Monday, August 6, 2012

Wading into the water (part 1)

Well, I've saved commentary until now, but I guess I'll jump in.

There was a huge cultural brouhaha about Chick-fil-A last week.  In case you were under a rock, Dan Cathy stated his family's stance and support of traditional marriage.  It caused an uproar.  So, some thoughts...

1.  Some have gone off the deep end threatening a boycott.  I think that's a great idea, because it makes the line one person shorter in my Chick-fil-A.  Boycotts have always worked, made huge impact on companies, and make the boycotters look terrific.  NOT.  In fact, my guess is that most people who were boycotting last week are at lunch right now.  At Chick-fil-A.  Southern Baptists are professional boycotters.  And their boycotts haven't made a lick of difference either.  Except in public perception.

2.  Rahm Emmanuel and Thomas Menino are dumb.  I'm glad they're not in my city or national offices. Mayors can't decide that a particular company can't do business in their city based on the moral stances of it's C-level officers.  First of all, it's unconstitutional.  We've got a pesky First Amendment and all.  Secondly, Chick-fil-A will build right outside the city of Chicago or Boston, make a killing, and give its tax monies to another municipality.  (Sarcasm font:  on) And of course, all the municipalities in the U.S. are just flush with cash right now. (Sarcasm font:  off)

3.  Our cultural conversation is no longer a conversation.  It's more like a kindergarten screaming match on the playground of our nation, where name-calling, "I'm rubber and you're glue," and general fit-throwing is accepted.  Both ends of the spectrum are guilty.  Shame on us all for letting perception and emotion rule the day, our words, and our actions.

4.  No one is victimized by Dan Cathy expressing his opinion.  I'm not even sure why people were surprised.

5.  How exactly did people showing up, supporting a business, spending their own hard-earned money, and not fighting, fussing, sandwich-boarding, protesting, shouting, rock-throwing, or anything that you normally see on the nightly news got labeled as hate.  If someone can explain that to me, please say so.

6.  Some allegedly Christian bloggers are making a lifestyle of taking up someone else's offense.  The bloggers act hurt because someone else (with whom they share a point-of-view) is offended.  Someone asked if Jesus would've been at Chick-fil-A or with an openly gay friend having Starbucks (to which they answered the latter).  One day, I wonder if the "new Pharisees" (which is what they are quickly becoming, a left-leaning group where left-leaning law is unquestioned and left-leaning appearances are everything) who support "tolerance" will be on the receiving end of a whooping.  And no, I don't consider myself better than they are - I have received many and deserved many more beat downs.  I only wish they'd ask God if He's offended by some of the things they take up as offensive.  But they don't seem to do so.  They hide behind, "God wouldn't want us to hurt others or be hurt," as if God wasn't a willing victim or a ferocious judge.

But that's just me thinking thoughts...

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