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This week all the news is about the Olympics. Well, that's all anyone expected to be in the news right now, but, recently, Dan Cathy, the head of my favorite fast food, Chick-Fil-A, reiterated a long known stance that he stands firmly in support of traditional marriage, as does his Christian-values based food chain. His public and very firm statement resonated throughout the nation, inciting an onslaught of negativity from the LGBT community, which started (or, really, renewed) a boycott on Chick-Fil-A and the organization of public protests set for Friday, August 3rd.
A quick history on the boycott. A few years back the news reported that Chick-Fil-A's charity organization, WinShape, donated money towards institutions and groups that fight to keep marriage between one man and one woman. Back then, many in the LGBT community decided that since that charity receives funds from company profits, they would not spend money at Chick-Fil-A due to the possibility that their money would end up going towards fighting for beliefs contrary to their own.
Fast forward again to now, when Dan Cathy's interview goes out to the world. This time, the charity donation part is not even reported again yet and a boycott is called for and carried out. Negativity floods the airwaves and internet. Then, good ol' Mike Huckabee says on his show that we ought to support Chick-Fil-A and all go and eat there on August 1st. News of that spreads quickly and that is what I want to focus my message on today.
At 8:50 in the evening on August 1st (1 hour before closing), 3 friends and myself walked into Chick-Fil-A in Logan, Utah to show our support. We expected any flux of crowds for the day would have died down and we could enjoy a quick meal. Instead, we were met with an inspiring sight. Through the door, we encountered a long line that extended from the front of the store to the back and snaked its way back again towards the front. Outside, cars were lined up to the furthest entrances of the shopping center block. Overwhelmed by the capacity, we took our place at the back of the line. As we waited in line, we listened to the conversations of those who brought friends explaining why they came and I talked politics with my roommates. The line moved quickly and within a half hour, we had our seats and soon after, our food. As we ate, the management moved through the tables asking people to order any more food they would want for the evening as they would be closing the registers once the line ended. The doors had been locked soon after our arrival because they were running low on food. We heard a lady ask how the day had gone and found that some employees had been their since opening at 5 am. They anticipated a small bump in sales that day, but no one expected the lines to be through the building all day. They were in unbelief at the amazing amount of people that came in support of the company and even more surprised at how many customers had to be turned away at the end of the night. As we finished our meal, I overheard a little girl at the table next to us talking to her mother. "Mommy", she asked, "Why are we at Chick-Fil-A?" "Well, we are here because we chose to stand up for what believe today." I could not help but smile proudly. That was why we were all there. That was why hundreds upon hundreds of thousands, if not over a million people, waited patiently in lines across the country to eat a piece of chicken. It wasn't for the chicken. It wasn't (entirely) for the fresh lemonade. It was to stand shoulder to shoulder with a company who is not afraid to stand boldly for a belief that is heavily under fire. I proudly stand with Chick-Fil-A. We stand with God for traditional marriage.
A quick history on the boycott. A few years back the news reported that Chick-Fil-A's charity organization, WinShape, donated money towards institutions and groups that fight to keep marriage between one man and one woman. Back then, many in the LGBT community decided that since that charity receives funds from company profits, they would not spend money at Chick-Fil-A due to the possibility that their money would end up going towards fighting for beliefs contrary to their own.
Fast forward again to now, when Dan Cathy's interview goes out to the world. This time, the charity donation part is not even reported again yet and a boycott is called for and carried out. Negativity floods the airwaves and internet. Then, good ol' Mike Huckabee says on his show that we ought to support Chick-Fil-A and all go and eat there on August 1st. News of that spreads quickly and that is what I want to focus my message on today.
At 8:50 in the evening on August 1st (1 hour before closing), 3 friends and myself walked into Chick-Fil-A in Logan, Utah to show our support. We expected any flux of crowds for the day would have died down and we could enjoy a quick meal. Instead, we were met with an inspiring sight. Through the door, we encountered a long line that extended from the front of the store to the back and snaked its way back again towards the front. Outside, cars were lined up to the furthest entrances of the shopping center block. Overwhelmed by the capacity, we took our place at the back of the line. As we waited in line, we listened to the conversations of those who brought friends explaining why they came and I talked politics with my roommates. The line moved quickly and within a half hour, we had our seats and soon after, our food. As we ate, the management moved through the tables asking people to order any more food they would want for the evening as they would be closing the registers once the line ended. The doors had been locked soon after our arrival because they were running low on food. We heard a lady ask how the day had gone and found that some employees had been their since opening at 5 am. They anticipated a small bump in sales that day, but no one expected the lines to be through the building all day. They were in unbelief at the amazing amount of people that came in support of the company and even more surprised at how many customers had to be turned away at the end of the night. As we finished our meal, I overheard a little girl at the table next to us talking to her mother. "Mommy", she asked, "Why are we at Chick-Fil-A?" "Well, we are here because we chose to stand up for what believe today." I could not help but smile proudly. That was why we were all there. That was why hundreds upon hundreds of thousands, if not over a million people, waited patiently in lines across the country to eat a piece of chicken. It wasn't for the chicken. It wasn't (entirely) for the fresh lemonade. It was to stand shoulder to shoulder with a company who is not afraid to stand boldly for a belief that is heavily under fire. I proudly stand with Chick-Fil-A. We stand with God for traditional marriage.
ahmen