My Beef with Chick Fil A

There's already a lot (in fact far too much in some cases) that has been said about the Chick Fil A debacle, fiasco, controversy, I'm not sure what to call it really and while I would love to add something profound- others have already done it better.

The Chick Fellatio: Stuck in the Craw at Owldolatrous Productions

and 

In the Basement at Jen Hatmaker.com

are great ones to start with.

But I do want to say this for the record

1.  It is Chick Fil A's right to spend their corporate money on whatever they want.  It is my right to make sure that none of my money becomes part of their corporate money however.  (If at any point in the future Chick Fil A wants to donate to only charities that support the kind of Christian missions actually in the Bible- like feeding the homeless, caring for the orphans and widows, etc- my family will be the first in line to order some waffle fries.

2.  It is unacceptable for any mayor (or other politician) to ban this or any other company based on their beliefs UNLESS they are doing something illegal.  I fully support their right to open as many restaurants as they want and they feel the market will support.  However, it is my right not to support them.  Just like if an adult book store wanted to open in my neighborhood.  That is their right.  It is my right to post the license plates of everyone who shops there on Facebook.  (okay, I don't really know if that is legal but you get the idea)  If Chick Fil A's values are really at odds with the residents of Boston, or Chicago, or wherever, as a business they won't last long there anyway as there will be no customers.  This is a case where free market capitalism actually works well.

3.  I was torn yesterday because I do not support their anti-gay stance, but I do support their right to exist.  In the end my belief that they are not getting my money won out.

BUT.....

Here's the thing that bugs me most of all (well after the fact that we are having this kind of discussion in 2012- I mean shouldn't we have evolved past this by now...)  But anyway- here's my beef with Chick Fil A

Call me a cynic (or crazy liberal) but I do not in ANY way believe that the announcement of the  discontinuing of these toys (based on a "recall" despite having not injured anyone and even if true is by no means a "safety issue") hours before the toy manufacturer publicly severed ties with Chick Fil A is coincidental.   And I have a problem with that.  Chick Fil A has no issue publicly declaring what they believe in.  Then why lie now?  If you are going to believe something and stand for something- then do that.  Don't stand for something and when you meet resistance, change your story.  That sign should have read something like this...

We apologize...yada yada yada but as of 7/19/2012 Jim Henson's Puppet Factory is no longer willing to supply toys for our kids meals because they don't agree with our stance on traditional marriage (or alternative wording.... they don't agree with the charities we donate money to)  We are unwilling to compromise our beliefs.  They are unwilling to work with us.  We are in the process of locating a toy supplier who shares our values (or alternative wording... doesn't give a crap what we do with our money).  Until we find a replacement toy yada yada yada....

Be honest.  It's not like the world doesn't know EXACTLY what happened.  To lie about this undermines your credibility- not to mention violates a commandment.

Your position is clear.  Put your mouth where your money is.