This response will seem somewhat disjointed... so much to respond to that I don't know where to start. Here goes...
Advertisements? Yes, for a minute, Chic Fil A will be laughing all the way to the bank with the surge in profits from all of this. Let's think long-term however. His surge in support right now is the every day person who's been easily mesmerized by all the propaganda. Not to mention, regardless of one's beliefs, if all you are seeing on the news is fried chicken, that is where your mind is going to take you. Most of us have little self-control when it comes to food so it's likely that a large percentage of the surge in business has little to do with wanting to support freedom of speech, and more to do with an image being shoved into your face. When the media slows down, so will the fried chicken cravings, and so will the business. Unfortunately for Chic Fil A, the company has made a long-lasting impression on major corporations that will never support or bring business to the company again. Therefor it's extremely likely that when all is said and done, Chic Fil A has done more harm to itself than good.
This particular incident, like so many supposed religious backed arguments, makes me giggle. Having grown up going to church I'm familiar with much of the teachings. The first I'd like to point out is that God does not set a tier of sins, meaning, one is not worse than the other. All sins are mistakes in the eyes of God and all sins are forgiven with repentance. Among about a billion sins listed in the bible are homosexuality and gluttony. Again, a sin is a sin is a sin. Since Chic Fil A markets primarily food with very poor nutritional value with calorie counts exponentially higher than a body needs and uses adds and propaganda to sell more and more and more, no reasonable person could argue that this wouldn't be constituted as gluttony. Back to Mr. Chic Fil A. Here's what I don't like... For a man to stand there and take a stance which is backed on religious belief and considered a matter of morality and faith, it's extremely hypocritical to turn around and make a living that encourages and persuades people to sin. I of course don't think he, or any unhealthy fast food chain is doing anything wrong, but if we are going to stick to the word of God as it is written in the Bible, these are facts that you cannot ignore. So then we have to assume that if he feels that his living is a moral one, then it must be a matter of the way in which he is interpreting the word of God. If that's the case, who decides what scripture is to be taken literally and what scripture is considered vague with room to modify?
Furthermore... Anyone who believes the appreciation day was genuinely an act of celebrating freedom of speech is either easily persuaded or extremely stubborn. A reasonable person with a bit of critical thinking skills should have at least considered alternative motives. One being that the company was looking for a way to gain a surge in business knowing that their reputation had been shaken. Another being that the event was a way to rally the support in his stance against same-sex marriage.
I have several Christian friends that are amazing people and I respect them to a great extent. They are faithful in their believes. They celebrate their faith in a positive. They celebrate their love of Jesus. They celebrate their appreciate for the blessings they receive. They celebrate having a God to rely on.
This appreciation day was not a celebration of freedom or a celebration of beliefs. It was a celebration of hate. A celebration of their stance against a group of people. A celebration that they feel they deserve a right that other citizens do not.
The word of God teaches a love for everyone regardless of their sins. It does not teach hatred. It does not encourage an outright attack on a group of people and that is what some christians feel is their mission.
Someone here quoted something to the effect of "Some Christians are so intent on advertising what they stand against that nobody has a chance to see what they stand for." That is brilliant, and so true.
I have respect for anyone who can articulate and stand for a personal belief. I have respect for anyone who celebrates that in a positive way.
The nature of religion is that one believes their way is the "right" way. But somehow, at some point, the focus has turned towards homosexuals. I have not seen nor heard of any movement to take away marriage rights from an atheist, muslim, buddhist, murderer, child molester, etc. It's all about the gays. As someone against same-sex marriage, most of you are not taking a stand on a belief, you are taking that belief, picking it apart, and adapting it, focusing it, and choosing how to guide it. You are targeting one small piece of a large population that doesn't follow your own standard and attacking that piece. The fact that you are not looking at the big picture, and only the pieces you choose, suggests that it is more than just your religious beliefs. Something else is there. Perhaps fear or ignorance? Perhaps something else...
This is a matter of equal rights. Gays deserve equal rights just as much as women, Jews, African Americans, etc. 70 years ago having to fight for equal rights was simply a sign of the times. In 2012 we are far beyond the simple notion of equality. This is hate. This is judgement. This is self-ritiousness. Equality is not equality unless it is offered to everyone. No one can claim to stand for equality and stand against same-sex marriage at the same time. No educated independent thinker anyway.
OK. You take a stand for free speech and eat up at Chic Fil A. I'm taking a stand for free-flowing arteries and a stand against IBS and not eating there.
