Keeping Pace

Ruffled Feathers

I really had no intention of weighing in on the ridiculous Chik-Fil-A debacle that is making headlines. I am secure with my stance concerning non-traditional marriage and have no desire to argue with conservatives who disagree. It’s a pointless activity, one that will not alter either side’s position.

Honestly, I didn’t even pay attention to the story at first. The way I understand it, Dan Cathy, president of  Chik-Fil-A, one of the nation’s largest family owned businesses, was interviewed by Baptist Press, and quoted on his beliefs regarding what constitutes a marriage. The problem is not his beliefs, nor his right to share them. The real issue is, was it wise for someone, associated with a company that sells to the public, to go to battle on such a sensitive topic, that essentially has nothing to do with selling the product? Personally, I think it was a bad public relations move. I’m familiar with the adage, any press is good press, but in this case, I disagree. Rather than igniting the wick and watching the entailing fireworks, why not refuse to get involved in a such a debate? How about simply trying to find better ways to sell chicken to more people?

Politicians, on both sides of the chicken wire fence, are of course clamoring to use this story to gain supporters, with hopes of turning them into votes come election time. They generally are less concerned with what the controversy is, but rather how to use it to their own advantage.

My first reaction was to vow to never eat Chik-Fil-A again, because I don’t want to support a company, whose leader makes statements, against some of the very people who keep them in business. For the record, it wouldn’t be much of a sacrifice for me to do so because I rarely eat fast food these days. There are only a handful of Chik-Fil-A restaurants in this region, and if I’m in the mood to challenge the efficiency of my cholesterol lowering medicine, it would be quite easy to satisfy a craving for deep-fried food, at any number of places.

My decision to boycott Chik-Fil-A was a simple one for me, that is until I read a post written by Jean Kuhn, a blogger on the local Patch.com website. Basically, she explained why she will continue to eat at Chik-Fil-A. Not because she agrees with Dan Cathy’s views, but because as a small business owner herself, she wants to support other small business owners. Is it right to punish local franchise owners, who are working hard, trying to survive in such tough economic times because of the views of one man? I hadn’t thought of it in that way. Do our local small business owners deserve to lose their livelihood, because of the opinions of one individual? I don’t think they do.

For every person, wishing to show their support to the gay and lesbian community by never eating at Chik-Fil-A again, there will be someone else who will go out of his way to visit one now. Ultimately, it’s not going to make much difference to anyone and has simply just ruffled many feathers.

Eventually, a new issue will make the news and eclipse this one. Fried chicken will once again be discussed simply because of its contribution to the obesity epidemic…just as it should be.