My family and I spent about two hours waiting for chicken sandwiches today at Chick-Fil-A--and it was worth it! This, of course, was the day set to show support to Chick-Fil-A for their president's (Dan Cathy) remarks about marriage. Some news organizations and blogs are speaking of this as a "protest." It wasn't a protest. I saw no signs. I heard no angry speeches. There were just hundreds of people lined up outside in the hot Phoenix sun waiting patiently to order food. It was a largely symbolic gesture but nonetheless an important gesture. This will not turn the "cultural war" but it was a public act by large segments of the community. It spoke a number of messages. It spoke about the public's stance on marriage--Dan Cathy's position of one man, one woman faithfully committed together is a view point shared by a large number of people. It spoke about the freedom of religious expression. There were those elected officials who sought to threaten Chick-Fil-A with economic sanctions because Dan Cathy expressed his thoughts on a social issue in the public square of ideas. The appreciation expressed today was a reminder that the traditional view of marriage is not marginal and will not be marginalized.
Here are a few pictures of our time at a Northwest Phoenix Chick-Fil-A: