Chick-fil-a seems to have taken a page out of Mitt Romney's book. They want to appease everyone, make the most money possible, and not talk about the things about them that suck. Too bad Chick-Fil-A, you are a company, and so the people have a right to know how you roll.
Remember over the summer when Chick-Fil-A's president Dan Cathy told the world that he supported traditional marriage only? Then there was Chick-Fil-A appreciation day, and the kiss in. And then everyone on Facebook was like "omg I'm so sick of hearing about chick-fil-a!" even though they claim to support equality. And then it died down because people have the attention span of flies these days.
Well, they are back. According to a news story a few days ago, Chicago alderman (what is an alderman by the way? what a weird title) Joe Moreno claimed that Chick-Fil-A had stopped donating to anti- gay groups like focus on the family and that Mr. Moreno would stop blocking Chick-Fil-A from opening in Chicago. This could have been great news. Chick-Fil-A released a statement saying that they treat every person "with honor, dignity, and respect regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation, or gender." This should have been a giant step forward, showing that inequality in the work place is not tolerated in America.
BUT. Then, all the anti-gay people that went out and ate those sandwiches that day got super upset. Chick-Fil-A had caved to the pressure, their faith was weak. How could this company do this to all the people that went out in droves to show that equality is not an American value.
And then, Dan Cathy and friends must have had a secret meeting with the Mittster. Because they found the secret loophole solution. They found a way to secretly funnel money into their anti-equality organizations, appease the conservatives, be allowed to open in Chicago, AND get pro-equality people to advertise for them. I wish I was this talented.
There is an article on here at slate.com that explains the funneling of money pretty well. Basically it goes like this: Chick-Fil-A runs/owns Winshape ---> Winshape has a "ride for the family" which raises money to donate to an anti-gay group called Marriage and Family foundation ---> checks are to be made out to that foundation and mailed to 5200 Buffington Rd, Atlanta, GA. which is the same address as Chick-Fil-A inc in GA (presumably the HQ). Seriously, I couldn't make this up, Google map that address...you will see Chick-Fil-A inc.
When you Google that address, you do NOT see, however, a marriage and family foundation. This implies that they either share the same building or are the same company. It is also interesting that Chick-Fil-A never claimed to stop donating money to these groups, Moreno did. And when asked neither Chick-Fil-A or Focus on the Family will say if they are still financially connected.
This is NOT about freedom of speech or religion or whatever you think it is about. Dan Cathy can stand on a soap box and talk about how much he hates people all day, I don't really care. Its the fact that this company is trying to 1) not support equality 2) get credit for supposedly improving 3) appease everyone while actively excluding and clearly not supporting everyone.
Seriously. Waffle fries are not worth this.
I do not know that much about "Focus on the Family" or "Marriage and Family Foundation". However, to say they are anti-something rather than pro-something is the same as saying people who want abortion rights are pro-abortion. If someone has a preference that does not match yours it does not therefore follow that they are anti-your thing. They could simply be pro-their thing (and yes there is a HUGE difference)
ReplyDeleteAs for the chicken company they are just trying to make a buck. All companies and politicians are guilty of doing cart wheels with finances in order to increase funding. A fast-food place should not be where the world looks for a moral guidepost.
They are just trying to make a buck following the method of their predecessors. Lets not pretend that they are anything more than a guy trying to make a buck. And look for our moral guidepost in real people that we really know and really see everyday.