Chik fil-a...freedom of speech or intolerance?

[TheHuntress]

The Koran and Torah have been around just as long as the Bible, yet no one on this thread is bringing up how outdated they are.

Because this thread isn't about either of them. It's about a Christian bigot.

 

[The Dark King]

This.

And again, I always want to ask these people.... if you showed up in a hospital and a doctor said they only used a medical reference papyrus from Ancient Egypt, wouldn't you think that was RIDICULOUS and INSANE? So, WHY, I ask you, are people still holding onto this ridiculous, inane fucking storybook?!

You want to believe in a higher being, fine. Go ahead. You want to believe that if you eat meat on Fridays during Lent, your soul will burn a in torrent of holy hellfire, rock out those crab legs.

However, you do not, under any circumstances, get to tell my friends or family they can't get married based on some bullshit hypothesis from a few stories written thousands of years ago. I know the concept of evolution has been argued about for forever, but this is simply getting ridiculous.

Also, several other businesses that I will never patronize again...(courtesy of one of my FB friends)

A-1 Self Storage Company: Terry Caster is the owner. It is a family (third generation) run company. They have over 40 locations in California. The Californians Against Hate blog reports: “Mr. Caster and his family have contributed $693,000 to the Protect Marriage campaign. That makes the Casters the 2nd largest individual donors to Yes on Prop 8.” [GuyDads]

AutoZone Inc: Does not offer domestic partner benefits to their employees. The company can discriminate against and exclude same-sex couples in ways they can't do to opposite-sex (married) couples. A Fortune 500 company. [HRC buyers guide]

CBRL Group Inc. (Cracker Barrel restaurants) Operates 579 full-service Cracker Barrel restaurants and gift shops in 41 states. The business has a long history of discriminating against gays and blacks, both as employees and dinners. It had an HR policy from 1991 until 2002 that said "It is inconsistent with our concept and values, and is perceived to be inconsistent with those of our customer base, to continue to employ individuals in our operating units whose sexual preferences fail to demonstrate normal heterosexual values.” Seventeen workers were fired because they admitted or were assumed to be gay after the first few months that the policy was created. [Wikipedia] A spokesperson in 2008 said Cracker Barrel “welcomes all guests, and our equal opportunity employment statement clearly states that we will not tolerate discrimination based on sexual orientation." However, it does not offer diversity training, domestic partner benefits or any support for their GLBT employees. It has a Corporate Equality Index score of 15/100. [HRC]

Chick-Fil-A: (fast-food restaurant chain) Provided monetary (almost $2M) and in-kind donations directly and through it’s charitable arm, the WinShape Foundation, to virtually all of the major organizations fighting against marriage equality and GLBT rights. These groups include the Marriage & Family Legacy Fund, a group devoted to opposing same-sex marriage, Focus On The Family, The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Family Research Council, and Exodus International. [Change.org]

Cinemark: Alan Stock, Cinemark’s CEO, gave $9,999 to the "Yes on 8" (Protectmarriage.com) campaign. Cinemark has 2700 movie screens in North and South America. In northern California they mainly operate under Century, CinéArts and Cinedome name. [GuyDads]

Domino’s Pizza: While Domino’s does not directly contribute to anti-gay activity, founder Tom Monaghan has contributed heavily to initiatives and organizations that oppose the rights of GLBTs. He is a co-founder of the Thomas More Law Center, which is advocating in court to restrict access to domestic partner benefits, and in 2001 financed a ballot proposal in Ypsilanti, MI to remove sexual orientation from that city’s non-discrimination ordinance. David Brandon, the current board chair, also opposes gay marriage. The current CEO, Patrick Doyle, donates to conservative and Republican causes which are known for their anti-gay stances. [RedeyeChicago]

ExxonMobil: Eliminated domestic-partner benefits for same-sex partners when the two companies merged in 1999. It is the largest Fortune 500 company that does not offer domestic-partner benefits. It also refuses to ban discrimination based on orientation and gender identity. [HRC buyers guide]

Gold’s Gym is another company that betrays LGBT people. It has a huge gay membership and markets itself as gay-friendly. But the billionaire CEO that owns Gold’s Gym, Robert Rowling, is a major supporter of a new political organization, American Crossroads, run by Karl Rove. Rowling reportedly gave them $2 million through both his corporate and personal accounts. The organization funds anti-gay candidates around the country such as Sharon Angle who said homosexuality would lead to the destruction of the United States, and called gay people "sodomites" and "perverts." Another recipient was Rep. Roy Blunt in Missouri, who has voted against the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA), in favor of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and is in favor of banning gay adoptions in Washington, D.C. [Change.org]

Golfland Entertainment Centers: The Kenneys, the family that owns and runs this business, were big donors to the “Yes on H8”. Together they contributed over $35,000 to take rights away from gays, lesbians and their families. They run a chain of family fun centers in California and Arizona. [GuyDads]

Insure.com (online insurance quote-comparison portal): The Company is a major sponsor of Bill O’Reilly’s radio talk show and Bill gives voice to their commercial. In addition to selling insurance, they provide information about the insurance industry. In an article on the business website entitled “Top five ways to kill yourself and get away with it”, They lists the number one way to kill yourself: “1. Being gay.”
[boxturtlebullentin.com]

Meijer Inc. (Retail supercenter) Owns 180 huge grocery and general merchandise stores in the Midwest. It is a family owned business. The only good thing to be said about Meijer is "they don't engage, that we know of, in any activity that would undermine the goals of equal rights for GLBT people," said Jay Smith Brown, a previous HRC director for communication strategies. It has a very low Corporate Equality Index score of 15/100. It does not offer diversity training, domestic partner benefits or any support for their GLBT employees. [HRC]

OutsidePride.com: Sounds like gay banner website but, in fact, is an on-line seed and lawn care retailer. Troy Hake, the president of Outside Pride, sent a homophobic manifesto to the participants of his company's email list, trying to rally them in a full-on campaign against "the whole CBS homosexual cartel". He says he is not a bigot but is tired of homosexuals rewriting history. [The Consumerist]

Request Foods: A frozen-food maker and supplier to Campbell’s Soup works hard to keep civil rights away from gays and lesbians in their community. In a political ad they ran to defeat a local nondiscrimination policy, they accuse gay people of being psychologically disordered, suggest that people can spontaneously change their sexual orientation, and argue that gays and lesbians don't deserve civil rights because homosexuality is destructive to society. Request Foods president Jack DeWitt has also contributed thousands to the hate group Family Research Council's political action committee. [Change.org]

Salvation Army: This “non-profit” religious organization is anti-gay and actively lobbies against pro-gay legislation in the US and abroad. The money you put in that red kettle is going to anti-gay evangelical Christian lobbyists. They believe that since they're a "church" they have the right to not hire gay people because they are sinners. Salvation Army reserves the right to discriminate in hiring, promoting, and firing gay people, and in the benefits they provide their employees. And they come right out and admit that "practicing homosexuals" are not welcome in the "church." [americablog.com]

Urban Outfitters: Richard Hayne, the Chairman of the hipsterish Urban Outfitters, is a notably right-wing Republican who generously supports GOP candidates and causes that vote for legislation against gay marriage. His company also operates stores under Free People and Anthropologie name.
NOTE: Glen Senk, the CEO of the parent company, Urban Outfitters, Inc., is an openly gay man who has been in a committed relationship for over 30 years. However, Richard Hayne is still the founder and current chairman and does indeed have a record for supporting right-wing Republicans who are against abortion and gay rights. [NYMag]

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.: Does not offer domestic partner benefits except in locations required by law. Wal-Mart is the largest retail seller of books but refuses to carry any LGBT titles in their stores. [HRC buyers guide] However, they do sell an "ex-gay" children's book. [Edge] Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke and his wife signed petitions to ban adoption for same-sex couples in Arkansas. [KnowThyNeighbor.org]

I'm with you on everyone except Salvation Army. They really helped me with my hats and gloves program last year. We gave out over a 1000 hats and gloves in my area through them last year.

 

[TheHuntress]

I'm with you on everyone except Salvation Army. They really helped me with my hats and gloves program last year. We gave out over a 1000 hats and gloves in my area through them last year.

That's great, DK. However, that's the reality of their organization. Knowing that, I will never again throw my spare change in the red kettle.

Never.

 

[andreboba]

The point really went right over your head. Please don't talk to me about understanding the Bible in context. That's been my battle cry throughout this forum.

Btw, if I, as a Christian who holds similar views to Dan Cathy, am intolerant because I support biblical values, what are you (and others) when you open-minded liberals bash my beliefs, hmmmm? Pot, meet kettle.

What do your personal faith beliefs have to do with the law and civil rights???
It's the idea that some Christians believe they have the RIGHT to impose their beliefs on all of society that's the problem.

And for the record, I think anyone who interprets Mark 10 as Christ reaffirming traditional marriage as only between a man and woman is reaching because that wasn't what was being discussed at all.

And yet nearly every Christian I know believes that divorce is allowed according to the Bible and NOT a form of adultery.

Go figure.

 

[Morning Star]

Can't help it. It strikes me that people would rather look to fear than straddle their lives in hope. Besides, the constructive aspects on this thread are being done by Huntress and andreboba. I'll just take the hard-line approach and keep at it.

Thank you and goodnight.

MS, you've made your thoughts perfectly clear again and again and again, in this thread alone, on the fact that you don't believe in the Bible. That's fine. Please refrain from continuing to say these types of things. There is no need.

Thank you.

 

[Morning Star]

False equivalency. If we just let you loose cannons espouse bigoted behavior and just pass it off as free speech because gay rights is still a controversial, then you all are just basking in hypocritical behavior.

This is a secular democracy and in the real world, everybody deserves the right to pursue happiness.

The point really went right over your head. Please don't talk to me about understanding the Bible in context. That's been my battle cry throughout this forum.

Btw, if I, as a Christian who holds similar views to Dan Cathy, am intolerant because I support biblical values, what are you (and others) when you open-minded liberals bash my beliefs, hmmmm? Pot, meet kettle.

 

[Morning Star]

 

[Bliss]

...WHY, I ask you, are people still holding onto this ridiculous, inane fucking storybook?!

You want to believe in a higher being, fine....

However, you do not, under any circumstances, get to tell my friends or family they can't get married based on some bullshit hypothesis from a few stories written thousands of years ago.

Question: Why would your (gay) friends and family want to get married then? If it's such a bullshit hypothesis from a fairytale book as you say, isn't marriage a farce then?

(I know, "for the benefits"). Seriously, why do they even want to partake in a thousands year old custom/ ancient ceremony with roots deeply imbedded in religion, that was specifically created for a man and woman?


*The first marriage recorded (Biblical)

Adam married Eve....Genesis 2:23, 24.
...

Anthropologist's version...

The first recorded evidence of marriage ceremonies uniting one woman and one man dates from about 2350 B.C., in Mesopotamia.

 

[andreboba]

Question: Why would your (gay) friends and family want to get married then? If it's such a bullshit hypothesis from a fairytale book as you say, isn't marriage a farce then?

(I know, "for the benefits"). Seriously, why do they even want to partake in a thousands year old custom/ ancient ceremony with roots deeply imbedded in religion, that was specifically created for a man and woman?


*The first marriage recorded (Biblical)
Anthropologist's version...

Marriage is a Western cultural institution endorsed and sanctioned by the state. A marriage can be a religious ceremony, but as far as the state is concerned, marriage is a secular custom.

Every kid grows up thinking getting married is what you aspire to do as an adult. I assume when gay people where children, they shared this dream too.

 

[Alinoa]

Man, when I got married, I was so stoked to be getting the "benefits" that came with that shit.

NOT.

Marriage does not have to be defined in a religious way only.
And Christianity is NOT the first (shocking, I know!) or only way to define marriage.

We are by nature a companionship species. We seek companionship as part of our make-up. This does not only include companionship between two ADULTS who CONSENT to make that companionship sexual (gasp!).

People get married for many different reasons. For some, it does boil down to "benefits".
For others it's because they love each other and want to share a committed life together.

Religion should never dictate the laws of state.

Never, ever, ever. It is dangerous to do so.

"we will discriminate against adults based on who they sleep with" said none of the founding fathers ever.

 

[Bliss]

Marriage is a Western cultural institution endorsed and sanctioned by the state. A marriage can be a religious ceremony, but as far as the state is concerned, marriage is a secular custom.

Every kid grows up thinking getting married is what you aspire to do as an adult. I assume when gay people where children, they shared this dream too.

I think we are all familiar with separation of Church and State and that marriage is contract to the Government, however let's be clear -- its roots and origin do not lay in Government. All the government did was begin sanctioning /granting license for it, particularly since the Govt became responsible for the welfare of the (mostly) resultant of marriage, which are offsprings.

I personally completely understand Gays demanding and expecting identical benefits - and they should have them, my goodness......At the same time, I feel the many centuries old, across the world, multi-religioned institution of marriage and what it stands for deserves respect also. It's something that wont be altered overnight, that's for sure.

I also think that if tomorrow the Government afforded Gay couples identical rights - but created a different name for it...they would still reject it.

 

[ReginaStar]

Marriage existed long before Christianity ever did. Marriage exist through out the entire world and came any many different ways. No religion or ethnic groups owns marriage.