floods and fires. That's how it should be regarded.
And let’s not forget the greatest sinner tax of them all "AIDS"
Chic Fil A is nasty. Why are you eating there in the first place?
With so many other choices, why would you choose to eat this?
Agreed!
Apparently you missed the part when he said tolerating this behavior would lead to God's wrath on the nation. SMH. People need to look at all the quotes he made and not just a couple snippets. Chik-fil-a can burn. I used to eat there, but never again.
He'd probably woken up from a dream of Gay fantasies and was trying to compensate by asserting his "masculinity".
Well, don't eat there, Michael. Who cares? With Cathy's pronouncement, I wouldn't be surprised if Chik-Fil-A's sales increased. Just keep telling yourself, however, that no one is entitled to their opinion except you. Certainly not Cathy, right? Did you know people have lived by the bible for millennia? And we ALL know what the bible has to say about homosexuality. So who's right, Michael? Civilization or you? God or you?? Cathy or you? Get lost, Michael. Or, better yet, open your own fast food joint. Just be sure to hire only homosexuals and be very certain to make it known to the local population that you have gay employees. Call the business Back Door Burger and see how many customers you get. See if you can stay open for one month in any locale where gays don't overwhelm the population as in San Francisco.. LOL. Yeah, we all want to eat at Back Door Burger considering what your food preparers/handlers did the night before.
Yep, the Bible was right about the universe being created in a week, and the earth being the center of the universe. I know Galileo, Darwin, NASA, and practically all published scientists are wrong since their conclusions contradict those of the Bible. Let's live by the Bible as we've done for thousands of years, and go back to using pigeons instead of cellphones as we've done for thousands of years as well. The past is right, and the present is a lie.
This is America. Feel free to eat wherever you choose. But make sure that you wear that defining badge of ignorance that makes America proud worldwide. Because without it, the government will take away your guns, your freedom, destroy your marriage, and raise your taxes.
The myth of the gay "lifestyle" is nothing more than that. A myth propagated by the very groups to which CFA donates millions of dollars to dehumanize gay people into some caricature of a half-naked lady-man on a parade float. We are people who live in households just like yours, struggle to pay the bills, and keep it together, except we have to deal with the additional financial and emotional toll of being told everyday that we are less than human. Stop trying to dehumanize me. I am a person, not a "lifestyle".
CFA does nothing of the sort...they don't donate "millions of dollars to dehumanize gay people into some caricature of a half-naked lady-man on a parade float"...that's simply ridiculous and slanderous. They donate millions of dollars to Christian organizations, simple as that. I'm quite certain the Christian Athlete organization doesn't care one way or the other about your lifestyle. If you're going to make accusations, you should really read up on what you're talking about.
you seized on the hyperbole in what I said and didn't get the point. I am not a lifestyle. There is no such thing as a "gay lifestyle".
While the Fellowship of Christian Athletes does take an anti-gay stance, they are not politically vocal about it. Focus on the Family (the other "christian" group Chik-fil-a donates to) on the other hand is a political entity that actively campains to deny gay citizens their constitutional rights and marginalize them and their families. They have been designated a "hate group" and rightly so in my opinion. So money spend it Chik-fil-a DOES contribute to the denial of the rights of your fellow citizens, which is an extremely anti-American stance.
Of course it's a lifestyle. There's no proof, no science that you are born this way, and every proof that you choose to become this way. Now that's not saying that your choice didn't come about as some sort of DNA change due to some trauma, mental or physical,m min your early life, but there is no genetic proof that you were born this way. No science. Else we'd have genetic tests on babies that show whether they would be gay or not. In which case, we could abort the gay ones, or fix them. Lucky for the gay choice crowd, that doesn't happen. Enjoy your lifestyle! I think it's completely abnormal, but you're free to be abnormal in this country. Just be GLAAD you're not in a muslim country....lololol
To geeky: Way to look way past the intent of the reply and only respond to the minor point. Apparently you had to rebuttal so your only recourse was to respond to the "lifestyle" comment. Typical of how this whole thing has been blown out of proportion and how the LGBT continually ignores the facts.
Hearty Boys huh? Stealing cathy's thunder.
Steve, do you donate any funds to charity? Do you think it's possible that your donations might offend some? Same situation....
Focus on the Family is NOT a charitable organization, but a political one. One of it's main "focuses" is NOT the family, but the taking away of all rights for LGBT people and their families. They have been designated a "hate group" and rightly so in my opinion. Chic-fil-a's donations to this group are the real issue, not Mr Cathy's opinion on same sex marriage.
The charity is Equality Illinois, don't you see the difference between that and a group that has agendas that attack a group of people?
We keep hearing about these hate groups that Mr. Cathy supports financially. Who are these groups and what do they do to hate LBGT's? Do they lobby against Gay marriage? Do they have rallies? Do they support the crazy babtist church that shows up at soldiers funnerals? Do they research the cause of sexual deviation? Please list the groups and how they are Hate groups.
Any group that supports traditional marriage is now classified as a hate group. Focus on the Family, American Family Association, etc.
Please go ahead and support traditional marriage. I'm traditionally married for 20 years to my first wife and I support it. Even though there are times we cannot stand each other, we know that there are times that we cannot stand to be without each other. However if my gay neighbors decide to get married, it doesn't really impact the traditional quality of my traditional marriage. The essence of America is defined by inclusiveness and tolerance.
Hate straight people. They're the ones having gay sons and daughters.
If Adam and Eve only had two sons, where did we all come from?
Monkeys
Adam and Eve had over 90 children and yes, brothers and sisters did marry, however 'incest' wasn't an issue then because the bloodlines were pure and had none of the issues that would result as we have today. God ceased inter-family marriages at the time of Abraham and Sarah.
Every wondered that Adam and Eve might have been metaphors and not real people? Of course that would detract from the creationism belief that so defines the America I am prrrroud of.
Same place gay's come from......"straight" couples.
Go figure.
Maybe there was a typo. It's hard to decipher those old tattered scrolls. Maybe it was Adam & Steve.
What's funny is, gays have a disorder where they are attracted to the same gender. They have the disorder but think we need the help because we see it as abnormal to which by nature it is. Why do we have to take the cure when you the gay has the preoblem?
I made the mistake of thinking that ignorance is abnormal – and then I read your post and several others on this blog.
Apparently stupidity is running rampant......
Homosexuality is a normal variation among nearly every mamalian species on planet Earth – including humans. Anyone who says otherwise is apparently ignorant of the facts.
Abnormal by who's standard? If you were an intellect you'd realize that it is a matter of perception. For example... have you ever considered that gays may see heterosexual intercourse as nasty and discusting? So, if beauty is in the eye of the beholder, why can't sexuality be viewed in the same respect. If you're a Bible thumper let me add this... Jesus never spoke on the issue... did you ever wonder why?
Because Jesus ran around with a bunch of long-haired bachelors who all wore sandals and dresses.
first of all if you really believe homosexuality is a disorder than why is that funny? And no one is asking you to change your ignorant mind set but everyone should have the right to marry the person they want to as long as the relationship is consensual.
well isn't this guy well balanced. he's so well balanced he doesn't know if he's a man or a lady.
I will definitely eat at Hearty's restaraunt the next time I'm in Chicago.....and I will never eat at Chik-fil-A's again.
I'm a heterosexual man with three beautiful children and the last thing I am ever going to do is discriminate against a person or group of people that are hard-working, decent individuals simply because they do not have the same sexual orientation that I do.
Sad that people like yourself have to turn to hatred and sarcasm to belittle someone who is obviously a positive contributor to our society.
Get over yourself – it's pretty pathetic.
BUNCH OF LOSERS!!! FIGHTING FOR GAY MARRIAGES AND ALL THAT. USA HAVE MORE PROBLEMS TO TAKE CARE OF. ECONOMY IS BAD AND FIGHTING FOR GAY MARRIAGES. JUST DROP IT JUST
BE SURE YOU ARE OK WITH GOD. SAVE YOURSELF AND WORRY ABOUT YOU.
Gay marriage is GOOD for the economy. You should be for it if you want the economic outlook to improve. Why it has brought over 200 million dollars in new spending to the New York City area alone since the State of New York legalized it. Think what it could do for your town/state!
Funny how Conservatives are going there today to show support for free speech, yet the Liberals are going on Friday in anger.
Who's really the party of hate?
Who cares? Both are idiots.
You sound like an authority on that topic...
As would be anyone who takes the screen name "Truth"
Because we're going there today to support someone who has been constantly bashed because of his PERSONAL belief. Nobody is bashing you constantly for believing the way you do, so why should Mr. Cathy?
On the other hand, you'll be going simply out of spite and to do your best to shove your beliefs in our faces. Personally I think the 'gay day' will fall amazingly short of expectations.
Since only 1% of Americans are gay, there is no way they can come up with the numbers that will be showing up today.
Just drove past my local Chik-fil-a and the parking lot had only 8 cars during lunch. I go by it every day and a month ago the lot was nearly always packed at noontime. And I live in a very conservative area of Florida. I guess you really do reap what you sow....
That's funny, because I just drove past mine and the place is packed. Go figure.
These guys run a restaurant and catering business, which are universally considered extremely time consuming, all-encompassing businesses. Who actually watches Nate?
Let's face it, for gay couples, legalized marriage and having kids is just another way to make themselves feel more normal, more mainstreamed, and being loved and accepted by the general public is the highest goal of the gay agenda. It's one big, long chorus of "Waah, daddy didn't love me!" That's why it's not enough that people leave them alone, they want to coerce us to declare that they are great and normal. The kids are just props.
He's probably old enough to watch himself. Derp.
Really? Who watches their kid? That's your argument?
There are literally millions of non-gay couples with the same dilemma....it's called "daycare", or "grandma and grandpa", or Uncle Steve", or whomever they decide is best suited to help them raise their child.
What is your point?
And by the way – to say that the kids are "props" is probably the dumbest thing I've read on these blogs – and that is saying a lot....
Educate yourself. Go look at the statistics to see how children from gay families develop. You just might learn something.....idiot.
From their website:
"We sent a tape into Food Network and beat out 10,000 entrants to become The Next Food Network Star; we launched our own show, Party Line with The Hearty Boys and opened our first restaurant, HB. Then we topped it off with the birth of our son, Nate."
They just "topped off" their attention whoringreality show careers and opening of their restaurant with...a human life! How lovely!
If you've got 2 parents working 18 hour days and ship your kid off to daycare or a nanny for the majority of their waking hours, maybe you're notas "family oriented" as you'd like people to believe in order to sell more grey chicken sanwiches.
Congratulations, you're spinning off someone else's publicity to benefit yourself. Way to cash in on free advertising! Enjoy it while it lasts, hearty boy, because once this all blows over, Chick-fil-a is still a national Franchise and nobody will flock to Chicago to visit your resturant in rememberence of your little ploy to drum up some temporary business.
to the author: "It takes a person of conviction who is willing to bear the repercussions from those who dislike what he has to say" Those types of people have often been called 'fanatics' or 'martyrs'. Not the type of reputation I would care for.
But I'd like to amend your line above: it takes a person of conviction, ... willing to bear repercusions.. who IS Also Smart Enough to anticipate what a socially insensitive remark might trigger....
With all the talk surrounding Caty's 1st Amendment rights, there's also common sense (knowing when to keep quiet), public sensibilities (how to cater to a fundamentalist crowd) , and yes, gays have the protection of the constitution too.
If you're in a business, you have a bottom line to watch for: revenue. If you want to use your platform to make social statements, be prepared for lower revenue... ( I wonder if Caty considers Romney a full fledged 'christian'....?)
As a Christian (who is also gay), I am both appalled at the idea of supporting a company that seeks to inhibit the rights of American citizens and, at the same time, I give them kudos for not being afraid to stand behind their beliefs. There is, in fact, biblical precedence for the arguments against gay sex (read Romans). However, there is also biblical precedence for leaving the judgment of others up to God and we should never seek to put barriers in anyone's way (read James). So freedom to all, equal rights, blah, blah, blah and hopefully this news fad about Chick Fil A will go away in a few days. Something more exciting will happen in the news, don't worry, then this will be just another stupid hyped up story like the intoxication of Lindsey Lohan or the apocalypse of 2000....
...and for the record, I generally do not eat fast food because it upsets my stomach. And just as equally I do not take part in activities within the gay community because they also upset my stomach.
Nothing better than the arrogant comment "on the wrong side of history". Oh, you mean to tell me you can predict the future?
EAT MORE CHIKIN!!
Civil rights? Being black is not a genetic disorder, being a homosexual is. Insisting that gays have the right to marry is like insisitng that the blind have the right to drive or that the deaf have the right to be music critics. It's nonsense. When the technology exists to cure blindness and deafness they will be cured. Given the option, I suppose it's possible that a heterosexual couple could choose to have a gay son, but I don't imagine that would happen very often. It's certainly no sin to have a genetic disorder, and no one should hate gay people any more than they should hate blind people or deaf people. But equating gay marriage to the struggle blacks had for civil rights is a little ridiculous as it suggests that being black is a genetic disorder.
Wait. Am I reading this correctly? You are saying that people are born gay? That it's genetic and not a choice? Wow! I'm glad that you can understand that part at least. But it's not a genetic disorder, anymore than being of a certain ethnicity is. It's a part of the human genetic code. It's existed for thousands of years, and the only reason it's a problem is because other humans poke their noses into the affairs of others. If gay marriage was allowed, what happens to the genetic code of humans? Nothing. Marriage is a human construct. Our government codifies it with tax deductions and preferences for insurance. In that way, it is completely unConstitutional to offer benefits to one person and not offer it to another based on a genetic situation. Sorry, it simply is not.
The simplest way to resolve the issue. Let marriage be a sacrament of the church, and have no tax deductions for spouses or dependants. Make every household purchase their insurance by individual living in the same household, and at the same cost per person, regardless of age or gender. If a church wishes to subsidize their parishoners' health insurance or taxes....then the church can do so at their own expense to promote their independent values.
As a Christian and a believer on the teachings of Christ, the Christian poseurs here are definitely out of touch with the holy book. What do you think good old JC was upto with all those dashing apostles. Why'dya think Judas betrayed him with a "kiss" (apparently a natural gesture). Man love's been rulin' the roost ever since the Dinosaurs. And no one apart from those secretly ashamed of their own desires ever had a problem with it. Come clean, y'all.
Yeah well, you come clean to. Either that or keep on pretending that this is not just what it is, a genetic disorder that causes people to remove themselves from the gene pool which affects about 3 percent of the population. Like deafness, blindness, heart defects, and other genetic disorders, when it's possible to cure it, it will be cured. Dressing it up in a wedding dress and tuxedo, and giving it unwanted children, is the wrong way to handle a genetic disorder. It's like insisting that the blind have a right to drive or that the deaf have the right to be music critics. It's nonsense. BTW, your insinuation that Christ and all his apostles were homosexual is at best disingenuouse, he was a Jew as were all his apostles. Jesus never talked about homosexuality because his audience was only Jews and there were no open homosexuals among the jews because they dealt with them harshly and permanenetly if it were known. You're fortunate you didn't live in his time.
Yeah well, you come clean to. Either that or keep on pretending that this is not just what it is, a genetic disorder that causes people to remove themselves from the gene pool which affects about 3 percent of the population. Like deafness, blindness, heart defects, and other genetic disorders, when it's possible to cure it, it will be cured. Dressing it up in a wedding dress and tuxedo, and giving it unwanted children, is the wrong way to handle a genetic disorder. It's like insisting that the blind have a right to drive or that the deaf have the right to be music critics. It's nonsense.
You are right. Being Gay is a genetic disorder just as being smart or enlightened is. Join me brother in praying the smart away. Anyone unable or unwilling to procreate needs treatment, including sterile heterosexuals. So too, does anyone having a brain capable of self determination.
@ proud to be... you haven't quite proved your smarts here, fellow. Just the usual holier than thou attitude that we're familiar with .. keep on praying, ...
"Gay is a genetic disorder" No one has proven that. There is a growing number of doctors that believe sexual oriantation changes when there is an imbalance of estrogen and testosterone levels in womb. What a shocker that woudl be if it turns out to be correct. Not genetic, not normal and curable.
"if Christians don't approve of gays they should have their tubes tied or practice abstinence because any couple can conceive a gay child." this statement from Kimberclark is just hate filled. Just becuase Christains don't believe the gay lifestyle is the right way to live, doesn't mean they would not Love their own children. Don't believe what the media tells you on either side.
More deceitful garbage from the gay support clan.
I think you're too late. Steve already did pray his smart away....... at least judging by his posts.
Steve, as you stated it is a genetic disorder and by your description it sounds like you would be against creating free access for those born with handicaps that put them in wheelchairs or difficulty walking. "Why should we help those with these disorders? They should just stay home and be quiet! Prof. Stephen Hawking had better spend his money on making his life at home comfortable because society is not going to make any accommodations for a thinking, intelligent individual with things to contribute."
You are saying, "Hey, sorry you were born with a genetic disorder that makes you attracted to those of your own sex. This was no fault of your own but because of it, if you decide to co-habitate with a same sex partner we are just not going to allow you to have the legal civil union we call marriage. Yes, this is diepite the fact that you are two informed, consenting adults. We will make inheritance, hospital visits, medical insurance, property rights, and especially adoption difficult for you. No, we don't care that you have been a couple for 20 years. The different sex couple who are legally married for 6 moths are going to get more of the rights guaranteed by the government than you. What? You are also American citizens guaranteed the same rights by the Constitution? What? There is already legal precedent that states this?
We I'm sorry. That's still not gonna happen in Steve's world.
So Steve, what you are saying is that gays are "born that way" (God's plan) and homosexuality is not a moral lapse, correct?
That being so, why should gays be denied the same rights you and I are?
So, using your logic, should we ban marriage for people that are mentally retarded as well? How about people that are born with a physical or mental birth defect that is the result of a genetic disorder? It is unbelievable how completely intolerant people are about a topic that, if they would just leave it alone, would not affect their lives in the slightest bit.
Live and let live.
The funny thing about your genetic disorder argument – if you read enough of the posts on this blog, you will find several people that say it is a "choice" to be gay. So which is it? You have a whole bunch of ignorant people that can't even come together on what the issue is – yet all of you are hating people that have done nothing to you at all. It's pretty scary.....
BTW, your insinuation that Christ and all his apostles were a little light in the sandals is at best disingenuouse, he was a Jew as were all his apostles. Jesus never talked about homosexuality because his audience was only Jews and there were no open homosexuals among the jews because they dealt with them harshly and permanenetly if it were known. You're fortunate you didn't live in his time. How about I'm just not so secretly ashamed that you're an American?
BTW, your insinuation that Jeus and all his apostles were a little light in the sandals is at best disingenuous, he was Jewish as were all his apostles. Jesus never talked about because his gays because his audience was only Jewish and there were no open gays among the jews because they dealt with them harshly and permanenetly if it were known. You're fortunate you didn't live in his time. How about we compromise and I'll just be ashamed that you're an American.
As I will be ashamed of you. Spewing hatred is sad.
"Proud to be an American" comment is idiotic, has no basis in history, culture or the evidence.
Just goes to show that idiots are out there, pretending to be soemthing they are not in order to make others look as deviant as they ion order to attempt to get others approval for their deviance.
The biggest poser is the pretend "PTBAA"
Hey, I'm not a poseur. I'm truly proud to be an ignorant homophobic xenophobic bible thumping American just like you, brother Jim.
Oh, Jesus was totally gay. Long hair, wore a dress, no relations with females. Definitely.
No doubt about it!
So if Oprah buys a Chic-fil-a sandwich, will Dan Cathy give her money to the Klan?
It may be his right but it still isn't right.
Ya know, the closest thing to a lynching I'm finding in all this is happening to Christy. I'm going to Chik Fil A. Either we're going to let the gay mafia rule the country or not. I for one find that allowing a fraction of three percent of the nation the power to put ANYBODY out of business over a genetic disorder is just wrong.
I now understand why Whirling a Squirrel and trying to Eat in the Bathroom are a REAL PITA.
Common Sense and a little old school English always Helps. Thanks.
Aren't corporations considered 'people' by the government, or tax code? Can't people have opinions? Extrapolate... ;)
What would Dan Cathy do if members of the gay and lesbian community made a purchase at one of his restaurants this Wednesday? Would he pocket them? Donate them?
I am left to ponder...
Maybe he could simple keep quiet. After all, hasn't he already benefited from those that never knew he felt this way...until now?
I am left to ponder...
To Margie,
Men and women have died defending this GREAT COUNTRY so its citizens can voice his or her opinions without oppression. Just like any businesses or actors that have publicly supported gays, Dan is entitled to speak his mind. Free speech works both ways.
Great post Bev
To bad the LBGT population in general doesn't see it that way and the media is just reinforcing it, GNN included.
If you are not for every position that the LBGT wants, then you are a hate filled bigot.
What a wonderful society we have become. Either you are for LBGT or you are supposed to shut up. Sorry media, you can try as much as you want, but unless the governing rules change in the US, it is not minority rule.
it's not "majority rule" either. If it was, black people would still be slaves and women wouldn't be voting.
Actually the "LGBT population" DOES see it that way. Mr Cathy is perfectly entitled to state his opinions and to support whatever hate groups he wants with his dollars. Just as WE have the right to speak loudly against his stance and prevent our dollars from benefiting him or his evil causes. It's a constitutional right we ALL enjoy – just as should be all other civil rights including marriage (the Supreme Court has repeatedly stated that marriage IS a civil right BTW).
Bev, I totally agree with Mr. Cathy's right to express his opinion, my point is concerning whether or not he feels it is 'okay' to accept money received by those who are gay that visit or work at his establishment(s).
The Cathy's and CFA have never, ever said anything against the gay community. Find where they said something directly against homosexuals. They haven't. The only thing they said is they support the traditional family definition and that they've always done so, simply put, they believe marriage should be between a man and woman as the Bible teaches. That in no way says they personally hate gays, they employ homosexuals all across the country and have no problem serving you as kindly as they do anyone else, so quit twisting things around to fit your own hateful agenda.
Mr Cathy has said that gay people don't deserve to be married – that is saying something against the gay community. But he has spoken much more loudly with his dollars by contributing to hate groups like Focus on the Family which actively tries to take away the civil rights of LGBT people and spreads lies and misinformation to influence people into thinking there is something "wrong" with them. So Chik-fil-a can die a slow and painful death as far as I am concerned.
He did NOT say that...again, totally twisting his words around. He said he supports the traditional man/woman marriage, now that may imply he's against gay marriage but you cannot say he said that because he didn't.
And I'm 99.9% sure you've never watched anything produced by Focus on the Family because they're the furtherest thing from a hate group as I've ever seen. Hate is exactly what the LGBT is doing now...shameless slander and skewing the truth to force someone to sway from their beliefs. Hmmm..when you act agressively against someone based on their beleifs, isn't that bigotry??? So the LGBT are exactly what they're claiming Mr. Cathy to be....bigots!
That sandwich and fried looks disgusting compard to Chik Fil A. Chik Fil A wouldn't serve anything that looked like that, and every time I've been there, the employees are super polite and attentive and the food fresh and delicious. That's supposed to be why you go to a restaurant. Maybe this guy is just using the gay agenda to push his own agenda of marketing his inferior restaurant.
Maybe you and Dan Cathy were turned down by your Gay lovers, and thus jilted, resort to bigotry in a show of defiance.
Yeah, and probably got turned down because they offered their gay lovers that disgusting looking sandwich.
Leviticus 11:7And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.
Chick-fil-A Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit
Delicious strips of smoked applewood bacon along with a folded egg and cheese served on a freshly baked buttermilk biscuit.
Acts 10:13-15: Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat." "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
Christy isn't a jew. You seem to be confusing old testament mosaic law with new testament post fulfillment christian ethic. It's ok that you don't understand, but it's just plain wrong for you to pretend that you do.
Kind of like pretending you understand the gay community by labeling them as "genetic disorders", right Steve?
Just like all these "christians" keep quoting the old testament to defend their discrimination against LGBT people..... duh!
arche has demonstrated such appalling ignorance in making a comment on something he/she hasn't got a clue about. Typical for many cnn posters...
No comment
LOL!
Cathy has a right to his views and opinions as long as they don't break the laws of our land in America.
As long as he does not refuse to allow a homosexual or a bisexual from being hired based on their religion, sex and etc! People have the right to shop where they feel comfortable so they may or may not go to his store, and likewise for the Hearty Boys. We should not let politics become a vechicle of hate. Cathy, as well as the Hearty Boys have their right guranteed by our government to have their own beliefs, but those views may influence who they can sell to and who purchases their products. That's American business!!
So which side is guilty of hate speech? The side claiming that homosexuality is abnormal, or the side claiming that Christians are bigots?
My Son is gay, and I can't think of a kinder, more truthful, family orientated Man whom God must surely love, at least as much as I do.
The issue as I see it, is someone who has put his hand, and his money, against this community, and disapproves of them making families for themselves because the parents are not man and woman. I am familiar with members of the LGB community who have adopted children. These families very often adopt those children who are 'unacceptable" to the wider "straight' community because of the challenges they face, i.e: physically or mentally challenged; bi-racial; older; born of drug or alcohol dependant mothers.
I don't dare speak for God, but Jesus said. – "What you do for the least of my children, you do for me".
If you're prepared to adopt these children who were discarded by presumably 'straight' mothers and fathers, and are prepared to love and nuture them unconditionally, then fight to ban gay marriages,if not, step aside.
In the end Dear Mother, it is this quality of inclusiveness, acceptance, love, and tolerance that makes you obsolete in America. The founding fathers may have been proud of you, but the rabidly ignorant masses will not be.
America should be defined by freedom and open mindedness, not by Christianity or by edicts issued by a group of illiterate tea baggers. The spirit of inclusiveness and acceptance is the same spirit that has spurred achievement and invention.
Gays should be allowed at the same rights as heterosexual people. We hold these truths to be self-evident.
Thank you for your post.
Thank you for that beautiful statement.
Americans shouldn't be fighting gay marriage. They should be fighting the US goverment to stop marring people to begin with in the first place. It wasn't until the latter part ofthe 1800's that the goverment got involved, trying to stop interatial marriages. American's should have stopped it right then and there. Then the new deal came along and governement completely took over who you can marry, who you can designat at a benaficary, etc. Time to take the governement out of marriage completely- true seperaton of church and state. Not some montra speak. Everyone can designate a non related, adult age partner for all Governement and insurance benifits. Divorce laws changed to handle partnerships that are disolved. Churchs perform marriages, so if your LBGT and you want to get married. Find a church that will marry you, there are plenty. Then the judgement is between you and God, where it belongs.
I agree with you! Therer are 3 Lesbians in my family and they are the best Mothers you could find. How sad it is that people can't see the good and only want to shove their insensitive remarks down people's throats who they DON'T EVEN KNOW! Just reading these anti gay posts, shows me that you have perverted ideas about gays and lesbians. Did Christianity teach you that? How do you know all these things you pretend to know? I am a Christian, not a fanatic Christian like some of you. I can say with confidence, from seeing with my own eyes, that the people you choose to put down only want to live a life with equal rights. You may have your opinion, but don't bully people with it. I think God would much prefer if you treated one another with compassion and love instead of HATE! Get another hobby!
Article VI
I will never forget that I am an American,responsible for my actions,and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in The United States of America.
I love my country but fear my Government
You Fear what You cannot See.......
...you fear what you cannot see? Is that a reference to that god thingy that told Caty to disrespect gays?
I am proud of my country made free by the genocide of one people and the enslavement of another.
Sadly,War can be defined in many ways.
As much as we hate some of our history, this is also a contry the freed teh people that were enslaved. Saved the world twice, and liberated people that were truely forced into genocide. What happened to the American indians was not genocide in those terms. Disease from contact with Europeans played a large roll.
We're not proud to have you as an American. Your views are warped and twisted.
I wonder if Mr. Cathy has read the Gay Creation Story, which, after centuries of suppression, can finally be told. It is called "Fixed Stars Rise," and it is available at Amazon.
Unlike you, Mr Cathy is a true American who doesn't read or travel, to avoid polluting his pristine ideology. That's why we proud Americans stand with Mr Cathy.
Seems like you know him personally, and apperently all Americans. You are so proud to be one but are discussed by everything America has done in the past and you must feel hurt. Yet, you get to sit at a computer or own a smart phone and have access to the internet. You even get to type any message that will make it past GNN sensors. What a horrible contry, how can you be proud?
LOL.... you crack me up!
I still have not had anyone explain to me how come two same sex partners have to have the same name for thier union as a man and a women. I am only saying that "marrage" is the name of something unique between a man and a women. Someone did say that marrage was the civil union of a loving couple, but I believe that is redefining marrage, I believe the proper definition is "the legal union of a man and a women as husband and wife". All this said I am completely fine as long as I am allowed to refer to a union of same sex partners as a "homosexual-marrage" or "gay-marrage", and not as husband and wife but "gay-partners." Is this okay!!! I will state this specifically when I meet these folks and would expect they would not get angry at that.
It's simply this: "separate but equal" isn't equal. Thousands of laws are defined using the word "marriage" and people tend to go by the letter of the law. If you go somewhere & tell them you are in a "civil union" they assume that since you are not "married" that you don't have the same rights even when in some states you do. This has become very clear in the case of New Jersey where couples in civil unions have been repeatedly refused rights they are entitled to because they were not "married" and the other party didn't understand (or in may cases didn't want to understand) that they had the same rights as married couples. If the word didn't matter then we wouldn't care, but it DOES matter and all couples should be treated equally under the law. Apparently it requires the use of the word "marriage" to accomplish this.
Peter Tchaikovsky and Alan Turing were gay. I'm glad Chick Fil A trying to pray the Gay away. Imagine having to endure Swan Lake and to have to comprehend the Theory of Computation. So un-American (in fairness one of them was a Russian). Arts and science are both un-Christian and un-American : creation of commie tree hugger liberals. We like to live naturally in America the way nature and God intended us to.
Same sex marriage is un-American. Just the same as gun control, health care for those who can't afford it, belief in Darwin's theory of evolution, a uniform tax code, a Graduate Degree (reserved for the elite) and a knowledge of English Grammar. Chick Fil A has taken a bold stand in standing up for American values. And they make me proud.
LOL.... still cracking me up!!
Well now kimberlyclack adds another brillant comment.
Guess what. I've heard enough of the sick disgusting gay crap. Since the gays are so proun of themselves go do the sick things you do and enjoy it. Just keep your mouths shut about it and stop trying to force your sick lifestyle on others. Most people don't approve of the gay lifestyle, they don't support you and don't like you or want your sick perverted ways paraded in front of their families and children. It was ADAM and EVE not ADAM and STEVE! Adam and Steve can't reproduce, they couldn't "go forth and multiply" as God said to do. So with that in mind it certainly doesn't appear as though the gay lifestyle is normal now does it? I wonder how long you sickos would last on an island all by yourselves before you all became extinct.
Right on bro. We bigots would procreate effortlessly. And we'd make sure we'd raise a lot of little bigots on an island together in one happy in-bred family.
yup, them thar [sic] get married, get lots of little off spring, and then, as the statistics tell us , close to 60% of those christian families get a divorce. Hard to deny facts, they sometimes hurt.
If as is claimed this country is overwhelmingly christian, then by default the majority of those divorces happen to christian families. Go figure
@Semper Fi, how HILArIOUS, you want CNN to kiss your c.rack? You MUST BE Gay!!
Yea I'm sure Jesus would be real proud of you and your bigotry there buddy.
Who do you think is giving birth to all the gays? So, then putting them on island would solve your problem how? It would be a very fun island.
I am seriously tired of this. Most people don't hate gay people. Most younger Republicans don't hate gay people. Most young Republicans actually agree that gay people should be allowed to get married. The moment we defined marriage as a legally binding contract (that's what it is according to the government), we had a civic responsibility to redefine that definition as the social and legal climate changed. This is not the 1950s anymore. This is the 2010's. Things have changed a lot. I have had enough of this hate from "Christians". I am a straight man, and the main reason why I am loath to say I am "Christian" is because of the people like you that can't shut that hate spewing filth-filled hole in your face. Nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus decry homosexuality... nowhere. And Paul? Let's talk about Saul (Paul), the 13th Apostle. Someone who spent half his life helping the authorities brutally kill Christians before he became one. Do you really want to quote Romans I and II knowing that now?
I would bet you cannot wrap your choked mind around this, but, bisexuals can reproduce.
@Ken coo coo
Considering the fact earth is doomed to be overpopulated in the near future, probably already overpopulated, the gays may help save the human race by slowing down the process :)
So, Ken, are you saying that a man and woman shouldn't be able to get married if they cannot produce children??? I think that's what I got out of your logic, so older Americans or those with reproductive troubles shouldn't bother?? If you want to "protect" marriage, you should push for the total ban of the practice of divorce!!
So Adam and Eve had their off spring, and those darn kids the fornicated with each other and committed incest? (nobody else around to fool with) Isn't the bible against incest? Didn't Noah do his daughter or so, as well?
I'm pretty sure, according to the Bible, that Eve had something like 63 children......with about half of them being female.
Always cracks me up when people turn to the Bible to state their case. If Adam and Eve were the first two people on the planet – did the remainder of our poulation come from incestual relationships? I don't see any other way it could have happened – if you believe what is written. That is a lot more twisted than anything the gay and lesbian community is doing....
PEOPLE NEED TO STOP HATING SO MUCH!!
Adam and Eve had over 90 children and yes, brothers and sisters did marry, however 'incest' wasn't an issue then because the bloodlines were pure and had none of the issues that would result as we have today. Had to be done to populate the earth.
God ceased inter-family marriages at the time of Abraham and Sarah.
I'm guessing Ken made it all the way through 3rd grade before he entered adult life!
What do you do for a living, Ken? I'm sure it took years of education to acquire the skills needed to do whatever you do.....maybe 3 or 4 weeks of really intense studying.
Please don't come back and post that you are a Doctor or Lawyer – your post made it all too clear that you are about as dumb as a rock.
Ken, sweetie, you heteros do the same "sick disgusting" things that we gays do.... love each other, raise families, pay taxes, build homes and communites, etc. You also do the same "sexual" things we do – and since there are more of you, a lot more of you are doing them than us.... So pot, realize your own blackness before pointing to the kettle!
when did gay become synonymous with homosexual? Are they happy all the time ? attempt to normalize aberrant behavior.
Actually we do seem to be happier on average than most of the heteros I know.... not ALL the time of course, but quite a lot of the time.
I don't get the backlash here.... I mean, a man was talking to a baptist newspaper.... and somehow the media picked up part of what he said and people are going crazy over it. I don't understand how being "for" something it means your "anti" something else. Of course, I don't get the whole fight to begin with... I find America has much bigger problems at hand with more serious consequences. Easy solution... all unions in the eyes of the government be "civil unions".... after all, statistics show 50% end up in cilvil court. Then let the Christians have their term... "Marriage." This fight over one word seems ridiculous. Gay people have no problem labeling themselves as Gay.... Christians have no problem labeling themselves as Christians.... In the image maintenance society we have become.... Let each have their own label for marriage too. Then... maybe we can move on and get to matters that really effect this future of this nation... Like our national debt, the fact our schools are sub-par and our kids can't compete in the global economy, or the poverty that no one likes to talk about... or even see. Those... are much bigger problems than this.
You are spot on my dear. If only the rest of the class would do their homework. :)
If you were being discriminated against based on your life, I think you would feel differently about this not being a big issue. Also we have learned as a country that seperate but equal does not work, so why should we forget about our past lessons now. We teach our children history for a reason, so that we don't make the same mistakes twice.
Oh but I am being discriminated against. I'm a straight white American christian middle class guy. This means I get ignored by the government, demonized by the leftist minorities that make up the demo base, hated by you. and divested of my assets if I get tired of paying for other people's abortions. I think you should get over your genetic disorder. I'm equally sick of the gay marriage struggle being compared to the black struggle for civil rights. Being black is not a genetic disorder.
Same boat as Steve and see the discrimation all the time. Somewhere it became the norm to hate white middle class men to get back for what previous generations have done.
Poor Steve. I'm a straight white middle class American as well......
I am extremely successful, I don't hate people because of their sexual preference, I don't claim that gay people have a "genetic disorder" and thus should be treated poorly, and I certainly don't feel discriminated against by my own country....
I am not, however, Christian.
It appears that your religious views are holding you back, Steve.....must be some kind of disorder.
Actually the only discrimination I have seen against white middle class men has come from the very rich and large corporations. Over the last 40 or so years they have continuously pushed this group further and further down the economic ladder. Folks who were considered "upper" middle class 25 or so years ago have now slipped to lower middle class – and those who used to be in the "lower" group are now into the poverty levels. This has been a direct consequence of the continued push for "supply side" economics and corporate deregulation from wealthy "conservatives". This setup guarantees the continued growth of their wealth at the expense of everyone below their economic standing. It can't continue forever and will eventually collapse. The recent recession was a direct result of these policies.
Being ignored and being told that you can't do something that everyone else is allowed to do is very different so please stop trying to play the victim you sound stupid. You are only demonized because you spout ignorant sh*t, do some real research and not just looking at other religious zealots. I don't hate you but I do hate the actions that you take and the others like you, the gay people of america do not affect you, if gay marriage is legalized your church does not have to marry homosexuals and you can live can live in you sad hatred filled bubble.
I agree. Take it out of goverment hands. Let churches marry people, and there are churches that will marry LBGT people. So then our relationships and our actions go back to being judged by God.
"I don't understand how being "for" something it means your "anti" something else."
Here's your explanation:
1. When you say you are "for traditional marriage", everyone knows what you mean is that you are against same gender marriages. Of course being "for traditional marriage" sounds better than being "anti gay marriage", but everyone knows those phrases mean the same thing.
2. When your business donates millions of dollars to groups that are actively working against gay marriage, it is presumed that you and your business are also against it.
Once again, Laurie, "separate but equal" is NOT equal – never has been, never will be.
Its nice to see an article that's on the same page with me and hopefull others. As a lesbian I respect that Dan Cathy had every right to state his beliefs. I how ever don't respect and take complete issue with the company saying they're inclusive adn respect everyone but like the author said..take our dollars and turn them against us. Its like saying your all about local business's and fair wages but you love to shop at Walmart a destroyer of both.
No its not the same. Business owners make money and run a business to do just that. How they invest the profits is up to them. If you don't want to eat there that is your right. I have never seen anyone treated with disrespect at a Chick-Fil-a, including LBGT. I live in Houston so I probably see more LBGT people in a week than most Americans see in a year. Its a resturant, and they treat everyone the same. If you want to stop eating there in protest, go ahead. Mr. Cathy has done nothing wrong.
its because he spoke against gay marriage,it would be okay if he had his beliefs but kept them to himself.I myself don't care about gay marriage if you want to marry that's fine by me gay or straight.
See, you've hit the nail on the head there without knowing it. This is exactly how liberals are. Everybodies welcome to have an opinion as long as it's theirs. Free speech is great until it bothers them.
Just as you are bothered by what "ash" says, right Steve?
Pot calling the kettle black.....
Why stop at Chik-a-fil? Let's stop buying McCain products, how about all those other chains owned by hater-Republicans? This is the best form of protest, those people only care about money.
Chic-fil-homosexual day, sure know how twist words.
This is what I don't understand.... You say Republican haters.... yet, you sound a little hateful yourself? Your argument cuts both ways, and the hypocrisy of this entire situation is showing the insanity of where our country is at.
What about the fact Rahm Emanuel stating his contempt with Chick Fil A... yet you see him by Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam leader... who has made very public statements on his opinion of gay marriage / people. So... Chick Fil A is not what Chicago needs but Louis Farrakhan and his opinion is? Really....
Sorry folks... Think this is a huge political game for the politician.... given it's 2012. To bad people's lives are being played with.... Not just those who are gay, but the owners and workers of Chick Fil A
What a ridiculous comment. Comparing people who hate bigotry to bigots. How stupid can a person be?
Apparently stupid enough to ignore the fact that Rombo is in bed with Farakahn who openly despises gay people and gay marriage yet get all up in arms about a chicken sandwich. I'll grant you it's more ok to hate a chicken sandwich than it is gay people. But Rombo talks out both sides of his mouth and is just trying to make up to what is probably his disgust with himself for shaking Farakahns hand by trying to beat more chikin. Me? I'll celebrate their anti chicken day by taking my entire family to chik fil a for dinner as it's just ridiculous enough to deserve a response.
Of the chicken eaters some perfer Chicken Olay for quality and cleaness and Christian bashing won't influence their choice of eating places at lunch time. But assumeing it could, do those other people really want to have morals alone determine where our money is spent? Those who practice the Christian faith can be compared to the silent manority and something like this may be all it takes to awaken them.
There is no reason that Christians should lash out at the gay community. Christians should not choose to be enemies with any group. There is reason to speak out in favor of families and to promote laws that protect Christianity, but no reason at all to blast people they disagree with. Even if the gays are blasting Christians. Remember who you are.
if Christians don't approve of gays they should have their tubes tied or practice abstinence because any couple can conceive a gay child. There is no way to prevent it. There is nothing sadder than an unloved or un-accepted child. Christians need to stop having children, they are only contributing to the gay "problem"
Some Christians .. and you know who you are . .. bash gay people because deep down inside they have had gay thoughts. Look at recent history. Think back on how many religious and political leaders who speak and organize against gay marriage and homosexuals in general end up getting busted themselves. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a country where people didn't care if Adam married Steve.
As you correctly observe my proud American friend, Gays are a separate group from Christians. No Gays are Christians. And every Christian is a straight laced hetero. And only Christians can be Americans. And Americans cannot be Gays. There's a complex Venn diagram here but it makes sense to all of red blooded Americans proud to be free and at home in the land of the free to be like us.
A very narrow minded view my friend. You are entitled to your opinion, but it is just that an opinion. The fact is that there are millions of Gay Americans and millions more Gay Christians throughout the world. Not my opinion, just the facts.
You know, 'Proud to be American', I think some of your hardcore stance against the 'liberal commies' and 'the gays' speaks more about your own insecurities as a person.
Aside from that, you seem out of your mind. I guess I will content myself to believe you are a 15 year old troll who lashes out just for attention.
MS
PS – As a heterosexual born in CT, I fancy myself just as American as anyone else who has met the citizenship requirements put forth by the Constitution, and I look forward to fighting all that you claim to stand for.
Why do liberals hate Christians? because they don't agree that you should be with the same sex? I mean after all we were given different body parts. Why should we take the cure when you are the one with the problem and confusion of whet gender to be with?
Why do liberals hate Christians? because they don't agree that you should be with the same gender? I mean after all we were given different body parts. Why should we take the cure when you are the one with the problem and confusion of whet gender to be with?
You wanna talk about hate and bigotry? Scroll through the comments-most of the hateful and bigoted posts are from those who claim to be on "the right side of history". If you don't agree with the owners of Chick-fil-a, don't eat there. Let the marketplace decide. You don't want Christians to force their beliefs on you-fine-but don't try to force your beliefs on them. BTW, the Chick-fil-a in my town, which is in that bigoted, conservative, bibletarded place known as Baltimore County, Maryland had the drive-through line backed up out onto the main road. Keep boycotting, folks-Chic may have a record year thanks to you!
Looking at the picture, I would not eat there. The fries are wrinkled, thin, and some appear to have come from an over ripe potato. The breaded fish sandwich looks horrible. Wouldn't it be wonderful for all the towns that have a Chick-fil-A to have gay parades end at these resturants and put on an hour or two show for the Chick-fil-A customers.
Actually, the fries look good. Chik-fil-A has good sandwiches, but their waffle fries are not very good.
Since the article wasn't obvious enough for you...let me point out that the picture shows food from the gay restaurant...not Chick-fil-A...but I agree, it does look awful.
I've been to Hearty when in Chicago on business, and the food was lousy and WAY overpriced.
It's interesting, there is not one cogent, analytical, well supported argument against gay marriage in this entire thread. It's all a bunch of "the bible says...", "Gays are disgusting"... "Jaysus said.." Interesting and very telling.
As a proud American, ignorance is my birthright. Who says I need to make a cogent argument? Only the commies and the liberals. Sheesh.
Rob, how can you support the insupportable? This is the same argument the creationists sling when trying to support their arguments. They have no science to support their claims, just faith. Sadly that's not enough for those of us with anything resembling an education.
being gay is not like your hispanic, white, or black. its a preference. so if i think men dating men is nasty, it doesn't mean i hate the person. i just dont agree with what they do or like. if i dont like pepsi am i gonna get protested by all the pepsi drinkers??
Very true. Just as being ignorant, intolerant and bigoted is a preference and my right, and I intend to exercise it to uphold my constitutional freedom and my God. If we all fall for this inclusiveness and equality for all, we'll soon lose our guns, our freedoms, and our taxes will go up along with our IQs.
yet it isnt a preference. It isnt a choice.
If you think otherwise, please explain when you made the conscious decision to be straight. Please explain why hom...o...se...xu...ality runs rampant in the animal kingdom. Are they preferring to be gay rather than straight?
You guys have bought into your own lies. You're drinking the Kool Aid and think that it's unchangeable and the animal kingdom is full of self fulfilled gays.
You are clearly uneducated, homosexuality is present in several different species of animals.
Amen! Thank you. Too many people are afraid to say that it is a LIFE STYLE. So you're born that way... big deal. It doesn't mean you have to live that way. Sandusky was a pedophile . He didn't have to live it out.
You cannot compare being in a consensual relationship to being a stagitory rapist, homosexuals could live their life in the closet but it's definitely not your place or anyone else's to choose that life for them.
There are way more Christians than gays in this country.
and there are way more muslims in the world than christians....what is your point?
Wow!
We have finally addressed the following: world hunger, child abuse, cancer, oil prices, the election, democrats, republicans, terrorism, veterans, homelessness, weak economy, global warming, crime rate, unemployment just to name a few so that now we can argue about a chicken eatery owner and stating his beliefs with no impact to his employment or his customers. Wow, we really know where to focus our efforts. On the important stuff like this... (sarcasm for those who aren't catching it) For Christians, like myself, you won't win any over in this blog. For the non-Christians, you won't convert any of us here. You don't like what the CEO of CF said, don't eat there. If you do, eat there. Find something that is impactful and invest your time in that. This is rediculous.
Whatever. They aren't going to open any new ones without a fight, and the old ones are going to lose money. I suspect that they will close about half their units and restructure, and that Bubba Cathy will have less money to give his lobbyists from now on.
So when can we expect the Christian Pride Day at your restaurants? If you are so inclusive?
In keeping with his point, you can expect Christian Pride day at his restaurant right after a major national chain expresses its view that Christians aren't entitled to the same rights and freedoms as everyone else.
How nobel...and stupid.
The gays can go get their weines fried the worthless bong hole bleeding perverts...I like this place to go to eat...on my out the door right now to go there...LOL!
Another bigot who shuns spelling coz we don't need no educatification. An American I am proud to call my fellow American. You go to that Chick Fil A coz we are the land of the free for the people like us.
Or maybe you are kinda fabulous and you hope that being seen near Chick-Fil-A will help you with the ladies? Pro Tip: stop choking your chicken; ladies can tell if you do that.
Ya mean the chix notice my hunched back and hairy palms?
Dang!
Haha... Comparing your crap restaurant to chik fil a. They can afford to lose business. You can't afford not to do business.. Enjoy hell!!
Preach it Keith!! I totally agree, you have a wonderful day!
Don't worry Karma is a bitch. Best Buy stood by Michael Vick too. Look at how they are going bankrupt. Size didn't help them either. Evil will go down. Bye Bye Chick Fil A.
There are 2 major errors in assumption by the author of this piece and by many gay and lesbian people in general where is comes to the perspective of people who favor the Biblical definition of marriage.
The first incorrect assumption is that having a belief that conflicts with someone else's belief constitutes "judgement" of that person. This is a hug illogical crutch a lot of people use in ordeer to try to villify others. Acknowledging that God clearly states that something is right and something is wrong and attempting to live one's life accordingly does NOT imply that anyone is judging anyone else. Cathy is not saying that gay and lesbian people are bad or going to hell. He's just saying that his religion states what is right and wrong, and that he agrees with and attempts to follow it by example. Cathy is not condoning judging or being cruel to anyone. He's simply saying that he's bound to a set of beliefs, and he's willing to sacrifice monetarily to prove it, just like every Chik Fil A is closed every Sunday.
The second incorrect assumption is that opposing gay marriage is an "attempt to destroy families," which is pretty much a direct quote from the author. How is the status of the legality of gay marriage going to destroy anyone's family? Gay people have been having families for a long time, with or without legalized marriage. People are free to define families any way they want to and live their lives accordingly.
I have a problem with gay and lesbian people demonizing anyone who disagrees with their lifestyle with inaccurate and intentionally inflammatory rhetoric, as if anyone who has a different opinion than theirs is somehow evil and trying to destroy them personally.
My imaginary friend can kick your imaginary friend's ass.
I believe the author is referring to how the restaurant donates its money, not the recent statement of its owner.
I saw no mention of how the organization spends its money. "They are on the wrong side of history" pretty much sums up what he thinks, that anyone who does not espouse his view is wrong.
Hmm, not everyone in America believe in Jesus, Mohammad, Moses or whatever name you would like to invoke for GOD. The bible is just one aspect of life for all religions. Many people in the US does not follow the bible, therefore who in their right mind can tell another person what they can or can't do in life? Whatever happened to "Thou Shalt Not Judge"? Quite frankly, as a heterosexual person, I don't give a damn what anybody think what another person should do behind closed door. It's none of our business. We need to throw away all of the bibles to get rid of HATRED toward one or another. RELIGIONS ARE THE TRUE DIVIDER OF EARTH. If you don't believe this statement, just look within yourself why people hate gays, black, white, asians, hispanics, and all other forms of life?
Personally, I think most people are ignorant as they only see what the person is, not who they are! No wonder why our founding fathers got sick and tired of all religious warfares fighting for centuries. They only reason why the 1st amendment came about is to allow any individual the freedom of speech when it came to religion without being ostracize with "Blasphemy". This country is getting worst than the extremists of all religions.
That's a SHAME! Shame on people using GOD to make themselves thinking they are better than the next person because they are following SUPPOSEDLY GOD WORDS! HYPOCRITE!!
Sly, I love how your type wants to be treated respectfully, while you work to deprive other Americans of their rights. In my book, you're as evil and bigoted as any hood wearing yahoo out their!
I am a heterosexual man, meaning that i am only sexually attracted to females. I despise the terms "Gay" and "Straight".
When a homosexual calls us "straight" that is like implying that we are without sin. When a heterosexual call them "Gay" that is like implying that they are all completely happy. Both of these descriptions are false. So let me get this "straight", marriage has already been defined for thousands of years as between one man and one woman. This definition of marriage can be found in a modern dictionary. People who support this ages old definition are horrible bigots, and the people who chose to re-define marriage as (any consenting adults who want to can) are open minded and tolerant. I mean how dare they want to keep marriage as what its always been. We are bombarded daily with homosexual affirmations, otherwise there wouldn't be so many TV characters that are "gay". So in summation the Majority is wrong and has to change their ways to conform with the Minority as not to hurt any feelings. WHAT?
Jay, marriage has not been defined for thousands of years as one man and one woman. Often it was one man and several women like King Solomon who had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Women could not own property so they were often married to men who wanted control of her father's property. There also has been some historic same-sex marriages in the past including Roman emperors. There is also a history of ethnic groups like the Navajo who believed in more than what we would today call heterosexual orientation.
The word Gay was used by homosexuals men to refer to carefree and uninhibited whereas the word Straight was used heterosexuals to describe themselves as not being "crooked" like homosexuals. In the UK homosexuals are even still referred to as "bent." Personally, it's up to Chik-Fil-A how they want to conduct business and I don't have to spend my money there. I do not agree that mayors can block businesses, but, I appreciate the mayors' intent behind the message. It was only a month and a half ago that National Organization for Marriage was promoting "Dump Starbucks for their support of same-sex marriage. Personally, I believe that marriage is either a religious bond for a portion of the country, or a civil bond for the other portion. Our laws have supported the notion of civil marriages since inception and I don't think any religion should be forced to offer marriage to same-sex couples if they can't see it in their hearts or doctrines to do so.
So Steve says "There’s no honor, dignity and respect in thanking a client for a purchase and using LGBT dollars to fund programs aimed at destroying our families" and then goes on to state that he intends to use dollars from his straight customers to do the same thing. Is he saying he asks his customers their sexual orientation before they pay for their food or how does he even know? With only about 2% of the US population claiming to be gay, there's a 98% chance he is using "non gay" dollars to fund his personal beliefs and causes.
Love thy enemy.. Smile on your brother everybody get together, try to love one another right now.
That's the leftist's interpretation of the Bible. Love has no place in America. All you really want to do is to take away our guns, freedom, and raise our taxes in the name of love. Please move to Canada.
And I say let's go back to the way it was 20 years ago where you never heard about gays, lesbians, liberals...when no-one cared that Jesus was in the schools and when obama wasn't in office. When people worked hard, raised their families. With the way it's going now everyone who is liberal, socialist, gay, and lesbian want to take America and completely change it. America was founded on Jesus, the Bible, morals, etc... Let's keep it that way!!! It's worked for years, who are you to change it!!!
America was NOT founded on Jesus and the Bible. Sorry, history tells us otherwise. As for morals, there are none when you refuse any American the same rights you enjoy. I am sorry, but you sir, do not reflect the America I think of.
So you want to go back to the days when everyone who wasn't a straight white christian was marginalized and ostracized? Perfect! I'm guessing that you're a straight white christian.
20 years ago? You mean 1992. What a simpleton.
I saw we go back to a time when people knew history........
What are you, a schoolkid? The good old days of 1992? You are talking about the 1950s, which were horrible unless you were white and middle-class. You were lucky if you got to 12th grade without dying from polio or scarlet fever or worms or something. Cars were death-traps and everyone was flashing hydrogen bombs at each other. You don't know what you are talking about. It's better today.
Oh. You mean 20 years ago when YOU didn't know anything about LGBT community. You're screen name has officially been changed to Ostrich.because that "community", those types of people, their kind, as it's been so derogatorily & demographically segregated, has been around for centuries. Brush up on history that's taught outside the mobile home park.
@ I'm an American, '20 years ago there was Jesus in the schools" I am not sure where that was at, as I was in school in 80's and 90's and you could not have a teacher led a prayer or talk about the bible in a public school classroom. What happen in locker rooms and football fields is another story. Also 30 years ago Ronald Regan was talking about welfare queen ruining the United States, and we knew about AIDS in 1986 and gays. Also in the 1980's was a spike in welfare and food stamps. 20 yrs ago, 1992, we talked about welfare people selling their food stamps for beer and drugs. Also we were talking gays and AIDS again. Also the 1990's showed a decline in church membership. Where is this america that is hard working. church going and gay free? It has not been around for a very long time.
Kelly M. I was born in the late 70's and was in school in the 80's and 90's and we had prayer every morning, talked about God openly, and said the pledge of allegiance to the American flag. So I'm wondering where did you go to school? Maybe that's what's wrong???
You're absolutely right, but Satan has blinded people who think they are now above God. Hopefully it won't be long. Let's pray that Jesus comes quick. Satan has been very busy the past 20 years. Just look how vicious and vocal the gays are.
Thank you Adolf.
You sound like a nut job. Go grab your glock or H & K and just start blasting people like that fool in Coloado that I hope rots in h-ll!
Thats so offensive I actually had to laugh, I picture you as having foam frothing out of your mouth as you type that.
"That's the leftist's interpretation of the Bible. Love has no place in America. All you really want to do is to take away our guns, freedom, and raise our taxes in the name of love. Please move to Canada"
Blue states pay far more in taxes than do the bibletard states.
Your welcome.
Right on bro. The bibletards pay less in taxes because they believe they answer to a higher calling. Just you wait, your day of reckoning is coming. You'll see yourself descend into a gunless lawless spiritual quagmire of compassion and equality and inclusiveness to make you want to wish for the good old days of the Wild Wild West where arguments were won with guns and bibles. We bibletards know how to tell it like it is. We may be ignorant, but we aren't stupid.
You sound like a nut job. Go grab your glock or H & K and just start blasting people like that fool in Coloado that I hope rots in h-ll!
Dude, you're so right. This whole time I'd been thinking it was the complete aversion to eduction and an overiding belief that God will make it all ok.
Whatever happened to: He helps those who help themselves?
Put down the crackpipe.
Not a huge Chick-Fil-A fan, but I will be supporting Chick-Fil-A tomorrow. I don't disapprove of gay unions, and in fact think "civil unions" should be the official government term for both gay and straight so the religious can get on with their lives. But, I am sick to death of the venomous, hypocritical and frankly bigoted actions of some LGBT marriage supporters. Cathy didn't seek out this situation, he was asked a question and he answered it honestly. I don't care even a little if you disagree with his answer, he's still entitled to his opinion (regardless of which side history comes down on or how much we disagree with them). Denying people the right to practice business or expand one, especially in this economy, based on someone's beliefs, is ridiculous. And the real loser here isn't Cathy (who will still be rich regardless of the opposition), it's all the workers who are being denied jobs who could use that job to support their families and better their lives.
Thank you Reluctant Supporter, well said. Everyone needs to practice tolerance, if we as a nation and as a world do not stop hating we're going to see another type of holocaust.
So funny how touchy the religious wackos on here are about the word "marriage" ...
Tell you what - let's give full legal rights of "marriage" to anyone engaging in a civil unions. And regardless of which sexes are getting "married", let's call any wedding conducted in a court house a "civil union." Religious unions of any sex can be conducted at the discretion of the religious institutions (meaning the priest, rabbi,etc. can say "yay" or "nay" whenever they so choose) .
Boom - problem solved.
Boris – you are exactly right. As a 'bibletard' – love that term – I couldn't agree with you more (I realize this is an ironic agreement).
I frankly don't give a rip about being forced to wait 60 days for a gun permit or if I have to pay 1-2% more on my income if I'm in the upper 20%. But – keep my government out of my religion. Any couple should be required to get a civil union license at their local courthouse – that is a legal contract affording certain rights to the couple. The fact that my aunt (who is lesbian) is not able to visit her partner in an ICU; can't obtain healthcare benefits from her employer and can't be assigned her SSI benfits – IS LUDICROUS!!!
At the same time – don't tell me that my church needs to affirm that union as a spiritual covenant under the banner of marriage defined in all religious literature (not just the Judeo-Christian bible). It just isn't. Just like a man sleeping around on his wife isn't married in the same sense. Is the definition narrow – yes it is. Does that make it wrong or intolerant? No – just sets apart very specifically what a marriage is.
The issue is – the LGBT community will not accept the term civil union. Because, just like many right-wing agendas, acceptance as "acceptable and perfectly normal" is critical. The irony is, there is so much effort to be viewed as 'no different', while at the same time so much "pride" in being different. Very confusing.
He also said he was against divorce but I don't see all the divorcees crying up a storm. Perhaps he is just a religious man and doesn't agree with condoning sin? Is that a crime nowadays?
Yes, we Americans are against sin. It's Unamerican to sin – namely to divorce, to be gay or lesbian, to be muslim, to not bear assault weapons. We God fearing Americans believe in the traditional institution of marriage, just as we believe in that God was created in man's image .. or was it the other way around?. And if we could have our way, we would put the ten commandments in every classroom, courtroom, restaurant so that we will remember the power of divine retribution while clutching our guns in self defense. I'm with you, Acoma Brewery.
Divorcees aren't fighting for equal rights at this particular juncture in history.
He did mention that people in his company were married to their first wives. Meaning that they either did not get a divorce.. or did not remarry after their divorce.
A common misconception is that the bible says do not get a divorce. If you look at all the passages related to divorce in the new testament it basically says try to make it work, but if you must divorce then do so. However, do not get remarried afterwards.
Another article celebrating alternative lifestyles and inclusiveness from the leftist liberal bleeding heart media. How dare you preach tolerance, acceptance, and equality for all? Seriously, how dare you, Steve? Readers beware – before long, this man will take away your traditional beliefs, destroy the institution of marriage, then take away your guns, and your freedom, and raise your taxes. I'm tellin' ya, stick with the honest stuff from Dan Cathy – who could have stuck to Chicken but was unafraid to speak up for causes he has no real understanding of. It takes courage to speak up and be thought of as a fool and I salute Dan Cathy for having that courage. He's the American we should all aspire to be. Steve, please keep your tree hugging man loving liberal culinary genius Food Network stardom to yourself. We honest Americans got Chick Fil A. We don't need no Coq Au Vin from the country that sent us Freedom Fries.
I had a comment but then I went to read my Bible and opened to Amos 5:12-13
"For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts. A wise person remains silent at such times, because those times are so evil."
And just to clarify I am a lesbian. I believe in a higher source and love people regardless of how they feel about me because its EASY to judge. Its a totally different thing to actually take the time to understand people and what they're going through. As all can see, we making tremendous leaps backwards in terms of civility, discourse and humanity. Love is the central theme across ALL religions. Unfortunately as a society we don't spend enough time nurturing our spirit and unfortunately idle hands and minds become the devil's playground.
"Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God." I decided to end with that scripture because in order to cultivate PEACE one must first surrender to God. Last time I checked, judging people isn't surrendering.
You believe in peace, inclusiveness, and reconciliation. Clearly you are unfit to be American. I can thump my bible much more loudly than you can, especially the bit about an eye for an eye and an assault weapon by my side.
You sound like a nut job. Go grab your glock or H & K and just start blasting people like that fool in Coloado that I hope rots in he–!
I accept everyone has different opinions. I don't expect everyone to agree with me and I am ok with that. I am for gay marriage because I really could care less. What anyone else does usually doesn't effect me. Obviously a man and a woman being together is "natural". Anyone who denies that is being ridiculous. Regardless of what is natural I don't think the majority has a right to stop anyone from getting married as long as they are old enough to make that decision. How will it hurt you if two gay men or two gay women get married? I'm not a religious person so that subject means nothing to me. For the ones who are religious, will you not get in to heaven if you do everything right and the rest don't? Come on, let people make their own decisions.
Anywho, this won't stop me from enjoying chik-fil-a! I love that place and my appetite is more important than most things!
I'm glad I don't live in Chicago and I will definitely not be eating at Hardy Restaurant. I'll spend my hard earned dollars at Chic-Fil-A.
And Steve McDonagh has it backwards. Mr. Cathay is on the right side.
Oh how wrong you are!
cool story bro - who cares about any of this? regardless of your political and social positions, all of your purchases will at some point go towards someone who disagrees with your stances on issues. It's unavoidable - so live your life as you will. If you are in the mood for Chick-Fil-A go for it. Starvin' for some Hardy's? Go ahead and Indulge.
Leave the squabbling to the politicians, PACs and "pundits."
You are the type of bigoted idiot I am proud to have as my fellow American. We bigots rule this land. This land is our land.
America – F yeah!
"Off course the writer here is the bigot and all those who think they have the right to rewrite the meaning of marriage. "
No kidding. Now that we've eliminated the opposite sex requirement for marriage, can we go ahead and eliminate the 2 person requirement for marriage also? See in orde to get gay marriage approved we had to call marriage a contract. I dunno about you but I knwo for a fact that business everyday contract with more than one party at a time. Therefore LETS HAVE POLIGAMY!!!! Look before you poo poo the idea, lets not forget the precedent that was set by ammending the definition of marriage for one group. You can't now turn to the next group wanting the same and say "no you can't."
Now for gays and gay rights supporters to oppose what I just proposed would be like black people and black civil rights supporters supporting segregation for Mexicans or Asians.
Marriage is nothing but a legal binding. Everyone and anyone should be able to do it. I'll continue to patronize Chic-Fil-A as I would Hearty Restaurant if I lived in Chicago.
Hear, hear!
Everyone and anyone IS able to get married. All individuals have the SAME RIGHTS when it comes to marriage. As a heterosexual male, I am not allowed to marry a male. Everyone can marry one member of the opposite sex. Marriage rights ARE EQUAL.
I'm against recognizing same-sex "marriage" as equivalent to actual marriage - but let's try to put some perspective on what the LGBT community would call my "hating" attitude. I had a best friend in college who was gay, and who died in 1992 of pneumonia as a complication of AIDS. My wife and I attended his celebration/wake, where we were two of three straight people there. I comforted his lover in my arms as he cried, and we all mourned together as humans will - no gay vs. straight there.
I would tell any one of those friends of my friend of my feelings toward same-sex marriage, and I would not be judgmental toward their lives in any way. They're not "bad" people for being gay, and I'm not "bad" for feeling same-sex marriage is wrong. I'm all for civil unions to grant the equivalent "marriage rights" to committed same-sex couples, but marriage is a defined thing, not a state of mind or a way to gratify adults' own life choices.
Cathy didn't seek to publicize his views; he was asked about them in an interview and he responded honestly. His gay employees are no more "marginalized" by the company's donations than a straight anti-same-sex-marriage employee is by working at Starbucks. I'm would think that the company orientation for new employees would lay out the corporate line right up front, so if there are gay and lesbian employees working there they must feel OK about it.
If same-sex marriage truly is the "right side of history," then all the believers need do is wait. They're certainly not going to win people over by calling them "haters," or bringing the power of government down on them.
Like your Mom told you: just ignore the mean people and they'll go away.
"Separate but equal" seems to be what you are advocating. I understand your points, however, "marriage" is , if you consider the Establishment clause, a civil matter. Mr. Cathy is advocating social policy based on his particular views, which are based on religion. Again, see the Establishment clause.
No that is not what he is advocating and don't try to compare the issues that homosexuals face with what people of color faced and still face until this day
Marriage is ....just like every other aspect of religion and their ridiculous hateful books, INVENTED BY MAN.
... and lawyers.
JamesS, unless you are advocating that 'marriage' be removed from all civil statutes in the United States and replaced with the term 'civil union', your stance is wrong, and bigoted, and evil. You have every right in the world to want some kind of religious ceremony limited in the way your religion has previously defined the process, but you have NO RIGHT to link those religious beliefs to tax breaks, tax-protected employment benefits, or any other government approved and funded processes. THAT is what all the fuss is about, not your religious beliefs.
Coupled together....I think James and Doug are on to something.
"Some of my best friends are black."
That's how I read your response, James.
It is wonderful that you attend funerals and mourn the death of your friends. It is wonderful you have gay friends that would stand there and listen as you tell them you disagree with their need/right to be married. It is wonderful you believe someday things may turn if gay-rights truly is the right side of history.
But as long as your posts was, your true voice came out loud and clear in this one sentence:
"But marriage is a defined thing, not a state of mind or a way to gratify adults' own life choices."
So for those friends of James that are gay and mourning the loss of loved ones, keep in mind he believes it is your own life choice that brought you there.
Can you imagine what Dr. King would have said to his mother if she had just told him to wait for the mean people to go away?
I can see that you have good intentions, but you are missing the mark. Maybe you're not a "hater," at least not in the sense that you want to hurt anyone for being gay, but you don't get to justify your feelings about gay marriage with a nice story about your gay friends. Sorry.
The last time I checked we lived in the USA. Dan Cathy can say whatever he wants, but as soon as he opens that door it's only fair for others to voice their opposition. Do I agree with Mr. Cathy?........ no I don't. My partner and I have been together 22 years. I love how right wing conservatives think they know everything about our relationship, how we treat each other, what "role" each of us plays in our "marriage", and what goes on in our bedroom. If we want to get married, that's our business. We can also choose not to eat at Chick Fil A, but truthfully since we moved to the south I've never eaten there. My partner has always said whenever he had lunch at Chick Fil A, he always ended up feeling nauseated. Marriage equality will come to the United States someday, and then who will conservatives persecute? I'm sure they have a list waiting of who will be next.
Probably Mormons if Mitt does not win
I'm sure just as nauseated as any normal person would be if seeing you and your partner engage in any act of romantic affection. Two gay people can not naturally have children, it was never intended on man to be with man and woman to be with woman, even you gay people know this deep down inside, face it and stop getting mad at people for believing in what is natural.
My wife and I got married knowing we were beyond childbearing age. Should we not display affection publicly? We love touching each other, a lot, publicly. Lots of people seem to get nauseated by that but we don't care.
With so many orphanages overflowing and so many straight people getting married just to get tangled up in a nasty divorce within a few years, maybe your god had to come up with a backup plan?
Since when are two men or two women trying to physically have children? Please re-read your post and understand where these crazy logical connections are made. Yes, two males cannot have children. THAT WE ALL KNOW. But the question is...what is the biology of LOVE? Can children not love one another, do siblings not love one another? The problem is that people automatically link homosexuality and sex. All homosexual couples do not copulate despite the premise shown on TV.
Well put!
Oh trust me, we'll find people to persecute. People with college degrees. People who drink white wine (who are obviously racists!). People who would even consider a veggie burger. We'll hunt them down, before they take away our guns and our freedoms, and before they raise our taxes and our IQs and our EQs.
This is a question of equal rights.
That is, does someone with a different opinion than the leader of a major city have the equal right to operate and run a business?
Sadly, some political leaders are willing to give up thousands of jobs, millions of tax dollars, and therefore less funding for social services, to actively discriminate against those that disagree with them.
If you are going to frame it as a legal issue, it is a First Amendment matter, not "equal rights"
Judgment-Fil-A
I assumed "Peter Puffers" & 'Carpet Muncher" all ate foot long weines ??? But what do I know ??
WOW, this has got to be one of the most bigoted, arrogant and ill informed articles I've seen on CNN (guys, your continuing to slide). For every "enlightened" statement Steve makes about someone being offended, he just offends many more people with real marriages and families, a number vastly larger that those who arbitrarily assumed that marriage was whatever one wanted to define it as being. Speculating about how Mr. Cathy's remarks offended "gay and lesbian employees and stockholders" reflect a lack of understanding of what was actually said. First, Mr. Cathy never "spoke against gays and lesbians". He simply said that be believes marriage is "between one man and one woman." That's the view of an overwhelming majority of people in America and around the world and it has been throughout history. Homosexuals have been the decisive ones here, by attempting to hijack something that isn't theirs and then calling those who hold to the beliefs held throughout history as the ones causing trouble.
Steve, you also need a new line about "being on the right side of history." That's a fabrication and ignores the need for being on the right side of truth. Call it something else for sodomy will never be equal to real marriage no matter how many times you try to pretend that it is. You need to get on the right side to truth, and morality.
I will go for breakfast, lunch & dinner tomorrow to show my support of Mr. Cathy. I do not hate LGBT people, just their agenda & their politics. Do what you must in the bedroom, but keep it to yourself. I will exercise my right to donate money to causes I believe in, while being careful to avoid patronizing any business that works against what I believe is right. That is my right as an American. I pray that LGBT people will see the error of their ways before they meet their Maker. I hope Chick-fil-a has their best day ever.
tell me Yay, whats my "agenda"?
JJ, didn't you mean, "Pray, tell me ...?"
Johnjon, I think Yay-chick was trying to tell you, praying will make it all better, you know as in "pray it away" Yeah like that works! Sorry for the judgemental people in th world. So Yah-chick, the only judgement will be in heaven at the pearly gates. No matter what you or your ignorant brethern believe, you do not have the right to sit in judgement of anyone!
Your agenda? Don't you know? I'm okay with "civil union", but you can't call a same-sex couple a "marriage". I'm okay with equal rights, but I'm not okay with your rights being more important than mine. I'm not okay with your anti-religious hate politics.
just because I'm gay don't automatically assume I'm "anti religious".............. far from it. I think you should just go back to the trailer park, open a beer and relax.
"I will go for breakfast, lunch & dinner tomorrow to show my support of Mr. Cathy"
Keep that up please.
That way you will be dead in tens years and the rest of us will have one less jesustard to deal with.
YaY to your comments and stance on the subject. I too fully support Chick fil A and Mr. Cathy!!!!!!!! More of us need to be like him. He was asked his view on the subject and answsered honestly and yet is persecuted because the gay community don't like it. He said nothing about hating anyone. It's takes a man and a woman to create another human being (given by God); not two men or two women and yet most want children but cannot have them without surrogates because it is not natural. Love the sinner, hate the sin. I am not judge and don't want to be but just like the gay community, Mr. Cathy and the rest of us have a right to our views.
You mean Gays AND Lesbians? I didn't know Lesbians weren't gay! (I learn something new every day.)
I'm really not a fan of Chick-Fil-a's food, but it looks like I'll be going tomorrow.
It's interesting that the same folks who went apesh*t over Starbucks supporting marriage equality are up in arms over my decision NOT to patronize Chick-Fil-A. I guess they can dish it out, but they can't take it!
It isn't the boycott that bothers me. Boycott all you want. What bothers me are the mayors of several cities proclaiming that if you don't agree with them, they won't let you do business in their towns.
Mr. Cathy might want to change his business model – most of the birds sold for meat are roosters (hens are kept for egg laying). In a sense, all of his customers are eating c*ck.
This is what happens when fry cooks start pontificating on social issues. Dan Cathy should stick to making juicier chicken sandwiches with a superior breaded crust. He, like any of us, has the right to donate to hate groups if he wishes, but it is nothing short of stupid to crow about it in the media while trying to run a business that depends on customer relations.
@Tex71 Hate group? So now advocating what you believe in thru a non-confrontational media source makes you a supporter of hate? Ever had a discussion with a friend advocating against a cause? Welcome to the human race Tex, you big ol' hatin' monster you.
No, but donating a few pennies from my chicken nuggets to a hate group that goes far beyond just opposing gay marriage might make you seem pretty hateful to me. So many people seem to think it's just about what he said – no, it's about where the donations are going.
Chick-Fil-A donates to a variety of anti-gay groups (not just those against gay marriage) including the Family Research Council which has printed not just opinions but slurs/lies against gays, Muslims, and Native Americans.
CNN and MOST of its readers belong on the trash heap!!!!!!!
Well then ... welcome to the heap.
Like you?
Love thy enemy.. Smile on your brother everybody get together, try to love one another right now.
The gentleman who wrote this article stated that "Dan Cathy will find himself on the wrong side of history." Someday HE will have to stand before God and explain why he thumbed his nose at Him, rejected His plan for humanity, rebelled and went his own way. I would rather be Dan Cathy on that day.
Except that he won't. Just because your mom and dad told you as a child what they'd been told as a child doesn't make it true. Human rights come from the real world. Bigotry comes from old stories. I"m a happily married straight man – I'm not trying to justify my personal situation – but comments like yours disgust me and cause me to fear for the future.
I agree! Well Stated Roger!
Thank you Roger!
Your lack of morals, and most of the democratic parties lack of morals makes me fear for our future.
"Your lack of morals, and most of the democratic parties lack of morals makes me fear for our future"
Yet another happily married straight atheist here. Your religion is completely and totally devoid of any moral principles whatsoever.
The fact that so many of our modern nation's inhabitants take their life instructions from a 2000 year old fantasy fiction story is what makes me fear for our future.
I guess that means you have never had premarital sex, extra martial sex or sex with another partner after a divorce?
You have never thought about sex with a married man, masturbated thinking of another person and of course you leave your home then ever your on your period because menstruating woman are "unclean" in the eye of the old testament god?
Your a hypocrite and your gonna be receiving the same judgment as the gay men in woman in the line with you. Fortunately for you (and every one else) we worship a God of infinite love who will forgive us if we but ask him
"Someday HE will have to stand before God " Liar. That will never happen. There's no god.
Prove it.
So, If I say I don't agree with Gay Marriage, and have a religious obligation to promote traditional family values, will I be boycotted by the Gay and Lesbian community too?
Because that would be just great!
No, but if you donate millions of dollars a year to organizations who support electro-shock "therapy" to turn people heterosexual, or hate groups like the Family Research Council, whose leader supports the death penalty for being gay, like Chick-Fil-A has, then yes, you will probably be protested.
"will I be boycotted by the Gay and Lesbian community too?" Heck no, we'll still be stopping by on Saturday night, don't you worry about THAT. Yee-haw! Bring out the buttless chaps!
Jjerry Sandusky was a good christian. He was actively involved in his church.
And according to you christards, all he has to do is repent and accept jeebus and he will be in heaven right along side you.
Remember, you clowns are the ones who LOVE Jerry Sandusky.
Love the sinner, hate the sin.
If anyone claims to be a Christian, they should remember what Our Lord told us: judge not least you be judged. Funny how most people claiming to be Christian are known for the lack of compassion for others.
Guess you never heard of Right and Wrong????? Sodum and Gomorah????
Guess you never heard that was a natural disaster, which was conclusively explained? Truth is, I don't think G*d actually cares if you're gay or not, especially if he made everyone (including our LGBT family) in his image. I think he cares if you're good to others, charitable toward the poor, conscious of the impact of your actions on others. We have a responsibility toward those around us, and if we fulfill that responsibility, being gay, straight, bi or asexual doesn't really have an impact.
I guess you've never engaged in oral s e x?
so does having an opinion equal judgement?
You need to take a better look at that verse and put the whole thing in context. It isn't a command not to point out sins.
You sound awfully confident in the plank-free nature of your own eyes, there, buddy.
Anyone want to bet $100 that August 1 will be a record breaking day in sales for Chik-Fil-A? Other fast food joints like McD's and Burger King only wish the bigot LBGT community would boycott them!
I've seen signs at both daring the community to boycott them.
Sure, and Sept 1 will probably be their lowest sales in five years. Nobody wants to argue over a meal, or eat where bigots cook the food. Suppose they decide you are gay and spit in your chicken? Easier just to go next door where nobody's angry or crazy.
When I go to a restaurant to have a meal, I really don't care who you have s*x with, in fact, I'd rather not even think about that while eating. Why does it matter???????????/
Self-righteousness has nothing to do with it, except perhaps on Mr. McDonagh's side of this equation. Believing in and doing one's best to obey God's Word is NOT self-righteousness. Thumbing your nose in God's face and telling Him that YOU know best.......THAT is self-righteousness!
Question for you: where exactly does one face when one thumbs their nose in God's face? Do you know the precise direction? And how does one recognize God's face? Do you know whether God has a face?
Your God ordered you to love gay people as much as you love yourself and your family.
Well said. That thought seems to escape so many Christians. I cannot fathom my Jesus supporting or tolerating hate in any form. I'm a Christian who believes in serving my Lord by showing love, and I'll continue to do so always.
I love my family and my children enough to tell them what is right and wrong.
Self-Righteousness is when YOU believe that YOU can decide who is a sinner and who isn't! So, That would clearly be YOU BILL, in this case!
"Thumbing your nose in God's face" I don't hate my fellow man, or go out of my way to step on his face, even if he's being gay or something. Hiring people to try to pass laws making life tougher for gay people is more the kind of thing I'm told the Devil likes to do, not the Savior. I'm going to have to say that if God can't live up to my high standards, I'll fire Him and find a better god, and so in that case he can kiss my hugh jass after I've thumbed my nose at Him. Or perhaps it's His followers who are being dicks about this, and He'd agree with me?
Does gay chicken taste as good as straight chicken?
Only Bi-Chicken really knows the answer to that one, I'm afraid.
lol
baaa ha ha ha ha
hahahaha! Snort!
Oh, the bravery. Given the Muslim intolerance for gay folks, you should take your protest down the local mosque . Not so brave now, are we ???
I have it from a Muslim woman friend that Muslims have a problem with gay men, but not lesbians. "You two just marry same husband...no problem." Tidy solution.
Oh! Well that just makes it all better! And we should applaud Dan Cathy if he "takes responsibility for words" like: "Yoo! Hoo! Everbody!!! Love to burn Jews here at ol' Chick-Fil-A! Don't like it? Don't eat here! Ha! Ha!" What kind of garbage is this? It takes guts to be responsible for your words"? Who comes up with this crap? Stop making excuses for people who are trying to justify their hatred, small mindedness and ignorance with religion. There are no convictions here. Just hate. Maybe YOU should take "responsibility" and stop making excuses for losers like Cathy. He, and his Company, have no place in this Country.
YOUR place in this country is what I would question.
OUR COUNTRY, you moron!!!!! The door to Iran is always open for you to leave through!!!!!
Now that's tolerance lol
Pots and Kettles my friend.
They've been a religious company for years, and I don't have a problem with it. What I have a problem with is that they are hiring lobbyists to pressure lawmakers on social issues. That's their privilege, but it's a lot nastier than I'm comfortable with and so I'm taking my business elsewhere now.
I have no problem with gay marriage whatsoever. I'm like the old Victorian lady who said "I don't care what anyone does as long as they don't scare the horses."
BTW chlihead Chick Filet is the best fast food there is and you’re lying about their product. They have lines around the restaurant to be served. It is very popular with families with kids because it is better than most of the junk at McD's and BK. They serve the best chicken without doubt.
Yep, their chicken nuggets were pretty good and they had a great chicken sandwich, but my stomach doesn't run my life. Also KFC has a new nugget exactly like theirs, which may be why Cathy is whining for support in the first place.
Jesus never stood for bigotry, and he teached us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Personally, I don't understand how someone who calls himself a "Christian" can be so prejudiced and hateful toward different people.
We should look inside ourselves and see that God is inside of us, and we should work toward freeing ourselves of sin. We can accomplish this by looking inside of us, recognizing our faults, and being good toward other humans.
If we don't wake up spiritually, we will perpetuate chaos and will never have a eternal life.
Stop trying to guilt Christians into believing that God believes in gay marriage. God doesn't accept beastiality, incest, or "man lying with another man".
My god does. I'm sorry your god is a jerk.
I love you! Couldn't agree more! I don't know what God these "Christians" are referring to, but ever since I was a child I was told God made everyone exactly as he wanted them to be. I will continue to stand by that belief no matter what. I don't believe God makes mistakes – homosexual or not God made every individual exactly as he wanted them to be.
Sorry, but your god doesn't exist...like allah
He still believes in you and loves you, just doesn't want you to be g@y.
Hey JAB, would you like to come into the 21st century...along with the new testament. Looks like someone needs to look in the Bible under the New Testament in the book of James. Best quotes for Jesus loves! No where and I mean no where in the Bible does it say that "Gay is evil" – that is a man made term and a man made intrepretted belief. Along with women being lesser than men, slavery is good and so on!
Last I heard, Jesus was down here asking men to forgive. They killed Him and said "NO."
Believing in God, trying to live the life He wants us to, and saying so in public is NOT bigotry. Neither is it being "prejudiced and hateful against other people." It is simply having Godly principles and standing up for them. Neither Mr. Cathy nor anyone else is denying you fair, courteous service if you decide you want a chicken sandwich. No one is trying to bully you into changing your position. He simply stated what he believes in, and you and your kind vilify him for it. Bigotry, prejudice, and hatred are when the mayors of Chicago and Boston and other cities refuse to issue licenses for a legitimate business to operate in "their" cities. Bigotry, prejudice, and hatred are when you and yours try to cram YOUR beliefs down our throats. Bigotry, prejudice, and hatred are when you come on the internet, or gather on the street corner, or a Chick-fil-A parking lot with your hateful signs, and vile language and hand gestures and call Mr. Cathy nasty, perverted names. Bigotry, prejudice, and hatred is when you try to drive customers away using profane language, scare tactics, and intimidation.
That's the pot calling the kettle black. Both sides cram their beliefs and wants down each other’s throats. The only problem is one side uses some mystical force to justify it. I'm gay, don't care if you think it is wrong if I want to marry my partner, and you shouldn't care either, does not affect your life. And I really could care less if you are in a synagogue, a church or a mosque. I have never and would never push my beliefs and thoughts down anyone's throat so please keep yours to yourself as well. Beliefs belong in the home and with those that ask to know what your beliefs are.
Bill, you are spot on and I couldn't agree more with your stance.
Amen Bill...very well said!
Bill, good for you that you have such strong convictions and beliefs. But, and here comes the big but, this is America and hiding behind religion as a way to justify why you disagree with gays is a fallacy. You can't use religion as justification when the whole reason why people came to America to begin with was to ESCAPE religious persecution. That does not give the right for a religion to persecute gays by calling them sinners and saying they don't deserve equal rights. I agree you have the right to believe in your religion, but as someone who is not religious, I also have the right to not listen to you babble on judeo-christian beliefs that can not be proved. There is NO proof that your "God" exists. To say the bible is proof would be the same as saying ancient Greek text that talks of the Greek Gods or the Roman Gods is proof they existed.
What is true though, is that you are entitled to your beliefs as long as they don't interfere with the rights and the abilities of other tax paying Americans to lead a happy life that includes all of the same liberties and rights that you have. But if you use religion to shape the laws of the land, then you are no better than the countries like Iran, Israel, etc that are ruled purely by religion.
Remember the golden rule.. treat others as you have them do unto you. If you feel the need to pass judgment on gays, be prepared to have judgment passed on by gays upon you.
You have not read the Bible, and do not know of Jesus's teaching. "Turn away from your evil ways" does mean something!!!!!!
Jesus also told people to Go and Sin NO more
Jesus didn't just preach about all love and roses.
Luke 14
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Matthew 10
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law —
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
–Jesus
If all Jesus taught was about love, than why did he say this?
Matthew 10
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father,a daughter against her mother,a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law —
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Keep sex out of my food. Move on!
I thought Chick-Fil-A was privately held?
this would imply there are no stockholders of any sexual orientation
Thanks for your thoughtful column, and for your meaningful yet fun event on 8/1 in response to Chik-fil-A's bigotry. Your menu looks delicious; I wish that I didn't live 800 miles away from Chicago!
American nutritionists are creamin' their jeans right now. Go nutritionists!
Just don't order the special gay sauce.
lmbooo
Meh, I will still eat at chick-fil-a because they have good food. Their political and social meanings mean nil to me. If they mean something to you, then they mean something to you. I just want a place with good chicken.
That's the way I see it too, my friend. If Mr. Cathy was homosexual but still made a great chicken sandwich, I'd drive right up.
Enjoy your hate nuggets. Look out for the 'special sauce.'
This is a great article and if I was in Chicago I would buy a chick-gay sandwich from you. It's so important as consumers to remember we CAN make a difference on who we spend our money with. Chickee's stance is one reason I don't eat at their resturants, buy MOBILE gas or shop at Wal Mart. All of these companies support discrimination in their HR policies.
Excellent response. When I buy something, I am not only supporting the business but their policies as well. No Walmart for me, either. And I do love me a delicious Frappuccino from my gay-friendly Starbucks. I can shop at Target again, too!
Dan has a right to say he supports "Traditional" marriage and does not support non-traditional marriage (eg. same gender marriage). And any religion has the right to conduct, or not conduct, same gender marriage. And the people have a right to object to such opinions and actions, via comments, protests, and by not shopping at such establishments.
Government can not prevent a business from opening a store because the owner exercised his or her right to free speech (via words or money).
Likewise Government, or the majority of people via voting, does not have a right to create laws that deny legal marriage to any adult of sound mind who wants to get marriage.
This all goes back to separation of church and state. The state shall not regulate religion via any law that requires or hinders a religion from conducting or not conducting marriage, and religion shall not, via law, place restrictions on what kind of legal civil marriage the state shall conduct. State marriage and religious marriage must remain separate or America will turn into a kind or government and society somewhat like some Islamic countries, where the religious leaders hold higher power than the elected politicians.
I won't be going to Chick-Fil-A anytime soon. Why? Because their menu is extremely limited. Their chicken sandwich, chicken strips, chicken nuggets are pretty much the same batter fried chicken, but in different sizes. Other joints at least have some variety in them.
I won't be going to Chik-fil-A anytime soon. Why? Because I haven't been since 1984, and then it was only because I was working at the mall. So why would I bother now?
So, leaving Christianity out of this (full disclosure – I'm a Christian) let's just look at this whole LGBT thing from a different perspective. Some guy named Charles Darwin came up with the Theory of Natural Selection that bolstered the Theory of Evolution (full disclosure – I have a degree in Science and believe in forms of evolution – just not monkeys to man).
Keeping those theories in mind, it takes a male and a female to procreate (for this discussion I'm not getting into the whole sequential hermaphroditism discussion). So, in humans, evolution has determined that a normal, dominant set of chromosomes in a male and female must mix via fertilization to procreate. Natural selection doesn't allow humans of the same sex to procreate. So, seeing as how the LGBT population says it's in their genes to be the way they are, clearly we are talking about recessive or mutated genes, as homosexuals can't reproduce without someone of the opposite sex. So, does reproduction involving a homosexual occur due to them ignoring their genetic make-up? If it's in your genes and the way you are, then how can you possibly have sex with the opposite sex? That must be a huge psychological torment.
I'm confused. If I'm blond because my genetic make-up says I'm to be blond, I can change that cosmetically but other things that are genetic can't be changed so easily. Eye color for instance. If someone is gay due to a genetic condition, then to overcome that and have sex with the opposite sex, you have to be strong willed and decide to overcome your genetic make-up. Oh, wait, that means you can make up your mind to act gay or not. That makes it psychological – not physiological. I can't make up my mind to overcome my eye color, right?
So, is being gay now mental? Doesn't matter in this discussion. What matters is, the Theory of Natural Selection says that two gays can't reproduce on their own so in "theory" (just like evolution and natural selection) the LGBT community should disappear in a generation and heterosexuals can enjoy their chicken sandwiches in peace.
I have no major issue with Gays & Lesbians – however, City, State, and Federal Government cannot stop a business from not serving to these groups. It is their right to associate or not (and vice versa). In my opinion, Man is built biologically to serve Women and Women to serve Man. Thankfully, there is a lower propensity of Gays & Lesbians to procreate – and in order to do so, they need external assistance their partners cannot provide.