VIENNA, Va., August 1, 2012 — We went to the Chick-fil-A in Fairfax, Virginia tonight, because we love the food and because we have been sorry to see this good restaurant chain, operated by a family with a strong moral fiber, raked over the coals because they don’t cater to the concept of same-sex marriage.
The CEO of the company, Dan Cathy, was asked his opinion on that subject by a church-related publication, and he replied truthfully, that he felt the Biblical interpretation of marriage meaning a man and a woman was correct. Of course it was reported to and by the mainstream press, and went viral thereafter.
That’s all it took to get the entire gay population erroneously hollering “discrimination,” threatening boycotts, etc.
Since no one was (a) denied service or (b) denied employment by the chain, there is no discrimination involved, only a difference in opinion which is still each person’s right.
So today was Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, and having had sushi for lunch, dinner took us for “chikn” as they spell it. Their place of business saw traffic from both directions backed up several blocks on Lee Highway, people parking at other establishments across the busy highway and then hiking over 6-8 lanes of traffic to the restaurant, and many just walking over with strollers, bikes, etc.
Interesting to behold here in the DC environs, where it seems rudeness reigns supreme, everyone in the lines of traffic was relatively patient. No one honked horns, no one appeared to cut someone else off in traffic, and a lady from corporate was there to do her best to keep traffic moving, and to thank the drivers for coming.
That isn’t all we saw. Going inside, the fairly small restaurant was full to almost overflowing. Still we saw no one cutting in line, people standing back to give older folks first place, and the harried restaurant staff uniformly being patient as well as saying, “It’s my pleasure,” for every order!
We saw a middle-aged couple in a booth rearrange themselves into one side, so that a very elderly lady on a walker with one arm in a cast could have a seat; her son was invited to join when he returned with the food. We saw a nicely dressed lady who walked on two crutches offered a table ahead of several others.
We saw an amazing number of small children perfectly behaved, no screaming or hollering at having to wait in line for quite awhile. One of the managers made an impromptu announcement that he had over 35 people’s orders up on the prep screen, and he hoped people would understand a little extra time being required to fill them and get them to the correct customers.
We saw the busboys and girls working efficiently trying to keep up with the departing guests. We saw people in the parking lot helping others find an empty space!
Do not take this wrong. Good, caring behavior takes place daily in most places, but with an overflow crowd, it was good to see additional care being taken to follow the Golden Rule - also a Biblical precept.
No one carried a sign, no one seized the opportunity to climb on a soap box and rant, the only spoken comment you heard was people saying to each other, “Glad to see you here tonight.” One older lady said to no one in particular, “The PEOPLE are here to be heard tonight.” Spot on.
It occurred to me that if someone in the crowd started to sing Amazing Grace, it would be a heck of a crowd that followed! (No, I didn’t try it.) Every size, shape and color individual was there, every ethnicity was represented, every age from tiny babies to those in the later stages of life. One thing they had in common – they seem to “luv chikn.”
Yes, I know, the ever-present cow figure can’t spell. He wants people to eat fowl instead of beef, that’s obvious. Vested interest, one might opine. Who knows what or how a cow would spell, were he or she so inclined, so we just have to swallow “dezzerts,” “mor” and similar bovinely spelled words.
We read today that the “other side” will get their chance this coming Friday, when the gay population will sponsor a same sex kiss-in at Chick-fil-A. We may be out of town that day, but might stop in at the local Chick-fil-A and join the kiss-in. I don’t think there is a law saying who can and can’t kiss!!
Remember when Rodney King was beaten almost to death a few years ago in California? His simple question directed to those that had injured him was “Can we all get along?” It’s the real solution to myriad problems. Try to understand each other, try to respect each other’s opinions, and see if a lot of the other stuff doesn’t work itself out.
Next time I’ll have those good fries, too.
Read more of Martha’s columns on The Civil War at the Communities at the Washington Times. Follow the column on Face Book or LinkedIn at Martha Boltz, and by email it’s MBoltz2846@aol.com
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