OUR VIEW: Chick-fil-A exec free to say what he pleases

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OUR VIEW

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We don’t have a Chick-fil-A in Mitchell or anywhere in the immediate region, but we wonder if South Dakotans would be boycotting the restaurant here in the Rushmore State in response to comments by Chick-fil-A’s president, Dan Cathy.

Last week, Cathy made some public statements about gay marriage that riled many and created an unforeseen firestorm.

During an interview on a radio show, Cathy said “we’re 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. And I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude that thinks we have the audacity to redefine what marriage is all about.”

Surprising comments from a man in charge of a national fast-food chain restaurant?

In this case, not really. After doing some research on Cathy, we learned that Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed on Sundays and that hymns are regularly played at the company headquarters. We also learned that Cathy has been quite open about his feelings on gay marriage in the past.

Later last week, Cathy softened his comments, saying he is “guilty as charged” in his opposition to gay marriage but adding he is “supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit.”

Some people and organizations are boycotting Chick-fil-A because of Cathy’s comments. People are free to do whatever they want and to eat wherever they wish, but once again, we are left to marvel that people react so intensely to one man’s personal opinions.

Cathy believes that the Bible, at least as he interprets it, condemns homosexuality. He is not alone in that interpretation and therefore is not unique — other than his penchant for publicly expressing his opinion, whatever the consequences to his business and personal wealth.

People believe what they believe. In Cathy’s case, he has firmly decided that the Bible — again, as he interprets it — shall be his moral roadmap. He has no problem expressing his views, even if those views cost him in the end. That’s his prerogative and his right as an American.

Personally, we do find his rhetoric to be over-the-top. Saying the United States is “inviting God’s judgment” by allowing same-sex marriage is dangerous, because it opens the door to blame gay people for anything and everything that ails the nation.

It could just as easily be said that fast food has contributed greatly to the sin of gluttony, and maybe Cathy will face God’s judgment for that. Again, that’s if one follows Cathy’s logic.

Today, we aren’t here to endorse what Cathy said, but simply to endorse his American right to feel as he does and to say what he says.

Tags: gay marriage, chick-fil-a, opinion, updates, editorials