You've probably heard that a Chick-fil-A fast food restaurant recently opened here in Santa Barbara. Here's what my daughter has to say about it.
An Open Letter to Chick-fil-A
Dear Chick-fil-A,
Let’s have a conversation. You have your views and I have mine. So, Mr. Dan Cathy, you may be the COO of Chick-fil-A and have much more media exposure to express your views on gay marriage than this seventeen-year-old blogger. However, I'm going to seize this opportunity to tell you how I feel about your anti-marriage equality remarks, without having to write you some letter that will probably be discarded before it even reaches your mailbox or doing a ridiculous drive through window rap, because now, it’s my turn.
I am not some ignorant teenager who only listens to what is on Facebook and Twitter, and therefore has gotten all my information about this whole situation you’re currently in from those oh so reliable news sources. Nope, I took the time, researched I read articles on the CNN, ABC, and FOX News websites, along with many others. However, most importantly I went back to the original interview you did with the Baptist Press, which claims to have, "News with a Christian perspective" and after reading the interview, I’m just as disappointed as I was when the story first broke.
I thought that we were somewhat beyond this ignorance. I know of course that there are many people out there who do believe that marriage equality will be the death of us all, and maybe you’re one of them, but what hurts the most is when you brought the term "family" into it. You say that you"re very supportive of "the family". I just don’t see how you cannot see that by not supporting marriage equality and by allegedly giving money to anti-marriage equality organizations, that you’re suppressing the growth of families. You evidently don’t know how badly it hurts to not be able to have the government's recognition of your family, which includes the full benefits of marriage. I know that the topic of marriage and which specific groups of people are able to enjoy the right of being married may be a touchy issue for some, and you may possibly be one of them.
The issue of being cooped up and basically tortured before being turned into a Chick-fil-A sandwich is a touchy subject for chickens, but that doesn’t stop the production of Chick-fil-A food, does it? So just because you don’t agree with same sex marriage shouldn't mean that it should not happen. I'm not asking you to go to any weddings, or send a gift, or anything that involves being the least bit supportive beyond just letting people live their lives as they wish to. You say that you run your restaurants based upon "family values," but how can you really say that and sleep soundly at night when you're hurting people. You’ve also said that you thank God that you're still married to your first wife; now let other people have the same chance that you have had to enjoy a committed relationship that is recognized by the state. I am not asking for a lot, just a little tolerance toward others.
Mr. Cathy was the Chick-fil-A "Appreciation Day" really necessary? Why was there a need to "appreciate" your intolerance towards others? Now I understand the First Amendment and free speech and there’s no question that you had the right to say what you said. However what is not okay is when conservative groups and individuals claim that speaking out against you is violating your free speech. In my opinion it would be deeply disappointing if no one spoke up about his or her opposing views. By saying that people like myself are violating your freedom of speech is an insult and a cowardly attempt to suppress everybody else's First Amendment rights. What's arguably worse is how some politicians decided to post photos of themselves online with their Chick-fil-A food in support of your comments opposing marriage equality. Also, there were record sales reported at Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country. What I find disappointing is that we live in a society that celebrates this kind of behavior from you.
Lastly, it is written in Romans 15:7 that, "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." So, why can't you welcome and accept all people into your heart, and use your high-ranking position to spread love and acceptance? Isn't that what Jesus did?
Sincerely,
An Ex-Potential Customer
