Free Speech Is American. So Is Boycotting.
I read a tweet recently that really resonated and stuck with me. “To boycott is American, to ban business from a city based on their religious beliefs is fascism”.
I couldn’t agree more.
This Chick-Fil-A banter going back and forth in America is exactly WHY I LOVE America. The first amendment in all of it’s glory! Many of you participate in conversations about politics and philosophy on my personal Facebook page and Twitter stream. You will come to notice that growing up in Los Angeles and working in politics I have a very diverse group of friends. Conservative, liberal, gay, straight, black, white, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, atheist, and everything in between. I am proud of the people I choose to surround myself. Everyone in my life contributes in their own unique and special ways. Their opinions and beliefs mean a lot to me, even if they’re not the same as my own. Why? Because that is a uniquely AMERICAN mindset. Protect and cherish all speech, regardless if you agree with said speech. Over the years I have come under fire from colleagues and friends who have the same ideals and beliefs as me for not deleting people on my page for their back and forth or rabblerousing and I NEVER WILL (Unless you’re a truther, because 9/11 happened you idiots I saw it with my own two eyes. And so did millions of others) because my Facebook page is a democracy, not a dictatorship (Again, unless you’re a truther because I will drop you like it’s hot over that nonsense).
I couldn’t care less what your personal belief about gay marriage is. I support your belief to have WHATEVER belief you want on the topic. And that goes for the CEO of Chick-Fil-A. Just because he’s the CEO of a major corporation does not mean he does not get the same rights to free speech, as say someone who marches in a gay pride parade. And while we’re talking about Chick-Fil-A and their board members, let’s take a second to remember their spokesman Don Perry who passed away this week. I have been reading the nastiest and meanest comments about his death on numerous websites and media outlets. And while I am disgusted by these comments, I support your right to say them. I also support your right to just go ahead and join the Westboro Baptist Church, because celebrating the death of the innocent is the kind of thing they do. That’s right uber PC activists. You’re just as bad as Fred Phelps with your hateful spiteful words. Oh and while we’re on the topic of talking about other big name folks who have thrown their hat into the ring on the Chick-Fil-A debate, Rahm Emanuel you should be ashamed by your hypocrisy. You say Chick-Fil-A has no place in Chicago because of their hateful ideology, yet you ask Louis Farrakhan to help you keep the streets of Chicago safe (Is that even possible?). The same Louis Farrakhan who uses ugly ad hominem when talking about homosexuals? The same racist, hate spewing Louis Farrakhan known for his outrageous beliefs on biracial relationships? Just making sure we’re talking about the same guy.
With all of this being said, I also value a good monetary boycott. I have been silently protesting Starbucks for many years. I’ll give you my personal reasons for them another time, but never once have I called for Starbucks to shut down a location near me or not build any more locations in Los Angeles. Or asked their CEO to resign. I just don’t buy coffee from them and carry about with my day. So for everyone who is boycotting Chick-Fil-A based upon their CEO’s decision to support traditional marriage, I SUPPORT YOU! I support you making the choice to spend your hard earned money where you please. America is awesome like that.
My being a diabetic be damned, I will consume as many sweet teas I can tolerate for the day just to make a point. I’m also considering sending the mayor of Boston a copy of Mein Kampf. As much as a I think calling people a Nazi that you don’t agree with is the most abused and overused phrase of the century, I think the comparison rings true here. Mayor Menino, let me refresh your memory if you’ll allow me to. Hitler started his murderous rampage against the Jews of Germany by telling Jewish business owners they were not allowed to open new business locations and denying them operating permits. Now, I’m not saying that you’re going to go on a murderous rampage against Christians or people who love the first amendment. But I do believe you’re a fascist in every sense of the word.
About Ashley Ingram
Ingram has written for numerous blogs including Flashreport, California Political News and Views and has been featured in newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times, Daily News, and other newspapers across the state and country. Ingram frequently appears as a guest on radio shows such as John and Ken, NPR’s Larry Mantle Show, Kevin James, Doug McIntyre, TJ McCormack on LA Talk Radio, and various other shows to give commentary mainly on California, youth, and national politics.
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