https://thepreachersword.com/2012/07/24/critics-cry-fowl-play-on-chick-fil-a/#more-2076
Critics Cry “Fowl Play” On Chick-fil-A
(Here’s the #1 post of 2012 based on both hits and views. Who knew a chicken company could cause such a flap?!)
I like Chick-fil-A. I like their chicken sandwich. I like their chicken noodle soup. I like their salads. I like their shakes. I like their waffle fries. And I really like their sausage biscuit. But not everyone likes Chick-fil-A as much as I do. Critics are crying, “Fowl!”
Boston mayor, Thomas Menino, in an interview with the Boston Herald said, “Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong in Boston.” He is vowing to block the restaurant chain from opening a store there.
The Jim Henson Company which has produced characters for “The Muppets,” and has worked with the Atlanta based chain to create products for their kids’ meals has severed their relationship.
Singer, Audra McDonald, tweeted, “Not that I ate much Chick-fil-A before but I sho nuff don’t have an appetite for it now.”
The LA Times, the Atlanta Constitution and other major newspapers are reporting that within a few hours thousands had joined activists groups and signed petitions of protest and of boycott.
So what has Chick-fil-A done that’s so horrendous? Served contaminated food? Cheated customers? Been unfair to workers? Abused cows?
No. When their President and CEO Dan Cathy was interviewed by Baptist Press and asked about their support of the traditional family, he responded,”Well guilty as charged.”
Mr. Cathy went on to say, “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.”
It that all? Surely he must have uttered a derogatory slur? An ugly, insensitive epitaph? Or at least an unkind word? No!
In fact he emphasized very positively “We operate as a family business … our restaurants are typically led by families…We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that.”
When the story hit the lamestream media, liberal, pro-homosexual activists became incensed. Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign that works for same-sex-marriage, said. “As the country moves toward inclusion, Chick-fil-A has staked out a decidedly stuck-in-the-past mentality.”
Dan Cathy and the company that his father, Truett Cathy founded, has been vilified, reviled, and ridiculed. Ironically, Cathy and those of us who hold the view of traditional family are called “haters,” “intolerant,” and “bigoted.”
I guess we are supposed to be “tolerant” of behavior that violates our Christian principles, but homosexual activists are excused from being tolerant and respectful of our values. Can anyone see a double standard here?
Dan Cathy, never said one word about gay marriage. He only spoke in favor of what he believed to be traditional marriage! But you can’t do that today! Can you imagine what would have happened had the Chick-A-fil CEO quoted the apostle Paul from Romans 1:20-28 where he calls homosexual activity, “vile”, “shameful” and “unnatural?” I wonder what Griffin will say if he ever finds out that two entire cities were once burned to the ground over this issue?!
Responding to the criticism, Chick-Fil-A used its Facebook Page to make this statement. “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. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.” To date the post has received almost 69,000 “likes” and over 24,000 comments.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabbe, who has his own show on Fox, said he was “incensed at the vitriolic assaults” on the fast food chain and declared, Wednesday, August 1 “Chick Fil-A Appreciation Day.” His effort is not sponsored by the corporation, but a personal effort to encourage others to show support for a company founded on and operating by Christian principles. Huckabee observed, “Too often, those on the left make corporate statements to show support for same-sex marriage, abortion, or profanity, but if Christians affirm traditional values, we’re considered homophobic, fundamentalists, hate-mongers, and intolerant.”
I think after all of this I like Chick-A-Fil even more! So, tomorrow I’m going to “eat mor chikin”!
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman