Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
When civic officials castigated a poultry vendor for agreeing with the President’s pre-evolved views on a social issue, and threatened to use the power of the state to ban commercial enterprises whose owners did not espouse the proper ideological position, you may have thought the issue was a question of free speech and individual conscience vs. the arbitrary whims of the regulatory state. Relax! It’s just a north vs. south thang. AP says:
When public officials in Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago tell a Southern icon such as Chick-fil-A that it's no longer welcome, and that Cathy should keep his opinions to himself, many in the Atlanta-based chain's home region hear more than a little northern condescension.
"Maybe the reaction is just because we're Southerners," said Rose Mason, who was lunching Friday at a Chick-fil-A in suburban Atlanta.
That’s the pith of the gist of the emanations of the penumbra of this dispatch, which gives readers a familiar narrative to explain the kerfluffle. Headline: “In stubborn flap over Chick-fil-A head's gay marriage comments, a side order of Southern pride.” Stubborn: the word you’d use for a mule. Southern pride: cue “Dixie,” with shirtless rednecks driving cars sporting Confederate flag decals.
But then there’s the David Frum column on the story, which makes me want to sing an Edwin Starr song: Frum! (HUH! Good GAWD y’all) / What does he stand for? / Absolutely nothin’ / Say it again!
Welcome to 21st century America, where everybody is a victim. Once upon a time, victim status was the reserved property of a few minority groups. No longer! Americans have opened the doors of self-pity to all. White or black, rich or poor, straight or gay, male or female: all believe themselves uniquely persecuted and oppressed.
This July, a humble fried chicken sandwich became the symbol of two competing persecution narratives: gays vs. Christians.
You know from the set-up that he’s pooh-poohing the idea that anyone’s persecuted; it’s self-pity. Oh boo-hoo the state won’t let him open a restaurant because of his values. Get a load of that guy.
Boston mayor Thomas Menino sent a letter to Cathy, urging him to abandon plans to locate restaurants in Boston.
Menino was seconded and thirded by Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel and San Francisco mayor Edwin Lee. Chick-Fil-A, said Mayor Emanuel, did not represent “Chicago values” — and he invited them to stay away. Lee took to Twitter to express gratitude that the nearest Chick-Fil-A was located 40 miles away.
Now the controversy went white-hot. Mayors warning companies to stay out of town because the CEO had expressed a personal opinion on a public issue? Why that sounds like … “fascism!”, thundered Bill O’Reilly on Fox News.
Well, yes, it does, and just because you wave it away by attributing the characterization to O’Reilly doesn’t mean there’s not something unnerving here. No?
No, of course not. It’s them Jeebus people getting all thin-skinned again. He notes some commentators who ascribed the attack on CFA a slam against Christianity - don't know how they get that idea (warning on that link; naughty lingo) then screws in his monocle to regard it all with a sigh of disdain:
The controversy over same-sex marriage has been left behind, as we plunge into America’s newest favourite competition: America’s Next Top Victim.
If you needed one more example of why the American political system so tragically fails to solve real-world problems, here it is, wrapped up with pickles and served with waffle fries.
If you needed one more example of why the American media so tragically fails to understand real-world people, there it is. Pickled.
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Mar '11
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
I stopped by CFA on 8/1 just to stick my thumb in the eye of oppressive statists. The chicken fit my low carb diet.
Nov '11
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
When I see ordinary people celebrating the death of Chick-fil-A's PR VP on Facebook, that isn't a cause for concern. When I hear my co-workers expressing outrage that roughly half of the US populace are bigots, the equivalents of Bull Connor, it shouldn't bother me at all. And of course, it's the fault of "the political system" that people aren't behaving as Frum would have them. "The political system" is his catch-all bogeyman. He's rapidly becoming as deranged and detached from reality as Andrew Sullivan.
May '11
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
America's Top Victim is indeed the reality show du jour. I fear we are all pickled. But if I set my usual pessimism to the side, I think this Chick-filet kerfuffle has been a good thing. I think the degree that usually non-political Christians have made a statement with their pocketbook is a very good thing.
Jun '10
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
Worth another look:
Burlington, MA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG7xzbWKc7U
Notice the "redneck" nuns standing in line.
Apr '11
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
I wonder what would happen if the mayor of a conservative town blocked a Ben & Jerry's Communist Ice Cream Parlor from opening? Would the Boston and Chicago defenders still think that political leaders should be able to keep out businesses based on ideology? How can a rational person approve of giving their leaders that much power?
Aug '10
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
Yes -- but not just Christians.
Dec '10
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
They're not rational -- they're liberals. It's all good intentions and smart power while they're handing our freedom over to our betters, until the most ruthless rise to the top and things get ugly for everyone, including especially vulnerable folks like gays.
"Really, people? You're going to hand unlimited power over to the progeny of the eugenicists? It's a free country, I guess."
Jun '10
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
Ben & Jerry's is currently owned by Unilever which is an Anglo-Dutch conglomerate. Give credit to capitalists for knowing that hippies will pay $4.50 for a cup of eco-friendly ice cream. Moral vanity is big business these days. Ask the people who market the Toyota Pious.
Edited on August 5, 2012 at 12:08amApr '11
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
The Ben & Jerry's Communist Ice Cream Parlor was just something off the top of my head, but now I'm thinking about the possible flavors.
Bolshevik Berry? Stalinist Strawberry, perhaps. Surely they would have to carry Marx's Maple.
Jun '12
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
Hm. Wonder if that's how they're going to spin the upcoming election, when President Obama is limited to one awful term?
Dec '10
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
What seems to get lost in this kerfuffle, is what Dan Cathy actually said:
"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."
That's it folks, his actual words that have been stirred into a maelstrom. CFA serves customers without discrimination and hires without discrimination. What more are they supposed to do?
Here's another quote from that same interview:
"Based on Matthew 5:41, Cathy is on a mission to provide customers with "second-mile" service -- exceeding even the highest expectations of a typical fast-food restaurant."
I await the blast of fury from government employees when they become aware that he is setting a standard, there, that they may consider unfair.
Jun '10
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
Too many photo ID requirements. How are you supposed to get a current photo when you're six feet under ground?
Jun '10
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
James, James: Cars are for wimps. Shirtless rednecks drive large, gas-guzzling pickup trucks sporting Confederate flag decals.
You need something with a lot of power so you can oppress Catholics (sorry, Papists), blacks, liberals, Yankees, the LGBT community, and people who don't believe Nathan Bedford Forrest (of Confederate and KKK fame) is the greatest man in American history.
Edited on August 5, 2012 at 12:37amJul '11
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
Christians vs gays? Really? Is there a major faith in the world that supports SSM? That not just tolerates SSM but puts it forward as a basic tenet of its doctrine? Muslims? Hinduism? Buddhist? Judaism? Why are these other religions of hate not mentioned?
Feb '12
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
Typical Lefty projection by Frum - this all got started by the faux-victimhood of the gay marriage set. CFA neither asked for the notoriety, nor encouraged the outpouring of public support.
The genuine outrage was stirred by government officials proclaiming they would interfere with a business because they disagreed with the personal beliefs expressed by the business owner. Frum may think "fascist" is over the top, but it's certainly chilling - and illegal.
But it IS "the Chicago way" - "punish our enemies" and all that. Only this time it was the Left who brought a knife to a gun fight. Or chicken fight.
Jun '10
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
And isn't it ironic that the millions of Americans who see the world much like Mr. Cathy fought "the Chicago way" by buying a lot of chicken sandwiches and waffle fries?
Speaking of which, I drove through my local Chick-Fil-A an hour ago (4 PM where I am). The line was only about ten cars instead of the 25 I saw on Wednesday. At the window I asked the beautiful, smiling young lady who served me if it had been a little busy lately. Her response (after an even bigger smile): "Crazy busy."
Nov '11
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
I seem to recall the oh-so-concerned with accurately labeling things David Frum writing something a few months ago...
Heh.
Aug '11
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
What a wonderful post. Far be it from me to presume malice, but it just seems that Frum has intentionally tried to confuse the issues. Maybe not. Maybe he doesn't see any problem with government officials threatening citizens and taking away jobs. I'd like to say those problems are his and his alone-- but a lot of people today aren't being taught to think. Frum's silliness will be taken for rigor by many people. Sad.
Jul '12
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
Did you hear that Ben & Jerry's is coming out with a new ice cream made with real mother's milk? I've been reading Lileks for way too long.
But how long will it be before Christians will have to hide their faith in order to get a building permit or whatever? Someone needs to put these questions to Emmanuel. Exactly what is allowed in Chicago?
Edited on August 5, 2012 at 1:04amApr '11
Re: Whew: the MSM finally explains the Chick-fil-A thing for us
Emmanuel's lips must not have been moving when he said normative Christian values aren't Chicago values.