Chick fil a

I don't think it's possible to write something completely unbiased. So I will share my opinions so you know where I'm coming from. But since it is a sensitive topic I hope my opinions will be taken as just that and not be offended by them.

I believe marriage is only between a man and a woman. I believe in tolerance and love towards gays and lesbians is still possible even while holding to this belief. I believe there are certain privileges granted to married couples that should be granted to others. (For one example, only spouses and immediate family being allowed in hospital rooms. I believe every patient deserves to not be alone. That whether it be spouse, parent, best friend or lover, others should be allowed in the room. Just limit the number at each time to keep the room uncrowded, or if the patient is lucid, let them decide.) Now on to Chick-fil-a.

I went to support Chick-fil-a. To me, yes I agreed with their opinion, but I also went because I believe restricting peoples opinions would make this country NOT free. I believe that freedom is our nation's best policy. Freedom of speech, religion, press, and there's one other. I do not feel it is right to restrict a company's business because they choose to have an opinion, even an opinion on a touchy subject. It is their right to have that opinion and speak it. They never said they would not serve gays, or even serve gays that are married, just that they do not support the marriage of two homosexuals.

I have been told that if a friend doesn't support you and doesn't love you for who you are, then they are not really a friend and not worth keeping. If a friend does not uplift you but only brings you down, don't keep them as a friend. I've done this in my own life. I've been used at times, and I don't have to put up with it, I can remove myself from the situation without becoming hateful or spiteful towards that person. So if you are gay, or believe marriage is not only between a man and a woman, no one is forcing you to go to Chick-fil-a and give them your money and your business.

When I first heard about the gay protest- where they were going to go sit in and make out in Chick-fil-a I was disgusted. At first I wondered if it was because of my opinion on gay marriage. I can say honestly that it was not because I have now been invited to a hetero-protest in protest of the gay protest- where a man and a woman will sit in and make out- and I was equally disgusted.

To me, marriage is sacred. It is a private affair between two people that is only recognized publicly. To me, there are certain kinds of pda that are acceptable means of showing this. Pda stands for public display of AFFECTION not PASSION. Hand holding, hugs, a light kiss, are appropriate signs of pda. Passion for another, to me, is private. And making out is more passionate by nature. Too few people in the world hold marriage sacred. Divorce runs rampant. I feel that whether you are hetero- or homo- sexual, if you hold marriage as sacred then you would not show your passion so casually. You would not mock that sacred union by finding anyone to make out with just to prove a point. I thought that the gays fighting for marriage held it more sacred and that was why they yearned for it so bad. If it was solely a matter of marital privileges then I believe fighting for the government to only recognize civil unions is your fight. And if they hold it sacred, then they should only make out and show passion towards someone they HAVE that passion for, not just any other gay to prove a point at Chick-fil-a. And the same goes for the other side: if you hold marriage between a man and a woman as sacred, then you are mocking your own belief by casually making out with a member of the opposite sex merely to prove a point and be spiteful.

These other protests are very childish. The first one I went to because I believe that the amendments to our Constitution mean something. The gay protest: if they do not support you and that bothers you, do not support them with your business. Do not resort to childishness. Leave foolish teenage rebellions in your teenage years and find an adult way to stand up for what you believe in.

The hetero- protest in response to the gay protest: this is even more childish. It is being done just to spite the gay community. I care about marriage because I hold it sacred and this protest is not tolerant, it is not loving, it is not standing up for the Amendments, it is not even standing up for marriage between a man and a woman. It is simply a protest because people aren't tolerant of gays and their right to an opinion. (I still feel they show disrespect to the sacred union of marriage by sharing passion so publicly in a family environment, and that there are more productive ways for them to stand up for what they believe in.) This protest shows a lack of care about marriage. And if marriage is not sacred to you, then you have no reason to keep gays from entering into it as well.

What are you fighting for?

Pro-gay marriage: are you fighting for gay marriage because marriage when recognized allows certain privileges? Or because it's a special sacred union that you would like to have? There are those like me who are against gay marriage but not against you having certain rights and privileges granted currently through marriage. And if you are fighting for marriage because it's special and sacred and having some piece of paper showing you're married means something, well then find ways to stand for what you believe that show that you keep it sacred.

Against gay marriage: what are you fighting for? Are you fighting against gay marriage because you hate gays and have no tolerance for them? Or are you fighting to keep marriage sacred? If the second, then show that you hold it sacred in your protests. That there is something special in marriage.