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.

[Roland Deschain]

I've been following this story with interest in certain circles on Facebook since it began. I've seen so many stupid comments being made about it from fans of Dick Choker, usually along the lines of "we're exercising our free speech" (true), while they ignore that actively removing (or denying) a right is tantamount to oppression. It's just the typical mix of right-wing nutjobs, faux news fans, trolls, and pond scum (sorry pond scum, I love you really).

I've spent so much time viewing the mental gymnastics needed by these people to justify their vehemence, it's tiring me out.

Opsa, what's this talk of moving all aboot? (sorry Aggie, couldn't resist that South Park joke).

[Aggie]

Opsa, what's this talk of moving all aboot? (sorry Aggie, couldn't resist that South Park joke).

No worries, I'm a West Coaster, I dunno what you're talking a boot either. Ops's accent is probably closer to the stereotype than mine; we sound more like Pacific Northwestern Americans than the stereotypical Eastern Canadian accent.

Incidentally, 'a booter' is Manitoban slang for stepping deep enough in a pond or puddle so that your rubber boot gets filled with water or mud.  Big hazard in a province that's 16% under water....

[Sibling DavidH]

Incidentally, 'a booter' is Manitoban slang for stepping deep enough in a pond or puddle so that your rubber boot gets filled with water or mud.

In my boyhood Bedfordshire dialect it was 'getting a bootie'.

[Opsa]

That's not what "getting bootie" means around here!    

Hootman, I have lived here all my life, but have felt out of place for most of it, due to my liberal thinking. Some people have said I should go to San Francisco, and I do like that city, but I'd still be stuck in the utterly insane political carp we have here. I originate from Massachusettes, which is historically liberal, and sometimes I wonder if I should just go back, but as stated above- I'd still be in this place where propaganda would have us believe that we prefer oppression.

[Aggie]

I've tried to ignore politics since I moved back to BC.  The Conservatives are gutting socialism and don't get me started on how corrupt and plutocratic BC politics are.... 

I almost miss Alberta politics.  It was still more or less corrupt ( 'inept' is better descriptor), but it was all done out in the open and you knew the deal.  Y'all shut up and do what Big Oil wants, and we'll all make a hell of a lot of money.  YeeeeeHAAAW!! 

Not "We're already rich and have the power and connections to get richer on the public dime.  The masses?  Let them eat space cake".

[Opsa]

So there's no getting away from it, huh?

Oh well.

I guess the best I can do is stand firm as the opposition, then.

[Aggie]

No getting away from politics (although it's easier to ignore); attack ads are up here too, although generally a little less ludicrous. Michael Ignatieff was heavily attacked for being unpatriotic due to spending part of his career in the US (there was less criticism of the longer time he spent in the UK).

The one bit of relief up North is that one can largely mind their own business, so it's easier to craft your own little world with out being called out and hollered at by people who think that their own little world should determine the reality in yours. Similar to faith, it's not readily apparent with most people what their political leanings are, and if they differ from yours it's a worst a point of mild ridicule.

I went to high school in a small town, and the hippies and the rednecks brushed shoulders with no difficulties. The hills are thick with both, out here.

[Roland Deschain]

Thanks for the lesson in Canadian life and politics, as well as the dialect ( ). It really does sound as if it's a place of calm contrast, or at least a lot calmer than what Opsa is having to put up with, along with our other US sistren and brethren. Right-wing spokespeople have an awful lot to answer for, as do their followers.

[Opsa]

Yeah, and we all suffer for it, no matter what side we're on.

By the way- I live in the hills in a little town full of rednecks and hippies. I am one of the hippies, I guess, though I'm pretty middle class. As with commercial companies, we seem to tolerate one another fairly well until someone opens their mouth and spouts off about their beliefs, at which point some form of hell breaks loose. Some say it's a matter of freedom of speech, but it's also a matter of keeping the peace.


Personally, I couldn't care less about Chik-Ful-A. I'm a vegetarian, so I never go there anyway. But up until the CEO made a public statement opposing gay marriage (or "supporting traditional marriage", which is a load of manipulative propagandist carp IMHO) I had no opinion about them. I knew they were a Christian organization, but that didn't bother me. There are some nice Christians out there whom I respect. Now, because it has become an issue with them, I will never set foot in any CFA even to get a cup of water. I care too much about my gay friends to do anything that would support those that have decided to be openly ugly to them. They have love, for crying out loud. Jesus was all about love, as I understand it, and about being open and fair.

It seems archaic that there's still all this stigma about homosexuality. There have always been homosexuals and those who can't get used to this fact are the ones with the problem. There are weirdos too, of every sexual leaning, and it's those people we need to oppose if they are harming others. Not two people in love who want to take a marriage vow and have a household together.

[pieces o nine]

I am grateful that there's no local CFA to provide 'news' photo ops, angry editorials, and such. But i there were, I must confess, dear siblings, that I might have been spotted there, compassionately handing out flyers warning of the cosmic dangers of wearing poly-cotton blends on the Sabbath...

[Opsa]

Tee hee! But actually, they are closed on Sundays, the Xtian sabbath. There must be another loophole through which one could snag them.

[pieces o nine]

^ I meant the *real" biblical Sabbath, Friday evening through Saturday...     

[Roland Deschain]

The Sunday sabbath is a Roman thing, and definitely not an early Christian thing, yet they fail to understand that. Sigh.

I'm wearing a cotton t-shirt, cotton (denim) jeans, and cotton socks (bless them)*. What'choo gonna do 'bout that, then?!

* I'm also wearing cotton underwear, but in the interests of good evangelical Christian standards of common decency, have not mentioned them above.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

In a related note, we went to Orlando a week ago with my parents. My xtian mother wanted to go to the Fundie Holy Land against my advise, only that she tried to go on Sunday and it was closed... 

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

In a related note, we went to Orlando a week ago with my parents. My xtian mother wanted to go to the Fundie Holy Land against my advise, only that she tried to go on Sunday and it was closed... 

Irony meter's pegged at that one, it 'tis.

What's more important to most religions?  Maintaining the crunchy-outer coating of seeming compliance to obscure rules?  Or filling the coffers with more $$....?

... judging by the profuse use of gold-leaf, one would surmise the latter in most cases.

[Roland Deschain]

Zono, please excuse me if I laugh at your mum's expense.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Laugh away, I did it myself when she told me.