Sick-Ful-A

[Opsa]

Not that I was in any danger of eating at a Chik-Fil-A in the first place, but now that the overtly Christian organization has made a public statement against gay marriage, I can guarantee I won't even go near the place, even to placate my carnivorous friends.

Don't get me wrong, I am not anti-Christian. I know of some Christians that are tolerant people. But I have to say that there is a creepiness factor set in my beloved country the United States of America that has thickened like a layer of mould over my lifetime, and personally I find it uncomfortable and un-American, in the sense that we purport to have been founded on religious freedom. I have a sickening feeling that some people interpret that notion as being freedom for their religion only, not all religious ideas (including atheism). Knowing that many of the founding fathers were Unitarian (as am I) I know that they meant that people should be free to follow what spiritual path calls to them if they wish.

I recently was invited to join a service club but found that people are expected to stand and pray in the name of one particular savior. I do not understand why, but I have decided to find other ways of helping my community that do not involve enforced praying to someone else's idea of god. The worst part is that I know that some of these people cheat on their spouses. So much for family values. This is hypocrisy. I aint gonna do it. There, I've said it.

Maybe the president of Sick-Ful-A has every right to his own opinions about what he supposes a family should be "as defined by the Bible" (as I heard it described on the news). Never mind that the Bible also says "Thou shalt not kill" and then does not specify what one is not to kill. What if I interpret that as thou shalt not kill anything, including chickens? The main point is that who the heck are these people who make gross public statements like this and then act like they are being persecuted?

Maybe it's just a big publicity stunt. I'm not going to give him any of my business or my attention. I'm not going to support any kind of carp like this. Ever.

G'AAARRRRRRRRGH!

[Sibling DavidH]

I'd like to see a company try that in the UK. 

[Opsa]

Perhaps it's me. Am I living in the wrong country.  

[Aggie]

Perhaps it's me. Am I living in the wrong country.  

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but....  

_{don't worry, you're only one unfenced border away from us.}  

Maybe the president of Sick-Ful-A has every right to his own opinions about what he supposes a family should be "as defined by the Bible" (as I heard it described on the news).

Yes, the Biblical account of family life is... enlightening.  
Genesis 19:30-38

Of course, that's the Old Testament.  Jesus was a much better family man:
Luke 14:25-27


_{yes, I'm being deliberately provocative, but I'm sick of folks trying to pick out certain passages of a very diverse and contradictory compilation of spiritual writings to support their own views - WHILE DENYING THE EQUALLY LEGITIMATE VIEWS OF OTHERS. I do the former constantly, it's OK to find inspiration for exploring and confirming your own viewpoint in many sources, but to claim that your interpretation is the only divinely mandated truth is pure hubris and IMHO placing yourself above God.}

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

I've known about this sick company for years.

About the only positive thing I can say about them, is most of their franchises are closed on Sunday.... bucking the usual fast-food trend too.

Another US company that's run by a total nut-case, is Domino's Pizza... the pres'dent of that company wanted to build a walled community, wherein the membership would have to sign some sort of declaration of christianity before they could buy property inside...

... ran rather afoul of the US Constitution that one did, but that he tried to do it is enough.

So no ChickFiller and no Dominos for this heathen...

.... meh.

[pieces o nine]

My young co-worker is the home-schooled daughter of a Baptist minister. We get along very well together while at work, and have sporadic, congenial discussions about topical events, such as this one.

We agree on *nothing* outside of work.    

While she's joyously watching videos of lines wrapped twice around the block to "support" C-F-A's stance and wishing we had one here so she could join the line to show support, I'm reminding her that I'd be on the other side of the street with the people holding "BOYCOTT" signs.

I haven't shared this really rather untaddy one with her, but I think it says quite a bit about the Southern Fried Baptist mentality...

[Opsa]

Oooh, that's wicked good.  

I don't do Domino's, either, for the reason Bob mentioned. Yick.

I hear someone's trying to organize a same-sex kiss-in at Sick-Ful-A stores across the country today. I can't say I think that's such a great idea, though. It gives them too much publicity and stokes the fires against the idea that the gay community can just lead normal lives among the heteros. I would be just as  grossed out to see a bunch of heteros making out at fast food chains. Bleh.

IMHO the best we can do is hold up our heads and support the respectful and mutual love of human beings. This is where peace is found. Let opponents wear themselves out making war.

Somehow we have to wear down the gene that makes people want conflict. It seems to be our biggest threat to continued existence.

_{I am sorely, sorely tempted to pick up and move to Mapleworld, my Aggie, but could I find work and housing? Would I just be abandoning this ship? Is it sinking, anyway? How many rats can Mapleworld tolerate?}

[Aggie]

I am sorely, sorely tempted to pick up and move to Mapleworld, my Aggie, but could I find work and housing? Would I just be abandoning this ship? Is it sinking, anyway? How many rats can Mapleworld tolerate? [/sub]

<sub>You ain't the captain, Ops...  Work...  depends. Visas could be an issue to start with, but there is still tons of work in Alberta, and they give away gobs of big dirty oil money to do it. Houses are now cheaper in the US than Canada, though.  AB is the province that most closely tries to emulate the US, especially Texas, but it'd still be a huge culture shock.  You get some small-mindedness in small towns, but it's not bloody organized and carried out under the flag of god/country/whatever like it is down there. It's just a straight-up I hate (insert group) because (insert stereotype) and considered a personal opinion in most cases.

A move like Chick-Fil-A pulled would not cross the mind of a company up here, I think.  Canadians are very tetchy about other people butting into their personal affairs, provided they are not harming anyone. Well, tetchy is not the right word, but it's considered very, very impolite to do so. You might disagree with what someone does quite strongly, but not with their right to do so.  I think we cherish freedom of action the way y'all cherish freedom of speech.  Do what you like, don't mess with what I'm doing, and don't come crying to me if it doesn't work out well.

Generally, you have to talk to someone for a very, very long time to figure out if they are actively Christian up here, at least in the circles I'm used to being around; that someone attends church is more often the subject of gossip in hushed tones than a declaration ('OMG, did you hear that she Goes to Church?'). A slight overstatement, but not too far from the truth. I haven't the foggiest what denomination any of the Christians I know are.

When I was a young'un, I used to make my Christian friends a little nervous when I ranted about the Devil, but they certainly didn't disown me or try to redeem me.</sub>

[Opsa]

Sounds refreshing!

I hope your housing is not more expensive than in the Washington DC area, where it's always sky high due to the proximity of good government jobs and worldwide embassy employee opportunities. Washington did not follow the rest of the country into the recession. Things got more expensive, but half of the city did not shut down, as in other areas. We have enough money circulating through our system here from the rest of the world, where in some cases things are not so bad.

I do hate that the Christian population here so loudly seems to think it is more American than any of the rest. I feel like it makes us look ignorant to the rest of the world. It's embarrassing.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

I don't go to CFA although until now I didn't have a powerful reason to avoid it. Pity about dominos, I do like their product, but beyond knowing that the founder is catholic I never heard crazy stuff from that quarter.

I do avoid Dixie products as the owners are the disgusting Koch brothers.

I find very sad that now we have to check the ideology of a business before employing their services. 

[Swatopluk]

Would be an idea for an App. Enter the brand name and it will tell you the connections. Works both ways of course and could as well be used by those supporting things others find unsavoury.

[Opsa]

That's a splendid idea, Swato old man! You should patent it and make some dough off it. Seriously.

We shouldn't have to check every product, but savvy business owners should know better than to make public statements about their private opinions.

I don't know about the Koch brothers. What's up with them?

I heard about Dominoes a number of years ago. Apparently they use some of their profits to fight against a woman's right to opt out of carrying a zygote to term. I choose not to give any of my money to them if that's how they'll spend it.

Egads, they don't like gay people and they don't allow for abortion. These people must be procreationists.

The presidential campaign slammercials have started here, and they are so dreary. Even the ones I agree with are almost unbearable to watch. One features a woman worrying about how scary it is to think of what Romney would do to women's rights if he's elected. She says he's against abortion even in cases of rape and incest. I honestly don't think that Republicans care much about how women are left to deal with the results of attacks on their bodies. I wondered aloud if they shouldn't pose the problem to the male republicans: Would you raise the child of the man who raped your wife? Mr. Ops didn't think this would make a difference to them. He says that they'd just suggest adoption of said child. I think that's procreated up.

[Swatopluk]

I did not check but I'd bet that this type of App is already on the market (long before the current debate).
Remember the faux debate about an alleged app giving infos about made political donations allowing the WH to harass its enemies?

[Opsa]

Vaguely... I found this one, but it looks way outdated.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Incomplete but useful nonetheless.
---
As for the Koch brothers, you can read this. Many of their businesses are in oil & gas but they sell consumer products with Georgia-Pacific.