The Christian persecution argument has shown up on my news feed, in regards to CFA.

Time to nuke'em.

8/1/2012 11:03:22 AM

Help, the 80% is being persecuted by the 20%. It's so disingenuous and out of touch. For the first time they can remember there is a vocal minority questioning their religion in a very public way and they don't like it. They've been told you don't question or criticize religion. That day is long past, it's an idea like any other and it warrants scrutiny and discussion.

8/1/2012 11:13:49 AM

comming in late but here are some thoughts for Bullet in response to his comments on page 1

Quote :

"i don't think so, but it's proven that they give money and support to anti-gay organizations"

FYI, they also give money to causes you might support like children's camps and educational programs.
http://winshape.com/

According to EqualityMatters, only 1/5 of the $7 *million* that Chick-fila donates would have went to what they call "anti-gay" causes. Of course they are calling orgs like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. If you don't count those, its even a smaller fraction.
http://equalitymatters.org/factcheck/201111010001

Quote :

"Why do some of yall have such a problem with people standing-up for what they believe in and not giving their money to causes they think are morally wrong?"

Because some people want to live in a pluralistic society with a democratic government?

Is it immoral for gays to "marry"? I don't think so. Cathy does. That doesn't bother me, because I don't mind other people holding different views on these sorts of things. If I only interacted with people who agreed with me on everything, then I wouldn't interact w/anyone.

Now, there is the political question of whether the state should recognize gay marriage. But those sorts of questions are best settled by the democratic process. There is really no such thing as "voting with your dollars" in this context. Boycotting chick-fila wont directly impact the state's decision on how to treat gay marriage. It just tells everyone you don't like interacting with people that disagree with you. Not something I would aspire to be.

8/1/2012 12:31:57 PM

according to coworkers Chick-fil-a in New Bern NC is swamped at lunch with local news and tons of people. They could not even eat there.

8/1/2012 12:56:04 PM

Quote :

"Because some people want to live in a pluralistic society with a democratic government?"

So me not wanting to give my money to someone who gives it to intolerant causes is undemocratic?

Quote :

"Boycotting chick-fila wont directly impact the state's decision on how to treat gay marriage."

but it may indirectly, since they give money to organizations that use the money to impact the state's decisions.

Quote :

"It just tells everyone you don't like interacting with people that disagree with you. Not something I would aspire to be."

jesus christ, no it doesn't. i don't think there's anything wrong with me not wanting to interact with racist, bigots, assholes, etc. and that's what this is about. it's not that we have a simple disagreement. it's that i don't agree with the ceo's discrimination of gays.

some of you think it's some sort of requirement that i'm tolerant of intolerant people, in this case. i'm not tolerant of assholes. if you're an intolerant asshole to me or others for no reason, i'm not going to be nice to you.

[Edited on August 1, 2012 at 1:19 PM. Reason : ]

8/1/2012 1:01:45 PM

Quote :

"So me not wanting to give my money to someone who gives it to intolerant causes is undemocratic?"

No, I think it means you don't really appreciate our pluralistic society.

Quote :

"jesus christ, no it doesn't. i don't think there's anything wrong with me not wanting to interact with racist, bigots, assholes, etc. and that's what this is about. it's not that we have a simple disagreement. it's that i don't agree with the ceo's discrimination of gays."

Actually, you have no clue if Cathy is a racist/asshole/etc, since you have never met the man. You only know he doesn't support gay marriage. So what this is actually about, is you saying you will not do business with anyone if you find out they don't share one particular political belief of yours.

I'm just glad everyone doesn't feel the same way. A world where Democrats only traded with Democrats or Republicans only traded with Republicans? It would just be crazy. Thankfully, most people can work and live with people, even if they don't share the same political or moral views.

[Edited on August 1, 2012 at 1:43 PM. Reason : ``]

[Edited on August 1, 2012 at 1:43 PM. Reason : ``]

8/1/2012 1:22:23 PM

Quote :

"No, I think it means you don't really appreciate a pluralistic society. "

So, if i have a choice between several chicken places, and one gives money to organizations that discrminate against gays, i have to buy my chicken from them to show my appreciation for a pluraslistic society? i think that is completely ridiculous. i'm going to buy my chicken somewhere else and appreciate this pluralistic society that gives me lots of options of where i can buy my chicken.

Quote :

"Actually, you have no clue if Cathy is a racist/asshole/etc, since you have never met the man. You only know he doesn't support gay marriage. So what this is actually about, is you saying you will not do business with anyone if you find out they don't share one particular political belief of yours. "

You missed the point again. The main issue is that he gives his chicken-selling profits to organizations that lobby to legislate discrimination.

8/1/2012 1:36:38 PM

Quote :

"according to coworkers Chick-fil-a in New Bern NC is swamped at lunch with local news and tons of people. They could not even eat there."

Yeah, from everything I've read... sure would suck to be a Chick Fil A employee today. Hope they all get time and a half for today, I would have been tempted to call in "sick" myself.

8/1/2012 1:38:08 PM

Quote :

"So what this is actually about, is you saying you will not do business with anyone if you find out they don't share one particular political belief of yours. "

There was a time when people who felt blacks and white should not be able to marry just had different "political beliefs". History has labeled that belief just as it will this issue at some point.

8/1/2012 1:45:53 PM

Quote :

"You missed the point again. The main issue is that he gives his chicken-selling profits to organizations that lobby to legislate discrimination."

I don't think that is really the main point because boycotting really doesn't stop that.

How much money do you think we are talking about here?

In 2009, Chick-fila donated $7 million to charity TOTAL. But Chick Fila makes $4 BILLION per year in revenue. So for every dollar you don't spend at Chick-Fila, you are taking 1/6th of a penny out of their donations. Even if that all went to anti-gay groups, that wouldn't make a difference. But in reality 4/5ths of their donations go to helping kids and other worthy causes.

Even if protesters managed to shut Chick-fila down and all $1.7 million they currently donate to "anti-gay groups" (like the that evil Fellowship for Christian Athletes) disappeared, that is a drop in the bucket. ACTUAL hate groups, raise millions more than that and would be totally unaffected. For example, the American Family Association is listed by the Southern Povertly Law Center as an anti-gay hate group and they operate on a budget of $14 million per year without any help from Chick-fila.

You're trying to hit a fly with a shot gun. If your goal was to fight anti-gay groups politically, then your dollar would go MUCH MUCH further if you just donated to a candidate that supports your views (IOW if you worked through the democratic process).

That's why the main point CAN'T be about seeing your money go to causes you support. The main point is that, like I said, you refuse to do business with people that disagree with you politically. :/ It is your right, I am just glad most people are not so intolerant of other people's views.

8/1/2012 1:58:50 PM

^^ And Bullets position is that it was perfectly fine for people to refuse to eat at restaurants whose owners thought blacks should be allowed to marry whites.

[Edited on August 1, 2012 at 1:59 PM. Reason : ^]

8/1/2012 1:59:16 PM

^that's right. this is america, we're free to do what we want if it doesn't hurt other people. if somebody doesn't want to give their money to a restraunt that supports gay or interacial marriage, that their choice and their right.

i really don't understand ^your and ^^your point of view and others. are you saying i should have to spend my money at chic-fil-a? are you saying i don't have the freedom to get my chicken from where i want to spend my money? it just seems anti-american to me. it feels like you're trying to force me to eat at chic-fil-a

Quote :

"I don't think that is really the main point because boycotting really doesn't stop that. "

it stops my money from going there

[Edited on August 1, 2012 at 2:08 PM. Reason : ]

8/1/2012 2:05:38 PM

Quote :

"There was a time when people who felt blacks and white should not be able to marry just had different "political beliefs". History has labeled that belief just as it will this issue at some point."

Well, uh, those were political beliefs. I mean, what else would you call a belief regarding how the government regulates marriages?

8/1/2012 2:08:16 PM

don't let their "tolerance" fool you, Bullet. they are only preaching 'open-mind' etc because the views of CFA correspond with their own. I'm sure a lot of the same people who are pissed that some choose not to eat at CFA were some of the very people rallying against the Islamic Center built near ground zero.

If CFA were an Islamic organization, giving money to the Islamic brotherhood or something of that nature, the very people telling you be to open-minded toward CFA would be calling for their heads. Whatever

8/1/2012 2:10:24 PM

you mean the muslim brotherhood?

i was unaware that chik-fil-a had paramilitary forces?

interesting.

8/1/2012 2:15:27 PM

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/07/31/boycott-about-so-much-more-than-chicken-sandwich/

Quote :

"Pay attention, people of faith. Dark clouds are gathering. The winds of intolerance are blowing. There’s a great storm approaching. The days of persecution are upon us."

holy fucking shit! What a twisted idea of intolerance and persecution.

8/1/2012 2:16:08 PM

^^^yeah, i've mentioned that several times, and it's definitely true. if chic-fil-a publically acknowledged that they gave large sums of money to the ACLU, the NAACP and Rev Barber, Codepink, the Westboro Baptist Church, the KKK, the Black Panthers etc. etc. etc, i don't think they'd think they were "intolerant" for choosing not to give their money to them. they'd be arguing on the other side (many of them, maybe not all of the.)

show of hands: folks that think i should have to spend my money at chic-fil-a: If chic-fil-a vocally supported and gave large sums of money to the Black Panthers, Codepink, and the Westboro Baptist Church, would you continue to eat there and chastise others who refused to give them their business?


[Edited on August 1, 2012 at 2:24 PM. Reason : ]

8/1/2012 2:18:27 PM

Quote :

"you mean the muslim brotherhood? i was unaware that chik-fil-a had paramilitary forces? interesting. "

I did mean muslim brotherhood, good catch. BTW, your reading comprehension is shit. The metaphor was a HUGE stretch, granted, but I did say IF, indicating that, no, at present cfa has no paramilitary forces. IF, however, they donated money to groups found unsavory by the christian-right, I doubt they'd be clamoring for our 'open-mindedness'. IF was the keyword, sorry you missed it. Way to try and misrepresent my quote, classic move when you realize your argument is lost.

8/1/2012 2:19:32 PM

Quote :

"i really don't understand ^your and ^^your point of view and others. are you saying i should have to spend my money at chic-fil-a? are you saying i don't have the freedom to get my chicken from where i want to spend my money? it just seems anti-american to me. it feels like you're trying to force me to eat at chic-fil-a"

i don't know why you feel like I am trying to force you into eating at chick-fila.

I am just trying to say that your reasoning for not eating at chick-fila is flawed and probably implies you are a bad person.

I mean, it simply isn't about 0.04% of Chick-fila's revenue going to causes you don't like. If it was, you would go to OpenSecrets.org and boycott every company that gave money to parties or candidates that work against gay marriage. You have not done that. You didn't even care about Chick-fila until just this week, even though records on his comapny's donations were available. Why?

Because what this is actually about is that Cathy expressed his personal political opinions in an interview and you didn't like what he had to say. So, you refuse to do business with his company because their CEO holds different political beliefs.

And that is totally FINE! No one is saying you have to do business with people that are different than you. In America, we all have the freedom to be intolerant.

[Edited on August 1, 2012 at 2:29 PM. Reason : ``]

8/1/2012 2:23:54 PM

Quote :

"don't let their "tolerance" fool you, Bullet. they are only preaching 'open-mind' etc because the views of CFA correspond with their own"

I support gay marriage and voted against amendment 1. fag.

8/1/2012 2:25:18 PM

Dude, i'm done with you, you're just spouting a bunch of bs and not being rational. I work with and am family and friends with plenty of people who have differing opinions. i draw the line when their differing opinions involve discriminating against groups of people based on their race, sex, ethnicity, sexuality, etc. etc. I don't have to tolerate their intolerance.

Quote :

"You didn't even care about Chick-fila until just this week, even though records on his comapny's donations are available. Why? Because what this is actually about is that Cathy expressed his personal political opinions in an interview and you didn't like what he had to say. "

I actually haven't eaten at chic-fil-a since i heard a few years ago about his support for focus on the family, which is an intolerant organization. Again, you're just spouting BS.

[Edited on August 1, 2012 at 2:30 PM. Reason : ]

8/1/2012 2:29:01 PM

^Dig deep enough into the beliefs/donations of most places and pretty soon you'll be growing your own food in your own private garden and living in a bunker in Idaho.

8/1/2012 2:34:43 PM

He could probably eat here:

http://midtownlunch.com/2012/08/01/support-marriage-equality-by-eating-at-schnippers-this-month/

8/1/2012 2:37:15 PM

^^I actually think most businesses are smart enough to try to stay out of politics, especially when it comes to politics that discriminate against large groups of people. And if they do, they're smart enough not to broadcast it.

[Edited on August 1, 2012 at 2:37 PM. Reason : ]

8/1/2012 2:37:40 PM

^

Quote :

" http://midtownlunch.com/2012/08/01/support-marriage-equality-by-eating-at-schnippers-this-month/"

ug.

I think Milton Friedman got it right. The social responsibility of business is to make a profit.

8/1/2012 2:43:52 PM

^ that looks awesome

8/1/2012 2:48:09 PM

Their food is fantastic. This place's is not as fantastic, but still preferable to trying to sneak into the CFA on NYU's campus:

http://ny.eater.com/archives/2012/08/4food_protests_hate_with_free_meals_on_chickfila_day.php

Speaking of, has anyone seen any pictures from the NYU location today? Curious to see if it's the same there as down south

8/1/2012 2:53:06 PM

I support marriage equality
I support Mr Cathy's right to his opinion and to do with his money as he wishes
I love waffle fries and will continue to eat at CFA
I believe, objectively, that CFA has the best customer service experience of any fast food chain. I believe the reason for this is because of the company culture of treating everyone with respect.
It is possible to respect someone without agreeing with them 100%. That is what is going on here.

The problem is that to many people see things in black and white. They think that anyone that doesnt agree with them hates them and is out to get them.

You do not have to agree with everyone's beliefs, but for the most part the 'American Way' is respect their right to have them.

If you would like to 'fix' the world to your view for the love of god pick a fight worth fighting instead of protesting CFA.

8/1/2012 3:00:42 PM

Quote :

"The problem is that to many people see things in black and white. They think that anyone that doesnt agree with them hates them and is out to get them. "

Quote :

"If you would like to 'fix' the world to your view for the love of god pick a fight worth fighting instead of protesting CFA."

Speaking of black and white statements...

8/1/2012 3:03:42 PM

Quote :

"If you would like to 'fix' the world to your view for the love of god pick a fight worth fighting instead of protesting CFA."

I'm not trying to "fix" the world to my view, and i'm not picking a fight. I'm simply choosing not to eat somewhere where the CEO gives large sums of money to organizatons that discriminate against large groups of people based on their sexuality.

Quote :

"but for the most part the 'American Way' is respect their right to have them."

My refusual to give them my money in no way disresepcts their right to have beliefs. CEO has every right to discriminate against gays. And I have every right to choose to go to Zaxby's.

Again:

Quote :

"show of hands: folks that think i should have to spend my money at chic-fil-a: If chic-fil-a vocally supported and gave large sums of money to the Black Panthers, Codepink, and the Westboro Baptist Church (or the NAACP, ACLU, or KKK), would you continue to eat there and chastise others who refused to give them their business?"

8/1/2012 3:12:22 PM

cfa for din din

8/1/2012 3:33:59 PM

All hail the meaningless gesture! Divorce rates will still be same this time next year, you know, the REAL threat to marriage...

8/1/2012 3:45:20 PM

Yeah I'm headed over there for dinner as well.

8/1/2012 3:47:39 PM

Do you guys enjoy waiting on lines or are there actually not as many people on line as the internet would have us believe?

8/1/2012 3:54:07 PM

I guess it makes them feel like better people or some such. When I go to the Chic-fil-a in Cary it's because I like the people there and their sweet tea is usually always cold even without ice. When I go in there I talk about kayaking and hiking with the General Manager, not about the last gasp of antiqued bigotry fueled by fear of actual societal equality.

8/1/2012 4:08:06 PM

Bullet, You may not be picking a fight but we have politicians, activist groups, and individuals calling to have CFA banned from there towns or protesting outside their locations. Not purchasing from them is your opinion and your right. I would ask that if you are going to do that you research everything you buy just to be consistent, and i hope you've actually never eaten at CFA because there is no way in hell this was actually news or unknown.

Also, Zaxby's founders(and partial owners of like 70% of the locations) are campaign contributors for Paul Broun, the Congressman that wanted 2010 to be declared "The Year of the Bible" and was a co-sponsor of the FMA. So you might wanna try getting your chicken for Bo Jangles.



Gimpy,

Quote :

"Speaking of black and white statements..."

I'm do not think people protesting CFA hate me. I think they are a bit misguided and i think trying to stop private citizens from exchanging waffle fries for money is silly and that there are bigger and more important issues that could be address. Or hell if you want to address marriage equality you're better off picking just about any other avenue than this.

8/1/2012 4:16:06 PM

Apparently, this is now a referendum on Obama....Oh lawd...

8/1/2012 4:27:29 PM

even if I ate Chick Fil A on a regular basis (which I don't) there is no way I'd go today

8/1/2012 4:36:10 PM

I love their spicy chicken but it gives me the worst firehole. Thoughts?

8/1/2012 5:25:59 PM

bullet cant go to bojangles either.

the name is obviously racist; especially in a fried chicken context.

8/1/2012 5:43:25 PM

spicy chick is okay, but hard to beat original sammy with chic-fil-a sauce

8/1/2012 5:46:30 PM

Quote :

"I support marriage equality I support Mr Cathy's right to his opinion and to do with his money as he wishes I love waffle fries and will continue to eat at CFA I believe, objectively, that CFA has the best customer service experience of any fast food chain. I believe the reason for this is because of the company culture of treating everyone with respect. It is possible to respect someone without agreeing with them 100%. That is what is going on here."

I agree with you here. Chick-fil-a def. has a lot better fast food service than other places I think. Anyway, I feel like the issue has been so badly politicized that I want to scream. AAAAAAAAAAH!

8/1/2012 6:29:20 PM

Quote :

"show of hands: folks that think i should have to spend my money at chic-fil-a: If chic-fil-a vocally supported and gave large sums of money to the Black Panthers, Codepink, and the Westboro Baptist Church (or the NAACP, ACLU, or KKK), would you continue to eat there and chastise others who refused to give them their business?""

For the third time yes I would keep eating there. You keep asking this question, I answer it, then you ignore it and ask it yet again.

They are entitled to their personal beliefs and I am not bigoted enough to refuse to do business with someone just because I disagree with their personal beliefs.

Quote :

"that's right. this is america, we're free to do what we want if it doesn't hurt other people. if somebody doesn't want to give their money to a restraunt that supports gay or interacial marriage, that their choice and their right. "

You also have the right to cheat on your spouse, disown your parents, and abandon your children to the foster-care system. Just because you have a right to be a bigoted asshole doesn't make it moral behavior.

8/1/2012 7:43:39 PM

This whole shit show backfired in a big way, I'd say. The boycott, meant to take sales away from CFA, has in fact galvanized anti-marriage equality folks. At the same time, it has people (whether they're pro/against/indifferent) talking about CFA, reminding people that CFA exists, and driving up sales as a result. I could go for a juicy, crispy chicken strip meal at this very moment, in fact.

8/1/2012 7:55:08 PM

OR MAYBE ITS REVERSE BACKFIRING ON THE CHICK-FIL-A SUPPORTERS. AS THEY STUFF THEIR FAT FACES TWICE A DAY THEIR ARTERIES WILL SOON CLOG WITH PURE HYDROGENATED PEANUT OIL AND WE WILL HAVE A MASS DIE-OFF OF BOOMFUCKS.


the gay agenda profits . . . . .





well one can hope

8/1/2012 8:05:24 PM

If I were gay and/or had enough gay friends, I'd start a Facebook campaign posting pictures of us/them actually eating Chick-fil-a together. Likely both of us/them eating the same sandwich at the same time, or the same waffle fry. And making sure the Chick-fil-a bag or cup is well displayed. This gives patronage to a company that makes yummy food while at the same time grossing out/pissing off social conservatives. It's a win-win!

[Edited on August 1, 2012 at 8:27 PM. Reason : .]

8/1/2012 8:26:56 PM

^winner winner chicken dinner (pun intended )

Quote :

"Do you guys enjoy waiting on lines or are there actually not as many people on line as the internet would have us believe?"

I didn't realize how busy it would be when I walked in at 730. Ridiculously busy. The funny thing, however, was that the ordering lines were only 2-3 people deep. However their ovens and fryers were maxed out and people had to wait 10-15 minutes for their order to come up. Not sure I would have gone if I had known that

8/2/2012 12:16:08 AM

8/2/2012 12:48:56 AM

I don't care what the owner of Chic-Fil-A says and I don't care how he spends his company's profits... but can we stop pretending this is about the right to free speech while at the same time most of these knuckle draggers supported Bush's Patriot Act to the hilt.

It's about people being scared of catching the gay. Plain and simple.

8/2/2012 9:19:34 AM

Quote :

"For the third time yes I would keep eating there. You keep asking this question, I answer it, then you ignore it and ask it yet again."

i acknowledged your answer. however, i have a real hard time believing that you would eat at a restraunt that openly gives money to the black panthers, the naacp, and codepink. or the kkk and the westboro baptist church.

i'm waiting who else will take a stand and say they'd have no problem doing that, and would still chastise those who refused to.

8/2/2012 9:40:00 AM