Has anyone seen the lines outside of Chick-fil-A lately? Thank you, Rahm.
Some of the small-minded people of this country, including politicians pandering for voting blocs, have convoluted a social cause into a divisive wedge between good Americans, gay or not.

Even President Obama once affirmed his belief that marriage was between man and woman, that is, until he waved a wet finger in the political wind. When the Defense of Marriage Act was debated in the 1996, marriage was declared a union between man and woman by huge majorities in congress. Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, had campaigned for Bill Clinton who supported the act. Now that the gay community has become more vocal, these same politicians see them as a juicy voting bloc, thus many have “evolved” after further consideration.

I’ve got news for pundits who are fast to demonize supporters of traditional marriage. Just because many of us still consider “traditional” marriage as between a man and a woman, it does not translate to “homophobia” or “anti-gay.” I have a close member of my family who is vibrant, intelligent, loving and gay, of whom I could not be more proud. Gays are entitled to the rights of any American, including hiring practices, service and more.

I seriously doubt any gay people at Chick-fil-A have ever been refused service or employment because of sexual orientation. So what’s the problem, other than pouncing on a cause for political clout. The CEO of that corporation expressed a personal opinion, that traditional marriage should be defined as being between and man and woman. The last I heard, the First Amendment is still valid. What has that go to do with the quality of service and food at a major restaurant chain?

And where does this issue give local politicians the right to impose legal restrictions on a national business chain that has not broken any laws regarding discrimination or human rights?

Most polls today show that the public is evenly divided on the issue. The half of Americans who wish to keep traditional marriage as it has been for 4,000 years, are just as entitled to opinions as anyone. They should count for something without being subject to demonizing from public officials.

It’s baffling that politicians like Emanuel and others would do harm to a thriving business in America. Over 1600 Chick-fil-A restaurants can be found in 39 states, employing multi-thousands of Americans, with an annual gross income of over four billion dollars. This success story is also involved in numerous charities, including foster homes, counseling services, and hundreds of awarded scholarships valued at over $30 million. Demonstrators and hate mongers, gay or not, should be take their signs and find a better cause.

In truth, this is all about semantics. Most Americans have no objection to lawful unions which give gay folks the benefits of any married couple. They simply wish to keep the term “marriage” for the traditionalists. They matter too.

Bottom line: The top manager simply expressed a view, not a policy. Such a view absolutely does not translate to “anti-gay.”

Marshall_Frank_webMarshall Frank

Thirty years of law enforcement in Miami, Florida, including sixteen years working homicide, gives Marshall Frank a huge reservoir from which to draw insights into the problems facing America today. After retiring from the Miami-Dade P.D. in 1990, Frank went on to become a writer, now with eight published books, five fiction and three non-fiction. His book “Militant Islam In America” was published after an exhaustive research study about the inroads that radicals are making within the borders of the U.S. He is currently working on a non-fiction book about the abominable criminal justice system. Book listings, prices and availability can be accessed at his web site:http://www.marshallfrank.com.