Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Chickening Out? (Enough of Chic filet)
Townhall.com ^ | November 22, 2019 | Robert Knight

Posted on 11/26/2019 7:24:57 AM PST by Kaslin

Chick-fil-A has long been an oasis for families seeking escape from an ever-colder, cynical world.  

It’s not just the delicious chicken sandwiches. It’s the background Christian music, the incredibly friendly staff and, yes, knowing you can support a company that’s held firm in the face of relentless pressure from the left.  Or so we thought.

The bullying began in 2011, when an LGBTQ group called for a boycott of the chicken chain because it had sponsored a marriage seminar conducted by the Pennsylvania Family Institute, an affiliate of Family Research Council and Focus on the Family.  

In 2012, company President Dan Cathy stated in an interview that he believed marriage was created by God as the union of one man and one woman. “Guilty as charged,” he said half-jokingly. 

LGBTQ groups went ballistic. They held a nationwide boycott, which fizzled in the face of a far larger “buycott” that created block-long lines on Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day. Then-Fox News anchor Shepard Smith showed his own pro-gay stripes at the time by gratuitously slamming it as the “National Day of Intolerance.”

Despite massive support, Chick-fil-A caved, quietly defunding any group that the LGBTQ bullies deemed as cultural opponents, such as Family Research Council. But Chick-fil-A kept funding Christian charities like the Salvation Army, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and the Paul Anderson Youth Home in Georgia, which was founded with aid from Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy. 

In 2018, the Chick-fil-A Foundation donated $115,000 to the Salvation Army and $1.65 million to the FCA, according to an IRS tax form reported at Bisnow.com. However, Daniel Greenfield at Frontpagemag.com reported that Rodney D. Bullard, the Foundation’s executive director, had donated to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and that the Chick-Fil-A Foundation has sent $2 million to left-wing groups. Surprise.  

When Chick-fil-A recently announced that some of its charitable agreements were expiring and that they were restructuring their giving, all hell broke loose. Chick-fil-A Foundation would henceforth give more to local charities that assist with “education, homelessness and hunger,” the company said. They cited Junior Achievement (JA) and Covenant House, with no mention of the Salvation Army, FCA or the Anderson Home. 

JA teaches kids the principles of business success and lacks no corporate support. Covenant House offers shelter and programs for homeless, runaway and trafficked youth. 

OK, but the Salvation Army has been doing this effectively for decades. Here’s the difference. Covenant House has earned the stamp of approval from True Colors United, a pro-gay group that celebrates Pride Month and other pro-LGBTQ events and demands “affirmation,” not just tolerance.  And there’s much more.  Covenant House actually sponsored a float in New York City’s Pride parade and is fully onboard the LGBTQ juggernaut. 

The Salvation Army, which discriminates against none and welcomes homeless “LGBTQ youth,” maintains its biblical, denominational belief in marriage as God created it. 

Ironically, the Salvation Army has bent over backwards to accommodate LGBTQ activists, even extending marital benefits to same-sex couples. But they’ve not genuflected fully to the gay Baals, so they must be punished as a “hate group.”   

In any event, appeasement never works. LGBTQ pressure groups have already made more demands. They want Chick-fil-A to recite Mao-like recantations of their beliefs and denounce Focus on the Family and other Christian groups that once enjoyed Chick-fil-A funding. They are following the script of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has wrongly and recklessly listed as “hate groups” many Christian organizations that promote biblical morality.

Make no mistake. This is not about these charities or even Chick-fil-A. It’s about intimidating everyone who won’t surrender to the LGBTQ mob’s increasingly aggressive bullying. 

Several liberal mayors have moved to bar Chick-fil-A from opening in their cities. Numerous campuses, spouting “inclusion,” have banned Chick-fil-A. The company recently had to close down a new store in Reading, England, in the face of the LGBTQ mobs there. This is the criminalization of Christianity before our very eyes.

Despite company denials, this is seen widely as a surrender to the LGBTQ rage mob. An American Family Association petition to Chick-fil-A quickly drew nearly 100,000 signatures. The text says in part: “it looks like you are abandoning Christian values and agreeing with homosexual activists who say believing the Bible makes you a hater. Please clarify that you still hold to biblical teachings regarding human sexuality, marriage, and family, and reinstate these Christian ministries.”

The apparently unjustified perception that they were sticking to their values certainly did not hurt the chain. Chick-fil-A has doubled its revenue and is now the third-largest fast-food chain in America. With annual sales exceeding $11 billion, the company is proof that you can prosper in the face of mob pressure. Until you don’t.

Franklin Graham, perhaps the most prominent evangelical leader in America, and no “evangellyfish,” said he talked with Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy personally and was assured that the company was not giving in to the LGBTQ mob. Mr. Cathy owes Mr. Graham an apology. 

Those of us who have loved Chick-fil-A over the years sincerely hope that they heed the outcry and reverse course – quickly.

If you cut deals with the Left, don’t be surprised when they come back within minutes, munching a chicken sandwich and saying, “What have you done for me lately?” 


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: bertclueless; bertcuck; bertjackass; chickfila; salvationarmy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-77 next last
To: Chauncey Gardiner
They...cast a shadow over two fine organizations, The Salvation Army and Fellowship of Christian athletes.

To me, that was especially despicable and egregious.

41 posted on 11/26/2019 8:59:45 AM PST by Fiji Hill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: aquila48
(Also...being family friendly DOES NOT mean being anti LBGTQRS).

But most LGBTQRSers are NOT family friendly, definitely not traditional family friendly.

Completely agree.

Fact remains, Chick-Fil-A restaurants are still the most family friendly restaurants. But being family friendly does not mean that they discriminate against anyone who is LGBTQ.

Problem is, that for liberals, unless you PROMOTE all their social stances, then in their eyes you're against them.

Thus, for liberals, because traditional family values DOES NOT PROMOTE their stance, they aim to destroy it.

42 posted on 11/26/2019 9:04:32 AM PST by mountn man (The Pleasure You Get From Life, Is Equal To The Attitude You Put Into It)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: deport

Interesting.


43 posted on 11/26/2019 9:07:15 AM PST by Big Red Badger (Despised by the Despicable!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
In all honesty, I tried eating there. Twice. Their food is mediocre. At best.

Then again, I only eat fast food a few times a year anyway.

44 posted on 11/26/2019 9:14:16 AM PST by LouAvul
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VanDeKoik
“All that matters to conservative purists is that their narrominded view is reflected toward hatred to the offensive chicken purveyor. It doesn’t matter that the company is a Christian business. It has offended the sensibilities and must therefore be hated and condemned”

All you have to say is: “I dont care. I will still give them my money because I can still feel good if I just dont think about it.

It’s your choice, but dont act like people here need to be shamed in order to give you cover.

And yet, this is a public forum, where most people are choosing to voice their decision not to patronize a company, simply because they don't toe the accepted party line. Bert likewise, is voicing his opinion, correctly pointing out the purists hatred directed at CFA.

It's you who is trying to shame "bert", by basically trying to tell him to shut up or toe the party line.

45 posted on 11/26/2019 9:17:35 AM PST by mountn man (The Pleasure You Get From Life, Is Equal To The Attitude You Put Into It)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Agatsu77

be careful getting in line at Popeyes.


46 posted on 11/26/2019 9:23:30 AM PST by olesigh
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: mountn man

“And yet, this is a public forum, where most people are choosing to voice their decision not to patronize a company, simply because they don’t toe the accepted party line. “

So? That has nothing to do with what I said.

Like I will repeat. Go keep giving them your business. If none of those things people are leaving them over meet your standards as a reason to, then just say so. Dont scream at us like we are the dumb ones and erect strawmen.

If you are embarrassed about it, then that’s not my problem. But it is your money, so go have your sandwich.


47 posted on 11/26/2019 9:26:47 AM PST by VanDeKoik
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Saruthe

Keeping up with boycotts and which company is doing what is a losing proposition.

But news stories gives me pause and they are hard to keep up with. I’m near a Popeyes and a Chic F. I can go to Popeyes because i don’t know their politics. If i hear CF gives to SA, then I will go back. If Popeyes turn their colors too Rainbow, then I will be really confused. Hard to keep up.

I haven’t been to Target in a few years wondering if I might inadvertently go into the wrong bathroom. I don’t even know what their current practice is.

Life can get complicated if you make decisions base don the politics of the company.


48 posted on 11/26/2019 9:29:13 AM PST by olesigh
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Popeye’s Chicken sammich is as good, if not better than CFA.
I vote. When possible with my pocketbook.....


49 posted on 11/26/2019 9:31:11 AM PST by magyars4
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VanDeKoik

You miss the point.

It is EVERYONE else who is making the point of hating CFA.

Bert (and I) are just pointing out the liberalesque view of toeing the party line.

No strawmen involved.

You’re the one, basically saying, “keep your opinions to yourself. If you want to eat there, do so. But don’t point out to us how we are attacking/boycotting a company because they don’t toe our line (which no other restaurant chain does either)”


50 posted on 11/26/2019 9:36:45 AM PST by mountn man (The Pleasure You Get From Life, Is Equal To The Attitude You Put Into It)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Westbrook

Chick-Fail-A
Brand destruction in real time.


51 posted on 11/26/2019 9:47:32 AM PST by ptsal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: VanDeKoik

Christians hating Conservative Christians is not a good thing


52 posted on 11/26/2019 10:16:25 AM PST by bert ( (KE. NP. N.C. +12) Progressives are existential American enemies)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Who gives a crap about a fast food joint ?


53 posted on 11/26/2019 10:16:36 AM PST by Truthoverpower (The guvmint you get is the Trump winning express !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

The sodomites will never let them off the hook. You watch: They’ll demand that 20 to 25% of their staffing will have to be sodomites, they’ll probably have to have cross dressers at their counters (I’m sure Ru Paul will be available), and they might even have to name a sandwich or two in some trendy woke name.

Sorry, Chic=Betrayed, I’ve take my business elsewhere.


54 posted on 11/26/2019 10:23:07 AM PST by laweeks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: laweeks

As have I.


55 posted on 11/26/2019 10:29:36 AM PST by sport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: mountn man

“keep your opinions to yourself.”

Well let me see where I said that.

“All you have to say is: “I dont care. I will still give them my money because I can still feel good if I just dont think about it.

It’s your choice, but dont act like people here need to be shamed in order to give you cover.”

Nope....I dont remember that part either.


56 posted on 11/26/2019 10:31:32 AM PST by VanDeKoik
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: bert

I dont hate them personally, I just dont really want their product anymore.

But if they come out on top, then good for them. In the end they are here to make money.


57 posted on 11/26/2019 10:33:36 AM PST by VanDeKoik
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: bert

You can have my share too.


58 posted on 11/26/2019 10:36:08 AM PST by sport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Ikeon

Dumb! If you have issue with this then you can’t go out to eat, grocery store, regular store, etc. I would imagine NONE give to anti-gay groups. In fact, you should probably just pack it in. Your done!


59 posted on 11/26/2019 10:41:08 AM PST by napscoordinator (Trump/Hunter, jr for President/Vice President 2016)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Jane Long

Same situation with W and Ellen. People of all beliefs are nuts.


60 posted on 11/26/2019 10:43:23 AM PST by napscoordinator (Trump/Hunter, jr for President/Vice President 2016)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-77 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson