"My Pleasure"

Well, here goes.  I'm going to address the whole Chick fil A debate and be as brutally honest as I can be.  Afterall, that's why I created my blog.  Not for everyone to agree with me but to have a way of putting my feelings down and generating a mature conversation.  Who knows, in five years I might look back at all of these postings and kick myself for things said or left unsaid.  But for now, "It's My Story and I'm Stickin To It." 

Let me begin by saying that Chick- fil-A has become one of the only "fast food" restaurants I will go to because once you are over 40, well, McDonalds and Krystal don't always "agree" with you.  So, I love Chick-fil-A because their food, especially their chicken salad on whole wheat, is really pretty good.   I have always loved how the servers are clean cut, no droopy pants, no hair in their eyes, and clearly speaking, in English, "My Pleasure."  Call me "outdated" but all of these things mean a lot to and old Southern gal like me.  To be honest, the reasons I keep returning to Chick-fil-A are all because of good food and clean, wholesome service.  The fact that they are closed on Sunday is something to be admired but really, a few times that has totally  messed our family up.   In fact, I have been known to pull into their empty parking lot on a Sunday and shout, "who closes on SUNDAY???!!!"   I have been known to check out every Chick-fil-A bathroom between Franklin and Destin, because I've always heard that if the bathrooms are clean, the kitchen is clean.   I've been known to send many emails to the Chick-fil-A headquarters bragging about their service and food.  (Those of you who know me realize that I'm doing this primarily so they will send me coupons.)    Clearly, I am a Chick-fil-A gal and proud of it.

I have gone back and read and re-read the statements made by the CEO of Chick-fil-A re: gay marriage, traditional values, arrogant generation, etc.....  I would like to say that I have mixed feelings or that I am torn by the whole debacle.  But I am not.  It has LONG been a pet peeve of mine that anyone thinks they should tell me how to think.  I believe that I am entitled to my own opinions, whether you agree with me or not.  

My feeling is that the man is a citizen of the United States where he has freedom of speech.  He has the right to say whatever the heck he wants to say. However,  like everyone else, including me, he also will suffer consequences for using that right.  Whatever "side" you are on when it comes to any issue....... be it political, spiritual, liberal or conservative, you take a risk when you open yourself up and proclaim your beliefs.  Who remembers what the Dixie Chicks went through when Natalie Maines spoke up about President Bush?   Who remembers what Charlton Heston went through when he spoke up about gun rights?  Whether we agree or disagree, these people have the right to speak their opinions.  The fact that the Chick-fil-A CEO is being slammed should come as no surprise.  Next thing you know, he will get death threats on Twitter and the National Guard will be called out to  Chick-Fil-A stores, all disguised in cow suits.   I know that the people for and the people against gay marriage see this as a way to "make their point."  And I respect that.  I respect the fact that everyone has a right to their view.  In fact, I have mine......I love going to Chick-fil-A............I love my friends, both gay and not gay...........I love my freedom of speech........in fact, I love the freedom to have this conversation.  I love the fact that Dan Cathy, the CEO, has his views on traditional marriage and was obviously willing to take the consequences of stating his views.  But no......I won't be protesting Chick-fil-A.  In fact, if I ever go back to Boston I will miss not having one there in which to eat.......Oh, and by the way, I never protested the Dixie Chicks, either.  Love their music.  And it is a  WELL KNOWN fact  how I feel about "W."

So go eat at Chick-fil-A if you feel like it......heck, crank up some Dixie Chicks on the way there.......Lighten up and look at some bigger issues going on in the world.  Be thankful that you can have the choice of sweet or unsweet.......and don't forget  you can trade the toy in for soft serve icecream.  Enjoy the little things........when someone says "thank you" to you today. simply say,  "My Pleasure."