Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
With the news that Chick-fil-A's Vice President of Public Relations died of a sudden heart attack earlier today (if you really want to be depressed by the state of modern America, read the comments on the story at TMZ), we've now reached a sad end to a week where -- and let's think about this for a moment -- the nation has been divided over the religious views animating a company that makes chicken sandwiches.
I've started to draft posts on the issue a few times this week and have inevitably quit in frustration. There are just too many points of irritation: the utter manufacturing of the controversy that Mollie pointed out earlier in the week; the grandstanding by politicians (watch out for this link -- Mike Bloomberg actually sounds sensible); and now, the jig being danced on the grave of a man whose name his detractors didn't even know until after his death.
What's stuck in my craw the most about this story, however, is the broader trend it represents: the politicization of everything. Here's a representative sample of my thoughts from my new column:
Should conservatives boycott companies run by CEOs who favor progressive taxation? Would it be reasonable for liberals to refuse to buy products purveyed by a member of the NRA? Should socialists excuse themselves from the marketplace entirely, so as not to be complicit in capitalism?
Doing so would risk obliterating one of the most valuable social byproducts of America’s system of limited government: the idea that politics need not intrude into our personal lives beyond the circumscribed sphere delegated to government by the Constitution.
Were we to audit the ideology of every CEO that we graze through commerce (and why stop there? Why aren’t we scrutinizing the voting history of the fry cooks at Chick-fil-A?), our economic and social lives would devolve into endless box-checking, with every commercial transaction designed to generate the least possible friction for our conception of how the world ought to work.
You can read the full thing here.
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Dec '11
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
How are these people any different than the kid in NJ that got prosecuted?
Edited on July 28, 2012 at 12:10amDec '10
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
So, what are the good Progressives going to use for the "T" on their "COEXIST" bumper stickers, now that their anti-Christian bigotry has been made plain?
Jun '12
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
I'd answer, but then I'd be accused of going Godwin.
By the way, if you want more on the silly "coexist" bumper stickers, read this.
Aug '11
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
I was planning to craft a post of my own regarding this faux-controversy, but really, do we need one more?
Instead, I'll point you to this excellent piece by one of my favorite bloggers.
Nov '10
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
The best comment on this was Mollie's over on the Member Feed. She said something like, "isn't it a shame that all those conservative politicians block Starbucks from opening in Red states because of Starbucks' politics?--oh, wait . . ."
Jul '12
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
If you look at the leftist ideologies as secular religions and not coherent sets of ideas, the chicken thing makes a lot of sense. The homosexual activists see bliblical attitudes toward homosexuality as sin and they are attacking it. The extreme rhetoric also finds a counterpart in the way extremists of traditional religions express themselves, especially Islam but also Christianity during its periods of intolerance.
These guys are filling the vacuum that was created when the West turned it's back on Christianity and Judaism. You look at this chicken thing and think that, finally, they have committed the outrage that will turn the country against them. But look back -- the history of cultural leftist aggeression is one of one outrage outoutraging the previous outrage. They are extremely intolerant and they aren't going away anytime soon.
Edited on July 28, 2012 at 1:21amNov '10
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
This says it all...
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
For some time now, the left has insisted that the personal is political and the political, personal. That is the road to civil war.
May '10
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
It is perfectly acceptable for individuals to buy or not buy a product, patronize or not patronize a business, for any reason, or no reason at all.
The very disquieting development is that executives of the civil government (mayors, aldermen) are using the power of the state to punish persons for their religious views.
If the view expressed was political (e.g. the examples Troy gives of membership in the NRA, or favoring progressive taxation) it would be bad enough, but this is a person expressing a religious viewpoint.
The pace of Leftist Gleichshaltung is accelerating and it will be a vicious ride.
May '10
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
The only redeeming thing about the comments section over on TMZ is the fact that the intolerant comments from the those who demand tolerance are being rated negatively....
Apr '11
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
As usual, spot on, Mr. Senik. I'll spare myself the ghoulishness of the commenters at TMZ: thank you for reading those so I don't have to.
I won't stop shopping at Costco because of the founder's recent fundraiser for Mr. Obama. I won't quit ordering from Amazon because of its founder's donations. I'll continue to go to Starbucks occasionally (out of desperation: their coffee is pretty bad). I do wish there was a Chick-Fil-A close by, however.
Aug '11
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
DrewInWisconsin: I was planning to craft a post of my own regarding this faux-controversy, but really, do we need one more?
Instead, I'll point you to this excellent piece by one of my favorite bloggers.
1 hour ago
Edited the quote somewhat, but the last bit about "'search and destroy' mode" was spot on. That's the real thing. And it goes back to what Troy said, more or less-- politics will be forced onto everyone now that the left has gov't-- because for the left, gov't is the solution to everything. If they don't like it, they ban it, threaten to ban it, or mandate that you take a course where the teacher will fail you if you disagree. Barring all of that, the media will attribute a quote to you.
Jun '10
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
Dan Cathy's only real crime is not keeping up with popular secular culture. How many years do you get for that? Five to ten, with time off for marrying your cell mate?
Feb '11
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
I'm not surprised to see this. It is all the natural extension of the Progressive worldview. If you are a Progressive/Socialist/etc. everything is political. That is the foundation of their philosophy. It's not a world of blind justice, but one of "social" justice. It's not a world of merit, but of equality of outcomes (except for the benevalent overlords/philosopher kings they imagine themselves to be). Their approach is anti-human nature. Therefore, everyone constantly needs "correcting". Hence politics being everywhere.
The ugly nastiness of the Left on full display sets up their demise. It betrays their insecurity and their meaness. It also continues to turn increasing numbers against them. But it will get worse before it gets better. My guess is that we've got another 20 years of this, until the current crop is gone from the stage and has thoroughly discredited themselves and their heirs.
Sep '11
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
"...the idea that politics need not intrude into our personal lives beyond the circumscribed sphere delegated to government by the Constitution."
That's where the problem is: for nearly a century we've been letting the government overflow the bounds the Constitution set for it. When government is involved in every part of our lives, everything is indeed politicized.
Feb '12
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
Here in Rahmbo land there is another irony that has been overlooked. Just before the chick fil-a story blew up Rahmbo announced that he would welcome members of the Nation of Islam patrolling the streets of Chicago to help deal with the gang violence. So I take it the mayor is OK with the anti gay attitudes of Farakhan?
Jun '12
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
Of course he is.
Just like they are OK with the anti-black eugenics views of Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood.
The lust for power is -- if you'll pardon the pun -- overpowering. There are no fixed principles, grabbing power is all that is important.
Edited on July 28, 2012 at 4:40amMay '10
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A Soap on a Rope, anyone?
Aug '10
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
Liberal Fascism at work. Have an opinion different from the liberal orthodoxy and be subjected to 3 minutes of hate. Conveniently forgotten is that this was Obama's position until that got thrown down the memory hole.
Nov '10
Re: Parting Thoughts on Chick-fil-A
My prayers go out to Mr. Perry's family.