Why I didn't have a chicken sandwich today

I LOVE Chick Fil A's food. I love their service. It is a joy to drive through and be treated so nicely. I also have no problem with someone exercising their right to free speech and being truthful about what they believe. Dan Cathey runs a great business and is great to his employees, he also has every right to say whatever he wants. I find it a bit ironic that some of the same people using that argument about his right to free speech and freedom of religion also deny that very right to the Muslims in our community, but well...you know.


I wonder if Dan Cathey had gone on and also included divorced people or people that are living together with their significant others in his opinion, how that would have been accepted? I am pretty sure he thinks that sex outside of marriage between any two people, regardless of gender, is "wrong". I am not sure he would be as bold to say it would "invite God's judgement" but it certainly isn't the traditional marriage arrangement many Christians believe is the correct one. 
The thought that we must just "tolerate" anyone that is different than us, or that we must make them feel "less than" us is pretty foreign to me. I don't understand people's need to involve themselves so fully in another person's life. 
I do not feel this is hate speech, but then again, I can love and marry who I want. So how am I to know what it really is or even how it is perceived?  Is it really about first amendment rights? I think it began that way, but escalated into something else all together. I see people posting pictures of themselves enjoying a sandwich on this day, "liking" everything having to do with Chick Fil A day, and I can't help but think it's a not so subtle way of sticking it to someone. Who knows?
I don't boycott much, I think it can get silly. I boycott James Dobson, I boycott his book "Bringing up Boys" for it's blatant homophobic agenda. I don't think Focus on the Family will probably ever call me again after our little talk (bless their hearts), I despise programs like Exodus International who are no doubt responsible for a multitude of gay teen suicides. An organization intent of telling men and women that God could not possibly love you like you are and for sure He didn't make you this way, so let's change! Now THAT is hate speech.


So I am glad this day is over and I can only imagine the hurt my gay friends have felt over the excitement of many people's comments. I mean, come on, I think we really all know what this is about. I think it's about poking at people because we don't agree. It's about "look at how much better I am than you". Too bad we can't dialogue like grown ups and find out what exactly "these people" are really taking away from us, which I think we will find out is nothing at all. 
Here is one of my favorite things that has been said about the whole debate: 
"Really? That is inviting God's judgment? So the county has made it through an Indian genocide, slavery, segregation, and nine police academy movies and somehow escaped God's judgment? I don't think letting gays register at Bed, Bath, and Beyond is going to tip the scales." 


So I gave my chicken money to The Trevor Project today in my own little protest. Not at all about Dan Cathey, but just because I'd rather have a bleeding heart than no heart at all.