[ctdonath2]

I was sworn to its secrecy, on penalty of my everlasting soul, with the caveat I never ... put beans in it

Ain't chili then.

[B-Chan]

With all due respect: you're from Georgia. Chili is the national dish of Texas. As such, we alone have the right to define authentic chili. And by our definition, chili contains no beans.

Of course, you can make your own "chili" whatever way you wish, and you can even call it "chili", but calling something with beans in it "chili" doesn't make it chili. You can call a turkey vulture a bald eagle all day long, but in reality a turkey vulture is still a turkey vulture.

Chili with beans is "chili" in the same way that gay marriage is "marriage".