Lots of you weighed in on our post about the Chick-fil-A controversy and what it means for the future of the company - with most expressing support for the fast-food chain.
JS in Northeast's comments echoed the sentiments of many readers:
I am so sick and tired of political correctness and people/companies being vilified for the choices they make. We live in the United States where people/companies have a freedom [to] choose who their friends/business partners are. If someone or some group gets offended because of this, tough. Get over it and move on. We have freedoms here in the U.S. to do as we want.
Some commenters went further, criticizing those who are pressuring Chick-fil-A's management to reverse its opposition to gay marriage. Writes CJ:
So Chick-fil-A is being accused of being ant-gay by the gay population. What is their intent? Is it to make them pro-gay? Isn't forcing your beliefs on others wrong too? If you don't like them, just stop going to their restaurants. This is sort of hypocritical to say we don't like your views so we're going to force my views on you and you'll like it. This is a conservative religious group that owns the chain, it's their right to back whoever they want if they are independently owned and operated.
Here's a Chick-fil-A critic who goes by Tdogg and who is apparently gay but nonetheless supportive of the company's owners' right to oppose same-sex marriage:
Chick-fil-A can take whatever stance they want – it's a free country after all. If the owners want to spend their profits supporting anti-gay organizations, so be it. Just don't be surprised if gay people don't want to frequent their establishment, and have their money go towards the anti-gay cause. That's a product of a free country as well – it goes both ways. It's not "PC" it's just what it is. My choice is to not eat at Chick-fil-A, and therefore, not have my hard earned money go to organizations who do not believe I'm an equal citizen. Pretty simple actually. All that and their food isn't all that great anyway.
But another commenter, westcoaster, implies that Chick-fil-A should stay in the Bible Belt - and that there's more at stake in the flap than a company's right to express a political opinion:
All of you thumpers, you keep doin' what it is you do best, and do it way over there, OK? Keep your "delicious sandwiches" and your deridingly witty observations way-down-there, or at the very least in that vast morass commonly referred to simply as the "fly over zone."
...
Many of you seem to be calling out from that infamous Matrix of small town cruelty. Please stop and consider that human rights are SO important, and ALWAYS worth standing up for. It is a vicious game, to call someone out on a lack of respect of freedom, when those exercising their "rights" infringe upon others. Freedom has everything to do with balance; mutual respect. It's not a party unless everyone gets to come.
And then there's David from California, who says a prayer for all fast food patrons:
Maybe you can pray that your arteries won't clog with all that grease from their food. May God bless your new super-sized form. Pray for reinforced pews at your church.
I think it is disgraceful how Chic-fil-A is being persecuted for their founder saying he is for the Biblical description of Marriage, these groups and individuals attacking this poor man are the most intolerant people I have ever heard of.
They don't just disagree, they want to destroy this man and his business. Believe me, they are not winning any support for their cause with this kind of behavior. I have never been to Chic-fil-A before, but I am going to become a regular customer. I thougt the USA was all about free speech, well not anymore.
Sincerely, Mrs. Jeannie Grote
Good grief. Spoken like a true contemporary faux Christian, the group that has for decades marginalized and vilified gay people. Now that they are fighting back, you wrap yourselves in the mantle of victim-hood and cry persecution. Absolute nonsense.
I thought the United States was about liberty and human rights, but it will never be as long as christians try to legislate their irrational bigotry. Chick-fil-A is actively working to enforce discrimination upon a minority. How you find that to be a noble cause is beyond me.
Hooray for Chick-FiiL-A standing for morality and what it believes in. I will spend even more money there now eating there and will support all the compoanies who stand for what's right and stand against what's wrong.
What does "morality" have to do with it. Is it moral to vilify a group of people because they do not feel the way you think they should?
What is your definition of morality?
I did not see where he said he "hated gays". Christians don't hate gays. It is a sin in the Bible. We all sin in many ways. It is what standard you hold yourself too. He was stating what standard he holds his company too. He did not say he hated anyone. People need to research and get their facts straight before making comments.
Are you aware that this is the United States? Are you aware that religion is separate from government by the deliberate action of the men who framed our Const.itution? Are you aware that supporting those who are trying to legislate discrimination on the basis of religion is a profoundly un-American act?
I applaud Chick-FIL-A for its contributions to the needy. I applaud the gay movement for objecting to their actions. I applaud the anti-gay people for objecting to their objections. I hope more companies will demonstrate their support of faith based organizations. Whatever faith that is: Christian, Bhuddist, Muslim, Jewish and all the others I've left out.
I love America and the freedoms that we have. I've lived where such freedoms don't exist. I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.
who do you say JESUS is ? I say you are my LORD . you own me .my opinion means nothing. I am not my own. It is not I who live but christ lives through me . I say only what the HOLY GHOST tells me to say.
It is a sad day when so many so called christians will not stand tgether for thier faith. No wonder we are called Infidels. No other faith let any other tell them what to believe except what their bible derict s. Why can't we read our bible and stand on what it teaches? Stand tall Chick-Fil-A. My family will stand with you in the name of Jesus in the face of persecution. Feeding anyone who is hungry without bending to a special interist agenda isgodly and commendable. I sulute you. You are not violating anyone's rights, but they are violating yours by trying to force you to support their movement and aenda.
I could not have said it much better, we will all stand together for we know that all things come together for the good of those who love the Lord.....Amen
By supporting a group that seeks to legislate bigotry on the basis of religion, this company deserves the scorn. Those who take pride in laws that promote the discrimination of a minority are very small-minded people indeed.
Here's what I observed: 1. This article never gave the name of the recipient of the charity from Chick fil a. 2. There's a good sized photo of a Chick fil a sign beside the article. 3. There are links on CNN to Chick fil a – just type in "Chick fil a".
as i stated in the previous post, business is simply busines folks! there is no need to draw inference from a company deciding to cater food to another company. that's all that happen. chik-fil-a didn't stand hand in hand with the president of this said 'anti-gay' company and send out an united front did they??? they simply gave them some chicken.
It's nice that you added some Christian companies to your list in the update, which has far too many comments for me to add another. So I am adding here that another company deserving to be on the list is the legendary Buck Knives. Each knife they sell and ship to a consumer (I own one signed by Chuck Buck, the third generation CEO) comes with a package insert speaking of their mission and including the Bible verse John 3:16. Chuck travels around the country giving his Christian testimony. Buck Knives has a fascinating history.
Keep up the good work Chick-Fil-A. I'm glad to see that you still stand up for what is right. Unfortunately some people who obvious don't believe in freedom want to take that away from you.
By freedom, Reverend, you do mean to include taking away the freedom of people to live the only lives they know they get to the fullest in peace, security, and happiness? Oh, I forgot. Freedom of speech only applies to those with Judeo-Christian values. When those who don't believe in that are oppressed by it, they cannot use their freedom of speech (say, by boycotting a company) to fight back. How wonderfully convenient.
So CN.... what you are saying here is that Chick-Fil-A does not have the freedom to do with their products as they choose? or Are you saying that Gay people were denied the freedom to get free chicken??? OR are you saying that Business in general does not have the freedom to operate according to their own values ... just as Gays operate according to their own?
Did I say any of those things, Bill, or is your capacity to selectively read as good as the average Christian's ability to selectively read the Bible? I think Chik-fil-A, or any business, can do whatever it wants with its money. But if that money is used to support what I believe to be unethical, especially if those ethics should concern public policy that binds us all, even if we are not of that particular faith, we can and should use our 1st amendment rights to criticize them. You can use yours too, I can take my licks. Funny how religions want to be above that.
So Chick-fil-A donates products to a anti-gay group, did any "gay" groups approch Chick-fil-A for a donation? Darn if you do and darn if you don't. We are quick to judge if we don't hear both sides of the story. I am a Christian and I love Chick-fil-A. I will drive 50 miles to eat there. I respect the idea that they close on Sundays and willing to sacrifice profilt for principal.
I do not frequent these companies because of their faith-based concepts. Check "dominionism" on wiki and get a feel for what these corporations represent: the desire for a theocracy.
Ahhhh... the definitive authority .... Wikki! Isn't that where you can updload what you think it is????
Lets see if I have this right, a Big company gave away some free food and an Activist group doesn't like it??
Not sure but if I owned such a company I just might think I could give the food to whomever I want.
The President of the United States isn't politically correct why shouldn't our companys follow suit?
Thank you Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesus.
BTW, if one was a true Christian, then one would give food to the hungry, without regard to their beliefs or their opinions on social issues.
All Chick-fil-A did, was give food to whom they felt were in need. That is not anti-gay, nor anti-anything but hunger.
I suspect that you may be right...there are unanswered questions that would further contextualize the claim of this article, perhaps make it less sensational...did Chick-fil-A have another organization to donate food to in that area? Should they withhold food donations because of the stance of the donating organization?
I agree wholeheartedly. Chik-fil-A should practice charity to those truly in need, not politcal action gropus of any kind.
I wonder what the real purpose of this article is. I applaud these companies.
Chic-fil-A uses worthless words to patronize the more vulnerable members of our society, while they use their money for cruelty and oppression : this is toxic.
Cruelty and oppression?
Cruelty and oppression? How?
It is cruel to "command" people to live alone and celibate when their only reward for doing so, that we know about, is oblivion. You may believe that they will get a reward in some afterlife, but you have no proof. In fact, there is no proof whatsoever that living such a life, deprived of pleasure and happiness as you Christians enjoin, allows entry into some "nice" theme-park as opposed to the "nasty" one. This is the only life that we know we get. We should be allowed to live it to the fullest. Further, the choice to have a family, to find a spiritual other, is the only chance to immortality that we know about that is availed to the average primate: after oblivion, your loved ones remember you, and that's the only afterlife an average primate can enjoy (some above average primates, like Shakespeare, are able to live on through their works). It is EVIL and IMMORAL in its highest to deny the ONLY KNOWN life after death that is available to all primates, especially using unfalsifiable claims as many religions are wont to do.
The only reason why you can speak of this so casually is because, by mere accident of birth, you live in a country where church and state are separate. One need only look up the case of David Kato, whose skull was caved in with a hammer in his very own home, and the grotesque apology from the media: it was wrong to stone him, the correct course of action was to prosecute him, imprison him, and then hang him to see what theocracy has in store for our fellow humans, who just want to live the only life they know they get in peace, happiness, and security that your religion denies over and over again based on nothing.
But now you'll use the tired claim that those like Scott Lively aren't real Christians. Well, unlike the Crusaders, Scott Lively is quite alive. Why don't you sit down in a room with him and have a debate and see who the "real Christian" is, and maybe you'll understand why there are those of us who reject it period.