Chick-fil-A Lines Snake Down 75 Service Road
You’ve probably already read about it here, or here, or maybe here. After the flack — or relief, depending on your viewpoint — caused by Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy’s anti-gay remarks last month, Cathy/chicken supporters came out in flocks today to Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country.
I was just on the Central Expressway service road a few minutes ago, and the line of cars spilled onto the road, at least six deep. Which brings me to my first question: why don’t people park and go inside?
Second question: what’s the Hillcrest location like? I was on a quick errand and couldn’t swing through. Twitter said it was packed.
So being “supportive of traditional marriage” is now considered “anti-gay”. Quite a large jump there Bradford.
Bradford, that’s nothing unusual for the ChicFila line to snake all the way past Southwestern… nothing political about it. Both locations are hugely popular and packed every day. The Hillcrest location is fantastic… Just darn good chicken. I’m surprised you have not been there. Come support park cities businesses!!! The Hillcrest Chic fil a is very supportive of the community and is very generous to our schools.
Dan Cathy is not supportive of same sex marriage. No jump there.
Now when someone is “supportive of women’s right to choose”; does that make them “anti-baby”?
Mom- I meant I hadn’t been there today. Avid Reader- Not going to address this, for fear of a semantics argument that will most likely spin out of control.
Here is the article, in his interview with The Baptist Press: http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=38271. Read especially the paragraph: “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.”
The italics are mine.
The real gist of everything he said is simply that they run CFA under biblical principles. Most successful companies have guiding principles. This whole thing is big don’t-care to me.
for pete’ sake,
it wasn’t the usual line of cars today.
the line was down to lovers lane at 12:30.
lovers lane. the light on the access road
south of lovers was three cycles to get
through.
on hillcrestfor some reason the up police chose
to double park there suvs behind the diagonal
parking spaces.
not sure why they were there, but the just
were standing around trying to look like they
were in charge.
wonder if they will be there for the “kiss in”?
@anon. If one of their principles is being married to your first wife, that means no women help run this company.
My issue is not so much what Mr. Cathy the person does with his money but what Chik-fil-A the company does with its profits. It actually has a charitable division, the WinShape Foundation, that funds groups fighting same sex marriage and “curing” homosexuality. The connection between sandwich and politics is closer than the media would have you believe.
Walked in to Hillcrest store at 11:45 this morning. Line snaked through entire store. I chose to go elsewhere. Can we talk about the genius and encouraging spirit of today’s Chik-fil-A coup? Real Americans turned a liberal cat fight into an opportunity to stand for their rights and let folks know America still believes in traditional values. The double-standard hate talk from the left is finally starting to spur the traditional Americans into action. God bless em. Capitalism at its best.
@Cigar Daddy. You go it right! America has had a “belly full” of the left’s hateful attacks. So Americans got up, stood their ground, and filled up on Chick! Good job, America. I love my country…every day.
Mr. Cathy:“We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit.”
Protesters: “We will not tolerate such intolerance!”
Irony ensues.
Chik-fil-A is the best! It is so great to see a company that supports family values
@Cigar Daddy: “real Americans” stood up for their rights at Chik-Fil-A today? So I’m guessing you believe that anyone whose opinion differs from yours isn’t a “real American”. It might surprise you to know that I’m a married, church-going Parkie mom who gives volunteer time to both HPISD and other community organizations (and very much consider myself to be a “real American”)and I support gay marriage. You might also be surprised that I’m not the only one in this community who feels that way…not by a long shot. The dogmatic nature of your comments in this public forum is insulting to me and probably to some of your neighbors. Maybe you should think about it.
The police were there because of a report of disorderly conduct or assault by a guy in line. Pretty sure it was disorderly conduct but I heard both when I was in line a few minutes after.
Thanks, righties, for thinking that eating some chicken nuggets makes you the righteous ones! Hilarious!
Love ya @MK. Respect your right to your opinion. Perhaps you’re one of the good ones. I’ve got nothing against those with different, non-traditional beliefs. But I’m tired of seeing us get steamrolled by them just because we don’t agree. Maybe ask your lefty friends why when we speak our mind, we’re offensive, ignorant, out of touch bigots. Even though we simply say what we believe in, not about anything we “hate”. But when you speak your minds, youre intellectually exercising your rights and everyone else needs to get out of the way. And if you never want to be offended, with all this free-speech stuff flying around, there are some good deals on condos in North Korea.
No matter where you stand on the issue of gay marriage, yesterday was about free speech. If an owner of an American business is unable to express an opinion without fear of reprimand by the government (note threats by Chicago mayor to Chic Fil A) we are in a sad, dangerous state of affairs. Chic Fil A did not refuse employment or service to homosexuals. That would be wrong. The owner said he supports a biblical definition of marriage. Free speech. No hate speech. Just free speech. You may or may not agree, but when governments step in to squash free speech we are treading on dangerous waters.
@mk, take a breath! Unfortunately, the 24 hour news cycle and the polarizing nature of today’s media clammoring for ratings has made us all feel a bit under siege. It doesn’t matter what network I watch. If I disagree with the President, I’m a racist. If I’m wealthy, I’m automatically evil. If I disagree with you, I’m stupid or ill-intentioned. Geez, what happened to discussion? I take Cigar Daddy’s comments in a much different light. I think the term “real Americans” means average citizens. I’m sick of manufactured talking heads and politicians who claim to speak for the masses who are only raising their own profiles (Al Sharpton, et al). It’s time average citizens speak with the only real voice they have left–the vote and their pocketbook. Like it or not, that is precisely what the folks who went to Chik-fil-A did today. If you disagree, feel free to attend the organized event for the opposing viewpoint.
I love Chick Fil A Appreciation Day AND the upcoming Kiss-in. Americans engaging in and thinking about the heart of our country’s freedoms – free speech. Love it all. Anyone trying to make this about the right of gays to marry is missing the point.
If you believe in what you alias namers blog,….then why speak behind a phony name? If you believe in the biblical definition of marriage, then say so, speak your free speech, and attach your real name. bok, bok.
@Cigar Daddy: I want to clarify that while I disagree with your opinion, that was not the issue I had with your comment…it was your implication that because I believe in marriage equality for all citizens of this country, that somehow makes me less than a “real” American. I’m posting a link to a thoughtful piece the New York Times wrote on the topic. I’m pretty sure you believe it’s a lefty rag, but I hope you will take a moment to read it. It explains very eloquently why many “traditional” Americans are re-thinking this topic. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/us/politics/for-some-same-sex-marriage-is-not-politics-its-personal.html?pagewanted=all
@ SamTamborello – this is a blog. You do not seem to understand what a blog is. This is how it works.
Thx @NFW. Real Americans = Average Citizens.
Wherever you stand on this issue doesn’t matter much because the vast majority of young people support gay rights. They’re growing up with “Glee” (just one example) and don’t think there’s anything wrong with being gay or gay marriage.
@Wondering..now settle down, it appears that your anger has to be masked behind phony names. It seems to be easier to broadcast your fooloish statements like “what a blog is.”
I believe in God, I believe in Jesus, I believe in the Bible, and I believe in it’s definition of marriage. Stand up and declare it with your real name. No backbone = Coward. God has the final say, so stop judging others. Judgers like you apparently have to hide because it’s the only way you can speak.
Let God decide. Seems like a bunch of hate speech. Set an example and maybe the others you judge may follow, hey?
Those dark sunglasses are fun to hide behind. I’ve enjoyed a great laugh. God Bless You.
That’s great that God is going to decide all this, of course that’s your God we are talking about. And your church, whatever that might be. That’s wonderful. Gay marriage has absolutely nothing to do with your God or your church.
What is has to do is the ability for all loving, committed couples to receive the same benefits.
Stop and think about what it would feel like if after being with your wife for 30+ years, you were unable to visit her on her deathbed in the hospital, and by the time you got back to the house you had shared with her for those decades, her family had come in and taken everything. And changed the locks.
And they had a burial for her that you were not invited to.
That happens to gay couples.
Edward, if you were with someone for 30+ years and that person did not leave you with what you had built together, then bad planning.
You probably need to reinterpret what I wrote. By the way, my in-laws value family more than material things. By a long shot.
I wish you the best.
I agree with Mr Cathy. However, I think it’s disingenuous to support his remarks under the guise of free speech like many are doing. He supports traditional marriage–that’s the issue.
Ultimately, the market will decide in this instance, which is the way it should be.
Sorry Sam, it’s not bad planning. It’s the law.
Even after spending thousands of dollars on lawyers, many gay couples don’t have the rights that you quite obviously take for granted. A partner’s relatives can literally walk in the door and take everything that a couple has built over decades, or spend years tying it up in the courts because even a distant cousin that someone might not have spoken to for years has more rights than a partner they spent their lives with.
And to make the statement that your in-laws value family way more than material things speaks volumes.
Did you not know that the families of many gay people kick them out of their families and ostracize them? Did you not know that many gay teens are violently kicked out of their homes when their parents find out they are gay? Really, did you not know that some “families” really, REALLY don’t like that fact that their son or daughter or brother or sister is gay?
I’m sure you haven’t seen the video recently made by the young man whose partner died. He was threatened with violence if he tried to attend his partner’s funeral. Shane Bitney Crone is the guy’s name, and everyone should see “It Could Happen To You”.
But it CAN’T happen to you, Sam, because you have rights that this guy, and millions of others, don’t have.
@ M – I agree that Cathy’s remarks were in support of traditional marriage. He was not talking in free speech terms whatsoever. The resulting brouhaha, however, is 100% about free speech. Whether or not I agree with Mr. Cathy, I absolutely abhor the thought of a mayor or any other governmental authority threatening a CEO’s business plan because of the CEO’s stated beliefs. The customers vote with their feet in this country. No disingenuity there.
@Sam – I’m not angry in the least. Just bored I guess. And foolish. Ha!
This isn’t just about freedom of speech, and everyone knows that.
In days gone by when people said they were supportive of the vote being allowed only for men were they anti women? No. Just anti women’s rights.
Regarding Mr Cathy, is he anti gay? I don’t know, but I do know he is anti gay rights. He not only speaks what he believes (which is totally ok by me) but he puts his company’s money where his mouth is.
@Sam Tamborello: “Stand up and declare it with your real name.”
Why? So left wing internet harpies and so-called journalists can hunt them down, intimidate them, harass them, call their employers and go to their houses? It happened in Wisconsin last year during the public union debate and in California during the Proposition 8 vote.
The Supreme Court has said that the right to be anonymous is elemental to the freedom of speech. I hope you already know that, especially since you’ve repeatedly asked us to put you in public office.
@Sam We are not writing editorials or signing petitions. People are allowed to use screennames. It does not mean they are unable to stand by their convictions.
If I have a conversation with somebody I meet in line at the grocery store or at a dinner party, I don’t get their name & transcribe every word to a permanent record on the internet. People can already search my name and find where I live and the value of all the property I own. Because of my particular profession, they can also find my salary. If I donate political funds, they can also find that. If a family member dies, I’m listed along with relatives in an obituary. In this world every piece of consumer data is tracked and collated (Google, Tom Thumb, Amazon…), I’d rather limit my internet footprint anywhere possible.
All I need to know about fellow bloggers is related to the subject at hand. We are discussing this particular story and nothing else.
I don’t think people are lined up 100 deep in support of free speech.
Everybody should scroll back up a little bit and read the post by NFW. Then think about it. Why does everyone act like there is a civil war going on? Why so angry at each other?
I completely disagree, M. Either way, though, nice to see Americans caring about issues.
Although I disagree with Chickfila’s financial support of hate groups and people who not only are against gay marriage, but believe gays should be “exported”, I don’t think that mayors or people in governmental positions should be threatening the company or trying to make it harder for them to operate.
If you don’t want your money going to groups that want to make gay behavior illegal, depict gay people as pedophiles, and try to “cure” gays (yes, that is what the groups that Chickfila sends millions of your dollars to), then don’t eat at Chickfila.
If you don’t want your money going to groups that have already made gay behavior illegal, depict gay people as the devil, and don’t try to “cure” gays but flat out kill homosexuals (yes that is what they do in most OPEC nations), then don’t buy gasoline since the majority of the oil comes from OPEC nations.
Or…..this “massive” group of offended people could get organized and vote in politicians that will actually change the laws to what they want instead of trying to slam a business whose owner has never been shy about proclaiming his religious beliefs (we do still have freedom of religion right?). Not real sure how a Chick-Fil-A executive is the one to blame for having what was our own progressive President’s exact view until 2 months ago when he flip-flopped/pandered/evolved on this issue.
Maybe all those people were tired of being called bigots for having the same position on gay marriage that Barack Obama held until two months ago.
@mk & @Edward: Right on.
I don’t know Erik Folkerth personally, but his blog post best sums up my thoughts on this topic. http://wheneftalks2.blogspot.com/2012/08/dixie-chick-fil-ayed.html?m=1
dudes, this aint about hatin’ on gays – it’s about responding to political bullies
That’s Ok. When I was going to HPHS black people couldn’t buy a house in the Park Cities. I think the phrase used back then was “preserving our sacred Southern heritage”. So we’re using “traditional family values” now, but the tradition carries on. I hope when my grandchildren look back on this time they willl think the same as I now think of the water fountains labeled “colored” back in the day. Yes, I know, I’m going to hell etc etc etc.
If you guys don’t think some of this about free speech, perhaps you should take a look at this link. Seems as though Mr. Cathey isn’t the only one who is being punished for speaking his opinion.
http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/local_news/water_cooler/video-adam-smith-fired-after-hassling-chick-fil-a-employee-on-companys-anti-gay-marriage-stance
This guy was absolutely horrible to this young woman, but I don’t think he should lose his job. If you don’t think free speech is under assault, you are living in a fantasy world.
Luckily, the President Obama realized that it was wrong to discriminate and changed his views on gay marriage.
Slowly but surely, others in our country are also coming to the same conclusion. Gay citizens deserve the same rights as straight ones. As others have stated, the younger generation feels differently on the subject but sadly, it will take time before this strange obsession the right has with the gays will hopefully diminish.
@ hata – Unfortunately this IS about “hatin’ on gays”. When someone says that gays are bringing the wrath of God on our nation, then I really don’t see any other way to view it.
@Neal,..So, if the Supreme Court has said (or declared as you brought up) that being anonymous is elemental to the freedom of speech, then is a local government like University Park, Tx violating free speech when (as I understand) it is considering automatically enrolling residents in a tuition fund for employee children via an utility bill?
Would you consider this a violation of your free speech of being anonymous. Just curious.
And by the way, I will never be anonymous or ashamed for standing for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I simply believe to not judge others for what that may do or may not do. Also if journalist desires to write about me and this and that, then Fantastic! Believe me, I’ve been politically interviewed by several journalist with past elections, and I feel pretty well treated.
I miss hpparent’s comments! Wish you all the best.
Edward, really???? Yes, our brave and forward thinking President had an epiphany on gay marriage just before his re-election campaign. Geez, how gullible are we?
That Chik Fil A always has a line out onto the I75 service road, which is even worse now that there is an In & Out Burger there too. They often have police officers directing traffic.
Edward, it will definitely take some time, but I think it will happen sooner than later.
Our high schoolers and college-age kids will be in positions of leadership in their fields (God willing!) 15-20 years from now. That’s when the real changes will occur.
Their generation is overwhelmingly accepting of gays and inter-racial and inter-religious marriage. They wonder why we old folks keep making such a fuss over this. My son goes to a different school than HP, and he’s friends with kids who are Indian, Korean, Black, Mexican, Chinese, Muslim, Hindu, etc. I’m sure some are gay, too. Many of the kids have one parent who is “white” and the other is a different race or nationality. These kids just don’t care about the differences! In fact, they love that the racial lines are being breached. It’s cool to them. As their gay friends come out of the closet, this generation will embrace them and their partners. it’s already happening.
@ NFW – I honestly don’t care if he changed his opinion on gay marriage 20 years ago or yesterday, I’m just glad he did.
I can only hope that the US will follow other forward-thinking countries that have decided that all of their citizens should have equal rights. It’s just too bad that so many Americans are caught up in some kind of frenzy about something that honestly wouldn’t change their lives one bit, but it would make a huge positive difference in the lives of others.
The CFA support was definitely not about free speech. I suspect that Wednesday’s patrons closely mirrored those of the Republican base, which is more unified in its position, especially when it comes to religion. Ask Mike Huckabee or Rick Santorum who were the beneficiaries of such support in Iowa and got the word out to show support to CFA.
Still waiting on an answer about the free speech with University Park. Maybe the person from UP who answered a blogger with a “problem?” response can answer…I still chuckle about that to date.
I believe instead of violating free speech, do the voluntary thing. Even better, sponsor kids with a way to learn to work for what they have like getting a job and maybe mowing some lawns or whatever to succeed like most folks who seek higher education, hey? It’s becoming a lost art form.
I wonder if the “forced sponsor someone elses child for education” is on the books here in Highland Park?
@Sam Tamborello, You are equating apples and orange and stretching this one hard to boot. The tax issue is not related to being anonymous. Sure, it is a part of the issue so far as no one really wants to call up a city employee and become known to have dropped the scholarship tax. I am not as well versed in how city government works, as you should be having run numerous times (keep it up, I’m a supporter of changing the guards), but there has to be some kind of check or balance in place so the city council can’t just arbitrarily add on entitlements to the city budget without a city wide vote and with no way to pay for it? Issue is something along the lines of Taxation without Representation but more like Forced Charity without Choice.
@edward, yeah, Cathy is quite arrogant in his beliefs and supports heinous causes but that is his prerogative as it is others to say people that believe in God are stupid. Correct me if i’m wrong, but I don’t recall any politicians calling for a ban from their jurisdiction of businesses with owners who support gay rights.
@Avid Reader,…thanks for your response. I can envision calling one of our local city employees up at town hall about the scholarship tax and getting the response……..”Problem?” “Problem?” “Problem?”
It makes me laugh that someone in government reponded this way to an apparent taxpayer. I’m glad your for changing the guard, maybe someday both our towns will wakeup.