I've been trying to keep the more sensitive topics from appearing on this blog because I feel they're better kept in an actual, person-to-person discussion. Sometimes though, I have the urge to write something on any issues that have been bugging me: the chick-fil-a controversy.

I first heard about it, of all places, on Facebook. A tiny little article posted by a friend of friend with the caption that he wouldn't eat at chick-fil-a anymore. Dan Cathy was quoted:

The company invests in Christian growth and ministry through its WinShape Foundation (WinShape.com). The name comes from the idea of shaping people to be winners. It began as a college scholarship and expanded to a foster care program, an international ministry, and a conference and retreat center modeled after the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove.
“That morphed into a marriage program in conjunction with national marriage ministries,” Cathy added.
Some have opposed the company’s support of the traditional family. “Well, guilty as charged,” said Cathy when asked about the company’s position. “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 are very much committed to that,” Cathy emphasized. “We intend to stay the course,” he said. “We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.”

As far as I can tell, he didn't say anything as inflammatory as: "I hate gays" or "Don't want to serve gays at chick-fil-a" or really anything that showed chick-fil-a had a policy that condemns homosexual customers. So why is everyone going nuts about holding sit-ins where homosexual couples go in and make out in front of the employees?

I'm also confused as to why this quote (taken from an interview published on a Baptist journal) was enough to ignite this social media wildfire? Hasn't it always been known that chick-fil-a's owners were Christians? I don't think they ever tried to hide that fact. And even if none of that was apparent, the company actually shuts down on Sundays. (I am willing to explain Sabbath from the Catholic view versus the Jewish view later).

So why does it come as such a shock that the Christian boss running his franchise under Christian principles is upholding the Christian view that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. Even if I or any of my friends disagree with that, what Cathy has stated should have barely caused a ripple among the public. But it did.

I think people have run around with these half-formed notions that Dan Cathy was condemning homosexuals and wanting none of their business at his chick-fil-a stores. People are getting swept up in this ridiculous 'we know what's going on, Cathy/chick-fil-a are stupid!' mentality based on assumptions. These same individuals are the ones who didn't even care enough to actually research a bit on the owner before willingly buying chick-fil-a meals for themselves, friends, and family.

We tend to rule one side of this social debate completely backwards, and dismiss their beliefs (in this case, Christian) as unworthy of respect.  All resistance to gay marriage is instantly translated into personal hatred of gay people. Any struggling Christian, who may actually have gay friends, is clearly deluded by bigotry instead of common sense. On the other hand, criticism of traditional marriage proponents cannot be viewed as hateful, no matter how angrily it might be expressed.

I'm not saying that Christians have not been culpable of the very same tactics; but for the side that's claiming to be more open and more willing, they "exclude" supporters of Christian beliefs. And why? Why is exclusion necessary to prove how inclusive everyone is?

Cathy or any person extolling longstanding Christian beliefs aren't allowed to encourage reverence and support for the traditional family, or even worse, donate their money towards that cause. It's inconceivable that we should find moral or practical value in the time-honored definition of marriage, without feeling animosity towards gay people. No matter how gently or constructively they might be presented, our ideas or principles are automatic thought crimes. And because of that, any statement made by Christians to treat individuals with respect regardless of race, sex, or religion is believed to be insincere or improbable of being verbalized.

To conclude, I have friends who don't necessarily share the same beliefs as me. Abortion, religion, sex, etc. all of these are topics that we will have similar or different views on. But somehow, I'm able to keep these friendships going. I think that's more a testament to the fact that I actually believe all of us are capable of expressing high-minded sentiments with sincerity, regardless of what stance we're coming from.

And that's all I have to say. Phew.