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A public uproar took place in this summer, when Chick-fil-A Chief Operating Officer Dan Cathy spoke out against same-sex marriage, rooting in favor of a “traditional” American family.
Many same-sex marriage, LGBT groups, and supporters protested and boycotted Chick-fil-A for their stance on this issue, and recently, Elon University, a small university in North Carolina, has voted to ban Chick Fil-A from its campus. In addition, the student senate at Richard Stockton College in Galloway, N.J., will decide whether it will end its university's relationship with the fast food corporation.
What is this accomplishing? Chick-fil-A has seen little decline in sales since the original statements were made, so a few universities giving the restaurant chain the boot certainly will not open eyes for the organization.
Chick Fil-A stated about gay marriage is protected under the First Amendment’s freedom of speech clause.
Even though I am in favor of same-sex marriage, and I have written articles online in the past to aid the cause, freedom of speech and freedom of the press are the top causes I advocate for.
I don’t support what Cathy and other members of the organization have stated, but I will defend with my last breath their right to express that opinion. This is the reason why I became an opinions columnist to begin with.
Think of it this way: as much as same-sex couples have the right to get married in the United States, Chick-fil-A has every right to rally against it. That does not make it right or wrong; it is their choice to state their views.
Cathy and the rest of the organization probably do not care how it impacts their sales — they wanted to influence the public with their opinion, no matter what the repercussions. That fact makes what they did admirable. It does not mean I agree with their stance, but merely sharing their opinion openly was — in every sense — brave.
Virginia Tech has a Chick-fil-A on campus in Hokie Grill, and from what I hear, it is one of the most popular food chains on campus. Even as a supporter of the rights of same-sex couples, I eat there at least three times a week, but that does not mean I am for or against their cause.
I like their food, and it is quick and convenient between classes — It is as plain and simple as that. I am sure I am not the only supporter of same-sex marriage that happens to purchase lunch from Chick-fil-A on campus. Therefore, I do not foresee one of Hokie Grill’s biggest contributors going anywhere.
In reality, some people just need to let words roll off of their shoulders. There are millions of people, nationwide, that do not agree with Chick-fil-A’s stance on same-sex marriage. There are also millions that agree with them.
What people need to absorb is that it is just an opinion. Sure, it may not sound fair, but Cathy had every right to state it. It was his choice to share his two cents on the issue, and he made the choice to deal with the consequences and backlash from it.
As much as I disagree with Chick-fil-A’s stance, I know what it is like to receive backlash for my opinion. I’m sure I will be the target of many readers’ disdain toward my views on this issue.
However, there is one thing this article and the statements put out by Chick-fil-A have in common: protection under the First Amendment.
A version of this article appeared in the Nov 29 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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Mr. Turk doesn't really get it. "What people need to absorb is that it is just an opinion. Sure, it may not sound fair, but Cathy had every right to state it." If being agains gay marriage is just an opinion, then that opinion has manifested itself into real, tangible laws that discriminate against an entire class of people based on their sex and sexual orientation, but that isn't what Mr. Turk doesn't get.
What Mr. Turk doesn't get is that nobody is complaining about Chick-Fil-A for stating it's opinion (however ignorant). It is the content of what Chick-Fil-A has said in combination with the actual, discriminatory laws that exist. That is the offense.
It would be interesting to know how many of its Chicken-Eating-Bigot-Dollars have made their way into the pockets of the forces that seek to ban our marriage rights.
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However, it is the organization's money and it is their right to donate to those groups; not your right to tell them how to spend their money. For the first time, I can say I actually agree with the writer. haha
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When was gay marriage ever legal? This is a new concept.
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They donate millions to anti-gay organizations and denegrade gay people. No one disputes their right to say it, people are angry that their opinion is hateful and intolerant. Being tolerant of intolerance does not make someone a tolerant person.
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Their opinion isn't hateful. You're just an idiot for equalizing disagreement with a policy and hatred.
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So you're for Chick-fil-A's right to express its opinion, but not the multitudes of former customers' right to express theirs (by choosing to not spend money at that establishment)?
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I'm sure the writer does support people not eating at Chick Fil-A in protest, but he and I both know it just isn't getting any message through to the organization. They aren't losing much from it. But protest is somewhat a stretch on Freedom of Petition also under the First Amendment.
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Is the campus Chick Fil A still in operation? It's been a while since I went to VT. If it still is, I bet it gets shut down soon by the forces of the Left wing gestapo.
How long before your "free speech" will lead you to harass customers at Chick Fil A locations?
It is clear that truly backwards people can not function without lawyer/police state muscle bringing straight, white, Christian males into line.
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God your comment just reeks of privilege.
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You speak of privledge as though it is a bad thing. It is normal to resent people who have it, if you don't have very much of it.
It is also normal to defend your way of life. The problem is, a lot of straight, whatever colored, Christian males still think you Lefties play fair.
You guys never really did understand how the censored mainstream media propped up your position and still props it up today.
In the future you will be cursing that G** D***ed Internet at the top of your lungs for giving a voice to people you wished had remained silent.
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You suck at trolling. Way too obvious, not enough subtlety.
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This writer = hypocrite, hands down. Supports gays rights, eats Chick Fil-A, writes in support, actions against. And so on.
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"Oh looks like our 'strategy' ain't working. Lets get some delicious chicken sandwiches." No. It's the principle of the thing.
And to the person that talks about the next step being harassment...just go back to eating your waffle fries, you dope.
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There is a lot of misinformation and extreme exaggeration about Chick-fil-A supporting what some refer to as "hate groups". CFA only donated $1000 to Family Research Council, not the millions that some have claimed. In recent years, CFA has donated over $68 million to all charitable causes. The donation to FRC represents only 0.0014705% of CFA's donations. Chick-fil-A does a lot of good for schools and communities. I fully support CFA!!!
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There is a lot of misinformation and extreme exaggeration about Chick-fil-A supporting what some refer to as "hate groups". CFA only donated $1000 to Family Research Council, not the millions that some have stated. In recent years, CFA has donated over $68 million to all charitable causes. The donation to FRC represents only 0.0014705% of CFA's donations. Chick-fil-A does a lot of good for schools and communities. I fully support CFA!!!
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what i would do for a soup full of poop
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This article is pure HORSE SH*T and lies. Dan Cathy wasn't being boycotted due to his statement about opposite sex martiage. He donated 5 million to HATE GROUPS which fund "CURING" homosexuality, and Kill The Gays in Uganda.
If you are going to write on the issue, I recommend you actually ask a gay or lesbian the FACTS.
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This article is pure HORSE SH*T and lies. Dan Cathy wasn't being boycotted due to his statement about opposite sex martiage. He donated 5 million to HATE GROUPS which fund "CURING" homosexuality, and Kill The Gays in Uganda.
If you are going to write on the issue, I recommend you actually ask a gay or lesbian the FACTS.
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Ryan Turk isn't condoning Cathy's actions. He's statin that what he has said on the subject is protected under the first ammendment, not his actions. And many did boycott chick fil-a after what he said. I say you are the on who needs to look up facts.
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Dude move on
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