Chik-Fil-A And My Personal Anti-Boycott

[Scott Lloyd]

The head of Chik-fil-A is taking some heatfor his outspoken support of traditional marriage defined as being between a man and a woman.

Some are calling for a boycott of the restaurant chain, persumably as a way to punish the man for speaking his mind on this controversial topic.

Accordingly, I decided today to do my own personal anti-boycott. For the first time in years, I patronized Chik-fil-A today. I noted that the one I visited, in the City Creek shopping center in downtown Salt Lake, was doing a brisk business despite reputed calls for a boycott.

I spent more than is typical with me for lunch.

I was pleased that the experience exceeded my memory. The service was prompt, courteous and friendly. The chicken salad sandwich I ordered was of the highest quality, and the signature waffle fries were hot and tasty. Though I was disappointed they did not offer fry sauce, the Chik-fi-A sauce, a sweet, tangy, barbecue-mustard concotion, was a nice dipping condiment.

I will definitely return.

So why a post here? I think it important in today's marketplace that we support with our business those who share our values. Since its restructuring nearly two years ago, the Deseret News, as it has reached out to a national audience with both its print and on-line products, has made a concerted effort to appeal not just to Latter-day Saints but to "like-minded believers." Just as I hope such folks would reward that effort with their patronage, I would like to do the same for others who are outside my own faith group but who share my values and ideals.

[ERayR]

The head of Chik-fil-A is taking some heatfor his outspoken support of traditional marriage defined as being between a man and a woman.

Some are calling for a boycott of the restaurant chain, persumably as a way to punish the man for speaking his mind on this controversial topic.

Accordingly, I decided today to do my own personal anti-boycott. For the first time in years, I patronized Chik-fil-A today. I spent more than is typical with me for lunch.

I was pleased that the experience exceeded my memory. The service was prompt, courteous and friendly. The chicken salad sandwich I ordered was of the highest quality, and the signature waffle fries were hot and tasty. Though I was disappointed they did not offer fry sauce, the Chik-fi-A sauce, a sweet, tangy, barbecue-mustard concotion, was a nice dipping condiment.

I will definitely return.

So why a post here? I think it important in today's marketplace that we support with our business those who share our values. Since its restructuring nearly two years ago, the Deseret News, as it has reached out to a national audience with both its print and on-line products, has made a concerted effort to appeal not just to Latter-day Saints but to "like-minded believers." Just as I hope such folks would reward that effort with their patronage, I would like to do the same for others who are outside my own faith group but who share my values and ideals.

There is no Chick-fil-A in my area. To bad sounds good.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

The head of Chik-fil-A is taking some heat for his outspoken support of traditional marriage defined as being between a man and a woman.

Some are calling for a boycott of the restaurant chain, persumably as a way to punish the man for speaking his mind on this controversial topic.

Accordingly, I decided today to do my own personal anti-boycott. For the first time in years, I patronized Chik-fil-A today. I spent more than is typical with me for lunch.

I was pleased that the experience exceeded my memory. The service was prompt, courteous and friendly. The chicken salad sandwich I ordered was of the highest quality, and the signature waffle fries were hot and tasty. Though I was disappointed they did not offer fry sauce, the Chik-fi-A sauce, a sweet, tangy, barbecue-mustard concotion, was a nice dipping condiment.

I will definitely return.

So why a post here? I think it important in today's marketplace that we support with our business those who share our values. Since its restructuring nearly two years ago, the Deseret News, as it has reached out to a national audience with both its print and on-line products, has made a concerted effort to appeal not just to Latter-day Saints but to "like-minded believers." Just as I hope such folks would reward that effort with their patronage, I would like to do the same for others who are outside my own faith group but who share my values and ideals.

The owner of this company is a great guy and does a lot of great work. He will not open his restaurants on Sunday's...

[sjdawg]

I support the boycott and your anti-boycott. I think we should let our values influence our spending habits.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I support the boycott and your anti-boycott. I think we should let our values influence our spending habits.

?

[cacheman]

I support the boycott and your anti-boycott. I think we should let our values influence our spending habits.

I agree. I started my boycott long before I knew their stance on gay marriage. I am familiar with the chicken production practices that they support, and those practices don't mesh with my values and ideals.

[jwhitlock]

I support CfA and the values they promote. Way to go, Scott!

[ERayR]

I agree. I started my boycott long before I knew their stance on gay marriage. I am familiar with the chicken production practices that they support, and those practices don't mesh with my values and ideals.

Are you vegetarian?

[The Nehor]

That's it. In support of this I will continue to take the missionaries to Chik-Fil-A to get shakes every Thursday night. Furthermore I will eat more chicken sandwiches and more nuggets. Obesity is a small price to pay.

[cacheman]

Are you vegetarian?

I don't eat animal products.

[bluebell]

I don't personally support boycotts based on the personal beliefs of the owners of a company. I won't try to ruin the livelihood of the owner of a company or the people who work for it because the company sincerely believes that gay marriage is good (or bad), for example. I don't think people should be financially punished for their sincere beliefs just because i disagree with them.

I do however support boycotting businesses who have business practices that i find morally wrong-such as cacheman's description of why he won't patronize chick-fil-a because of the way they treat their chickens (I won't buy tyson chicken for the same reason).

I can see where those who do supportn such boycotts are coming from. I just don't think they do anything accept attempt to force people to choose between their beliefs and their ability to support their families and because i would detest anyone who put my family in that situation, i don't ever want to put another family or person in that position.

I don't see much of a difference between not shopping somewhere because the company supports/doesn't support gay marriage and not shopping somewhere because the owner is a Muslim, for example. Both are moral positions based upon sincere belief and a person trying to do what they legitimately think is right and i'm uncomfortable with the idea of financially trying to blackmail them away from their beliefs.

[ERayR]

I don't eat animal products.

Now I understand your post.

[The Nehor]

If God didn't want me to eat animals he wouldn't have made them out of meat.....

Wait, am I rationalizing towards cannibalism?

[ERayR]

If God didn't want me to eat animals he wouldn't have made them out of meat.....

Wait, am I rationalizing towards cannibalism?

I eat meat (usually in small helpings) but also enjoy a good peanut butter sandwich for lunches.

[california boy]

The head of Chik-fil-A is taking some heatfor his outspoken support of traditional marriage defined as being between a man and a woman.

Some are calling for a boycott of the restaurant chain, persumably as a way to punish the man for speaking his mind on this controversial topic.

Accordingly, I decided today to do my own personal anti-boycott. For the first time in years, I patronized Chik-fil-A today. I noted that the one I visited, in the City Creek shopping center in downtown Salt Lake, was doing a brisk business despite reputed calls for a boycott.

I spent more than is typical with me for lunch.

I was pleased that the experience exceeded my memory. The service was prompt, courteous and friendly. The chicken salad sandwich I ordered was of the highest quality, and the signature waffle fries were hot and tasty. Though I was disappointed they did not offer fry sauce, the Chik-fi-A sauce, a sweet, tangy, barbecue-mustard concotion, was a nice dipping condiment.

I will definitely return.

So why a post here? I think it important in today's marketplace that we support with our business those who share our values. Since its restructuring nearly two years ago, the Deseret News, as it has reached out to a national audience with both its print and on-line products, has made a concerted effort to appeal not just to Latter-day Saints but to "like-minded believers." Just as I hope such folks would reward that effort with their patronage, I would like to do the same for others who are outside my own faith group but who share my values and ideals.

Do you also believe in boycotting companies that support gay marriage equality?

[Ron Beron]

I eat meat (usually in small helpings) but also enjoy a good peanut butter sandwich for lunches.

How disgusting...a herbivore!

[Ron Beron]

The head of Chik-fil-A is taking some heatfor his outspoken support of traditional marriage defined as being between a man and a woman.

Some are calling for a boycott of the restaurant chain, persumably as a way to punish the man for speaking his mind on this controversial topic.

Accordingly, I decided today to do my own personal anti-boycott. For the first time in years, I patronized Chik-fil-A today. I noted that the one I visited, in the City Creek shopping center in downtown Salt Lake, was doing a brisk business despite reputed calls for a boycott.

In SoCal the homosexual community and friends drove a restaurant out of business with their boycotts simply because the owners stated an opinion

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/gay-marriage-ba/comments/page/3/ .

Now, they want to do the same with another restaurant. I usually don't buy there because I usually cook better than they do, but they do put out a relatively decent sandwich, albeit too expensive. I'll have to make a point to stop and eat there at least once this week. It is one thing to seek equity for your cause it is entirely another to disparage another for standing up of their beliefs. Coercion on any side is repulsive and draconian.

[Scott Lloyd]

Do you also believe in boycotting companies that support gay marriage equality?

I don't think I've ever engaged in a boycott. This anti-boycott strikes me as different -- perhaps it could be called a defense against consumer hostility.

For the record, I can conceive of reasons why I might refuse to give my business to an entity, whether or not that refusal was part of organized political activism.

That doesn't mean I regard every boycott as just and proper. Generally speaking, a desire to silence an individual's or group's voice in public discourse seems to me an unjust motive.

[KevinG]

Since many of you don't live near Chick-fil-a or eat animal products I will provide a service for you.

Send me a few dollars and I promise to eat a chicken biscuit in your name. Send four and I will add a lemonade.

Don't thank me for my sacrifice. I'm trying to grow as a person.

[KevinG]

The Cathy family and their executives are a great bunch of people. The family owned firm and their employees have been involved in the community since day one. I had the opportunity to work with some of their executives on volunteer projects while i was at the Governor's Office in Georgia.

Our local stores hire lots of LDS kids and adults who work hard but prefer to have their Sabbath day off. Many return after missions or college to continue working into managerial ranks. I have no knowledge of any other fast food chain with the kind of employee retention they have.

The charitable giving and sponsorships are many and deep.

Using the private opinion of one member of the family as an excuse to boycott the chain shows how shallow the opposition is and how once again "civil liberties for me and not for thee" is the bottom line for some groups.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I don't eat animal products.

Do you think those who do are immoral?

[KevinG]

A personal choice not to eat meat does not equate to calling for a boycott.

Then again it won't endear you to the North Georgia chicken industry to complain your KFC wasn't free range.

[cacheman]

Do you think those who do are immoral?

Not necessarily.

[cacheman]

A personal choice not to eat meat does not equate to calling for a boycott.

Then again it won't endear you to the North Georgia chicken industry to complain your KFC wasn't free range.

Mine is a personal boycott.... much like Scott's in the OP. There are plenty of meat-serving restaurants that I don't boycott. I'm not too worried about endearing myself to the North Georgia chicken industry.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Mine is a personal boycott.... much like Scott's in the OP. There are plenty of meat-serving restaurants that I don't boycott. I'm not too worried about endearing myself to the North Georgia chicken industry.

Gainesville, GA has a chicken statue. Chicken capital of the world.