Okay, in case you haven't been paying attention, there's a big to-do today. You see, it recently came to public consciousness that Chick-Fil-A (hereafter CFA), you know, the business that's so big into religion that they close on Sundays, also has other religious beliefs. And, well, the owners are pretty anti-gay, and give bunches of company profits to anti-gay groups that do things like oppose legislation condemning the Ugandan law that puts gays to death. Because saying that killing people for being gay is wrong is a stance that the United States shouldn't take?
Okay, snarkiness aside, I have to get through the "this is what's going on" setup. So, the internet, which tends to be rather liberal about things like this, gets wind of this. People boycott. Then, right wing Christian groups get wind of that. And that leads us to today, which was declared "CFA Appreciation Day" by some of those individuals, where people showed up in droves to eat CFA to support... their freedom of speech? Their hatin' them some gays? I'm not sure exactly WHAT they were supporting. But we'll get to that. I just wanted to set up what's going on. Anyway, all of this raises some very important, nuanced issues that I really have to write about, if for no other reason than to figure out how I feel about them. So, here we go.
First, I want to make clear what isn't nuanced and what I don't have to figure out. Gay people should have the right to get married. CFA is wrong to oppose that. The groups they are supporting are wrong. It's discrimination and it's evil. I decided that a long time ago. It's obvious to me, and I believe that history is on my side. We'll get there one day.
So, what is interesting? Well, for me, the first thing that's interesting is the ethics involving in a boycott itself. Specifically, what is our moral responsibility as it relates to the things that we buy and the people that we give our money to? This point has been brought up in relation to this boycott and its purpose specifically by comparing it to oil purchases. We KNOW that money we spend on oil and gas eventually gets to OPEC and, ultimately, to Middle East dictators who are running Sharia-based systems in which gay people are STONED TO DEATH. But you don't see the people decrying CFA buyers crying for a gas boycott. They do tend to be people saying, "Man, we need to get off of fossil fuels" but they don't just shut it down. And that can be expanded to all kinds of things. The more research you do, the more you realize that an interconnected economy means that at some point, anything you buy is going to give money to something or someone you don't like. So, what's our responsibility?
I've thought long and hard about this, and you know what? I just don't know. There's really no logically consistent answer short of becoming a luddite hermit and exiting the stream of the mainstream economy (probably not a bad idea, in some ways, but I'm just not willing to do it) or saying, "screw it, I'm gonna buy whatever I want and forget moral considerations", and I'm not willing to toss in that towel, either. There's no happy medium, here, either. There's just an unhappy medium, where you recognize that you're being a little hypocritical no matter what. Sometimes, you've just got to make a call, and you have to balance the importance of the thing you're buying to you, level of separation from the bad things you don't want to support, and how bad the thing being supported is.
With that said, there's a secondary issue. Boycotts, as a whole, are pretty ineffective. Quick, name a boycott that really changed something. Okay, now name one other than the Alabama bus boycott. Can't name another? Neither can I. Because reaching critical mass on these things is hard. And even the Alabama boycott didn't really work. It drew news and political attention that ultimately got a federal law passed, but it didn't work the way a boycott is SUPPOSED to work: via the power of economic pressure. It worked because of the media and politics surrounding it, not due to the idea of lost money causing change in the business. The reality is that minor personal stands don't ACTUALLY work to change anything.
That doesn't mean all boycotts are bad. Sometimes you just have to do it, because someone has to take a stand somewhere. It's symbolic. And I think this is one of those times. At least for me, this one's not about having my money go towards a homophobe or homophobic causes, at least not directly. If I found out the owner of the diner down the street was a homophobe, too, I'd probably still go to that diner, because at the end of the day I tend to fall on the side that believes that most boycotts are silly, don't change anything, that my dollar's easily replaced, and that .99 of my dollar goes to overhead, paying workers, etc. and that very, very little of it would actually make it to the hateful cause itself. Maybe that's just me justifying, but that's how I am. But this one has taken on a life of it's own. And some people I truly care about truly believe in it, and feel very strongly about it. And for them, and because this one's become a bit of a litmus test, I'm joining in. Because it's one thing to know that the world's full of crap. It's another thing to support the guy who shoves that in your face directly. And, well, the CFA thing has crossed that line for me.
That alone is tricky. But it didn't mandate me taking the time to sit down and write about it. You see, this has quickly become a "line in the sand" moment for many people. Stand with them against CFA or with the homophobic chicken hut. Or, on the other side, go and eat some chicken or be opposed to... free speech? Again, I really don't see their point. We're getting there. Anyway, here's the thing. I've chosen my side of the line on this one. But I don't like the line. I wish it wasn't there. I didn't draw it. I don't want it there. I've made my choice. I'm boycotting. If you want to join me, cool. If you don't, well, reasonable minds can disagree. I'm not going to make you, "The Enemy". I understand why some people I know, who I respect, feel that you are. This is very, very personal for them. I get their position, but it's not mine. People today posted things about how anyone who eats CFA at all should be ashamed. Anyone who has homophobic family should be ashamed. Suddenly I felt very uncomfortable. You see, my family and I, we don't precisely see eye to eye on this issue. But I still love them. I will never be ashamed of them. EVER. I won't. I refuse. You haven't seen my mom cry about the people she tries to help at her job. You haven't seen my brothers give up weeks of their lives to build houses for those who need them. You haven't had my dad be there for you every moment of your life when you needed him. So many other things about them that you don't know. I love them and will NOT be ashamed of them, no matter how many things, even very important things, I disagree with them about.
So, that needed to be said to those I agree with on this issue. I think I'm down to two things I want to say. I know, how can I still have two points to make? But I do. Point one: Like I said, I don't care for the line in the sand. If you choose not to join me in the boycott, that's cool. But those who came out in droves today? Who came out to send some sort of message? You bother me. Of all the things for Christians to really rally behind, fast food chicken and opposing gay marriage? If only we could get Christians half this excited for feeding the hungry. Clothing the naked. You know, the things Jesus explicitly commanded us to do? What about visiting people in jail? I'm in the jail regularly. I see the visitation logs. You know how often I see people visiting people in jail just out of Christian charity? I see a few clergy and their helpers who show up for a service, and that's IT. But you'll all show up because some people disagree with a fast food joint using its money to support hate groups? Yeah, not cool. I disagree with you. I think your views are bigoted on this issue. But I'm still insane enough to love you, believe it or not. Because I do believe that you can love people you disagree with, and the God I believe in calls me to love everyone. Even in the midst of your hate.
That's the last thing. The great irony is that all of this, ultimately, comes down to love. Everyone in this claims to be on the side of love. I see everyone's point, up to a point. Most of us just want to allow people the right to love who they want and the equal ability to express that love in a way that is accepted by society. Those opposing us claim to be doing it out of love as well, but it's horrendously misguided. It's like the love of one of those parents you see in movies who have this path all picked out for their kids and are going to force them down their path no matter what, even if it's not what the kid wants or needs. It's that kind of love. At best. That's being as generous as I can. And I try to be generous to everyone as much as I can let myself. I think there are people out there who genuinely believe that their homophobia is ultimately doing what's best for people. They're wrong. They're wrong about society and wrong about God, but I do think that their heart isn't completely full of hate. But there are just as many out there who are using God as an excuse to let their bigotry and hate shine. Probably more. And to those, all I can say is that I love you, and I hope one day that you'll let real love in your heart. Okay, so that was a weirdly sappy ending, but I feel better now, and more at peace with where I stand. Thanks to anyone who reads this. I don't know if I've said anything worthwhile, but I know I've said a whole lot.
