The Chick-Fil-A brouhaha had highlighted a real inequality in our society. That inequality is that religious institutions in general, and Christians in particular, feel that they have some special rights that imbue their beliefs with some kind of untouchability. There is an arrogant sense of entitlement that permeates their thinking and ideology which is inherently unjustified and invidious.
For those of you living in a hole for the past few weeks, gay rights groups called for a boycott of Chick-Fil-A because it's owner said that his company operates by Christian values and one of those values tradition marriage. While he said that Chick-Fil-A does not discriminate against homosexuals in hiring or service to their customers, it believes that homosexuality is wrong and a sin. He was well within his rights to express this view. What he does not have a right to is to expect that others wouldn't be outraged by his expression of his beliefs.
Unfortunately, other Christians didn't see it this way. They were outraged that gay rights supporters called for a boycott of Chick-Fil-A. They claimed that it's freedom of speech was being infringed upon and they called for those who supported Chick-Fil-A, and "traditional marriage" to go eat at Chick-Fil-A.
They seemed to feel that they were entitled to have their beliefs respected, but ignored or disrespected the beliefs of others.
Of course, they did not mention their calls for boycotts of businesses that support gay rights.
One Million Moms organized a Facebook campaign protest this week in response to JC Penney's decision to hire DeGeneres, who is openly gay.
One Million Moms' expressed their wrath agaist DC Comics because of their story line for their character, The Green Lantern, who was revealed to be gay. It wasn't just One Million Moms, Alan Caruba, of Canada Free Press, called for a boycott as well. The same with Marvel Comics for showing a gay wedding. They also called for a boycott of Toys R Us for carrying the comic book.
Christians also called for a boycott of video game maker Electronic Arts, for adding characters in same-sex relationships to its games.
And how can we forget the rainbow Oreo?
Where was the outrage that these businesses were being targeted for boycotts for their stance on gay rights? Where were the supporters of gay rights claiming that these business' right to freedom of speech was being threatened by the boycotts? Where was the call for those who support gay rights to line up at Toy's R Us, or JC Penny to show their support for these businesses?
They were nowhere because these business and their supporters know that anyone has a right to call for a boycott of their products if they don't agree with their stance on gay rights or any other issue. They where nowhere because there isn't the sense of entitlement that exists within the Christian community that their beliefs should somehow be above reproach and ridicule.
Christians like to claim that there is a war on religion, that their beliefs are being infringed upon by actions like the call for a boycott of Chick-Fil-A. They have the arrogance to believes that they are somehow a persecuted minority.
The fact is that Christians make up something like 70% of the population of the U.S., hardly a minority. Theiy have their prayers recited at public ceremonies across the country, in violation of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution; they have their beliefs ingrained in our culture.
Religious establishments have a sense of entitlement in our society that is unwarranted and they get outraged when others insist that they be treated just like anyone else.
As John Stewart said:
"You have confused a war on religion with not always getting everything you want. It's called being part of a society – not everything goes your way,"
"You have confused a war on religion with not always getting everything you want. It's called being part of a society – not everything goes your way," Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/jon-stewart-ridicules-conservative-war-on-religion-stance-69556/#DscZgiMT0gc1bGwM.99
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