Chick-Fila

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  • LastSixtySix
    LastSixtySix Posts: 352 Member
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    I find it ironic all of this publicity has increased Chick-Fila's sales allowing them to send even more money to anti-gay charities if they chose.

    Exactly!!
    I don't find it ironic. I find it to be a sad commentary on our society that millions will spend 2+ hours in line to support a company that promotes hate but veteran's groups, homeless shelters, battered women shelters, food banks, etc are woefully lacking in support, volunteers, and supplies. If those people truly want to promote "Christian values" then they will spend at least that much time and effort to help someone who will benefit from that help.


    (Yea, yea, yea I know some of those people do support real causes. I also know that most don't because if even half of them did the world would be much better off.)

    Agreed, in part. It takes time, a looooonnnnggg time to redefine core societal norms. Incidents and discussions from such incidents (in a free country like ours anyway) get the hard and rocky soil ready for planting the new seeds. We are all like farmers with simple hoes and axes. It takes hard work to get rid of what was. All of us only have a limited amount of time and resources. I would say that most parents have a negative amount of both! So, I won't be too harsh on the lack of speed with which entrenched ideas change. The consolation is that norms change much faster than evolutionary ones!

    For the most part, we all do the best we can with what we have...and keep talking!

    -Debra
  • KimmieBrie
    KimmieBrie Posts: 825 Member
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    I knew I was going to find a Chic Fil A discussion here lol.

    I'm quite sick of hearing about it... because I don't think a private business owner expressing their personal views is quite this news worthy. He doesn't support something that many others do not support. He has the right to voice that opinion as I have the right to say otherwise - as the Mayor of Boston also has the right to say otherwise and he also stated he can not stop Chic Fil A from expanding in Boston, but he's certainly entitled to his opinion as are we all.

    There are worse causes and situations to boycott - how about companies using child labor for pennies on the dollar?
    How about sweatshops with unsanitary conditions? How about our US companies shipping all our jobs overseas because of pure greed? You know... things that actually affect the job market and working conditions - not an "opinion".

    I'm just surprised this is the battle the nation has chosen to "pick" - a battle over a mans personal beliefs. Your boycotting or purchasing a chicken sandwich is NOT going to change his mind. What wasted energy.
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,904 Member
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    I knew I was going to find a Chic Fil A discussion here lol.

    I'm quite sick of hearing about it... because I don't think a private business owner expressing their personal views is quite this news worthy. He doesn't support something that many others do not support. He has the right to voice that opinion as I have the right to say otherwise - as the Mayor of Boston also has the right to say otherwise and he also stated he can not stop Chic Fil A from expanding in Boston, but he's certainly entitled to his opinion as are we all.

    There are worse causes and situations to boycott - how about companies using child labor for pennies on the dollar?
    How about sweatshops with unsanitary conditions? How about our US companies shipping all our jobs overseas because of pure greed? You know... things that actually affect the job market and working conditions - not an "opinion".

    I'm just surprised this is the battle the nation has chosen to "pick" - a battle over a mans personal beliefs. Your boycotting or purchasing a chicken sandwich is NOT going to change his mind. What wasted energy.

    I'm actually kind of surprised that people (on whichever side of the debate) think that him voicing his opinions was the problem. I'm also surprised when people imply that "picking" battles is a zero sum game. And I don't really see how boycotting, which is by definition an inaction, could possibly be considered a waste of energy. Time and energy are involved in protesting, sure. Boycotting just involves *not* doing something.

    And the popularity of his beliefs shouldn't really be relevant to his right to express them.

    As it happens, I'm just as frustrated with government officials being stupid enough to try and use the government to suppress CFA because of his beliefs as I am for Cathy using his company to fund causes that I object to. And that guy who got fired for accosting someone in the CFA drive through? What a moron. It's not like she could do anything. She's just working a job. Customer service jobs suck enough without having to deal with contrived confrontation. It's a distasteful form of protest, imo.
  • atomiclauren
    atomiclauren Posts: 689 Member
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    Your boycotting or purchasing a chicken sandwich is NOT going to change his mind. What wasted energy.
    I'm actually kind of surprised that people (on whichever side of the debate) think that him voicing his opinions was the problem. I'm also surprised when people imply that "picking" battles is a zero sum game. And I don't really see how boycotting, which is by definition an inaction, could possibly be considered a waste of energy. Time and energy are involved in protesting, sure. Boycotting just involves *not* doing something.

    Exactly, to the directly above.

    No one is trying to change HIS mind (a stubborn, presumptuous, old man who not only is rude to the LGBT+ community but also indirectly to anyone not married to their first husband/wife or not religious? Puh-lease! :smile: ), just spread information and perhaps with that information a consumer might change his/her mind about patronizing CFA.

    If someone is going to flap his/her jaws to the public about how he/she thinks I shouldn't have the same civil rights as John and Jane Doe, then heck yeah I'm going to spend my money elsewhere and disseminate information about it.

    If YOU (as in anyone) doesn't care, then so be it. Also, maybe give folks a little more credit - more people than you think might research companies and products on all sorts of issues..
  • treetop57
    treetop57 Posts: 1,578 Member
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    For you, KimmieBrie, marriage equality may not be worth spending any energy on, but it impacts me and my family directly. I refuse to shut up just because you find speaking up for equal rights unimportant.
  • macpatti
    macpatti Posts: 4,280 Member
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    There are worse causes and situations to boycott

    In your opinion.
  • adrian_indy
    adrian_indy Posts: 1,444 Member
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    I had a friend make the "more important things going on" argument to me the other day. To me, liberties and freedom, no matter how small, are the most important thing. Call me and idealist, but if I had to choose living in nation that had true equality for all but a **** economy or a great economy with even one minority being opressed....give me the first option. If we can't all stay out of eachothers personal lives and at least respect a persons private life....I say the nation isn't worth saving.
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
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    I had a friend make the "more important things going on" argument to me the other day. To me, liberties and freedom, no matter how small, are the most important thing. Call me and idealist, but if I had to choose living in nation that had true equality for all but a **** economy or a great economy with even one minority being opressed....give me the first option. If we can't all stay out of eachothers personal lives and at least respect a persons private life....I say the nation isn't worth saving.

    :drinker:
  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,793 Member
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    I don't know how homosexuals or their supporters that this isn't bigotry when anti-gay marry people are protesting gay marriage based on religion but it's legal for two satan worshipers to get married.

    Not gay satan worshippers !!
  • KimmieBrie
    KimmieBrie Posts: 825 Member
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    For you, KimmieBrie, marriage equality may not be worth spending any energy on, but it impacts me and my family directly. I refuse to shut up just because you find speaking up for equal rights unimportant.

    Speaking up for what you believe in is everyone's right including those with an opinion different to your own.

    Until/Unless Chic Fil A starts to discriminate in their business practices - meaning not being an equal opportunity employer - than I don't have an opinion regarding their business. I am not against gay rights, quite the contrary. My late brother was gay and legally married. As much as I believe in gay rights, I also believe others are free to practice and profess their own family values and if they are different than my own, so be it. I do not believe his personal views impact myself or my family - just like my neighbors view doesn't impact myself or my family unless they try to impose it upon me.

    Freedom of speech and freedom of religion mean we all have the right to believe and practice those beliefs on a personal level. Unless those beliefs spill over into their business practices, I don't see the issue.

    So I do not agree with his views on gay rights. marriage, etc however he has a right to his opinion and freedom of speech and religion and those are things I will speak up for. Equal rights means exactly that. I and you have the right to your opinion, religious practices, family values, and so does he.
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,904 Member
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    Speaking up for what you believe in is everyone's right including those with an opinion different to your own.

    Boycotting is a form protest. It's a form of free speech. I would think you would therefore not have a problem with someone boycotting anything. Unless you feel like it does impact you because it's a waste of energy due to all the other more important things you think people should be concerned with.
    I do not believe his personal views impact myself or my family - just like my neighbors view doesn't impact myself or my family unless they try to impose it upon me.

    I guess we can quibble about how one defines "impact" here. He clearly doesn't just have views. He's willing to not only share them, but also put his company's money where his mouth is. If you think speech can't have a substantive impact by itself, then we just disagree.

    People in positions of power, whether it be politician or businessman can have an impact. Let's look at the President. When he came out in favor of same-sex marriage, approval ratings for SSM saw a marked increase. While correlation doesn't equal causation, I'm willing to err on the side of the fallacy here.
    Freedom of speech and freedom of religion mean we all have the right to believe and practice those beliefs on a personal level. Unless those beliefs spill over into their business practices, I don't see the issue.

    So I do not agree with his views on gay rights. marriage, etc however he has a right to his opinion and freedom of speech and religion and those are things I will speak up for. Equal rights means exactly that. I and you have the right to your opinion, religious practices, family values, and so does he.

    And yet you imply that disagreement is not worthy of time and energy, or perhaps you believe that Free Speech means that no one should call anyone else out on what they've said?

    So what are you actually trying to address overall? First, it seemed like you didn't think people *should* respond to his expression of Free Speech with their own (via boycott) because it wasn't important enough, and now you're suggesting that even though people shouldn't they still have the right to do so? That strikes me as being a little disingenuous.
  • lour441
    lour441 Posts: 543 Member
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    Freedom of speech is great. Cathy has a right to his express his opinions on same sex marriage knowing that he won't get arrested for his viewpoints. He also has the right to use his money to support his viewpoints without the risk of getting arrested by the government. Something people seem to forget is that even though you are protected from your government with freedom of speech there are consequences.

    Some of the consequences of Cathy expressing his opinions and backing them up with his money include the following....
    People that don't agree with Cathy can boycott his business without risking arrest. People can protest peacefully without being worried about being arrested. CFOs that I assume make a great salary can even verbally berate a minimum (or close to minimum) wage worker for working at CFA without being worried about arrest. But again... there are consequences...

    Just goes to show you there are jacka$$'s on both sides of the debate.
  • treetop57
    treetop57 Posts: 1,578 Member
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    I have no idea what point you are trying to make, KimmieBrie. Of course, Cathy has a right to express his opinion. So do you. So do I, including expressing my opinion that Cathy is wrong and my choice not to spend one red cent in his establishments.
  • Lozze
    Lozze Posts: 1,917 Member
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    As much as I believe in gay rights, I also believe others are free to practice and profess their own family values and if they are different than my own, so be it. I do not believe his personal views impact myself or my family - just like my neighbors view doesn't impact myself or my family unless they try to impose it upon me.

    The thing is he's not just stating his opinion. He is giving money to originations that are stopping others from practicing their own family values. If it was just him 'I don't agree with your family' but 'i mask against your family I will fight to deny you rights that are enjoyed by my family'
  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,793 Member
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    As much as I believe in gay rights, I also believe others are free to practice and profess their own family values and if they are different than my own, so be it. I do not believe his personal views impact myself or my family - just like my neighbors view doesn't impact myself or my family unless they try to impose it upon me.

    The thing is he's not just stating his opinion. He is giving money to originations that are stopping others from practicing their own family values. If it was just him 'I don't agree with your family' but 'i mask against your family I will fight to deny you rights that are enjoyed by my family'

    It's the right of any individual to express their beliefes and support those organizations that they feel represent their own beliefs.

    It is your right to refuse to patronize those organizations. Don't eat at Chick-Fila.
  • KBrenOH
    KBrenOH Posts: 704 Member
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    Why are people freaking out about Chick-fila? There is a restaurant in South Carolina who's owner is openly racist! Anyone heard of Maurice's BBQ? So, it's ok to be hateful towards African Americans but not ok to hate on homosexuals because that restaurant is fully operational. Sometimes, I think this people are crazy. Btw, I don't condone either.


    No of course it's not ok that he's openly racist and provided that I'm ever in SC, I'll make sure to never eat there because I won't give money to people who are supportive in in any kind of hate group if I can absolutely help it.

    As far as Chick-Fil-a goes; they give millions of dollars to such groups that promote all kinds of hate. While I respect their freedom of speech and so.. I also respect my freedom to again.. not give dollars to that kind of organization.
  • Lozze
    Lozze Posts: 1,917 Member
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    It's the right of any individual to express their beliefes and support those organizations that they feel represent their own beliefs.

    It is your right to refuse to patronize those organizations. Don't eat at Chick-Fila.

    Well I'm Australian so no chance of me eating ther
  • KimmyEB
    KimmyEB Posts: 1,208 Member
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    Until/Unless Chic Fil A starts to discriminate in their business practices - meaning not being an equal opportunity employer - than I don't have an opinion regarding their business.

    They've been sued by former employees over their choice of religion. One instance in particular stands out, from a Muslim employee who refused to say a Christian prayer during working hours. There's been others, but I don't think they gained the publicity that one did.

    http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0723/080.html

    I truly have no idea how I was hired by that company. Or how I lasted there a year. :laugh: I conveniently always went to the bathroom whenever "prayer circle" started, was never asked what religion I am, but I do recall during my interview, I was asked what kind of place I live in (apartment, house, trailer, etc.), who I live with, if I had any children, if I had plans on getting married, etc.
  • treetop57
    treetop57 Posts: 1,578 Member
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    Employment based on marital status is illegal in California. I'm guessing Chick-Fil-A stores here could get themselves in hot oil asking those sorts of questions.
  • treetop57
    treetop57 Posts: 1,578 Member
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    Apparently discrimination based on marital status is illegal in Florida as well.
    E. Marital Status Discrimination

    Unlike federal anti-discrimination laws, the [Florida Civil Rights Act] provides protection from discrimination based upon marital status. The Florida Supreme Court has held that martial status "means the state of being married, single, divorced, widowed or separated, and does not include the specific identity or actions of an individual's spouse." Donato v. American Tel. & Tel. Co., 767 So. 2d 1146, 1155 (Fla. 2000).

    http://corporate.findlaw.com/litigation-disputes/the-florida-civil-rights-act.html

    Of course, I don't know whether this law was in effect when you interviewed at Chick-Fil-A nor whether the experience you are talking about was in Florida.