chick-fil-a

I decided at the beginning of this week that my Facebook would be, form here on out, completely 100% dedicated to the Olympics. However, with everything going on in the world, I am finding it hard to wholeheartedly devote my thoughts to the greatest sports tradition in the world.

That said, the issue I feel most compelled to comment on is the current drama that has been going on with Chick-Fil-A.

A few things must be said first before I dive into what I think.

I read the remarks- from the source- that were made by the COO of the corporation about his beliefs regarding "traditional family values".

Additionally, I must confess that the beloved chicken restaurant was the first job I ever had and as a result, I became familiar with the corporate culture and ideology. At that time, however, the ideology did not stretch to marriage of any kind, and the main idea behind the company as stressed to me at my orientation, was that of Christianity. I was told, for that reason, it was a company-wide policy (even if specific stores were franchises), that all locations be closed on Sundays to observe the day of rest, or Sabbath, as maintained by the bible and basic Christian dogma.

So, all of these things considered, I have a couple of thoughts.

If you know me at all- which you would have to because I only have about 5 dedicated readers- you know how I feel about gay marriage. I think it is absurd that in a society that has clearly taken a judicial stance on separating religion from social institutions, that the argument of the bible and God's intention for marriage are the arguments that prevent same sex couples from being legally married. Take belief out of it entirely; prayer was removed from public schools so as not to ostracize those that do not espouse traditional values of Christianity, however those values are precisely why gays cannot enjoy a legal union. THAT is the precedence that has been set in our society.

Beyond that, I wholeheartedly support gay marriage and not just for political or judicial reasons. God is the ultimate judge of one's life on earth and I have problem with anyone in any entity that chooses to limit freedoms of other people because of their belief (NOT knowledge) of his intentions. The bible is the Word and I do not dispute that; I dispute a limited interpretation of an ancient text that offers as many contradictions as it does "truths". The bible says "eye for an eye" in one chapter and then, "turn the other cheek" in another. 

Additionally, this nation was founded on the idea that religious belief should not govern a nation-- that's why the freaking pilgrims left England! But here we are. And truly, only as it relates to this issue. Moreover, I know a lot of heterosexual AND homosexual couples, and no one has ever offered me any compelling evidence that there is a difference between their two shared loves. Allowing the gays to get married does not in ANY WAY take away from the legitimacy of a heterosexual union. What those people choose to do with their personal and sexual lives is between them and their partner and God. Not you, not me and not any other person on this earth. The homosexual couples that I know that yearn for the freedom to wed want it not for any other reason than to be able to infinitely and legally assert their commitment to another....essentially the same reason why heterosexuals get married. So the disparity, to me, is ridiculous.

In fact, I downloaded an application on my phone from the Human Rights Campaign- of which I have monetarily supported for more than 4 years now- that identifies the level of inclusion culture within major American corporations. The application gives you the ability to take a look at the stance on GLBT issues that a company has espoused in every category spanning from food to sporting goods. When I first downloaded it, I anticipated I would reference it before I made consumer choices. That hasn't happened as much as I anticipated because I am forgetful, but I digress.

So here comes Chick-Fil-A. And I must confess I am not entirely aware of what context the COO made his statements; I don't know if he was specifically asked about his beliefs or if they just came out by way of an interview. All I know, is that he made them.

And after I first started reading the rhetoric pouring out over social media, my knee-jerk reaction as a gay marriage supporter was to disparage this company. But as the days and weeks have passed, I find myself changing my mind.

This is why:

I have worked in the service industry for the past 5 years. At first, full time, and now only for the summer. I have worked at Chick-Fil-A (in 2000 and 2001) and since 2008, 3 different restaurant with completely different cultures and concepts. I have been privy to the mentality of ownership- be it private or not- and the operating tenets in place as a result of that ideology. And what I can say about the restaurants I have worked for in the past- specifically Snuffer's, Dodie's and MiCocina-  is that making money is king to any other concept. As a result, ALL of those restaurants are opened 365 days a year and operate as early and as late as city laws will allow. To them- holidays mean dollar signs. Sunday's mean dollar signs. Essentially- to them- there is really no legitimate reason to close. Forget the lives of their employees; that being their kids, parents, siblings, etc. The almighty dollar is paramount and the establishments are run accordingly.

But then there is Chick-Fil-A.

The restaurant is IMMENSELY popular. I cannot think of one person that has ever had a disparaging remark to make about it. In fact, I read repeated statuses on Sundays that say something about hating the fact that the restaurant is closed.

And I guess that is why I don't have a HUGE problem with the COO's statements. Yes, I disagree with them completely, but boycott's are ridiculous. This company CHOOSES to be closed on Sunday's. They don't even care about what kind of profit they are losing or risks they are taking. The culture of the company is based on the founder's "Christian beliefs" that include of course, the stance on gay marriage, but also the idea that a business should be closed on Sunday's- and other major religious holidays- out of respect for God's Commandment to "keep holy the Sabbath". The founder has NEVER been silent or shy about his beliefs as it relates to that concept, though I am sure he has had innumerable individuals advise him otherwise. He has never made excuses or apologies for his belief in that sacred ideal and he has stuck to his guns. And I applaud him for that, especially in a culture that engenders the sacrifice of all for profit. He has never wavered.

So is it any real surprise that he holds, "traditional family values"? To anyone paying attention, it shouldn't. But the basis of his company is not exclusion or discrimination-- it is the same value system that has dominated the gay marriage debate for decades. 

So now, everyone wants to boycott because he disclosed that he does not support gay marriage. And I guess I think that is a little absurd. The HRC application that I mentioned earlier ranks companies based upon their corporate rhetoric as it relates to GLBT. There is NOTHING in the Chick-Fil-A company byline that suggests an intolerance for GLBT. The man in charge simply stated an opinion. And it is one I disagree with. But I also disagree that money matters more than holidays or Sunday's or the fellowship at stake in both instances. I disagree with the fact that, in every restaurant I have worked at, "going to church" is not a viable reason to get a day off. Yet this company CHOOSES to forego profit for the same reasons that man doesn't believe in gay marriage. 

There has been a great deal of criticism over the past few weeks about Obama's assertion that any business is nothing more than a result of entrepreneurial predecessors. And I agree with that criticism. And for that reason, that is why I think everyone needs to chill out on Chick-Fil-A. No savvy business leader would ever advise or support taking a day off a week for ANY reason, yet this company does...unabashedly.

What I am getting at is that this company is who they are; they have never tried to assert themselves as anything but or pander to common opinion. And that is admirable in a society and economy where the status quo is to  do anything and tell anyone and everyone what they want to hear. Sure, they have limited beliefs about a controversial issue, but they are who they are and they have never tried to be anything but. It would be like expecting an Olympic devotee to admit that the Super Bowl is the most superior event in sports. It's not going to happen because- all "right" or "wrong" aside- it directly contradicts their beliefs. That's how I feel about Chick-Fil-A. In good, and bad ways, they believe what they believe and they aren't afraid to claim it.

And I guess, in a world where people are more concerned about money or popularity and are willing to sacrifice anything and everything in that pursuit, I have a hard time faulting someone for their values...even if I disagree with them.