First chick in the armor.
I mean, chink.
Little more than a week after Chick-fil-A’s first grand opening in the UK, it’s been announced the Eat Mor Chikin chain will be closing up shop.
And it’s really out of the restaurant’s hands — the shopping center holding its lease is refusing to extend it.
And why? Gay activism.
As reported by the BBC:
“Gay rights campaigners called for a boycott of Chick-fil-A, which opened its first branch at The Oracle shopping centre in Reading on 10 October.”
A spokesperson for The Oracle said it was “the right thing to do” in response:
“We always look to introduce new concepts for our customers, however, we have decided on this occasion that the right thing to do is to only allow Chick-Fil-A to trade with us for the initial six-month pilot period, and not to extend the lease any further.”
Reading Pride — an LGBT group from the local (Reading) area — was tickled pink triangle.
The organization cited CFA’s donation to three groups which, as stated by the BBC, “have a reputation of being hostile to LGBT rights”: Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Paul Anderson Youth Home, and the Salvation Army.
If I may say so, we are in a dangerous place, societally. When hostility and hate are charged whenever there is a lack of endorsement at worst and disagreement at best, we are begging to be flushed.
That’s a component of totalitarianism, and — oddly — in our case, we’re being ruled authoritatively by our own culture.
In cases of the past where all were forced to adhere to one ideology, it was oppression by government. In our case — and in the case of the UK — our representative governments are in part responding to the people. Our legislatures appear to be, if not so much yet treading, at least pointed toward suppression of freedom. But our problem, at its heart, isn’t governmental.
It looks to me that we’re slowly trading in our liberties — with regard to thought, expression, and security — by evolving culturally.
But as for the UK, of course, the protestors have a right to make their voices known, as do any who disagree with them. And the shopping center should do as it believes.
And Chick-fil-A will have the opportunity to look elsewhere for a property owner of a different mind — though this turn of events may make partnership look less attractive to future candidates.
Here’s a bit more from BBC.com:
Chick-fil-A had previously told the BBC: “Our giving has always focused on youth and education. We have never donated with the purpose of supporting a social or political agenda.
“There are 145,000 people – black, white; gay, straight; Christian, non-Christian – who represent Chick-fil-A.”
Right. As there should be, representing not only a fast food chain, but America. Because we are a nation of differences.
Diversity, contrary to the talking point, isn’t inherently a strength. But the room for it — with a radically wide berth — when it comes to belief, isn’t just an asset but an imperative.
Chick-fil-A will live to fight another day. And so will everyone else.
And soon, whether in one place or another, Brits will be enjoying the most important pickle in the world, and delicious waffle fries to boot.
Even if the “the boot” is what the first location is getting.
-ALEX
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