We are married to our first wives
July 18, 2012 6:48 PM Subscribe
In an interview published yesterday, Dan Cathy, president of Chick-Fil-A, tells the Baptist Press that Chick-Fil-A is "very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit." Also this week, Cathy told radio host Ken Coleman "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." This is a change in Chick-Fil-A's corporate position; in 2011, responding to criticism that the company and its charitable arm, the WinShape Foundation, support organizations that work against LGBT rights and marriage equality, Cathy stated that the company "will not champion any political agendas on marriage and family." Chick-Fil-A is a fast food chain of franchises that operates in 39 US states; in 2011, annual sales exceeded $4 billion USD. The company is privately held.
Duncadunc there's one at the end of my street. I'll not eat there for both of us.
posted by toodleydoodley at 6:54 PM on July 18, 2012 [37 favorites]
posted by toodleydoodley at 6:54 PM on July 18, 2012 [37 favorites]
dunkadunc: "I regret that I live somewhere where I can't make a point of not eating at Chick-Fil-A."
Yes! We were at a mall this weekend (not entirely voluntarily) and I was so glad that my younger daughter asked me why that restaurant was closed on Sunday: what they call nowadays a teaching moment.
posted by theredpen at 6:55 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
Yes! We were at a mall this weekend (not entirely voluntarily) and I was so glad that my younger daughter asked me why that restaurant was closed on Sunday: what they call nowadays a teaching moment.
posted by theredpen at 6:55 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
As if there weren't already plenty of reasons to not eat there, here's another one.
posted by blaneyphoto at 6:56 PM on July 18, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by blaneyphoto at 6:56 PM on July 18, 2012 [8 favorites]
Mod note: fixed the typo, carry on
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:56 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:56 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's the difference you'll abhore?
posted by running order squabble fest at 6:58 PM on July 18, 2012
posted by running order squabble fest at 6:58 PM on July 18, 2012
In denial over the possibility of Chick-Fil-Atio.
posted by twoleftfeet at 6:59 PM on July 18, 2012 [13 favorites]
posted by twoleftfeet at 6:59 PM on July 18, 2012 [13 favorites]
First Waffle House, now this. Perhaps the cure for obesity is to transfer ownership of all fast-food chains to religious asshats.
posted by moammargaret at 6:59 PM on July 18, 2012 [22 favorites]
posted by moammargaret at 6:59 PM on July 18, 2012 [22 favorites]
In the town we used to live in, the local cfa was forced to sell his franchise back to the parent company because he "married" in a non_legal sense because gay marriages are unrecognized here, his lifetime partner, and someone rattted him out to the CEO. They said he could either sell the franchise back, or they would cut off his supply chain.
I was at the ceremony and it was beautiful. They are such lovely wonderful people who did so much for the community. I will never, as long as I control my finances, give money to chick-fil-a again. Fuck them and the cows they rode in on.
posted by dejah420 at 7:00 PM on July 18, 2012 [76 favorites]
I was at the ceremony and it was beautiful. They are such lovely wonderful people who did so much for the community. I will never, as long as I control my finances, give money to chick-fil-a again. Fuck them and the cows they rode in on.
posted by dejah420 at 7:00 PM on July 18, 2012 [76 favorites]
Just last week my niece taught me how to make Chick-Fil-A sandwiches when we discussed why we didn't want to support them, but sometimes craved the chicken sandwich. Here it is. Just remember to cut the salt to 2 tsp, not 2 tbsp.
posted by Isadorady at 7:00 PM on July 18, 2012 [39 favorites]
posted by Isadorady at 7:00 PM on July 18, 2012 [39 favorites]
People who drone on about the biblical definition of marriage really need to read their bibles.
posted by Jimbob at 7:01 PM on July 18, 2012 [13 favorites]
posted by Jimbob at 7:01 PM on July 18, 2012 [13 favorites]
There's a more insider view of what's going on in this Atlanta Magazine commentary published just today from the excellent ATL writer Wyatt Williams:
The president of Chick-fil-A, the College Park, Ga based fast food chain, has been on something of a public relations tour lately. Has Dan Cathy been talking about how delicious their fried chicken sandwiches are? Has he been arguing for the virtues of waffle fries over standard fries? No, he's just been talking about same-sex marriage and how much he doesn't like it. ... While the company has been quietly funding anti-gay organizations for awhile now, Cathy seems to have chosen this moment to come out against it like that crazy uncle who won't shut up at family reunions and makes it impossible for anyone to enjoy their fried chicken ... the company has chosen to equate it's brand with a political postion. That choice is an explicit invitation for customers vote on that position with their pocketbooks.
Normally when I see this kind of race-to-the-bottom rabble-rousing crap, I assume that he's just another huckster gunning for the big money in the rightwing nutjob speech circuit (see Palin, Coulter, Wurtzelbacher, Bachman, Cain, etc.) but the Cathys are already stinking rich, so I don't know what the motive is here. But it certainly isn't moral. At that level, it never is. But if he doesn't cut it out this will be the last straw that get me off my regular #2 meal at CFA ...
posted by intermod at 7:02 PM on July 18, 2012 [6 favorites]
The president of Chick-fil-A, the College Park, Ga based fast food chain, has been on something of a public relations tour lately. Has Dan Cathy been talking about how delicious their fried chicken sandwiches are? Has he been arguing for the virtues of waffle fries over standard fries? No, he's just been talking about same-sex marriage and how much he doesn't like it. ... While the company has been quietly funding anti-gay organizations for awhile now, Cathy seems to have chosen this moment to come out against it like that crazy uncle who won't shut up at family reunions and makes it impossible for anyone to enjoy their fried chicken ... the company has chosen to equate it's brand with a political postion. That choice is an explicit invitation for customers vote on that position with their pocketbooks.
Normally when I see this kind of race-to-the-bottom rabble-rousing crap, I assume that he's just another huckster gunning for the big money in the rightwing nutjob speech circuit (see Palin, Coulter, Wurtzelbacher, Bachman, Cain, etc.) but the Cathys are already stinking rich, so I don't know what the motive is here. But it certainly isn't moral. At that level, it never is. But if he doesn't cut it out this will be the last straw that get me off my regular #2 meal at CFA ...
posted by intermod at 7:02 PM on July 18, 2012 [6 favorites]
Waffle House, what?? (Googles, sobs.)
posted by Wordwoman at 7:04 PM on July 18, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by Wordwoman at 7:04 PM on July 18, 2012 [6 favorites]
Isn't an anti-gay charity not really a charity at all?
Shouldn't someone who put large amounts of money into such an organization be renowned as a leading misanthropist?
posted by dunkadunc at 7:04 PM on July 18, 2012 [33 favorites]
Shouldn't someone who put large amounts of money into such an organization be renowned as a leading misanthropist?
posted by dunkadunc at 7:04 PM on July 18, 2012 [33 favorites]
Thanks Chatty Cathy for setting the world straight.
posted by hal9k at 7:08 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by hal9k at 7:08 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
My mom, who's not religious and is okay with me being gay (now, 20 years later) attends a weekly quilting group that is sponsored by a church and whose members are mostly young-ish Christian women. They meet every Tuesday and have lunch out before doing their quilting, and Chik-Fil-A is popular in the rotation. I told her about this, and reminded her of how surprised and touched I was when she and my dad refused to eat at Cracker Barrel in the 90s [but didn't tell me that they boycotted until much later (and honestly probably never discussed between themselves why they stopped eating there), because it was still something We Don't Talk About].
Anyway, I can say to Chik-Fil-A that one small-town Texas quilt group, which consists largely of churchgoing women, is now boycotting one of their favorite restaurants in support of one of their friends and her kid. And I imagine it's the same in Alabama and Mississippi and Louisiana and Georgia and all the other places Chik-Fil-A enjoys its popularity.
So [fucking] There.
posted by mudpuppie at 7:10 PM on July 18, 2012 [171 favorites]
Anyway, I can say to Chik-Fil-A that one small-town Texas quilt group, which consists largely of churchgoing women, is now boycotting one of their favorite restaurants in support of one of their friends and her kid. And I imagine it's the same in Alabama and Mississippi and Louisiana and Georgia and all the other places Chik-Fil-A enjoys its popularity.
So [fucking] There.
posted by mudpuppie at 7:10 PM on July 18, 2012 [171 favorites]
Well, I guess I won't be putting my mouth where his money.
posted by Leezie at 7:11 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Leezie at 7:11 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Damnit! Should have read:
I guess I won't be putting my mouth where his money is.
posted by Leezie at 7:13 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
I guess I won't be putting my mouth where his money is.
posted by Leezie at 7:13 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
"All throughout the New Testament there is an evangelism strategy related to our performance in the workplace. ... Our work should be an act of worship. Our work should be our mission field. As long as we are stateside, let's don't think we have to go on mission trips by getting a passport. ... If you're obedient to God you are going to be evangelistic in the quality of the work you do, using that as a portal to share [Christ]," he said.
whhhaaaaaaat?
posted by facetious at 7:18 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
whhhaaaaaaat?
posted by facetious at 7:18 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
Chick-Fil-A (along with other businesses such as Hobby Lobby) have been described as being part of the "parallel economy" of conservative Christians who pursue a political agenda far outside of the mainstream (and at odds with the foundations of our secular democracy).
posted by audi alteram partem at 7:19 PM on July 18, 2012 [14 favorites]
posted by audi alteram partem at 7:19 PM on July 18, 2012 [14 favorites]
Yeah, this is why I have made it a point not to go to our local Chic-Fil-A lately, despite the fact that they arguably make the best chicken sandwiches in town.
posted by JHarris at 7:19 PM on July 18, 2012
posted by JHarris at 7:19 PM on July 18, 2012
Not sure if comment deleted
or
Misrepresented NASCAR sponsorship outweighing Peach Bowl
posted by vozworth at 7:20 PM on July 18, 2012
or
Misrepresented NASCAR sponsorship outweighing Peach Bowl
posted by vozworth at 7:20 PM on July 18, 2012
You have to have a pressure cooker to make the Chick-Fil-A-esque sandwich.:-(
posted by orange swan at 7:21 PM on July 18, 2012
posted by orange swan at 7:21 PM on July 18, 2012
I know people who still eat there because "it's just a fast food place, not a political thing." So thanks to Mr. Cathy for being so honest about not just being a fast food place.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:21 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:21 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
Yeah, fuck them and everything they stand for.
posted by elizardbits at 7:23 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by elizardbits at 7:23 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Duncadunc there's one at the end of my street. I'll not eat there for both of us.
Avoid it for me, too, please.
I've actually eaten at a Chic Fil A exactly once, and I remember it as just being normal mediocre fast food. The only reason I remember eating there at all is because I was taken there by a friend who had been talking it up for days, and I spent the whole time eating the sandwich having to nod and tell him how great it was, all while sort of puzzled by the whole thing.
Normally when I see this kind of race-to-the-bottom rabble-rousing crap, I assume that he's just another huckster gunning for the big money in the rightwing nutjob speech circuit (see Palin, Coulter, Wurtzelbacher, Bachman, Cain, etc.) but the Cathys are already stinking rich, so I don't know what the motive is here.
I would assume that part of it is genuine -- he really does believe these crazy things and is using the platform of his wealth and his company to push for what he thinks is right. But part of it is simply marketing -- there is a sizable (though shrinking) percentage of people who agree with him, and getting their loyalty is probably good business. On preview, I think I'm talking about the same thing as the "parallel economy" comment a few above.
posted by Forktine at 7:23 PM on July 18, 2012
Avoid it for me, too, please.
I've actually eaten at a Chic Fil A exactly once, and I remember it as just being normal mediocre fast food. The only reason I remember eating there at all is because I was taken there by a friend who had been talking it up for days, and I spent the whole time eating the sandwich having to nod and tell him how great it was, all while sort of puzzled by the whole thing.
Normally when I see this kind of race-to-the-bottom rabble-rousing crap, I assume that he's just another huckster gunning for the big money in the rightwing nutjob speech circuit (see Palin, Coulter, Wurtzelbacher, Bachman, Cain, etc.) but the Cathys are already stinking rich, so I don't know what the motive is here.
I would assume that part of it is genuine -- he really does believe these crazy things and is using the platform of his wealth and his company to push for what he thinks is right. But part of it is simply marketing -- there is a sizable (though shrinking) percentage of people who agree with him, and getting their loyalty is probably good business. On preview, I think I'm talking about the same thing as the "parallel economy" comment a few above.
posted by Forktine at 7:23 PM on July 18, 2012
I applaud this new direction of fast-food restaurants, where adherence to a particular moral doctrine would be a prerequisite for asking for late-nite food at their drive-ins.
"Hi. I'd like a burger and a shake."
"Because we are Hindus we don't serve burgers here. Would you like some korma instead?"
"No, I thought you served burgers. Is there some other place else around here that's open at this hour?"
"Well, down the street there is a Catholic fast-food restaurant, but they don't serve meat on Fridays."
"It's Friday now, can't I just get a burger?"
"You good try TGIF. But I must warn you, Sir, that when they say Thank God It's Friday, they are praying to a false God."
"That sounds like bad food. How about a nice a nice BBQ place?"
"Let me think. There are Jewish and Arab drive-thrus, down the street, but they don't serve pork. If you'd rather have fish & chips, try the monastery across the way. I know the fish friar and the chip monk. And the Buddhist hot dog shop will make you one with everything. It's very famous."
"I really wanted a burger. How about that Puritan joint over there?"
"They will give you a burger, Sir, but you are not allowed to enjoy it. May I suggest Bob's Evangelical Grill, where for unbelievers the patties are cooked in a lake of fire."
"This is too complicated. I'm going home for a TV dinner."
"Very well, Sir. But that is not food for the soul."
posted by twoleftfeet at 7:23 PM on July 18, 2012 [111 favorites]
"Hi. I'd like a burger and a shake."
"Because we are Hindus we don't serve burgers here. Would you like some korma instead?"
"No, I thought you served burgers. Is there some other place else around here that's open at this hour?"
"Well, down the street there is a Catholic fast-food restaurant, but they don't serve meat on Fridays."
"It's Friday now, can't I just get a burger?"
"You good try TGIF. But I must warn you, Sir, that when they say Thank God It's Friday, they are praying to a false God."
"That sounds like bad food. How about a nice a nice BBQ place?"
"Let me think. There are Jewish and Arab drive-thrus, down the street, but they don't serve pork. If you'd rather have fish & chips, try the monastery across the way. I know the fish friar and the chip monk. And the Buddhist hot dog shop will make you one with everything. It's very famous."
"I really wanted a burger. How about that Puritan joint over there?"
"They will give you a burger, Sir, but you are not allowed to enjoy it. May I suggest Bob's Evangelical Grill, where for unbelievers the patties are cooked in a lake of fire."
"This is too complicated. I'm going home for a TV dinner."
"Very well, Sir. But that is not food for the soul."
posted by twoleftfeet at 7:23 PM on July 18, 2012 [111 favorites]
I'd suggest a change in policy, where they support chicks with fellas, chicks with chicks, and fellas with fellas.
posted by anothermug at 7:32 PM on July 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by anothermug at 7:32 PM on July 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
These people are always so selective about when they will or won't question the judgement of the wording in the Bible. (relevant here 2, 6)
posted by juv3nal at 7:38 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by juv3nal at 7:38 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
ohhhhh soooo CONFLICTED
although I don't live in the US anymore, so I guess it's more an academic concern (though I'll be visiting for three weeks in a week). Is White Castle still at least not morally abhorrent, even if it is nutritionally so?
posted by DoctorFedora at 7:38 PM on July 18, 2012
although I don't live in the US anymore, so I guess it's more an academic concern (though I'll be visiting for three weeks in a week). Is White Castle still at least not morally abhorrent, even if it is nutritionally so?
posted by DoctorFedora at 7:38 PM on July 18, 2012
I've defended Chik-Fil-a in past threads and I love their food, but fuck this noise. I'm done.
posted by Bookhouse at 7:39 PM on July 18, 2012 [25 favorites]
posted by Bookhouse at 7:39 PM on July 18, 2012 [25 favorites]
So they're gonna go and fire their divorced employees, right? Or if someone is living in unmarried sin with an opposite-sex partner - fired, right?
posted by rtha at 7:41 PM on July 18, 2012 [10 favorites]
posted by rtha at 7:41 PM on July 18, 2012 [10 favorites]
Must be time to get everybody arguing over religion again so we don't get too upset over all the news about how we're really getting systematically screwed all over the place. Why else would a successful entrepreneur make a statement so counter to their own business interests? Either way, he lost my business.
posted by saulgoodman at 7:43 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by saulgoodman at 7:43 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
Ha ha ha, nuts to that god! That god sucks imo
I'm not religious or believe in ghosts and gods, but if I were, I would never worship a god that is a worse person than I am.
posted by moonbiter at 7:43 PM on July 18, 2012 [21 favorites]
I'm not religious or believe in ghosts and gods, but if I were, I would never worship a god that is a worse person than I am.
posted by moonbiter at 7:43 PM on July 18, 2012 [21 favorites]
You have to have a pressure cooker to make the Chick-Fil-A-esque sandwich.:-(
No no no -- you need a pressure fryer. You should never fry in a pressure cooker; the pressure is too high and fry temps will melt the rubber gasket.
Problem is there aren't any home pressure fryers on the market right now. Favor and Magafesa used to sell them, but they're not listed on either site anymore.
posted by dw at 7:44 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
No no no -- you need a pressure fryer. You should never fry in a pressure cooker; the pressure is too high and fry temps will melt the rubber gasket.
Problem is there aren't any home pressure fryers on the market right now. Favor and Magafesa used to sell them, but they're not listed on either site anymore.
posted by dw at 7:44 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
I joined the boycott when this first came out and I do miss it from time to time, but I've discovered that the McDonalds Southern Style Chicken sandwich tastes very much the same to me. If only they had waffle fries.
posted by advicepig at 7:45 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by advicepig at 7:45 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
I just . . .
I cannot even fathom this. It seems so ridiculous that someone can, with a straight face, sit there and tell the world that HE knows what HIS god's will is concerning marriage and use it as a way to attack people who HE says are thumbing their nose at HIS god. Without even a hint of irony.
I'm so exasperated I'm not even making sense anymore.
I'm an atheist, go figure.
posted by IvoShandor at 7:53 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
I cannot even fathom this. It seems so ridiculous that someone can, with a straight face, sit there and tell the world that HE knows what HIS god's will is concerning marriage and use it as a way to attack people who HE says are thumbing their nose at HIS god. Without even a hint of irony.
I'm so exasperated I'm not even making sense anymore.
I'm an atheist, go figure.
posted by IvoShandor at 7:53 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
I haven't eaten at Chik-Fil-A since I swore off them in a previous thread.
But but but Waffle House? Oh no. Say it ain't so. I can't stop going to Waffle House! Brenda will wonder what happened to me! We exchange Christmas cards, dammit. I know all her kids' names! She calls me "sugarbritches". Brenda and the 3 AM patty melt is a part of my life that I VALUE. And the pecan pie heated on the flattop with a pat of butter and an ice cube. I can give up peach milkshakes and admittedly delicious fried chicken sammiches. Done and done. But don't ask me to give up Brenda. Please. Not Brenda. Not Waffle House.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:58 PM on July 18, 2012 [13 favorites]
But but but Waffle House? Oh no. Say it ain't so. I can't stop going to Waffle House! Brenda will wonder what happened to me! We exchange Christmas cards, dammit. I know all her kids' names! She calls me "sugarbritches". Brenda and the 3 AM patty melt is a part of my life that I VALUE. And the pecan pie heated on the flattop with a pat of butter and an ice cube. I can give up peach milkshakes and admittedly delicious fried chicken sammiches. Done and done. But don't ask me to give up Brenda. Please. Not Brenda. Not Waffle House.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:58 PM on July 18, 2012 [13 favorites]
"I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake ...
Mmm. Shakes.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:59 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
Mmm. Shakes.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:59 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
Chic-Fil-A and Waffle House. Oh, man. Umm, can I eat at these places and then give cash to some LGBT advocacy group in their name, like, y'know a carbon offset?
posted by tyllwin at 8:01 PM on July 18, 2012 [10 favorites]
posted by tyllwin at 8:01 PM on July 18, 2012 [10 favorites]
There's no such thing as a Chick-Fil-A-esque sandwich. It's either Chick-Fil-A or it's nothing. Comparing McDonald's (or some other eating establishment's) chicken sandwich to C-F-A's is the actual definition of 'sacrilegious'. I've defended it before and I will continue to: Chick-Fil-A could kill my mother and I'd still go there any day of the week (except for Sunday). Nothing in this sweet country that is going to hell in a handbasket will EVER keep me from the BEST chicken sandwich in the world. In fact, I will tally up how many people will stop eating C-F-A, and I will personally make up the difference. THEN I'll cleanse my conscience by going to a same-sex wedding. But first... chicken! sandwich!
posted by Mael Oui at 8:04 PM on July 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Mael Oui at 8:04 PM on July 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
Hobby Lobby
Out of curiosity, is there a list online anywhere of these dominionist bigot-run companies? I'd love to be able to boycott them all.
posted by zarq at 8:06 PM on July 18, 2012 [19 favorites]
Out of curiosity, is there a list online anywhere of these dominionist bigot-run companies? I'd love to be able to boycott them all.
posted by zarq at 8:06 PM on July 18, 2012 [19 favorites]
Just another old white bigot, of the sort who's made life miserable for millions of millions of us since Forever, whether because of our orientation, gender or race. Part of a disappearing breed - but would they had only disappeared Forever Ago.
And hey look, gang, contact information:
twitter: @dancathy
peresonal website: http://www.cathyfamily.com/connect.aspx?m=Dan
(Oh, and BTW - what a stooopid name for a restaurant chain.)
posted by NorthernLite at 8:07 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
And hey look, gang, contact information:
twitter: @dancathy
peresonal website: http://www.cathyfamily.com/connect.aspx?m=Dan
(Oh, and BTW - what a stooopid name for a restaurant chain.)
posted by NorthernLite at 8:07 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
the biblical definition of the family unit
That's "a man and all the people he owns", or something, right?
posted by pompomtom at 8:07 PM on July 18, 2012 [23 favorites]
That's "a man and all the people he owns", or something, right?
posted by pompomtom at 8:07 PM on July 18, 2012 [23 favorites]
I was stuck in Birmingham on a music gig and one of the Stepford-wives from one of the host families insisted on bringing us breakfast from Chick-Fil-A in the morning.
The night before, since I was driving the rental car, I insisted (forced, rather) all of my friends on the gig to go to Sonic for a drunk late-night snack. We had a blast. Sonic reminds me of A&W from when I was a kid. You drive up, order shitty food from your car, someone comes out and brings it to you, hangs it on the window if you like. Root-beer floats, burgers, chicken sandwiches. Fun times. Some A&Ws still exists (in Vermont for example) so check them out.
Anyway so the weird wife brings us Chick-Fil-A breakfast and on the doorstep she began talking about how.. "Oh it's so GREAT at Chick-Fil-A.. it's just cleaner and more white ya know?!" And I made a face and she immediately tried to back-pedal.. "Oh no no no, I don't mean it like that, I just mean.. ya know, when you go to other fast food places the people behind the counter are all "Whadaya want, whadaya want huh?" (she said this all deep and mumbly in what I assumed was her "negro voice.")
Anyway I laughed and said, "Oh like Sonic? Yeah we were there last night, it's so gooooood!" Hehe.. and I really didn't try to be mean about it.. she was bringing me free food. Let's face it, Chick-Fil-A is dorky and racist, whereas Sonic is more inclusive and fun; in Birmingham at least, it's where the black kids and more rowdy high school kids of all races hang out.
Anyway that's a long-winded way of saying Alabama is still full of racists, and Sonic kicks Chick-Fil-A's ass.
posted by ReeMonster at 8:09 PM on July 18, 2012 [10 favorites]
The night before, since I was driving the rental car, I insisted (forced, rather) all of my friends on the gig to go to Sonic for a drunk late-night snack. We had a blast. Sonic reminds me of A&W from when I was a kid. You drive up, order shitty food from your car, someone comes out and brings it to you, hangs it on the window if you like. Root-beer floats, burgers, chicken sandwiches. Fun times. Some A&Ws still exists (in Vermont for example) so check them out.
Anyway so the weird wife brings us Chick-Fil-A breakfast and on the doorstep she began talking about how.. "Oh it's so GREAT at Chick-Fil-A.. it's just cleaner and more white ya know?!" And I made a face and she immediately tried to back-pedal.. "Oh no no no, I don't mean it like that, I just mean.. ya know, when you go to other fast food places the people behind the counter are all "Whadaya want, whadaya want huh?" (she said this all deep and mumbly in what I assumed was her "negro voice.")
Anyway I laughed and said, "Oh like Sonic? Yeah we were there last night, it's so gooooood!" Hehe.. and I really didn't try to be mean about it.. she was bringing me free food. Let's face it, Chick-Fil-A is dorky and racist, whereas Sonic is more inclusive and fun; in Birmingham at least, it's where the black kids and more rowdy high school kids of all races hang out.
Anyway that's a long-winded way of saying Alabama is still full of racists, and Sonic kicks Chick-Fil-A's ass.
posted by ReeMonster at 8:09 PM on July 18, 2012 [10 favorites]
Most Biblical marriages were polygamous. Is Mr. Cathy going to pour his money into agitating against the heresy and spiritual depravity of monogamous marriage in America, too--or do his convictions not really run quite as deep as he'd like to represent?
posted by saulgoodman at 8:14 PM on July 18, 2012
posted by saulgoodman at 8:14 PM on July 18, 2012
I've actually eaten at a Chic Fil A exactly once, and I remember it as just being normal mediocre fast food.
Right? You know how there's a gene for prevalence to alcoholism, or being able to smell your asparagus pee? Maybe we have the "what's the deal with Chick Fil-A" gene.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:17 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Right? You know how there's a gene for prevalence to alcoholism, or being able to smell your asparagus pee? Maybe we have the "what's the deal with Chick Fil-A" gene.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:17 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
"Every time you eat at Chick-fil-A, you are a kicking a gay person in the nuts"
So, one of the tricks to getting myself to do things that are good for me that I don't really want to do is to have little sayings that I can repeat to myself at the point of decision. I say "Be an elevoider!" to myself when I have to choose between taking the elevator and the stairs. "Phosphoric acid is forever" is for when I'm looking in the work fridge and trying not to choose a soda.
I'm from the same town as Chik-Fil-A and grew up with the children of the people who run Chik-Fil-A now. They were nice to me and I really like chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, but I decided after our last thread on this topic that I wasn't going to eat there any more. 41swans left a comment that somehow stuck in my head and kept me from changing my mind.
"Every time you eat at Chick-fil-A, you are a kicking a gay person in the nuts"
I say it to myself whenever I drive past the Chik-Fil-A near the grocery store. I say it whenever I really want some nuggets with polynesian sauce. I say it out loud to my coworkers whenever we consider eating there for lunch.
I have not eaten there since I read 41swans' comment and no one in my office has eaten at the one down the street.
"Every time you eat at Chick-fil-A, you are a kicking a gay person in the nuts."
posted by Alison at 8:17 PM on July 18, 2012 [40 favorites]
So, one of the tricks to getting myself to do things that are good for me that I don't really want to do is to have little sayings that I can repeat to myself at the point of decision. I say "Be an elevoider!" to myself when I have to choose between taking the elevator and the stairs. "Phosphoric acid is forever" is for when I'm looking in the work fridge and trying not to choose a soda.
I'm from the same town as Chik-Fil-A and grew up with the children of the people who run Chik-Fil-A now. They were nice to me and I really like chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, but I decided after our last thread on this topic that I wasn't going to eat there any more. 41swans left a comment that somehow stuck in my head and kept me from changing my mind.
"Every time you eat at Chick-fil-A, you are a kicking a gay person in the nuts"
I say it to myself whenever I drive past the Chik-Fil-A near the grocery store. I say it whenever I really want some nuggets with polynesian sauce. I say it out loud to my coworkers whenever we consider eating there for lunch.
I have not eaten there since I read 41swans' comment and no one in my office has eaten at the one down the street.
"Every time you eat at Chick-fil-A, you are a kicking a gay person in the nuts."
posted by Alison at 8:17 PM on July 18, 2012 [40 favorites]
My nuts thank you.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:19 PM on July 18, 2012 [12 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:19 PM on July 18, 2012 [12 favorites]
I've actually eaten at a Chic Fil A exactly once, and I remember it as just being normal mediocre fast food.
This has been my experience as well. (But I don't think there are any Chick-fil-As in the Bay Area -- this was a couple of years ago at a family reunion at my sister's place in Atlanta.)
And the pecan pie heated on the flattop with a pat of butter and an ice cube.
Never been to a Waffle House, to my knowledge, but this interests me strangely. Please 'splain.
posted by trip and a half at 8:19 PM on July 18, 2012
This has been my experience as well. (But I don't think there are any Chick-fil-As in the Bay Area -- this was a couple of years ago at a family reunion at my sister's place in Atlanta.)
And the pecan pie heated on the flattop with a pat of butter and an ice cube.
Never been to a Waffle House, to my knowledge, but this interests me strangely. Please 'splain.
posted by trip and a half at 8:19 PM on July 18, 2012
the gits bacon and egg scramblers at krystal's are awesome!
posted by robbyrobs at 8:21 PM on July 18, 2012
posted by robbyrobs at 8:21 PM on July 18, 2012
That's "a man and all the people he owns", or something, right?
I was going to go with "a man, some wives, maybe some concubines, maybe his dead brother's wife for a while, all their assorted children except any he sired upon dead relatives' wives, and all their slaves."
I mean, really. "Biblical definition of the family unit." Pitches don't come any slower than that.
You have to have a pressure cooker to make the Chick-Fil-A-esque sandwich.:-(
Surely the chicken breasts can be pan-fried in 400F peanut oil. They might develop crispy bits on the bottom, but that would just make them *better* than chikfila.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:24 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
I was going to go with "a man, some wives, maybe some concubines, maybe his dead brother's wife for a while, all their assorted children except any he sired upon dead relatives' wives, and all their slaves."
I mean, really. "Biblical definition of the family unit." Pitches don't come any slower than that.
You have to have a pressure cooker to make the Chick-Fil-A-esque sandwich.:-(
Surely the chicken breasts can be pan-fried in 400F peanut oil. They might develop crispy bits on the bottom, but that would just make them *better* than chikfila.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:24 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
I've met Truett Cathey.....I've met Dan....I've met Bubba... Their kids went to the private school where I taught. Lovely people....I know several of the top folks in the CFA organization.....all great folks, gave huge amounts to charities, seriously, lots of money.... They run an orphanage and the endowments for kids at camp Winshape and Berry College are huge. They pay for lots of kids to get a college education every year. Our school (where the kids were) never wanted for a thing. They do DO a lot for underprivileged kids in Georgia, But... This makes me so very sad..... My belief in equality for all overrides my wanting to think that the Cathey's are great folks. They are great folks, they are just really wrong about this. I'll probably run into them again. That's going to be tough.
posted by pearlybob at 8:28 PM on July 18, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by pearlybob at 8:28 PM on July 18, 2012 [6 favorites]
trip and a half, the Santa Rosa mall used to have one. Not sure if it's still there. We always knew they were weird Christians because they were the only place closed on Sundays and we heard they liked to (illegally) ask about employees religion before hiring.
"Every time you eat at Chick-fil-A, you are a kicking a gay person in the nuts"
If we got to pick WHICH gay person, I bet even gays would be lining up to eat there.
posted by small_ruminant at 8:29 PM on July 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
"Every time you eat at Chick-fil-A, you are a kicking a gay person in the nuts"
If we got to pick WHICH gay person, I bet even gays would be lining up to eat there.
posted by small_ruminant at 8:29 PM on July 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
I will now longer eat there.
But there's about four gay people I have to go and tie up now, because I know they sneak off and eat there under cover of night.
posted by magstheaxe at 8:33 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
But there's about four gay people I have to go and tie up now, because I know they sneak off and eat there under cover of night.
posted by magstheaxe at 8:33 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
I had to. I had to try something from that place.
It tasted like ass.
Which is pretty funny, if you think about it.
posted by PapaLobo at 8:36 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
It tasted like ass.
Which is pretty funny, if you think about it.
posted by PapaLobo at 8:36 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Meet the American Taliban.
(ironically, they're all chickens)
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 8:37 PM on July 18, 2012
(ironically, they're all chickens)
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 8:37 PM on July 18, 2012
"Oh, man, these companies are directly involved in funding efforts to strip human beings of civil rights... but I like the fooooooood!"
Shaking my damn head.
posted by ShawnStruck at 8:39 PM on July 18, 2012 [15 favorites]
Shaking my damn head.
posted by ShawnStruck at 8:39 PM on July 18, 2012 [15 favorites]
Chick-Fil-A (along with other businesses such as Hobby Lobby) have been described as being part of the "parallel economy" of conservative Christians who pursue a political agenda far outside of the mainstream (and at odds with the foundations of our secular democracy).
Thanks for that link. I hadn't seen it when I commented earlier.
So basically, the list is:
Amway
Chik Fil A
Hobby Lobby, and their subsidiaries:
"* Mardel (a chain of Christian bookstores)
* Bearing Fruit Communications (an advertising and production company which deals heavily in promotion of dominionist media)
* Hobby Lobby Creative Centers (the main craft store chain)
* Hemispheres (a home decor design company)
* Crafts Etc.! (an online and wholesale retailer of craft supplies)
* H. L. Construction (a construction company responsible for building Hobby Lobby stores)
* Hong Kong Connection (an import/export company dealing in Chinese goods)
* Greco Frame and Supply"
* Harbor House
U.S. Plastics
Also:
Garden Guy
Outsidepride
Gloria Jean Coffees
Riva Jewelry Manufacturing
and probably:
Covenant Trucking
Curves Body Salon
Possible/Probable others:
Coors Brewery
Mellon and Scaife Foundation companies
Walton companies, including Wal-Mart, Sam's Wholesale and Walton Foundation
More. That link includes companies that "include Christ in their business plans" but have not necessarily been linked to dominionist activity, so I won't boldface them:
Forever 21
Herman Miller
In-N-Out-Burger
Interstate Batteries
ServiceMaster, which owns such brands as Terminix, TruGreen, American Home Shield and Merry Maids
Tyson Foods
posted by zarq at 8:41 PM on July 18, 2012 [51 favorites]
Thanks for that link. I hadn't seen it when I commented earlier.
So basically, the list is:
Amway
Chik Fil A
Hobby Lobby, and their subsidiaries:
"* Mardel (a chain of Christian bookstores)
* Bearing Fruit Communications (an advertising and production company which deals heavily in promotion of dominionist media)
* Hobby Lobby Creative Centers (the main craft store chain)
* Hemispheres (a home decor design company)
* Crafts Etc.! (an online and wholesale retailer of craft supplies)
* H. L. Construction (a construction company responsible for building Hobby Lobby stores)
* Hong Kong Connection (an import/export company dealing in Chinese goods)
* Greco Frame and Supply"
* Harbor House
U.S. Plastics
Also:
Garden Guy
Outsidepride
Gloria Jean Coffees
Riva Jewelry Manufacturing
and probably:
Covenant Trucking
Curves Body Salon
Possible/Probable others:
Coors Brewery
Mellon and Scaife Foundation companies
Walton companies, including Wal-Mart, Sam's Wholesale and Walton Foundation
More. That link includes companies that "include Christ in their business plans" but have not necessarily been linked to dominionist activity, so I won't boldface them:
Forever 21
Herman Miller
In-N-Out-Burger
Interstate Batteries
ServiceMaster, which owns such brands as Terminix, TruGreen, American Home Shield and Merry Maids
Tyson Foods
posted by zarq at 8:41 PM on July 18, 2012 [51 favorites]
I am seriously torn between my "Let's organize a kiss-in at the new two-story Chik-Fil-A a couple of blocks from my house" and my "Who gives a fuck what this idiot thinks? I'm gonna go suck a dick in his honor" feelings.
posted by mediareport at 8:43 PM on July 18, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by mediareport at 8:43 PM on July 18, 2012 [7 favorites]
Hobby Lobby?? Goddamnit, that's just mean. Lesbians love crafting.
posted by a hat out of hell at 8:44 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by a hat out of hell at 8:44 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
I am seriously torn between my "Let's organize a kiss-in at the new two-story Chik-Fil-A a couple of blocks from my house" and my "Who gives a fuck what this idiot thinks? I'm gonna go suck a dick in his honor" feelings.
I have a great idea for a compromise...
posted by device55 at 8:45 PM on July 18, 2012 [22 favorites]
I have a great idea for a compromise...
posted by device55 at 8:45 PM on July 18, 2012 [22 favorites]
Right? You know how there's a gene for prevalence to alcoholism, or being able to smell your asparagus pee? Maybe we have the "what's the deal with Chick Fil-A" gene.
What?!! Some people can't smell their own asparagus pee?!
No more CFA. That was just too much.
posted by annsunny at 8:49 PM on July 18, 2012
What?!! Some people can't smell their own asparagus pee?!
No more CFA. That was just too much.
posted by annsunny at 8:49 PM on July 18, 2012
I like that idea. Can't wait to see what the the drag queens at the weekly Trailer Park Drag show tomorrow night do with this story.
Don't laugh; they're usually quite topical.
posted by mediareport at 8:49 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
Don't laugh; they're usually quite topical.
posted by mediareport at 8:49 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
Reading zarq's list above, I confused Forever 21 with Hot Topic, which was really confusing.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:53 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:53 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Hobby Lobby?? Goddamnit, that's just mean. Lesbians love crafting.
posted by a hat out of hell at 8:44 PM on July 18 [+] [!]
Oh my god, no, we hate it.
Is this some sort of evolutionary head butt between species that were thought to be dissimilar but turn out to be closely related? Because if it is, we should call an academic....
posted by mudpuppie at 8:53 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by a hat out of hell at 8:44 PM on July 18 [+] [!]
Oh my god, no, we hate it.
Is this some sort of evolutionary head butt between species that were thought to be dissimilar but turn out to be closely related? Because if it is, we should call an academic....
posted by mudpuppie at 8:53 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
trip and a half, there are 2 Chick-Fil-As in Fairfield. A new one is apparently coming to Mountain View sometime soon.
posted by sarahnade at 8:57 PM on July 18, 2012
posted by sarahnade at 8:57 PM on July 18, 2012
i've told this story before, but the best kiss-in style protest i've seen for chick-fil-a is taking the free ice cream coupons, wear pride shirts, come in obviously gay-paired, don't spend any money, and just sit and laugh and eat your ice cream.
posted by nadawi at 8:59 PM on July 18, 2012 [9 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 8:59 PM on July 18, 2012 [9 favorites]
In fact, I will tally up how many people will stop eating C-F-A, and I will personally make up the difference. THEN I'll cleanse my conscience by going to a same-sex wedding.
*wavy dissolve fade*
*wavy dissolve fade*
INTERLOPER: Congratulations!!! Whooo! Go gay rights!posted by en forme de poire at 9:01 PM on July 18, 2012 [18 favorites]
GROOM #1: I'm sorry, do we know you?
INTERLOPER: Nope! Not at all! I ate around thirty seven Chik-Fil-A sandwiches this month but they give money to people who oppose gay marriage, so I decided to go to a same-sex wedding to even it all out! Know what I'm saying? Karma.
GROOM #2: Why are you drinking our champagne?
INTERLOPER: TO SUPPORT YOU DUHHH, also I brought you guys a candle holder where should I put it
Right? You know how there's a gene for prevalence to alcoholism, or being able to smell your asparagus pee?
That's genetic? I had no idea.
Earlier this year, when asparagus was in season, I had dinner at a restaurant and in honor of the season they had added asparagus to almost every dish. I thought it was fantastic (because only a godless communist would be opposed to asparagus), until I went into the restaurant bathroom and was almost knocked over by the smell of an entire evening's worth of asparagus pee. Worst Smell Ever.
posted by Forktine at 9:04 PM on July 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
That's genetic? I had no idea.
Earlier this year, when asparagus was in season, I had dinner at a restaurant and in honor of the season they had added asparagus to almost every dish. I thought it was fantastic (because only a godless communist would be opposed to asparagus), until I went into the restaurant bathroom and was almost knocked over by the smell of an entire evening's worth of asparagus pee. Worst Smell Ever.
posted by Forktine at 9:04 PM on July 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
nadawi, just got off the phone with a friend who says he wants to get a bunch of folks to dress in drag, buy food, eat and hang out for a while. He wants to call it Chik-Feel-Gay.
*brainstorms some more*
posted by mediareport at 9:06 PM on July 18, 2012 [5 favorites]
*brainstorms some more*
posted by mediareport at 9:06 PM on July 18, 2012 [5 favorites]
Why do I have this suspicion that Cathy already has a fairly accurate estimate of how many customers he will lose and which stores will most likely have to close?
posted by Ardiril at 9:08 PM on July 18, 2012
posted by Ardiril at 9:08 PM on July 18, 2012
Fuck these useless old bigots. Thanks for the link to the HRC lists; I will certainly make use of them.
posted by samofidelis at 9:10 PM on July 18, 2012
posted by samofidelis at 9:10 PM on July 18, 2012
Reading zarq's list above, I confused Forever 21 with Hot Topic, which was really confusing.
I should have thrown in a few ringers.
Hobby Lobby
Google
Harbor House
Ben & Jerry Ice Cream
etc. ;)
posted by zarq at 9:15 PM on July 18, 2012
I should have thrown in a few ringers.
Hobby Lobby
Harbor House
Ben & Jerry Ice Cream
etc. ;)
posted by zarq at 9:15 PM on July 18, 2012
It is a side issue, but it turns out that there isn't a gene that determines if you can smell asparagus pee. There are people who can smell it better than others. What shocked me is that there are definitely people who's pee doesn't smell any different after eating asparagus.
As for this Chick fil A thing, someone else needs to come up with a franchise that steams their sandwiches. They didn't invent it--I've been to sandwich places that did this long before Chick fil A came around. It is pretty much guaranteed to be successful. Anyone who knows about franchising interested?
Also, the Mountain View article suggests that there's still time to protest it.
posted by eye of newt at 9:16 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
As for this Chick fil A thing, someone else needs to come up with a franchise that steams their sandwiches. They didn't invent it--I've been to sandwich places that did this long before Chick fil A came around. It is pretty much guaranteed to be successful. Anyone who knows about franchising interested?
Also, the Mountain View article suggests that there's still time to protest it.
posted by eye of newt at 9:16 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
In response, someone needs to open a Chick-Fil-Gay
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 9:18 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 9:18 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Watch out, you might get all hassled with like the Eat More Kale guy.
posted by jessamyn at 9:20 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by jessamyn at 9:20 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Looks like I'm putting flyers up around our campus Chik-Fil-A tomorrow morning. I'll probably have to renew them by evening, but hell, I'll be there all day.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 9:21 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 9:21 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
I loooooove fried chicken and have been very glad there was no CFA in my end of the world so I had no temptation to go and find out if it's really that awesome. And now there are ones in Fairfield. So far I only saw it on a Sunday so I haven't fallen yet.
I have, however, fallen to the Hobby Lobby without finding this out. DaMMIT.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:23 PM on July 18, 2012
I have, however, fallen to the Hobby Lobby without finding this out. DaMMIT.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:23 PM on July 18, 2012
Hobby Lobby also is known for their shitty return policies, if you need any more incentive. CFA has always been "meh" to me. Guys, there is much better chicken out there,find a local chicken place, seriously. CFA is overpriced to boot.
posted by emjaybee at 9:33 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by emjaybee at 9:33 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Chik-fil-a, fine. But Waffle House? Goddammit.
I really hope this sort of thing isn't happening over at In-N-Out and Interstate Batteries, as I'm a fan of both. Being run by Christians who are actively faithful through their business? Fine. The hateful stuff? Not fine.
posted by davejay at 9:38 PM on July 18, 2012
I really hope this sort of thing isn't happening over at In-N-Out and Interstate Batteries, as I'm a fan of both. Being run by Christians who are actively faithful through their business? Fine. The hateful stuff? Not fine.
posted by davejay at 9:38 PM on July 18, 2012
Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
A boneless breast of chicken seasoned to perfection, hand-breaded, pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil and served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips. Also available on a Golden Wheat bun.
Chicken (100% natural whole breast filet, seasoning [salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, spices, paprika], seasoned coater [enriched bleached flour {bleached wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid}, sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, nonfat milk, leavening {baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate}, spice, soybean oil, color {paprika}], milk wash [water, whole powdered egg and nonfat milk solids], peanut oil [fully refined peanut oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness and dimethylpolysiloxane an anti-foaming agent added]), bun (enriched flour [wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate {Vitamin B1}, riboflavin {Vitamin B2}, folic acid], water, high fructose corn syrup, yeast, contains 2% or less of each of the following: liquid yeast, soybean oil, nonfat milk, salt, wheat gluten, soy flour, dough conditioners [may contain one or more of the following: mono- and diglycerides, calcium and sodium stearoyl lactylates, calcium peroxide], soy flour, amylase, yeast nutrients [monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate], calcium propionate added to retard spoilage, soy lecithin, cornstarch, butter oil [soybean oil, palm kernel oil, soy lecithin, natural and artificial flavor, TBHQ and citric acid added as preservatives, and artificial color]), pickle (cucumbers, water, vinegar, salt, lactic acid, calcium chloride, alum, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate [preservatives], natural flavors, polysorbate 80, yellow 5, blue 1).
posted by mediareport at 9:44 PM on July 18, 2012 [13 favorites]
A boneless breast of chicken seasoned to perfection, hand-breaded, pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil and served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips. Also available on a Golden Wheat bun.
Chicken (100% natural whole breast filet, seasoning [salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, spices, paprika], seasoned coater [enriched bleached flour {bleached wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid}, sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, nonfat milk, leavening {baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate}, spice, soybean oil, color {paprika}], milk wash [water, whole powdered egg and nonfat milk solids], peanut oil [fully refined peanut oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness and dimethylpolysiloxane an anti-foaming agent added]), bun (enriched flour [wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate {Vitamin B1}, riboflavin {Vitamin B2}, folic acid], water, high fructose corn syrup, yeast, contains 2% or less of each of the following: liquid yeast, soybean oil, nonfat milk, salt, wheat gluten, soy flour, dough conditioners [may contain one or more of the following: mono- and diglycerides, calcium and sodium stearoyl lactylates, calcium peroxide], soy flour, amylase, yeast nutrients [monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate], calcium propionate added to retard spoilage, soy lecithin, cornstarch, butter oil [soybean oil, palm kernel oil, soy lecithin, natural and artificial flavor, TBHQ and citric acid added as preservatives, and artificial color]), pickle (cucumbers, water, vinegar, salt, lactic acid, calcium chloride, alum, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate [preservatives], natural flavors, polysorbate 80, yellow 5, blue 1).
posted by mediareport at 9:44 PM on July 18, 2012 [13 favorites]
Chick-Fil-A opening in San Jose next week. Right down the street from where I work. Boycott? Donate after each meal to balance the scales? This thread has given me food for thought, which is why I read Metafilter.
posted by JDC8 at 9:44 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by JDC8 at 9:44 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Just as a note, if any of the ring wingers from the "Google is promoting gay marriage" discussion are reading along, please observe that no one is saying that the company should be banned from adopting these policies (though eye of newt come close). It's a matter of voting with our dollars. (Though put me in the mediocre fast food category, so my belly makes the decision easy.)
posted by Candleman at 9:45 PM on July 18, 2012
posted by Candleman at 9:45 PM on July 18, 2012
ATLANTA
WHY DO YOU LEAVE ME WITH NOWHERE TO EAT BUT HIPSTER BURGER PLACES
BECAUSE $10 CHEESEBURGERS ARE ALMOST AS OFFENSIVE AS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
posted by nicebookrack at 9:47 PM on July 18, 2012 [5 favorites]
WHY DO YOU LEAVE ME WITH NOWHERE TO EAT BUT HIPSTER BURGER PLACES
BECAUSE $10 CHEESEBURGERS ARE ALMOST AS OFFENSIVE AS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
posted by nicebookrack at 9:47 PM on July 18, 2012 [5 favorites]
I don't know why Chick-Fil-A doesn't use "God Hates Shrimp" as a marketing tool.
posted by neuron at 9:51 PM on July 18, 2012
posted by neuron at 9:51 PM on July 18, 2012
But perhaps the most alarming ingredient in a Chicken McNugget is tertiary butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, an antioxidant derived from petroleum that is either sprayed directly on the nugget or the inside of the box it comes in to "help preserve freshness." According to A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives, TBHQ is a form of butane (i.e. lighter fluid) the FDA allows processors to use sparingly in our food: It can comprise no more than 0.02 percent of the oil in a nugget. Which is probably just as well, considering that ingesting a single gram of TBHQ can cause "nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse." Ingesting five grams of TBHQ can kill.
― Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
posted by mediareport at 10:01 PM on July 18, 2012 [6 favorites]
― Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
posted by mediareport at 10:01 PM on July 18, 2012 [6 favorites]
Dangit. For me it wasn't just the waffle fries, CFA was one of the few places that serves Diet Dr. Pepper. :-(
Sonic does too, but it's more than an hour drive from my home. Sheesh. I don't really need any of this crap anyway, right?
posted by dorkydancer at 10:29 PM on July 18, 2012
Sonic does too, but it's more than an hour drive from my home. Sheesh. I don't really need any of this crap anyway, right?
posted by dorkydancer at 10:29 PM on July 18, 2012
I have a friend who loves the sandwiches, so every so often he will buy a sandwich and then make a donation of twice the amount to a pro-LGBT organization.
The one thing I do give Chick-fil-A props for is that every one of their franchises is closed on Sunday. They could make a hell of a lot of money offering fried chicken both days of the weekend, but choose not to because they genuinely believe Sunday should be a holy day. So they come by their religious airs honestly, at least.
BTW the best chicken in the world ain't Chick-fil-A, it's hot chicken. There are a few things in the world that actually taste like happiness (one of them is Point Reyes Blue Cheese; I actually cried a little when I first tasted it), and hot chicken is absolutely near the top of that list.
posted by Deathalicious at 10:34 PM on July 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
The one thing I do give Chick-fil-A props for is that every one of their franchises is closed on Sunday. They could make a hell of a lot of money offering fried chicken both days of the weekend, but choose not to because they genuinely believe Sunday should be a holy day. So they come by their religious airs honestly, at least.
BTW the best chicken in the world ain't Chick-fil-A, it's hot chicken. There are a few things in the world that actually taste like happiness (one of them is Point Reyes Blue Cheese; I actually cried a little when I first tasted it), and hot chicken is absolutely near the top of that list.
posted by Deathalicious at 10:34 PM on July 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
nicebookrack: "ATLANTA
WHY DO YOU LEAVE ME WITH NOWHERE TO EAT BUT HIPSTER BURGER PLACES
BECAUSE $10 CHEESEBURGERS ARE ALMOST AS OFFENSIVE AS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS"
If you are near Philly ever, you must go to Charlie's.
posted by Deathalicious at 10:36 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
WHY DO YOU LEAVE ME WITH NOWHERE TO EAT BUT HIPSTER BURGER PLACES
BECAUSE $10 CHEESEBURGERS ARE ALMOST AS OFFENSIVE AS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS"
If you are near Philly ever, you must go to Charlie's.
posted by Deathalicious at 10:36 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have refused to eat there for a long time. I'm a little confused because they might have claimed not to be taking a stand on it, but this has been Dan Cathy's pet subject for a long time. I remember a podcast with him on it a year or two ago that he was supposed to be talking about worker morale and he essentially blamed the problem of teenage fast food workers being teenagers on the collapse of traditional marriage, and that he thought his managers needed to be father-figures to their staff. I think the closed-on-Sundays thing is charming, but Cathy being creepy is not new.
posted by gracedissolved at 10:53 PM on July 18, 2012
posted by gracedissolved at 10:53 PM on July 18, 2012
Having never seen one of these joints in NYC, it all seems like a very strange and scary place, this Chik-Fil-A cult, and I mostly can't get over what a stupid and scary name Chik-Fil-A is...I just know it's hiding some hidden agenda in that CFA anagram. Some shit like Christ Forever Amen, Or Christ Flogs Animals, or Christ For All or some nonsense like that...
For fucks sake, a chicken sammich is a chicken sammich, get out my face with that bible and homophobia Mr. Chik Fil-Assface...
posted by Skygazer at 10:54 PM on July 18, 2012
For fucks sake, a chicken sammich is a chicken sammich, get out my face with that bible and homophobia Mr. Chik Fil-Assface...
posted by Skygazer at 10:54 PM on July 18, 2012
Few would claim Chick-Fil-A is "the best chicken in the world", but generally they do serve the best sandwich in a food court.
posted by Ardiril at 10:56 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Ardiril at 10:56 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
The name sounds like a made up name for generic fast food. Disgusting! Seriously, I've seen it mentioned, and just thought it was that.
Closed on Sundays? Holy Day? WTF? I guess Cathy can't read the Bible, which is explicit about what day is the Holy day (Saturday). It's typically a European thing to insist on Sunday like that, as if Sunday were the Day of Rest in Genesis. In Europe, even their calendars insist MONDAY is the first day of the week. It's nothing but papist bullshit. I expect fundamentalists to be more fundamentally correct.
posted by Goofyy at 11:28 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
Closed on Sundays? Holy Day? WTF? I guess Cathy can't read the Bible, which is explicit about what day is the Holy day (Saturday). It's typically a European thing to insist on Sunday like that, as if Sunday were the Day of Rest in Genesis. In Europe, even their calendars insist MONDAY is the first day of the week. It's nothing but papist bullshit. I expect fundamentalists to be more fundamentally correct.
posted by Goofyy at 11:28 PM on July 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
Seriously don't understand the love for the chicken sandwich. "Better than McDonald's" is a pretty low bar. In the 20 minutes it takes to drive to a Chik-Fil-A and at roughly the same price, I could make an awesome chicken sandwich at home with way higher quality, organic free-range chicken and crazy gourmet ingredients.
posted by naju at 12:12 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by naju at 12:12 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Neither heterosexual sex outside of marriage nor any homosexual act constitute an alternate lifestyle acceptable to God.
People doing things you don't like isn't necessarily them making a lifestyle choice.
posted by Dysk at 1:31 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
People doing things you don't like isn't necessarily them making a lifestyle choice.
posted by Dysk at 1:31 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
"Every time you eat at Chick-fil-A, you are a kicking a gay person in the nuts"
Nope, you're just eating a deep fried slab of chicken, with two pickles.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:32 AM on July 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
Nope, you're just eating a deep fried slab of chicken, with two pickles.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:32 AM on July 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
I was all set to be that guy who came into the thread and say:
"How is this news to anyone?"
and then:
"If that's what the founder believes let him be and take his chances"
but then I read Dejah420's:
In the town we used to live in, the local cfa was forced to sell his franchise back to the parent company because he "married" in a non_legal sense because gay marriages are unrecognized here, his lifetime partner, and someone rattted him out to the CEO. They said he could either sell the franchise back, or they would cut off his supply chain.
and I was all like:
Okay, there is a line and you dun goofed 'cross it, anonymous fastfood chain from half-a-word away.
So, until such time as I can assess how delicious (or, probably not) this foodstuff is, I will also boycott it.
I'll get back to you when I have used the recipe above.
posted by Mezentian at 1:58 AM on July 19, 2012
"How is this news to anyone?"
and then:
"If that's what the founder believes let him be and take his chances"
but then I read Dejah420's:
In the town we used to live in, the local cfa was forced to sell his franchise back to the parent company because he "married" in a non_legal sense because gay marriages are unrecognized here, his lifetime partner, and someone rattted him out to the CEO. They said he could either sell the franchise back, or they would cut off his supply chain.
and I was all like:
Okay, there is a line and you dun goofed 'cross it, anonymous fastfood chain from half-a-word away.
So, until such time as I can assess how delicious (or, probably not) this foodstuff is, I will also boycott it.
I'll get back to you when I have used the recipe above.
posted by Mezentian at 1:58 AM on July 19, 2012
Is there some long compound German word for when you are disappointed you already don't like a brand to the point of never patronizing their establishments so that a declaration of boycott is functionally useless?
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:00 AM on July 19, 2012 [9 favorites]
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:00 AM on July 19, 2012 [9 favorites]
I'd like to say Microsoften, but I think 1997 might want that joke back.
Or The Joy of Tech.
posted by Mezentian at 2:05 AM on July 19, 2012
Or The Joy of Tech.
posted by Mezentian at 2:05 AM on July 19, 2012
Betty Bowers (America's Best Christian) Explains Traditional Marriage to Everyone Else
posted by Evilspork at 2:36 AM on July 19, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Evilspork at 2:36 AM on July 19, 2012 [4 favorites]
I choose to feel a bit more compassion and a bit less hatred for people, as long as I think they are honest. I like to imagine that if I knew Mr. Cathy I might like him on whole and forgive the mistakes in his thinking. I'm all for 'boycotting' fellatio chicken, but I'm not gonna hate the man.
posted by kendroberts at 4:14 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by kendroberts at 4:14 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Is there some long compound German word for when you are disappointed you already don't like a brand to the point of never patronizing their establishments so that a declaration of boycott is functionally useless?
Schadenorsonscottcardupgescheist.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:20 AM on July 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
Schadenorsonscottcardupgescheist.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:20 AM on July 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
Goddammit, evilspork, you just beat me to the Betty Bowers!
Landover Baptist remains a wonderful source of wisdom on these matters.
posted by Decani at 4:39 AM on July 19, 2012
Landover Baptist remains a wonderful source of wisdom on these matters.
posted by Decani at 4:39 AM on July 19, 2012
We don't have as many fast food chains in New England, as mom'n'pop pizzarias and "chinese" restaurants rule the niche they'd normally live in. No C-F-A, Sonic, Arby's, Checkers, Jack-in-the-Box, Popeye's etc, etc. The town I live in doesn't even have a McDonalds, but we do have four independent pizza places and two chinese restaurants.
I've lived in the south. I've had C-F-A. But let me tell you, it ain't no chicken parm grinder from Sabatido's. Get it with a coupl'a clamcakes if it's friday, otherwise a nice basket of steak fries, and eat it at the beach.
So, yeah. I'm on board with the boycott.
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:42 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
I've lived in the south. I've had C-F-A. But let me tell you, it ain't no chicken parm grinder from Sabatido's. Get it with a coupl'a clamcakes if it's friday, otherwise a nice basket of steak fries, and eat it at the beach.
So, yeah. I'm on board with the boycott.
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:42 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
We are indeed inviting God's judgment by legalizing gay marriage.
The judgment will be a divine high-five and a declaration of "Took you long enough." Possibly followed by a swat on the ass and a "Good hustle!" Theologians differ on that point.
posted by Harvey Jerkwater at 5:01 AM on July 19, 2012 [21 favorites]
The judgment will be a divine high-five and a declaration of "Took you long enough." Possibly followed by a swat on the ass and a "Good hustle!" Theologians differ on that point.
posted by Harvey Jerkwater at 5:01 AM on July 19, 2012 [21 favorites]
First the Boy Scouts and now these guys. Is there something in the water or the air recently making these companies recently come out (no pun intended) spewing these hateful positions? I'm guessing it's something to do with election year but I can't really fathom what they're trying to achieve.
posted by like_neon at 5:02 AM on July 19, 2012
posted by like_neon at 5:02 AM on July 19, 2012
There used to be a Chick-Fil-A in one of Harvard's science buildings. Never understood that.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:14 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:14 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
We might need to add Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt to the list above. The 'Frog" actually stands for Fully Rely on God and it's printed all over the place, along with bible verses on the cups. The local one here even plays praise music over the PA. That was the final straw for me. I could ignore the corny tagline and bible verses on the cup, but I draw the line at happy clappy praise music.
posted by COD at 5:25 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by COD at 5:25 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm guessing it's something to do with election year but I can't really fathom what they're trying to achieve.
When you see history bearing down on you, and fear you're going to end up on the wrong side of it, it seems to be the natural reaction of some folks to just dig that hole deeper...
posted by Jimbob at 5:30 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
When you see history bearing down on you, and fear you're going to end up on the wrong side of it, it seems to be the natural reaction of some folks to just dig that hole deeper...
posted by Jimbob at 5:30 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Forktine: " until I went into the restaurant bathroom and was almost knocked over by the smell of an entire evening's worth of asparagus pee."
It is said that in a venerable British men's club there is a sign that reads:
DURING THE ASPARAGUS SEASON MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES IN THE HATSTAND.
posted by namewithoutwords at 5:41 AM on July 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
It is said that in a venerable British men's club there is a sign that reads:
DURING THE ASPARAGUS SEASON MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES IN THE HATSTAND.
posted by namewithoutwords at 5:41 AM on July 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
There used to be a Chick-Fil-A in one of Harvard's science buildings
One summer, I ate a chicken biscuit from there every morning for breakfast. If I hadn't been walking three or four miles in the summer heat every day, it might have killed me (also a minor miracle it didn't bankrupt me, actually).
I do dig on their sandwiches, but they're definitely on my do-not-spend list these days.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:42 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
One summer, I ate a chicken biscuit from there every morning for breakfast. If I hadn't been walking three or four miles in the summer heat every day, it might have killed me (also a minor miracle it didn't bankrupt me, actually).
I do dig on their sandwiches, but they're definitely on my do-not-spend list these days.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:42 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Closed on Sundays? Holy Day? WTF? I guess Cathy can't read the Bible, which is explicit about what day is the Holy day (Saturday)...It's nothing but papist bullshit. I expect fundamentalists to be more fundamentally correct.
Actually, this is incorrect. The Bible is clear that Saturday is the Sabbath, not "the Holy Day". Celebration of the Lord's day on Sunday is not a moving or substitution of the Jewish Sabbath. In the early church, the Sabbath was still observed as a rest day. This distinction is quite clear in Greek, which retains the distinction to this day by calling Saturday Σάββατο and Sunday Κυριακή. This is also a good clue for why this is not "papist". First, the Greek-speaking East never knew the doctrine of papal supremacy.
Second, the clearest written references to Sunday as the Lord's day date to the second century, several centuries before Constantine's founding of the state church and several centuries more before the pope of Rome first claimed to be universal bishop.
posted by Tanizaki at 5:47 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Actually, this is incorrect. The Bible is clear that Saturday is the Sabbath, not "the Holy Day". Celebration of the Lord's day on Sunday is not a moving or substitution of the Jewish Sabbath. In the early church, the Sabbath was still observed as a rest day. This distinction is quite clear in Greek, which retains the distinction to this day by calling Saturday Σάββατο and Sunday Κυριακή. This is also a good clue for why this is not "papist". First, the Greek-speaking East never knew the doctrine of papal supremacy.
Second, the clearest written references to Sunday as the Lord's day date to the second century, several centuries before Constantine's founding of the state church and several centuries more before the pope of Rome first claimed to be universal bishop.
posted by Tanizaki at 5:47 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
WILL NOBODY TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED WITH WAFFLE HOUSE? I'm Googling like mad and I'm not finding anything! Assistance, please!
posted by Edison Carter at 6:21 AM on July 19, 2012
posted by Edison Carter at 6:21 AM on July 19, 2012
Slap*Happy, there's a Chick-Fil-A in the food court at the Burlington Mall. They don't serve breakfast, though.
posted by catlet at 6:42 AM on July 19, 2012
posted by catlet at 6:42 AM on July 19, 2012
Second, the clearest written references to Sunday as the Lord's day date to the second century, several centuries before Constantine's founding of the state church and several centuries more before the pope of Rome first claimed to be universal bishop.
Point still stands. Nowhere does the scripture specifically designate Sunday as the Lord's day. And even if it did, it says nothing about working on Sundays.
posted by saulgoodman at 6:53 AM on July 19, 2012
Point still stands. Nowhere does the scripture specifically designate Sunday as the Lord's day. And even if it did, it says nothing about working on Sundays.
posted by saulgoodman at 6:53 AM on July 19, 2012
The company my daughter is doing her summer internship at has CFA brought in once a week for lunch. But, it's Oklahoma, so, that might actually be required by the state constitution...
posted by Thorzdad at 6:54 AM on July 19, 2012
posted by Thorzdad at 6:54 AM on July 19, 2012
Aw, Jesus.
posted by Edison Carter at 6:57 AM on July 19, 2012
posted by Edison Carter at 6:57 AM on July 19, 2012
the BEST chicken sandwich in the world
I refute it thus.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:59 AM on July 19, 2012
there's a Chick-Fil-A in the food court at the Burlington Mall
And another in Andover. Additionally, there's an Arby's in Waltham and a Popeye's in Providence, and I think they opened up a Sonic somewhere in MA. These are test franchises - open even though there are no other local franchisees, and require their supplies and regional management to be trucked in from Upstate NY or Jersey.
In the Daytona Beach-Orlando area, fast food chains were everywhere. Every mall had a C-F-A. Every street corner had a Checkers or a Sonic, and an Arby's and Krystal across the street. Church's Chicken and KFC and Popeye's did battle with Red Lobster and Long John Silver's on any given stretch of road with a big box store or two. It was pretty weird to a kid from New England.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:07 AM on July 19, 2012
And another in Andover. Additionally, there's an Arby's in Waltham and a Popeye's in Providence, and I think they opened up a Sonic somewhere in MA. These are test franchises - open even though there are no other local franchisees, and require their supplies and regional management to be trucked in from Upstate NY or Jersey.
In the Daytona Beach-Orlando area, fast food chains were everywhere. Every mall had a C-F-A. Every street corner had a Checkers or a Sonic, and an Arby's and Krystal across the street. Church's Chicken and KFC and Popeye's did battle with Red Lobster and Long John Silver's on any given stretch of road with a big box store or two. It was pretty weird to a kid from New England.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:07 AM on July 19, 2012
CFA used to be a family favorite, but we haven't given them our money in two years. Does it make any difference? Probably not - but it makes us feel damn good.
posted by incandissonance at 7:11 AM on July 19, 2012
posted by incandissonance at 7:11 AM on July 19, 2012
Yet another reason to patronize Los Pollos Hermanos. Mmmmm...finger twitching good!
posted by malocchio at 7:17 AM on July 19, 2012
posted by malocchio at 7:17 AM on July 19, 2012
Skygazer: "Having never seen one of these joints in NYC, it all seems like a very strange and scary place."
There's a Chick-Fil-A at NYU downtown. An NYU freshman organized a petition last semester to get them kicked out. It received 10,000 signatures, but the school administration refused..
posted by zarq at 7:32 AM on July 19, 2012
There's a Chick-Fil-A at NYU downtown. An NYU freshman organized a petition last semester to get them kicked out. It received 10,000 signatures, but the school administration refused..
posted by zarq at 7:32 AM on July 19, 2012
CFA just posted this on Facebook:
he Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. We will continue this tradition in the over 1,600 Restaurants run by independent Owner/Operators. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.
Chick-fil-A is a family-owned and family-led company serving the communities in which it operates. From the day Truett Cathy started the company, he began applying biblically-based principles to managing his business. For example, we believe that closing on Sundays, operating debt-free and devoting a percentage of our profits back to our communities are what make us a stronger company and Chick-fil-A family.
Our mission is simple: to serve great food, provide genuine hospitality and have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:34 AM on July 19, 2012
he Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. We will continue this tradition in the over 1,600 Restaurants run by independent Owner/Operators. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.
Chick-fil-A is a family-owned and family-led company serving the communities in which it operates. From the day Truett Cathy started the company, he began applying biblically-based principles to managing his business. For example, we believe that closing on Sundays, operating debt-free and devoting a percentage of our profits back to our communities are what make us a stronger company and Chick-fil-A family.
Our mission is simple: to serve great food, provide genuine hospitality and have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:34 AM on July 19, 2012
he Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender.
And i don't doubt that they will do so in their restaurants. But they will unabashedly continue to support politically those groups that seek to hinder the rights of some of those very same folks. "We'll take your money, but we don't have to like ya!"
posted by Edison Carter at 7:39 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
And i don't doubt that they will do so in their restaurants. But they will unabashedly continue to support politically those groups that seek to hinder the rights of some of those very same folks. "We'll take your money, but we don't have to like ya!"
posted by Edison Carter at 7:39 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
intermod: " Normally when I see this kind of race-to-the-bottom rabble-rousing crap, I assume that he's just another huckster gunning for the big money in the rightwing nutjob speech circuit (see Palin, Coulter, Wurtzelbacher, Bachman, Cain, etc.) but the Cathys are already stinking rich, so I don't know what the motive is here. But it certainly isn't moral. At that level, it never is."
It's a family thing, and an inherent part of the company's ethos. Forbes profiled them in 2007, and noted that the company's practices have gotten them in trouble:
posted by zarq at 7:51 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
It's a family thing, and an inherent part of the company's ethos. Forbes profiled them in 2007, and noted that the company's practices have gotten them in trouble:
Chick-fil-A, the corporate parent, has been sued at least 12 times since 1988 on charges of employment discrimination, according to records in U.S. District Courts. Aziz Latif, a former Chick-fil-A restaurant manager in Houston, sued the company in 2002 after Latif, a Muslim, says he was fired a day after he didn't participate in a group prayer to Jesus Christ at a company training program in 2000. The suit was settled on undisclosed terms.
The company might face more suits if it didn't screen potential hires and operators so carefully. Many Chick-fil-A job candidates must endure a yearlong vetting process that includes dozens of interviews. Ty Yokum, the training manager for the chain, sat through 7 interviews and didn't get the job. He reapplied in 1991 and was subjected to another 17 interviews--the final one lasted five hours--and was hired. Bureon Ledbetter, Chick-fil-A's general counsel, says the company works hard to select people like Yokum, who "fit." "We want operators who support the values here," Ledbetter says.
Those who do say they like the member-of-the-club feel that goes along with working with Chick-fil-A. "It is very difficult to get in, but once you're in, you're in for life," says Donald Elam, a Chick-fil-A franchisee in Superstition Springs, Ariz.: "I tell all my people, 'I'm not working for Chick-fil-A; I'm working for the Lord.'"
posted by zarq at 7:51 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Thanks, middleclasstool. I was having trouble finding it too.
Back in the 80s, I had a big thing for fast food chicken sandwiches, and CFA was tops. My mother's gay boyfriend refused ever to take me there (before I could drive), because of their policy of closing on Sundays, which he felt imposed Cathy's religious beliefs on both employees and customers.
Several years later, when my kids were little, I explained to them that this was why we (mostly) avoided CFA, although occasionally the pull of their chicken sandwich (and the fact that their employees unfailingly give better service than any other fast food chain around here) would cause me to fall off the wagon. Ever since then, my older daughter has been helpful in reminding me why I should resist, and now I'm going to give her this improved ammunition to keep me on the right track.
posted by notashroom at 7:55 AM on July 19, 2012
Back in the 80s, I had a big thing for fast food chicken sandwiches, and CFA was tops. My mother's gay boyfriend refused ever to take me there (before I could drive), because of their policy of closing on Sundays, which he felt imposed Cathy's religious beliefs on both employees and customers.
Several years later, when my kids were little, I explained to them that this was why we (mostly) avoided CFA, although occasionally the pull of their chicken sandwich (and the fact that their employees unfailingly give better service than any other fast food chain around here) would cause me to fall off the wagon. Ever since then, my older daughter has been helpful in reminding me why I should resist, and now I'm going to give her this improved ammunition to keep me on the right track.
posted by notashroom at 7:55 AM on July 19, 2012
Point still stands. Nowhere does the scripture specifically designate Sunday as the Lord's day. And even if it did, it says nothing about working on Sundays.
No, the point does not. Sunday as the Lord's day was described as "papist", which simply is not the case. The pope of Rome has nothing to do with this tradition.
Also, the point makes no sense. Who cares if nothing in the Scripture designates Sunday as the Lord's day? The Bible is not a Quran. It didn't fall out of heaven in a nice bound volume. Sola scriptura has never been the teaching of the apostolic church. No one ever heard of that idea before the 16th century.
You may be interested to know that the Eastern Orthodox church (my faith) continues to commemorate the Sabbath on Saturday with vigils and liturgical services based upon Jewish temples services.
posted by Tanizaki at 8:05 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
No, the point does not. Sunday as the Lord's day was described as "papist", which simply is not the case. The pope of Rome has nothing to do with this tradition.
Also, the point makes no sense. Who cares if nothing in the Scripture designates Sunday as the Lord's day? The Bible is not a Quran. It didn't fall out of heaven in a nice bound volume. Sola scriptura has never been the teaching of the apostolic church. No one ever heard of that idea before the 16th century.
You may be interested to know that the Eastern Orthodox church (my faith) continues to commemorate the Sabbath on Saturday with vigils and liturgical services based upon Jewish temples services.
posted by Tanizaki at 8:05 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
They'll treat me with honor, dignity, and respect if I'm paying money to eat their food, but think I don't deserve honor, dignity, or respect if I want to visit my partner in the hospital. I think maybe they don't know shit about honor, dignity, or respect.
posted by rtha at 8:06 AM on July 19, 2012 [14 favorites]
posted by rtha at 8:06 AM on July 19, 2012 [14 favorites]
They'll treat me with honor, dignity, and respect if I'm paying money to eat their food, but think I don't deserve honor, dignity, or respect if I want to visit my partner in the hospital.
Where does this idea about hospital visits come from? I spent over a week in an ICU two years ago after a burst appendix nearly killed me and received visits from coworkers and friends. I have also visited friends in the hospital, and I was never asked what the nature of my relationship to the patient.
Wouldn't this be a matter of the hospital's visitation policy and the treating physician's discretion?
posted by Tanizaki at 8:14 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Where does this idea about hospital visits come from? I spent over a week in an ICU two years ago after a burst appendix nearly killed me and received visits from coworkers and friends. I have also visited friends in the hospital, and I was never asked what the nature of my relationship to the patient.
Wouldn't this be a matter of the hospital's visitation policy and the treating physician's discretion?
posted by Tanizaki at 8:14 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.
Yeah, but are they still going to donate money to right-wing causes?
posted by elsietheeel at 8:16 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yeah, but are they still going to donate money to right-wing causes?
posted by elsietheeel at 8:16 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Wouldn't this be a matter of the hospital's visitation policy and the treating physician's discretion?
Per Executive Order, hospitals are no longer allowed to ban same-sex partners in order to receive federal funding. Private or religious hospitals can do however they like.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:18 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Per Executive Order, hospitals are no longer allowed to ban same-sex partners in order to receive federal funding. Private or religious hospitals can do however they like.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:18 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
138 comments and nobody has made any kind of joke that ends with "Chick Fellate." Oh, Metafilter.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 8:23 AM on July 19, 2012
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 8:23 AM on July 19, 2012
Wouldn't this be a matter of the hospital's visitation policy and the treating physician's discretion?
Sort of, but sometimes there is a conflict between a patient's chosen family and a patient's "legal" family and there have been some ugly cases in the past where the hospital deferred to the legal family instead of the not-legally-recognized life partner of a patient for end-of-life decisions and other things. Private hospitals can and do do this and this is one of the thousand+ legal rights that marriage gets you that are denied to same sex couples who are not allowed to marry in their state.
Please do not turn this thread into a legal analysis of gay marriage, it's derailing and not on topic and there are many many places on the internet you can Google for more information as well and dozens of past threads where these sorts of things have been outlined in great detail.
posted by jessamyn at 8:30 AM on July 19, 2012 [8 favorites]
Sort of, but sometimes there is a conflict between a patient's chosen family and a patient's "legal" family and there have been some ugly cases in the past where the hospital deferred to the legal family instead of the not-legally-recognized life partner of a patient for end-of-life decisions and other things. Private hospitals can and do do this and this is one of the thousand+ legal rights that marriage gets you that are denied to same sex couples who are not allowed to marry in their state.
Please do not turn this thread into a legal analysis of gay marriage, it's derailing and not on topic and there are many many places on the internet you can Google for more information as well and dozens of past threads where these sorts of things have been outlined in great detail.
posted by jessamyn at 8:30 AM on July 19, 2012 [8 favorites]
Please do not turn this thread into a legal analysis of gay marriage
I have no such intention and I appreciate your comment. I simply questioned the factual basis for claiming "I can't visit my partner in the hospital" when I have visited friends in hospitals and they have visited me. Your comment did clarify the issue regarding end-of-life decisions. There is a difference between "visit someone in the hospital" and "make an end-of-life decision for someone".
posted by Tanizaki at 8:38 AM on July 19, 2012
I have no such intention and I appreciate your comment. I simply questioned the factual basis for claiming "I can't visit my partner in the hospital" when I have visited friends in hospitals and they have visited me. Your comment did clarify the issue regarding end-of-life decisions. There is a difference between "visit someone in the hospital" and "make an end-of-life decision for someone".
posted by Tanizaki at 8:38 AM on July 19, 2012
Wanda Sykes was performing in Denver recently and commenting on Chick-Fil-A. She said she loved to sandwiches too much to care about the discrimination. I don't know how this will change her opinion, but at the time she said, "I made a deal with my stomach: I am allowed to keep eating at Chick-Fil-A until someone says, "Here is your number one combo...YOU BIG, FAT DYKE!!"
posted by jefficator at 8:46 AM on July 19, 2012
posted by jefficator at 8:46 AM on July 19, 2012
So let's say my partner's parents live in Virginia (they do). Let's say my partner's parents don't like me much, and don't like that my partner is with me (this part is a total fiction). Let's say that while dutifully visiting for Christmas, we get in a bad accident and my partner has to go into the hospital.
We are totally legally married in California (one of the lucky 18K gay couples for whom this is true), and also Canada. Virginia, however, has a state statute* that prevents and of its government entities from recognizing any steps two consenting adults may have taken that create situations that resemble heterosexual marriage.
So! My in-laws could, at least theoretically, prevent me from visiting my partner in the hospital, could prevent the enforcement of of any powers-of-attorney that my partner and I have signed. How do you like them apples? I think they are bitter and rotten, personally.
* § 20-45.2. Marriage between persons of same sex.
A marriage between persons of the same sex is prohibited. Any marriage entered into by persons of the same sex in another state or jurisdiction shall be void in all respects in Virginia and any contractual rights created by such marriage shall be void and unenforceable.
(1975, c. 644; 1997, cc. 354, 365.)
posted by rtha at 8:47 AM on July 19, 2012 [4 favorites]
We are totally legally married in California (one of the lucky 18K gay couples for whom this is true), and also Canada. Virginia, however, has a state statute* that prevents and of its government entities from recognizing any steps two consenting adults may have taken that create situations that resemble heterosexual marriage.
So! My in-laws could, at least theoretically, prevent me from visiting my partner in the hospital, could prevent the enforcement of of any powers-of-attorney that my partner and I have signed. How do you like them apples? I think they are bitter and rotten, personally.
* § 20-45.2. Marriage between persons of same sex.
A marriage between persons of the same sex is prohibited. Any marriage entered into by persons of the same sex in another state or jurisdiction shall be void in all respects in Virginia and any contractual rights created by such marriage shall be void and unenforceable.
(1975, c. 644; 1997, cc. 354, 365.)
posted by rtha at 8:47 AM on July 19, 2012 [4 favorites]
I have gotten at least 10 people to pledge to boycott Chick-fil-a over the past few months. I just sent Dan Cathy an email letting him know. It felt good.
posted by robstercraw at 8:49 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by robstercraw at 8:49 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Also, if anyone's really "nah, not really *that* big a deal, come on" about hospital visitation, am I allowed to be angry that this family is working to stop the passage of or overturn existing laws that, say, would allow me to adopt a child with my partner? Would allow me to name her as a beneficiary for government benefits when I pass? Be able to file our tax returns without it being the complete fucking nightmare that it currently is? There's a bunch more, and that's just the legal end of it. Do I have your permission to be pissed about that?
posted by rtha at 8:52 AM on July 19, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by rtha at 8:52 AM on July 19, 2012 [6 favorites]
138 comments and nobody has made any kind of joke that ends with "Chick Fellate." Oh, Metafilter.
Check the eighth comment.
posted by Evilspork at 8:58 AM on July 19, 2012
Check the eighth comment.
posted by Evilspork at 8:58 AM on July 19, 2012
Crap. Even JimmyJohn's is looking questionable now. Had no idea they were big Romney/Republican supporters too. Guess that explains why they showed up at one state office I worked at a while back giving out free sandwiches to state employees in violation of the strict vendor gifting rules in Florida.
Doesn't it creep anybody else right the frack out just how culturally homogenous and ideologically uniform US economic elites and their business interests have become? It's like you aren't even allowed to succeed in business without toeing the line anymore.
posted by saulgoodman at 9:17 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Doesn't it creep anybody else right the frack out just how culturally homogenous and ideologically uniform US economic elites and their business interests have become? It's like you aren't even allowed to succeed in business without toeing the line anymore.
posted by saulgoodman at 9:17 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
When I was in college I would show up to my 1:30 classes when my lunch break was far too short with two sandwiches and a giant bucket of tooth-cracking sweet tea. I loved Chick-fil-A. There were Sundays that I cursed their God for closing them.
Just can't replicate it without a pressure fryer. Sad day.
Can't I have my beloved sandwiches without a heaping helping of bigotry? What will I do?
posted by Hollywood Upstairs Medical College at 9:22 AM on July 19, 2012
Just can't replicate it without a pressure fryer. Sad day.
Can't I have my beloved sandwiches without a heaping helping of bigotry? What will I do?
posted by Hollywood Upstairs Medical College at 9:22 AM on July 19, 2012
I've discovered that the McDonalds Southern Style Chicken sandwich tastes very much the same to me.
Yes, the McDonald's Southern Style Crispy Chicken Sandwich tastes exactly like a Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich. I highly recommend it. Available all over the place and you don't have to kick a gay person in the nuts to eat one.
posted by grouse at 9:39 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Yes, the McDonald's Southern Style Crispy Chicken Sandwich tastes exactly like a Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich. I highly recommend it. Available all over the place and you don't have to kick a gay person in the nuts to eat one.
posted by grouse at 9:39 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
..."Those who do say they like the member-of-the-club feel that goes along with working with Chick-fil-A. "It is very difficult to get in, but once you're in, you're in for life,"
UNLESS YOU'RE GAY
posted by triggerfinger at 10:18 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
UNLESS YOU'RE GAY
posted by triggerfinger at 10:18 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have no such intention and I appreciate your comment. I simply questioned the factual basis for claiming "I can't visit my partner in the hospital" when I have visited friends in hospitals and they have visited me.
Names to google for:
Val Burke. Janice Langbehn. Linda Cole. Teresa Rowe.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:32 AM on July 19, 2012
Names to google for:
Val Burke. Janice Langbehn. Linda Cole. Teresa Rowe.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:32 AM on July 19, 2012
Crap. Even JimmyJohn's is looking questionable now.
/me frantically searches FEC database for "Wegman"
*phew*
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:38 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
/me frantically searches FEC database for "Wegman"
*phew*
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:38 AM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Yes, the McDonald's Southern Style Crispy Chicken Sandwich tastes exactly like a Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich.
Their McDonald's Hamburger Style Hamburgers also taste like a real hamburger!
posted by Fleebnork at 10:40 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Their McDonald's Hamburger Style Hamburgers also taste like a real hamburger!
posted by Fleebnork at 10:40 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
All Waffle House did was give Karl Rove's Super PAC a hundred grand? Pffft. I'm not boycotting them for that. Hell, if I boycotted every right-wing business in town I'd never leave the goddamn house.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 11:05 AM on July 19, 2012
posted by BitterOldPunk at 11:05 AM on July 19, 2012
Sorry, should have explained the Waffle House/Karl Rove connection. Makes a lot of sense though, since this is basically the Republican American Dream in a nutshell. Get whatever kind of crappy food you want and TRIPLE it. Or you're a socialist.
posted by moammargaret at 11:10 AM on July 19, 2012
posted by moammargaret at 11:10 AM on July 19, 2012
Most towns have their own local, homegrown alternatives to Waffle House. Growing up in Panama City, FL, ours was a place called Flap Jacks, and they used to tolerate us funny looking musician kids hanging out there to sober up or drink coffee and play chess until the wee-est hours of the morning. Of course, judging from the comments on that Urban Spoon link, they've apparently decided to throw their lot in with the divide Americans against Americans in the false name of fostering national unity set, too, as one comment complains about the place now flying a politically derogatory banner that would make some potential customers feel unwelcome.
I swear, it's like absolutely nothing I ever knew and loved about this country is untouched by the ugly influence of the self-serving demagogs, crooks and charlatans trying to make Americans turn on each other anymore.
posted by saulgoodman at 11:21 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
I swear, it's like absolutely nothing I ever knew and loved about this country is untouched by the ugly influence of the self-serving demagogs, crooks and charlatans trying to make Americans turn on each other anymore.
posted by saulgoodman at 11:21 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Is there something in the water or the air recently making these companies recently come out (no pun intended) spewing these hateful positions?
Poisonous critters under rocks freak out and lash out when you turn the rock over, exposing them to the horrible horrible sunlight.
posted by emjaybee at 11:26 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Poisonous critters under rocks freak out and lash out when you turn the rock over, exposing them to the horrible horrible sunlight.
posted by emjaybee at 11:26 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
saulgoodman: " I swear, it's like absolutely nothing I ever knew and loved about this country is untouched by the ugly influence of the self-serving demagogs, crooks and charlatans trying to make Americans turn on each other anymore."
It's *always* been this way. Mainstream America has always been quite conformist.
posted by zarq at 11:30 AM on July 19, 2012
It's *always* been this way. Mainstream America has always been quite conformist.
posted by zarq at 11:30 AM on July 19, 2012
Coors Brewery
Easiest. boycott. ever.
List.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:31 AM on July 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
Easiest. boycott. ever.
List.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:31 AM on July 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
It's *always* been this way. Mainstream America has always been quite conformist.
Before the "Real America" and "Silent Majority" rhetoric starting in the 80s though, I don't recall it being so blatant and mainstreamed at all. Course I was just a kid then. Also our corporate culture definitely wasn't as homogenous. Regional media ownership rules and other now long-forgotten regulations that forced a lot of industry ownership to remain somewhat constrained to regional level markets were even more important than I ever realized, in retrospect.
posted by saulgoodman at 11:38 AM on July 19, 2012
Before the "Real America" and "Silent Majority" rhetoric starting in the 80s though, I don't recall it being so blatant and mainstreamed at all. Course I was just a kid then. Also our corporate culture definitely wasn't as homogenous. Regional media ownership rules and other now long-forgotten regulations that forced a lot of industry ownership to remain somewhat constrained to regional level markets were even more important than I ever realized, in retrospect.
posted by saulgoodman at 11:38 AM on July 19, 2012
And it's not mainstream that seems so homogenous, but the economic elite. Most people I know are as culturally diverse--if not more so--than ever in their day to day lives. But the really powerful folks all seem to be on the same page of the same playbook most of the time now.
posted by saulgoodman at 11:40 AM on July 19, 2012
posted by saulgoodman at 11:40 AM on July 19, 2012
saulgoodman: " Before the "Real America" and "Silent Majority" rhetoric starting in the 80s though, I don't recall it being so blatant and mainstreamed at all.
It became more apparent when someone found themselves outside the mainstream.
Often, the minorities who could mask themselves, did. But they were still shunned or vilified by the majority. Gays and lesbians weren't out. Even the hint that you were gay could sink your career. Or your marriage. Religious Jews often refused to wear kippot in public out of fear they'd be targeted by antisemites. Catholics, Asians, Latinos, African Americans and other minorities endured all sorts of nasty, oppressive crap because they couldn't blend in. Casual racism, antisemitism and other assorted bigotry was part of the normal social landscape. So those who were outside that norm had to live under the radar, or they suffered the consequences.
In general, the media tended to be pretty conservative: pro-war and accepting of government messages telling the populace what they should fear. Local exposés of corruption and scandal were common. Similar investigations on a national scale far more rare. Arguably, after WWI they also treated our President with a lot more deference.
We tend to look at the 1950's and 60's these days through rose-colored glasses, but there was a great deal of post-war fear back then about the possibility that other countries might use nuclear weapons against us, and that was rhetoric that came directly from our government. It pretty much fractured American culture at the time. The 50's birthed the modern reactionary conservatism movement as well as the beatnik and hippie/flower children movements. But conservativism had been around since before the days of Lincoln.
So yes, the landscape has changed, but there's always been a conformist element in the American majority. And as you said, the rise of the internet, the loss of regional and local media coverage and ownership, and the 24 hour news cycle have given modern, corporate news organizations much more dominance and homogeneity.
posted by zarq at 12:29 PM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
It became more apparent when someone found themselves outside the mainstream.
Often, the minorities who could mask themselves, did. But they were still shunned or vilified by the majority. Gays and lesbians weren't out. Even the hint that you were gay could sink your career. Or your marriage. Religious Jews often refused to wear kippot in public out of fear they'd be targeted by antisemites. Catholics, Asians, Latinos, African Americans and other minorities endured all sorts of nasty, oppressive crap because they couldn't blend in. Casual racism, antisemitism and other assorted bigotry was part of the normal social landscape. So those who were outside that norm had to live under the radar, or they suffered the consequences.
In general, the media tended to be pretty conservative: pro-war and accepting of government messages telling the populace what they should fear. Local exposés of corruption and scandal were common. Similar investigations on a national scale far more rare. Arguably, after WWI they also treated our President with a lot more deference.
We tend to look at the 1950's and 60's these days through rose-colored glasses, but there was a great deal of post-war fear back then about the possibility that other countries might use nuclear weapons against us, and that was rhetoric that came directly from our government. It pretty much fractured American culture at the time. The 50's birthed the modern reactionary conservatism movement as well as the beatnik and hippie/flower children movements. But conservativism had been around since before the days of Lincoln.
So yes, the landscape has changed, but there's always been a conformist element in the American majority. And as you said, the rise of the internet, the loss of regional and local media coverage and ownership, and the 24 hour news cycle have given modern, corporate news organizations much more dominance and homogeneity.
posted by zarq at 12:29 PM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
My favorite part of Dan Cathy's interview:
"I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about."
Um, aren't you actually arguing for the other side, asshole? Because if we shouldn't be defining what marriage is about, I'm pretty sure that means the Defense of Marriage Act is wrong.
(BTW, asshole, I agree: it's not the business of the government to say who can/cannot say "We're married!". But that's not what you mean at all.)
posted by IAmBroom at 12:29 PM on July 19, 2012
"I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about."
Um, aren't you actually arguing for the other side, asshole? Because if we shouldn't be defining what marriage is about, I'm pretty sure that means the Defense of Marriage Act is wrong.
(BTW, asshole, I agree: it's not the business of the government to say who can/cannot say "We're married!". But that's not what you mean at all.)
posted by IAmBroom at 12:29 PM on July 19, 2012
zarq: I definitely don't deny the conformist strain in US culture historically. But it's the seemingly near-absolute homogeneity of worldview at the top (perhaps related to the relatively smaller and smaller pool of elite-elites that recent upper income consolidation has helped foster) that seems especially striking to me now.
posted by saulgoodman at 12:34 PM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by saulgoodman at 12:34 PM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Make your own Chik-Fil-Gay Chicken Sandwich.
posted by THAT William Mize at 12:39 PM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by THAT William Mize at 12:39 PM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
I was having a pleasant walk along the beach the other day when God joined me for a little while. He told me that he was really worried. He was worried about how many children die for lack of clean water, and he was worried about how many people lived in poverty and misery throughout short lives. He was very worried about war, and the horrors that man inflicts upon man, whether by drone or by machete. He was concerned about greed, and hatred, and how little love and forgiveness seemed to exist in the world today. All this, he said. This is why I look so worried. Hatred and death and misery and the lack of charity, love, compassion and forgiveness. I sacrificed my son to help, but still, all this goes on as if no one has heard my Word.
And the gay thing, as well, I said to him. I hear from your followers that's pretty much top priority. He just turned, and looked at me, and looked very old, very tired, and very sad. I won't tell you what he said next, but frankly, I hope he doesn't use that language in front of the Virgin Mary.
posted by reynir at 1:22 PM on July 19, 2012 [5 favorites]
And the gay thing, as well, I said to him. I hear from your followers that's pretty much top priority. He just turned, and looked at me, and looked very old, very tired, and very sad. I won't tell you what he said next, but frankly, I hope he doesn't use that language in front of the Virgin Mary.
posted by reynir at 1:22 PM on July 19, 2012 [5 favorites]
Mael Oui: "There's no such thing as a Chick-Fil-A-esque sandwich. It's either Chick-Fil-A or it's nothing. Comparing McDonald's (or some other eating establishment's) chicken sandwich to C-F-A's is the actual definition of 'sacrilegious'. I've defended it before and I will continue to: Chick-Fil-A could kill my mother and I'd still go there any day of the week (except for Sunday). Nothing in this sweet country that is going to hell in a handbasket will EVER keep me from the BEST chicken sandwich in the world. In fact, I will tally up how many people will stop eating C-F-A, and I will personally make up the difference. THEN I'll cleanse my conscience by going to a same-sex wedding. But first... chicken! sandwich!"
Look, according to your profile you're in Evanston. Why don't you just skip CFA, and head over to Hecky's and enjoy some good food unavailable to others with a clean conscience?
posted by Reverend John at 1:30 PM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Look, according to your profile you're in Evanston. Why don't you just skip CFA, and head over to Hecky's and enjoy some good food unavailable to others with a clean conscience?
posted by Reverend John at 1:30 PM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Every other fast food chain weighs in on gay marriage
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:35 PM on July 19, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:35 PM on July 19, 2012 [8 favorites]
"U.S. Plastics"???? Holy crap. I'm crushed. I love their storage products. Well, no more. I won't buy from bigots.
posted by pointless_incessant_barking at 2:02 PM on July 19, 2012
posted by pointless_incessant_barking at 2:02 PM on July 19, 2012
US Plastics is the parent company of Rubbermaid and Nalgene. Oh well. I was meaning to declutter and switch to a steel waterbottle anyway.
posted by catlet at 2:15 PM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by catlet at 2:15 PM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Chick-fil-A Recipe: All the Taste, None of the Bigotry! (From internet chef Hilah Johnson)(video)(all by way of The Advocate)
If you’ve been dreaming of a way to make your very own junky fast-food-that’ll-kill-ya at HOME, today is your lucky day! Here is Chick-Fil-A’s secret recipe* and my secret* home-frying technique, because unlike those chicken behemoths, CFA and KFC, we little people don’t have pressure fryers in our kitchens.
To make it “just like” CFA, serve on a buttered, toasted bun with two (only TWO) slices of dill pickle. Those very cheap, slightly yellowish “hamburger dills” work the best in my opinion, for the juice marinade and the pickles themselves.
Ingredients
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 cup pickle juice (sour dill is my favorite)
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Optional: up to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper for a spicy sandwich
Oil for frying (about a cup)
Instructions
Wrap the chicken loosely between plastic wrap and pound gently with the flat side of a meat tenderizer until about 1/2 inch thick all around.
Cut into two pieces, as even as possible.
Marinate in the pickle juice for 30 minutes to one hour (add a teaspoon of Tabasco sauce now for a spicy sandwich).
Beat the egg with the milk in a bowl.
Combine the flour, sugar, and spices in another bowl.
Dip the chicken pieces each into the egg on both sides, then coat in flour on both sides.
Heat the oil in a skillet (1/2 inch deep) to about 345-350.
Fry each cutlet for 2 minutes on each side, or until golden and cooked through.
Blot on paper and serve on toasted buns with pickle slices.
Chick-Fil-A Copycat Nuggets
Another one.
And another.
Really, just Google "Chick-Fil-A" copycat and try them. Bound to be one you like.
posted by magstheaxe at 3:11 PM on July 19, 2012 [16 favorites]
If you’ve been dreaming of a way to make your very own junky fast-food-that’ll-kill-ya at HOME, today is your lucky day! Here is Chick-Fil-A’s secret recipe* and my secret* home-frying technique, because unlike those chicken behemoths, CFA and KFC, we little people don’t have pressure fryers in our kitchens.
To make it “just like” CFA, serve on a buttered, toasted bun with two (only TWO) slices of dill pickle. Those very cheap, slightly yellowish “hamburger dills” work the best in my opinion, for the juice marinade and the pickles themselves.
Ingredients
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 cup pickle juice (sour dill is my favorite)
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Optional: up to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper for a spicy sandwich
Oil for frying (about a cup)
Instructions
Wrap the chicken loosely between plastic wrap and pound gently with the flat side of a meat tenderizer until about 1/2 inch thick all around.
Cut into two pieces, as even as possible.
Marinate in the pickle juice for 30 minutes to one hour (add a teaspoon of Tabasco sauce now for a spicy sandwich).
Beat the egg with the milk in a bowl.
Combine the flour, sugar, and spices in another bowl.
Dip the chicken pieces each into the egg on both sides, then coat in flour on both sides.
Heat the oil in a skillet (1/2 inch deep) to about 345-350.
Fry each cutlet for 2 minutes on each side, or until golden and cooked through.
Blot on paper and serve on toasted buns with pickle slices.
Chick-Fil-A Copycat Nuggets
Another one.
And another.
Really, just Google "Chick-Fil-A" copycat and try them. Bound to be one you like.
posted by magstheaxe at 3:11 PM on July 19, 2012 [16 favorites]
zarq: I definitely don't deny the conformist strain in US culture historically. But it's the seemingly near-absolute homogeneity of worldview at the top (perhaps related to the relatively smaller and smaller pool of elite-elites that recent upper income consolidation has helped foster) that seems especially striking to me now.
I don't know that I completely disagree and certainly the effects of the ever shrinking richest class should be studied, but I really doubt that the business and political elite of 40 years ago had any more diverse views on gay marriage than they do now...
posted by Salamandrous at 5:56 PM on July 19, 2012
I don't know that I completely disagree and certainly the effects of the ever shrinking richest class should be studied, but I really doubt that the business and political elite of 40 years ago had any more diverse views on gay marriage than they do now...
posted by Salamandrous at 5:56 PM on July 19, 2012
Fair point, Salamandrous. But it isn't just on the gay marriage issue that it seems there's this weird sort of ideological uniformity to me. The elite-elite seem to operate in lock-step on most issues these days, with only maybe Bloomberg occasionally throwing a curve-ball. And where the elite-elite's go, the country follows (how could it be otherwise when just one super wealthy family, for example, commands more of the overall share of wealth in the nation than 40% of the rest of us? That's a hell of a lot of concentrated economic power all by itself, more than enough to shape, remake or destroy a society). I'm sure it's natural; that is, I don't mean to suggest a conscious conspiracy--more a sort of unhealthy (from my perspective anyway) mono-culture. But it's discouraging in any case.
posted by saulgoodman at 8:14 PM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by saulgoodman at 8:14 PM on July 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Nalgene? Crap. It would not be looked well upon if I show up to the lab tomorrow and start chucking all the Nalgene bottles.
posted by ltracey at 8:34 PM on July 19, 2012
posted by ltracey at 8:34 PM on July 19, 2012
I'm not actually in Evanston. I live in PA and I'm within 5 miles of TWO C-F-As. And I hope to eat there tomorrow. Really. Sorry, but I refuse to connect the few foods I enjoy with a political or social agenda. I don't support the guy's way of thinking, but I'm not going to boycott the restaurant over it. The guy could say that he thinks everything that is near and dear to me is wrong and I would still eat there, at least on occasion. And, no I wouldn't feel guilty or hypocritical. It's a fucking sandwich. He can only do so much harm in the world with the $5 I'll spend there.
posted by Mael Oui at 8:34 PM on July 19, 2012
posted by Mael Oui at 8:34 PM on July 19, 2012
Maybe part of the reason why I can't take this seriously is that every time I see this guy's name, all I can think of is the comic Cathy. Because I always get a little giddy and wonder if I'm going to fit in my bathing suit (chocolate chocolate chocolate ACK!).
posted by Mael Oui at 8:38 PM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Mael Oui at 8:38 PM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
The best chicken (and accompanied sauce) is at Raising Cane's. My friend from Louisiana introduced me to a Virginia-based establishment and now I'm hooked.
Though due to the topic, I'm now nervous that they too are of Christian origin in a bad way; he named the restaurant after his dog, they make good food, they donate to the community, AND they're from down South. It's gotta be a trick, right?
posted by DisreputableDog at 8:44 PM on July 19, 2012
Though due to the topic, I'm now nervous that they too are of Christian origin in a bad way; he named the restaurant after his dog, they make good food, they donate to the community, AND they're from down South. It's gotta be a trick, right?
posted by DisreputableDog at 8:44 PM on July 19, 2012
All Waffle House did was give Karl Rove's Super PAC a hundred grand? Pffft. I'm not boycotting them for that.
I dunno, seems like more than enough for me. Understand about Brenda, though. Tough call.
posted by mediareport at 10:52 PM on July 19, 2012
I dunno, seems like more than enough for me. Understand about Brenda, though. Tough call.
posted by mediareport at 10:52 PM on July 19, 2012
Mael Oui: He can only do so much harm in the world with the $5 I'll spend there.
I don't understand how you don't understand. While a small percentage of your $5 may be a measly contribution to Cathy's cause, it's the combined percentage of several thousands of dollars from his customers that keep him going.
Yes, you by yourself are not important. But the possibility of you + her + him + them + that group + all of those people that boycott the restaurant are what makes a difference.
I don't have a college degree and I've never taken Economics, so how is it that I get this and you, who I am assuming are at least past college level, do not? *Squints* Are you trolling?
posted by DisreputableDog at 4:16 AM on July 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
I don't understand how you don't understand. While a small percentage of your $5 may be a measly contribution to Cathy's cause, it's the combined percentage of several thousands of dollars from his customers that keep him going.
Yes, you by yourself are not important. But the possibility of you + her + him + them + that group + all of those people that boycott the restaurant are what makes a difference.
I don't have a college degree and I've never taken Economics, so how is it that I get this and you, who I am assuming are at least past college level, do not? *Squints* Are you trolling?
I am not surprised that you do not have any economics training, for you have failed to address a considerable factor that has not been discussed: that Chick-Fil-A restaurants are franchises. Assuming a boycott is in any way successful, the person who is going to feel it is the middle-class man or woman who runs the store, not the Cathy family.
I don't see the company has having much to lose with this story. Chick-Fil-A has never made any secret of its religious leanings, and the group of the population who would be inclined to boycott is already doing so. Atheists have been on that bandwagon for years. Despite this fact, Chick-Fil-A has the highest per-store sales in the fast food industry even though it is closed one day every week. In other words, Chick-Fil-A is just about at boycott capacity already.
Does anyone else remember the Whole Foods boycott a few years ago after its CEO wrote an WSJ op-ed against the ACA? I remember the company's following quarterly report exceeding expectations.
posted by Tanizaki at 7:23 AM on July 20, 2012
Yes, you by yourself are not important. But the possibility of you + her + him + them + that group + all of those people that boycott the restaurant are what makes a difference.
I don't have a college degree and I've never taken Economics, so how is it that I get this and you, who I am assuming are at least past college level, do not? *Squints* Are you trolling?
I am not surprised that you do not have any economics training, for you have failed to address a considerable factor that has not been discussed: that Chick-Fil-A restaurants are franchises. Assuming a boycott is in any way successful, the person who is going to feel it is the middle-class man or woman who runs the store, not the Cathy family.
I don't see the company has having much to lose with this story. Chick-Fil-A has never made any secret of its religious leanings, and the group of the population who would be inclined to boycott is already doing so. Atheists have been on that bandwagon for years. Despite this fact, Chick-Fil-A has the highest per-store sales in the fast food industry even though it is closed one day every week. In other words, Chick-Fil-A is just about at boycott capacity already.
Does anyone else remember the Whole Foods boycott a few years ago after its CEO wrote an WSJ op-ed against the ACA? I remember the company's following quarterly report exceeding expectations.
posted by Tanizaki at 7:23 AM on July 20, 2012
Tanizaki, I don't think it's true that the people who care enough about gay marriage to cut down their Chik-Fil-A intake form a strict subset of atheists who feel strongly enough about religion to boycott any religious company. There are people who support gay marriage who are religious, as well as those who aren't particularly religious but don't see religion as intrinsically negative.
posted by en forme de poire at 9:10 AM on July 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by en forme de poire at 9:10 AM on July 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Erm, first addressing your red herring: The middle class man or woman who runs the individual restaurant is obviously aware of Chick-Fil-A's practices and is therefore no more worthy of my sympathy than the homophobic company owner. Even though that middle manager may attempt to argue that it's not like -they- hold such ideas, they're still helping an ugly company make money.
Don't pretend either that a bad economy or tasty food exempts anyone from having a little integrity. If someone wants to sell themselves out in order to work at a place of bigotry or eat some waffle fries, they should at least own up to it.
"Yes, I'm selling food at an establishment which is owned by a depraved man, who is very much trying to deny otherwise common rights to my fellow human beings, because I need a job and a steady paycheck."
"Yes, I eat the food at an establishment which is..........., because I have neither the self discipline to avoid eating the delicious food nor to stand up to my friends/family/coworkers in order to tell them that eating at this restaurant promotes the stamping of people's basic rights."
"Yes, I eat the food at this establishment because I may be quietly homophobic myself, and am unwilling to address the possibility of change in myself."
But back to the main point: if enough people boycott a restaurant, even a franchise restaurant, it could make a difference. After all, restaurants and stores go out of business all the time, usually due to a combination of factors. If enough people continue to boycott CFA, some other random happenstance is decently likely to hit them out of nowhere. It has happened before and it can happen again.
And, of course, there are people out there that are oblivious until they aren't. Every time Chick-Fil-A comes up in the news for this, there are a few more people out there that decide to stop eating there. In fact, there are several of those people in this thread.
Don't let your personal apathy blind yourself or others to the possibility of change caused by large groups of people. Don't let your own paralyzed emotions for this topic slow down someone else's progress. Basically, don't be such a defeatist.
After all, the military recently changed their Don't Ask Don't Tell policy and it wasn't because they just felt like being nice. It was because people pushed to change the policies.
posted by DisreputableDog at 9:35 AM on July 20, 2012 [3 favorites]
Don't pretend either that a bad economy or tasty food exempts anyone from having a little integrity. If someone wants to sell themselves out in order to work at a place of bigotry or eat some waffle fries, they should at least own up to it.
"Yes, I'm selling food at an establishment which is owned by a depraved man, who is very much trying to deny otherwise common rights to my fellow human beings, because I need a job and a steady paycheck."
"Yes, I eat the food at an establishment which is..........., because I have neither the self discipline to avoid eating the delicious food nor to stand up to my friends/family/coworkers in order to tell them that eating at this restaurant promotes the stamping of people's basic rights."
"Yes, I eat the food at this establishment because I may be quietly homophobic myself, and am unwilling to address the possibility of change in myself."
But back to the main point: if enough people boycott a restaurant, even a franchise restaurant, it could make a difference. After all, restaurants and stores go out of business all the time, usually due to a combination of factors. If enough people continue to boycott CFA, some other random happenstance is decently likely to hit them out of nowhere. It has happened before and it can happen again.
And, of course, there are people out there that are oblivious until they aren't. Every time Chick-Fil-A comes up in the news for this, there are a few more people out there that decide to stop eating there. In fact, there are several of those people in this thread.
Don't let your personal apathy blind yourself or others to the possibility of change caused by large groups of people. Don't let your own paralyzed emotions for this topic slow down someone else's progress. Basically, don't be such a defeatist.
After all, the military recently changed their Don't Ask Don't Tell policy and it wasn't because they just felt like being nice. It was because people pushed to change the policies.
posted by DisreputableDog at 9:35 AM on July 20, 2012 [3 favorites]
*nor the fortitude to stand up....
posted by DisreputableDog at 9:38 AM on July 20, 2012
posted by DisreputableDog at 9:38 AM on July 20, 2012
[Boston] Mayor Menino on Chick-fil-A: Stuff itposted by rewil at 11:41 AM on July 20, 2012 [8 favorites]
Vows to block eatery over anti-gay attitude
“Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong in Boston. You can’t have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against a population. We’re an open city, we’re a city that’s at the forefront of inclusion,” Menino told the Herald yesterday.
... “If they need licenses in the city, it will be very difficult — unless they open up their policies,” he warned.
[Boston] Mayor Menino on Chick-fil-A: Stuff it
Wicked pissah excellent!!!!!!
posted by benito.strauss at 11:51 AM on July 20, 2012 [5 favorites]
Wicked pissah excellent!!!!!!
posted by benito.strauss at 11:51 AM on July 20, 2012 [5 favorites]
I've seen many-a-handy "make your own chik-fil-a sandwiches at home" recipes, so i'm glad for at least the underground backlash.
posted by nataliepo at 1:18 PM on July 20, 2012
posted by nataliepo at 1:18 PM on July 20, 2012
I'm an annoying, pedantic person by nature, so it feels awesome on those rare occasions that I get to use those qualities for good.
(Story is generalized and devoid of sources to protect the innocently bamboozled and cooperative.)
So I was researching Chick-fil-A and and its nearby locations when I discovered that the social media presence for a certain outlet featured very prominently a photograph of what appeared to be a recent hospital fundraiser/benefit, which they conducted along with the local division of a very large media company. Unfortunately, said photograph featured prominently the extremely recognizable logo of said large media company, along with some of their employees, as well as Chick-fil-A's cow mascot.
Being the pedantic person that I am, and steamed by Chick-fil-A's anti-gay stance, I decided to bring the situation to the attention of an employee of the local division of the large media company. An attempt at emailing threw back an error, so I called them by telephone instead... although I was very reluctant to do so, since I'm socially awkward and horrible at extemporaneous speech.
When I began to explain the situation the nice woman on the other end of the phone said, "Stop it!", with such vehemence and finality that I initially misunderstood her to mean "stop bothering me with this bullshit complaint". She meant no such thing, of course, and when I managed to help her point her web browser to the correct address she actually gasped audibly on seeing the photograph, said something like "I told them to keep the cow out of the pictures!", and promised to make sure the situation was dealt with.
...and it was, as of a few hours ago!
posted by The Confessor at 3:58 PM on July 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
(Story is generalized and devoid of sources to protect the innocently bamboozled and cooperative.)
So I was researching Chick-fil-A and and its nearby locations when I discovered that the social media presence for a certain outlet featured very prominently a photograph of what appeared to be a recent hospital fundraiser/benefit, which they conducted along with the local division of a very large media company. Unfortunately, said photograph featured prominently the extremely recognizable logo of said large media company, along with some of their employees, as well as Chick-fil-A's cow mascot.
Being the pedantic person that I am, and steamed by Chick-fil-A's anti-gay stance, I decided to bring the situation to the attention of an employee of the local division of the large media company. An attempt at emailing threw back an error, so I called them by telephone instead... although I was very reluctant to do so, since I'm socially awkward and horrible at extemporaneous speech.
When I began to explain the situation the nice woman on the other end of the phone said, "Stop it!", with such vehemence and finality that I initially misunderstood her to mean "stop bothering me with this bullshit complaint". She meant no such thing, of course, and when I managed to help her point her web browser to the correct address she actually gasped audibly on seeing the photograph, said something like "I told them to keep the cow out of the pictures!", and promised to make sure the situation was dealt with.
...and it was, as of a few hours ago!
posted by The Confessor at 3:58 PM on July 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
Don't let your personal apathy blind yourself or others to the possibility of change caused by large groups of people. Don't let your own paralyzed emotions for this topic slow down someone else's progress.
This is not about me, so please do not speculate about my "apathy" or "paralyzed emotions".
This is pretty simple. Chick-Fil-A's position on this social issue is pretty clear and has been for quite some time. For years, people have been carping about its donation of money to "anti-gay" groups for years. Cathy as even commented on this issue explicitly in the past. Anyone who just found out about the company's position this week simply has not been paying attention.
For this reason, I think CFA is just about at boycott capacity. Sales have grown each year for over 40 years, but the proof of the pudding will be in the tasting around February 2013 when the company releases its 2012 sales figures.
The efficacy of the boycott is eminently testable. What sales figures would CFA have to post for 2012 for you to deem that the boycott had been successful? To give you a baseline, from 2010 to 2011, there was a 13% increase in general sales with a 7% increase in same-store sales.
posted by Tanizaki at 6:23 PM on July 20, 2012
This is not about me, so please do not speculate about my "apathy" or "paralyzed emotions".
This is pretty simple. Chick-Fil-A's position on this social issue is pretty clear and has been for quite some time. For years, people have been carping about its donation of money to "anti-gay" groups for years. Cathy as even commented on this issue explicitly in the past. Anyone who just found out about the company's position this week simply has not been paying attention.
For this reason, I think CFA is just about at boycott capacity. Sales have grown each year for over 40 years, but the proof of the pudding will be in the tasting around February 2013 when the company releases its 2012 sales figures.
The efficacy of the boycott is eminently testable. What sales figures would CFA have to post for 2012 for you to deem that the boycott had been successful? To give you a baseline, from 2010 to 2011, there was a 13% increase in general sales with a 7% increase in same-store sales.
posted by Tanizaki at 6:23 PM on July 20, 2012
rewil: "“Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong in Boston. You can’t have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against a population. We’re an open city, we’re a city that’s at the forefront of inclusion,” Menino told the Herald yesterday.
... “If they need licenses in the city, it will be very difficult — unless they open up their policies,” he warned."
I made a nasty gesture at Menino yesterday when he had cops bark at people to get out of the way so he could cruise through the city without the inconvenience of stopping at a light, but damn. Maybe he's OK, in an OK-dictator kind of way.
posted by dunkadunc at 6:29 PM on July 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
... “If they need licenses in the city, it will be very difficult — unless they open up their policies,” he warned."
I made a nasty gesture at Menino yesterday when he had cops bark at people to get out of the way so he could cruise through the city without the inconvenience of stopping at a light, but damn. Maybe he's OK, in an OK-dictator kind of way.
posted by dunkadunc at 6:29 PM on July 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
From Politico: Chick Fil A gay marriage controversy: Politicians weigh in.
posted by Snerd at 7:41 AM on July 21, 2012
posted by Snerd at 7:41 AM on July 21, 2012
people have been carping about its donation of money to "anti-gay" groups for years.
One person's carping is another's advocacy for human and civil rights.
Boycott or informational campaigns aren't the only reason to voice displeasure with Chick-Fil-A's positions (and I doubt everyone who has seen or patronized a Chick-Fil-A is aware of the details of its positions and contributions to political causes). DisreputableDog's point about "owning up" is important. So long as people pursue policies that contravene social justice, there need to be others who call them on their positions.
posted by audi alteram partem at 9:26 AM on July 21, 2012 [7 favorites]
One person's carping is another's advocacy for human and civil rights.
Boycott or informational campaigns aren't the only reason to voice displeasure with Chick-Fil-A's positions (and I doubt everyone who has seen or patronized a Chick-Fil-A is aware of the details of its positions and contributions to political causes). DisreputableDog's point about "owning up" is important. So long as people pursue policies that contravene social justice, there need to be others who call them on their positions.
posted by audi alteram partem at 9:26 AM on July 21, 2012 [7 favorites]
i second the sabbath comments: 'sabbath' literally means 'saturday'. everyone's going to hell on a technicality.
posted by camdan at 1:26 PM on July 21, 2012
posted by camdan at 1:26 PM on July 21, 2012
The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-Fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors. Lisa Henson, our CEO is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage and has directed us to donate the payment we received from Chick-Fil-A to GLAAD.
(links to facebook, sorry)
posted by nadawi at 1:47 PM on July 21, 2012 [6 favorites]
(links to facebook, sorry)
posted by nadawi at 1:47 PM on July 21, 2012 [6 favorites]
Now the National Organization on Marriage is calling for Wednesday (July 24) to be "National Eat at Chick-fil-A Day":
posted by argonauta at 12:44 PM on July 23, 2012
Dear Marriage Supporter,All the heroes who stand for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness cannot be silenced either, you jackasses. Here's hoping it looks like Sunday at every Chick-fil-A tomorrow.
Thanks to your recent efforts at DumpStarbucks.com and DumpGeneralMills.com, we've shown the cultural elite, the gay millionaires who fund anti-marriage initiatives, and the biased media that the defenders of marriage are willing to put our money where our mouth is.
Well, this Wednesday, we have a chance to do it again-and this time even more literally-by coming out in support of National Eat at Chick-fil-A Day.
Imagine if folks all across the country united together in support of heroes like Dan and Truett Cathy that stand for strengthening marriage and family!
Imagine the potential impact of the message that companies favoring the radical redefinition of marriage risk fallout with their customers-combined with the message that heroes who stand for marriage and family cannot be silenced!
Imagine how clearly that message would be heard across the nation if Chick-fil-A reported record sales this Wednesday!
Well, let's not just imagine it-let's make it happen.
posted by argonauta at 12:44 PM on July 23, 2012
Honestly, I think this deserves its own FPP post, but I doubt the mods would let it ride but:
Muppets dump Chick-Fil-A to support gay marriage
I'm not a huge supporter of marriage (gay or otherwise), but that news is so fucking awesome.
posted by Mezentian at 3:52 AM on July 24, 2012
Muppets dump Chick-Fil-A to support gay marriage
I'm not a huge supporter of marriage (gay or otherwise), but that news is so fucking awesome.
posted by Mezentian at 3:52 AM on July 24, 2012
Mezentian: " Muppets dump Chick-Fil-A to support gay marriage"
Note to anyone clicking through: the comments are pretty much the worst of humanity on display.
posted by zarq at 7:04 AM on July 24, 2012
Note to anyone clicking through: the comments are pretty much the worst of humanity on display.
posted by zarq at 7:04 AM on July 24, 2012
Note to anyone clicking through: the comments are pretty much the worst of humanity on display.
I am sure there is a Muppet song about that.
And if there isn't, someone get me Kat Perry.
posted by Mezentian at 7:12 AM on July 24, 2012
I am sure there is a Muppet song about that.
And if there isn't, someone get me Kat Perry.
posted by Mezentian at 7:12 AM on July 24, 2012
Given Katy Perry's existing song "Ur So Gay" she might not be the best choice.
posted by grouse at 7:37 AM on July 24, 2012
posted by grouse at 7:37 AM on July 24, 2012
Katy Perry is a muppet? Well that explains a lot.
posted by moammargaret at 11:04 AM on July 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by moammargaret at 11:04 AM on July 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Grew up in Connecticut, studied at NYU in the days before it had a food-court-style cafeteria, and live in New York.
Not only have I never actually seen a real live Chik-fil-a establishment, it took me FORTY-ONE YEARS to realize that the name is not pronounced "chick-fill-AH".
I'd announce that I"m boycotting, but I don't think that "continuing to live in the ignorance in which I have always done" would quite count.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:46 PM on July 24, 2012
Not only have I never actually seen a real live Chik-fil-a establishment, it took me FORTY-ONE YEARS to realize that the name is not pronounced "chick-fill-AH".
I'd announce that I"m boycotting, but I don't think that "continuing to live in the ignorance in which I have always done" would quite count.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:46 PM on July 24, 2012
according to chick-fil-a, the muppets toys were recalled due to a safety concern. it's been a lot of years since i went to sunday school, but it's my recollection that liars are far more condemned than the gays.
posted by nadawi at 2:08 PM on July 24, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 2:08 PM on July 24, 2012 [3 favorites]
it's my recollection that liars are far more condemned than the gays
Ha, that's funny.
posted by moammargaret at 2:59 PM on July 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
Ha, that's funny.
posted by moammargaret at 2:59 PM on July 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
Both Boston and Chicago have now stated that they will bar any Chik-fil-a from opening in their cities -- and apparently, the ACLU has spoken up against them about it. Legally, they say, you can't bar a business from opening up in your town simply because you disagree with the owner's personal politics.
I'd be upset about this, except a) the ACLU is right about this, and b) I think the Christian Right realizing that the ACLU is siding with them is going to cause enough cognitive dissonance that their heads will start exploding.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:29 AM on July 27, 2012
I'd be upset about this, except a) the ACLU is right about this, and b) I think the Christian Right realizing that the ACLU is siding with them is going to cause enough cognitive dissonance that their heads will start exploding.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:29 AM on July 27, 2012
This is just weird timing, but it is weird.
Chick-fil-A chief spokesman Don Perry dies unexpectedly
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:30 PM on July 27, 2012
Chick-fil-A chief spokesman Don Perry dies unexpectedly
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:30 PM on July 27, 2012
Wow. I guarantee at least one Limbaugh-type person is going to blame some mysterious gay cabal for this.
posted by elizardbits at 12:36 PM on July 27, 2012
posted by elizardbits at 12:36 PM on July 27, 2012
Of course. Everything bad is always our fault.
posted by rtha at 12:41 PM on July 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 12:41 PM on July 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Chick-Fil-A uses a notoriously barbaric chicken supplier (Pilgrim's Pride) that employs the most inhumane chicken farming practices, such as destruction of male chicks, tiny wire cages, over-crowding, filthy conditions and, uses the practice of debeaking of newborn chicks, that causes the birds excruciating and continual pain until slaughtered.
http://nomorefowlplay.org/home/
posted by Skygazer at 2:45 PM on August 5, 2012
http://nomorefowlplay.org/home/
posted by Skygazer at 2:45 PM on August 5, 2012
Skygazer: "Chick-Fil-A uses a notoriously barbaric chicken supplier (Pilgrim's Pride) that employs the most inhumane chicken farming practices, such as destruction of male chicks, tiny wire cages, over-crowding, filthy conditions and, uses the practice of debeaking of newborn chicks, that causes the birds excruciating and continual pain until slaughtered.
http://nomorefowlplay.org/home/"
As I understand it, as horrible as it seems, male chickens have little to no utility (except for the token number required to act as rooster). So even the most humane large-scale chicken farms get their chicks in this fashion. Either they cull the males themselves, or they buy them pre-selected. Unfortunately, chick culling is pretty much inevitable both for meat and (obviously!) egg laying.
posted by Deathalicious at 7:40 AM on August 7, 2012
http://nomorefowlplay.org/home/"
As I understand it, as horrible as it seems, male chickens have little to no utility (except for the token number required to act as rooster). So even the most humane large-scale chicken farms get their chicks in this fashion. Either they cull the males themselves, or they buy them pre-selected. Unfortunately, chick culling is pretty much inevitable both for meat and (obviously!) egg laying.
posted by Deathalicious at 7:40 AM on August 7, 2012
Maybe instead of being culled, unwanted roosters could be taken in by animal lovers as house pets.
posted by dunkadunc at 1:18 PM on August 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by dunkadunc at 1:18 PM on August 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
dunkadunc: Maybe instead of being culled, unwanted roosters could be taken in by animal lovers as house pets.Yeah! Who wants to have the first shipment of 100 rooster chicks in their house? Anybody? Hurry up; there's 10 more shipments waiting... Of course, we aren't scaled up to handle the entire excess from US chicken production yet, but it's a start...
Don't forget to teach them to cluck to the tune of "Kum-ba-ya"; it will help reduce the CO2 karma in the atmosphere.
posted by IAmBroom at 2:05 PM on August 13, 2012
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posted by dunkadunc at 6:53 PM on July 18, 2012 [36 favorites]