BEST. DAY. EVER.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Politics
It's President Obama's birthday today. Happy Birthday!
In other news,
Mitt Romney is in my hometown today. Eating at a local BBQ place.
In conclusion,
Life is weird.
Also:
Stay Fabulous!
In other news,
Mitt Romney is in my hometown today. Eating at a local BBQ place.
In conclusion,
Life is weird.
Also:
Stay Fabulous!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
It's not about a chicken sandwich...
I'm pretty sure anyone who knows me knew this was coming sooner or later. So here it is: my take on the Chick-fil-A controversy.
I'd like to start off saying that I've done lots of research on this topic, because if there's one thing that irritates me it's when someone tries to give their opinion on something they know nothing about. Here's what I've found:
It's no secret that Chick-fil-A was founded on religious principals. Dan Cathy, the company's founder, stated that they don't claim to be a Christian organization but their establishments stand on a foundation strongly rooted in the Bible. So yeah, same thing. The controversary began, however, when Cathy was asked his opinion on gay marriage. His answer, I assume, is obvious. This, however, is NOT where the issue lies. Of course, members of the gay community and those that support weren't particularly happy about a CEO of a major corporation voicing his opposition to something they've been fighting tooth and nail for, but hey, freedom of speech, right? That's his opinion, he's entitled to it. The end.
Unfortunately, it wasn't the end. After Cathy's public announcement, it also came to light that the company had been donating millions and millions of dollars every year to anti-gay organizations. Not only that, but they've also been donating to ex-gay organizations such as Exodus International, which according to its website, "is the world's largest ministry to individuals and families impacted by homosexuality." By donating money to organizations like these, Dan Cathy is making a clear statement that he and his company are not only against gay marriage, they are against gay existence. And furthermore, it's no longer just a man stating his opinion, no longer a man simply exercising his rights of freedom of religion or speech, it's now a man going out of his way to oppress an entire people. These kinds of 'opinions' shouldn't just be let slide. They are dangerous to millions of people. Dangerous to the same-sex couple that isn't allowed a marriage license or the thousands of rights granted to a married couple because people use their personal beliefs or faith to deny them their human rights. Dangerous to the children that are forced into counseling by their parents to change something about themselves they have no control over because some people can't look past their religions and prejudices to accept, or at least tolerate, things they don't understand.
The Declaration of Independence states that all people are endowed by their Creator-hey, that means God-with certain unalienable rights and among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. One can't honestly think that by donating to anti-/ex-gay organizations you aren't going out of your way to try and take away those unalienable rights from other people. People whose 'opinions' don't coincide with your own.
When you begin to take actual action to ensure a person is discriminated or oppressed, you are no longer simply stating your opinion. You are a bigot, intolerant, and hateful. Let me give you an example. I'm not big on organized religion. In fact, I don't like it for many, many reasons. But that's my opinion and I'm entitled to it, right? However, I would never want to rally against ones freedom to worship whatever god, being, statue, they wanted, however they wanted. And if I began campaigns to close churches or went out of my way to try and stop people from praying, then I'd be a bigot, intolerant, and hateful.
So you see, when I hear people complaining about activists getting angry with Chick-fil-A, screaming about freedom of speech and religion, making points of eating at the restuaraunt because of what's happened, I can't help but get upset. We aren't angry about one man's opinions on gay marriage. We aren't angry about a chicken sandwich-as some so cleverly put.
You're allowed to agree with Dan Cathy in thinking gay marriage is wrong or immoral or against your religion. You just aren't allowed to take away the rights of those who disagree. I, for one, will not allow my money to be used to oppress and I hope you won't either.
I'd like to start off saying that I've done lots of research on this topic, because if there's one thing that irritates me it's when someone tries to give their opinion on something they know nothing about. Here's what I've found:
It's no secret that Chick-fil-A was founded on religious principals. Dan Cathy, the company's founder, stated that they don't claim to be a Christian organization but their establishments stand on a foundation strongly rooted in the Bible. So yeah, same thing. The controversary began, however, when Cathy was asked his opinion on gay marriage. His answer, I assume, is obvious. This, however, is NOT where the issue lies. Of course, members of the gay community and those that support weren't particularly happy about a CEO of a major corporation voicing his opposition to something they've been fighting tooth and nail for, but hey, freedom of speech, right? That's his opinion, he's entitled to it. The end.
Unfortunately, it wasn't the end. After Cathy's public announcement, it also came to light that the company had been donating millions and millions of dollars every year to anti-gay organizations. Not only that, but they've also been donating to ex-gay organizations such as Exodus International, which according to its website, "is the world's largest ministry to individuals and families impacted by homosexuality." By donating money to organizations like these, Dan Cathy is making a clear statement that he and his company are not only against gay marriage, they are against gay existence. And furthermore, it's no longer just a man stating his opinion, no longer a man simply exercising his rights of freedom of religion or speech, it's now a man going out of his way to oppress an entire people. These kinds of 'opinions' shouldn't just be let slide. They are dangerous to millions of people. Dangerous to the same-sex couple that isn't allowed a marriage license or the thousands of rights granted to a married couple because people use their personal beliefs or faith to deny them their human rights. Dangerous to the children that are forced into counseling by their parents to change something about themselves they have no control over because some people can't look past their religions and prejudices to accept, or at least tolerate, things they don't understand.
The Declaration of Independence states that all people are endowed by their Creator-hey, that means God-with certain unalienable rights and among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. One can't honestly think that by donating to anti-/ex-gay organizations you aren't going out of your way to try and take away those unalienable rights from other people. People whose 'opinions' don't coincide with your own.
When you begin to take actual action to ensure a person is discriminated or oppressed, you are no longer simply stating your opinion. You are a bigot, intolerant, and hateful. Let me give you an example. I'm not big on organized religion. In fact, I don't like it for many, many reasons. But that's my opinion and I'm entitled to it, right? However, I would never want to rally against ones freedom to worship whatever god, being, statue, they wanted, however they wanted. And if I began campaigns to close churches or went out of my way to try and stop people from praying, then I'd be a bigot, intolerant, and hateful.
So you see, when I hear people complaining about activists getting angry with Chick-fil-A, screaming about freedom of speech and religion, making points of eating at the restuaraunt because of what's happened, I can't help but get upset. We aren't angry about one man's opinions on gay marriage. We aren't angry about a chicken sandwich-as some so cleverly put.
You're allowed to agree with Dan Cathy in thinking gay marriage is wrong or immoral or against your religion. You just aren't allowed to take away the rights of those who disagree. I, for one, will not allow my money to be used to oppress and I hope you won't either.
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