Chick-fil-a Support Day and Free Speech

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

No, although it can certainly be principled to choose not to patronize businesses when you disagree with public positions of the owners/CEOs. Of course he has a right to his opinion; others have a right show their disagreement with those views by not patronizing the business. Free speech works both ways. (And yes, to be clear, I know we're not talking about Free Speech in the First Amendment sense.)

But the boycott had/has to do with the fact that money was going from Chik-Fil-A to the Winshape Foundation to organizations like Exudos International. Those who chose not to eat at Chik-Fil-A did so because they didn't want their money going (indirectly) to organizations with goals and agendas they don't support.

Well, I think that's part of the point -- Windmeyer says that they had stopped giving money to the problematic groups before the furor of this past summer. ("Even as Campus Pride and so many in the community protested Chick-fil-A and its funding of groups like Family Research Council, Eagle Forum and Exodus International, the funding of these groups had already stopped.")

Aside from where the money is or isn't going, though, what I really appreciate about the article is the story of how people can disagree -- even disagree vehemently -- but still listen to each other, try hard to understand each other, and find a way to honor both their own convictions and yet respect and value the worth of those who hold different convictions so as to move toward, in the words Windmeyer says Cathie used, a "blessing of growth."

I am convinced that this kind of dialogue and these kinds of relationships, both in our neighborhoods and our nation, are the only way this diverse society of ours can move forward together.

/cockeyedoptimistsoapbox


There's no help for crazy.

I read the article a week ago and was heartened by it. I, like DubaiSis will watch and see the future direction of CFA when the scrutiny has been turned off.