Of Chik-fil-A and Tolerance

It's been a long time since I actually blogged in here.  I've thought about it for quite some time, even talked about getting back into.  I just couldn't find that last little "oomph" I needed to push me back into it.  Until recently.  I have tried to restrain myself from conversations and threads and blogs, but I have finally broken.  I just can't stand to read about what Chik-fil-A did or did not say in the news.

At first, I must admit, I found it somewhat amusing.  Not that people were verbally attacking CFA, but that there are still people out there that had/have no idea that it is a Christian-run company.  Regardless of what you do or do not believe in, I had always assumed that this was just common knowledge.  "Oh, it's Sunday.  No Chik-fil-A today."  That, and the constant streaming of CCM and gospel music in the restaurants.  "Dead give-away," I thought.  Nope.  Apparently, it's still surprising people.  Right now, as you're reading this, someone, somewhere JUST found out that Chik-fil-A is run by Christians, and it either praising it or hating it.


But over the past week or so, the stories and comments have escalated.  I'm not talking about the amount of discussion, but the amount of hatred.  So I figured that if I wanted to have an idea of what is actually going on, I'd better start reading.  Well, by now, everyone is probably acquainted with CNN's handling of the story.  But then, I came across an article that called CNN's journalistic integrity into question.  So I decided I'd read the original article for myself.


The article spends most of its time discussing Dan Cathy, his faith, and how it impacts his handling of the business.  You know: wanting to glorify God by giving great customer service; businesses being closed on Sundays vs. open on Sundays; wanting his work ethic to honor God.  In fact, most of the article doesn't even come close to mentioning anything regarding his stance on homosexual marriage.  Then, at the end of the article, we read, 

Some have opposed the company's support of the traditional family. "Well, guilty as charged," said Cathy when asked about the company's position.  "We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.  "We operate as a family business ... our restaurants are typically led by families; some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that," Cathy emphasized.  "We intend to stay the course," he said. "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."

Never once is there a mention of being anti-anything.  No mention of hatred.  No mention of exclusion.  In response to opposition, he simply states what he believes.  He knows that not everyone agrees, but that's what he believes and supports.  He's not telling others what to believe, and he's not condemning people who don't agree with him.  Which drives us to what this whole debacle is truly about: TOLERANCE.


When I hear the word "tolerance" these days, I can't help but think of Inigo Montoya's classic line, "You keep using that word.  I do not think it means what you think it means."  Tolerance used to define people getting along - or, tolerating - each other, despite differing viewpoints on issues.  The two people may not agree, but they can work around their differences.  Today, however, tolerance seems to mean a general, blanket acceptance.  In order to be "tolerant" of someone, you must accept what they do, and must NOT believe it is wrong.  I find it amusing that the article closes with Cathy stating, "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."  Interestingly, it seems that many people who disagree with Cathy are clamoring for a boycott, which seems completely counter to the very notion of tolerance.  In fact, it seems that the people who cry out the most for "tolerance" are usually the most intolerant to anyone who disagrees with them.  


Now, I know that the whole blame and boycott game comes from both liberals and conservatives alike.  But seriously, Muppets are angry because delicious chicken supports old-fashioned families?  This is no longer news.  It's beyond bizarre.  This is just becoming foolishness.