Flap over chicken chain went too far

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August 10, 2012

Flap over chicken chain went too far

Anonymous Daily Star The Daily Star Fri Aug 10, 2012, 03:25 AM EDT

The thing is ... Chick-fil-A makes a really, really good chicken sandwich.

Not that most local folks would know that, given that there aren't any of that restaurant chain's franchises in our area, but trust us, it's a tasty sandwich.

But since Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy injected his political views into the extremely sensitive subject of gay marriage, we don't hear a lot of debate comparing Chick-fil-A's spicy chicken sandwich with _ say _ Wendy's.

Instead, we hear outrage and vitriol from interest groups and a stream of self-serving nonsense from politicians.

Cathy is a deeply religious man who backs up his beliefs by keeping his 1,608 restaurants closed on Sundays.

Recently, he discussed gay marriage with a Baptist publication and a Christian radio show, and that's when fowl things started to go foul.

Cathy, who has contributed generously to various groups that many consider to be anti-gay, told the radio program:

"I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage."

Putting aside the fact that everyone should be wary of anyone _ no matter what the religion _ who claims to know what the Almighty is thinking, Cathy is certainly entitled to his opinion.

But for those of us who support same-sex marriage and consider opposition to it to be outright discrimination, Cathy's words were deeply offensive.

If that's how we feel, when it comes to Mr. Cathy's business, we can protest, sign petitions, write letters to the newspaper.

Chick-fil-A's corporate headquarters has distanced the company from its president's statements, but if we feel that strongly about Cathy, we should go somewhere else for lunch.

What we shouldn't do, however, is applaud blatant political grandstanding by politicians, including Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, who sent Cathy a letter urging him to cancel plans to open restaurants in the city.

On the opposite side, you had Rush Limbaugh and various Republicans, including Rick Santorum and Lindsey Graham, making sure they were seen posing with Chick-fil-A bags for the cameras.

Should progressives also boycott Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut because David C. Novak, the chairman of its parent company Yum!, is affiliated with the anti-gay Southeast Christian Church?

Where does it stop?

This, after all, is America. Cathy has the right to say what he pleases. We have the right to tell him he's misguided and bigoted and we're not going to eat at his restaurants.

It's all too bad, though. It really is a good chicken sandwich.