Chick-fil-A.
If you don't like it, you must be weird. Or you just prefer beef, perhaps.
That is not why I choose not to be a customer at this restaurant.
When we hear rumors, especially if they were posted on Facebook, people tend to think they are mere exaggerations. This one has teeth, though.
Performing a basic Google search shows the legitimacy of these rumors, particular rumors about Chick-fil-A's "charitable" giving.
These rumors beg the question, what does it mean to be a Christian? A consumer? A citizen? These are not questions for the nonchalant Christian, consumer, citizen. They may never be answered. But through our actions, we can make intelligent guesses.
When I read that Chick-fil-A created the Winshape foundation, which donated $1.1 million to various anti-gay groups from 2003-2008 (based on tax returns), I'm not really surprised (EqualityMatters.com). I know that Chick-fil-A is a religious foundation. I mean, nothing says "Hey, look how Christian I am!" like closing your doors on Sundays. The Southern Poverty Law Center reported that the Alliance Defense Fund, which received $5,000 from the Winshape foundation in 2006 and 2008, stated in an article that efforts by the LGBT community "[are] twofold: dilute moral values so that homosexual behavior is thought to be normal, natural, and good, while suppressing the religious and free speech rights of those who disagree. If they successfully impose their radical legal agenda, then all people - especially Christians - who do not affirm homosexual behavior could be silenced, punished, and possibly even jailed for so-called discrimination and intolerance" (EqualityMatters.com).
Why should we consider these facts when we go to buy a quite delicious chicken sandwich?
Perhaps I believe that human dignity is at stake. We study slavery, indentured servitude, Jim Crow laws, anti-immigrant rhetoric, immoral anti-terrorism laws that deliberately discriminate against peaceable Muslim-American populations. And yes, I add LBGT civil rights into this dialogue. Who do we want to be as a people?
Do not think of me as a moral crusader. I would not consider myself to be a highly ethical person. I buy items made in China, I sometimes drink coffee and eat an Egg McMuffin from McDonald's, and I throw away leftover food in my refrigerator that has gone bad. Do I choose not to give money to Chick-fil-A because it's a pretty easy form of protest? I'm sure that's part of it.
However, it's not easy to tell people why we don't eat at Chick-fil-A. Most people say I'm probably wrong about the donations, or it doesn't matter, or the Chick-fil-A corporation has a right to donate their money as they see fit. That's exactly right. And I have the right not to eat there as a form of protest.
Do people have the right to crusade against LGBT civil rights? Of course. However, do some of those groups need to fear their loss of the right to free speech and freedom from religion? Absolutely not. Rhetoric is an element of culture that we can control if we want to. And sometimes the hate is easier to believe.
No matter how I personally feel about homosexuality, I believe that my duty as Christ calls is to extend unconditional love to every person because we are all broken. Me being heterosexual does not advance me in the eyes of God. People who are different from the mainstream are just that: different. So was Jesus. Perhaps the main issue Jesus and his followers faced was how to follow God's teachings while also living in a human society. The blending of politics and religion has always been mucky. We are to render unto Caesar what is his, but how do we live under a government that we believe is forcing to do something which our religion opposes? I believe that is the argument advanced by groups and individuals like the Alliance Defense Fund. But they would have us believe that the solution is to have the government enforce Christian beliefs. If we are choosing between the two, and we believe that freedom is our greatest concern in America, we must choose freedom. Everyone must be able to live as they choose. Even if you aren't okay with it.
Chick-fil-A would have us believe otherwise.
Reference
Allison, Tom, Carlos Maza, and Christine Schwen. "Investigation Reveals Depths of Chick-fil-A's Ties to Anti-Gay Causes." Equalitymatters Blog. Equality Matters. 22 March 2011. Web. 26 Feb 2012.
