Opinion> Bill Oreilly> Playing Chicken With Gay Marriage

	11 May 2013 Freedom Under Fire Every time there's a horrendous story about kidnapping or child molestation, America loses another ounce of freedom.… Read More.
	4 May 2013 The War on Terror: Up Close and Personal Living in the shadows of the ongoing war on terror are 1,715 American military people who lost limbs in Iraq … Read More.
	27 Apr 2013 Droning On Shortly after the terror bombings in Boston last week, two different media people made statements that were … Read More.

Playing Chicken with Gay Marriage

When the New York Post puts a fast-food chicken franchise on page one, you know some feathers have been ruffled, so to speak. And, indeed, the Chick-fil-A outfit can forget about catering any gay marriage receptions, because the company's president, Dan Cathy, recently told an Atlanta radio station that by supporting gay nuptials, America is "inviting God's wrath."

While that remains to be seen, the wrath of pro-gay marriage advocates is vividly on display. The mayors of Boston and Chicago, playing to their liberal bases, both came out against having any Chick-fil-A restaurants in their cities. In the case of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, his condemnation of the fast-food chain came just days before Chicago was named the most dangerous city on Earth by a local TV news station.

Maybe some good chicken would calm things down in the Windy City.

Anyway, the attacks on Chick-fil-A are un-American, and here's why. Gay marriage is not a civil right in the USA, and until the Supreme Court rules that it is, there is no bias case to be made against those who, in good conscience, oppose it. Cathy and millions of other Americans believe in the sanctity of man-woman marriage based upon religious tenets. Some secularists even oppose homosexual nuptials because they believe nature dictates that marriage and procreation go together, that it is a societal stabilizer.

To brand someone a hater or a bigot because he or she opposes an expansion of traditional marriage to one selected group is unfair and narrow-minded.

The converse is true, as well.

If someone sincerely believes that so-called "marriage equality" is the fair and just thing to do, that belief should be respected.

What is truly disturbing are the threats. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee recently tweeted: "Closest Chick-fil-A to San Francisco is 40 miles away and I strongly recommend they not try to come any closer."

You strongly recommend, Mr. Mayor? Why? Might something happen to a Chick-fil-A business that opens in your town? Are you sanctioning threats?

That's the crux of this matter: Lee's belief that he has a right to punish those with whom he disagrees.

Hey, Mr. Mayor, the vast majority of black preachers publicly oppose gay marriage. Are you going to tell them not to set up shop in your town?

Bet he won't.

The Chick-fil-A deal is basically a grandstand play by some politically correct leftwing zealots. But it has backfired big time. All across the country, thousands of folks stood in long lines this week to buy chicken from Chick-fil-A. They are making an important statement: Don't mess with freedom of expression.

That is one foul thing to do.

Veteran TV news anchor Bill O'Reilly is host of the Fox News show "The O'Reilly Factor" and author of the book "Pinheads and Patriots: Where You Stand in the Age of Obama." To find out more about Bill O'Reilly, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com. This column originates on the website www.billoreilly.com.

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM

Comments

2 Comments | Post Comment

We should be impressed because thousands bought chicken? If thousands bought chicken so what? Millions didn't. What's your point? Some of the worst criminals in history had thousands, hundreds of thousands of supporters agreeing that a particular race, religion or sex encroached upon their ‘traditional values‘. Isn't that why we call ourselves a democracy, so the least among us have a voice and equal rights and access to the American ‘dream'.? Thousands agreeing gives no credence to any of your arguments and has led to a push/push back, no win for either side.
In an argument that has no merit, you use the technique that you and the good ol boys have used so successfully in the past. You brand protestors as "unAmerican" and those who support the protestors be they gov. employee or private citizen, you diminish an argument for equal rights as an"attack" on traditional values while knowing ‘traditional values‘ has for years in many religions and many countries marginalized, attacked, and denied rights to gays, females, and people of color.
Your argument didn't make it when women and blacks were openly challenging the GOB system and glass ceilings. It doesn't make it today. Same sad arguments from a sad, self important, over paid, shill from the "good ol boys" club. Remember when you wouldn't let Jews or women in your clubs? They pretty much run things now, eh. Oh, sorry, that might sound like an attack to you. I'm sure you would say" they pretty much ruined things....eh?

Comment: #1
Posted by: morgan
Sun Aug 5, 2012 9:06 AM

Report this post

''Gay marriage is not a civil right in the USA, and until the Supreme Court rules that it is, there is no bias case to be made against those who, in good conscience, oppose it." True, but if a writer has any leadership to offer, he should point the way to the future.

But that writer would not be O'Reilly, who is only interested in selling what he writes so he can profit off of it. I happen to agree that Chick-fil-A should be free to sell its poison in this free country like so many other businesses do, and I fault the left wing as usual for utter idiocy in plying its agenda.

But this company is behind the times, and as its right to be so is defended, commentators who have a heart should be prodding them to change. The Tin Man O'Reilly needs a visit to the Wizard of Oz for sure. Real live human beings who wish nothing more than to live their lives with the same basic respect that should be accorded to every free, ethical spirit who wishes to do so should be supported, rather than sold out by false thought leaders like the spine-free O'Reilly, who knows better, but can't stand up to the gravity.

Comment: #2
Posted by: Masako
Mon Aug 6, 2012 7:44 PM

Report this post

Already have an account? Log in.