Last Updated: Aug. 01, 2012, 8:29 pm From the Dispatch-Argus of Illinois
By Jonathan Turner, jturner@qconline.com
MOLINE -- Carl Pottenger of Erie actually hates chicken, but that didn't stop him from standing in a long line Wednesday at SouthPark Mall, joining hundreds of other area residents who bought items from Chick-fil-A.
"I really do not eat chicken," said Mr. Pottenger, who was waiting to buy sandwiches to feed his dogs. He was part of the nationwide Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, where customers showed support for the restaurant chain and its embattled CEO, Dan Cathy. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee launched the effort to counter a boycott by gay marriage activists last week after Mr. Cathy said he was "guilty as charged" for not supporting gay marriage. "The goal is simple," Mr. Huckabee wrote on the Facebook page for the event. "Let's affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1." On Friday, gay activists plan to occupy local Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country and stage a "same sex kiss day" to protest the company's support for traditional marriage, according to www.facebook.com/NationalSameSexKissDay. "When they turn around and try to tell us their rights are more important than our rights, there's a problem," Mr. Pottenger said of gay-rights supporters, including the mayors of Boston and Chicago, who have opposed openings of the chain in their cities. "You have politicians telling the company that has a personal opinion that their business is not welcome? Last time I checked, this was still the United States of America," he said. "The Constitution gives citizens our freedom and to limit government." "This company has never turned anybody away. They're just saying, 'This is what we believe,' " Mr. Pottenger said. "They're not refusing to serve anybody, refusing to hire anybody. It's a family business. They're private. They don't have stockholders. They can do what they want." "I believe in traditional marriage, too. That's why I'm here," said Brian Mix of Moline, waiting in a line that stretched long down the mall corridor after 2:30 p.m. "I'm glad all these people are here. ... It's good to see young people stand up, not just old folks like us. Those are our future. That means they stand up for what's right." Daniel Campbell, 21, of Rock Island, a student at Bible Missionary Institute, spent two hours earlier Wednesday at the Davenport Chick-fil-A, where company supporters displayed signs outside. He came over to the SouthPark location to meet friends. There were no signs or counter-protesters at the mall. "It's important because only one side of the issue gets heard," Mr. Campbell said. "I think it's a good cause. If you believe in something, you should stand up for it." He said Chick-fil-A shouldn't be ostracized by people who don't agree with them. People like himself should stand up for their principles. "Too many times, we say 'Somebody else will do it,' " Mr. Campbell said. "People put feet to their words, what they believe in." "People are standing up for their belief and are not backing off," said Mary Mead of Silvis.
"The other side says they're trying to preach tolerance, but they're the most intolerant people there are," Mr. Pottenger said. "They're hypocrites to the core."
Steve Robinson, Chick-fil-A's executive vice president for marketing, issued a statement on the company's website Wednesday in which he stated the appreciation day "was not created by Chick-fil-A. We appreciate all of our customers and are glad to serve them at any time. Our goal is simple: to provide great food, genuine hospitality and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A."
Mary Jacobs of Geneseo was in line with her granddaughter Kelista at SouthPark. They had come earlier but turned around after seeing the long line at the lunch hour.
"They're right," Ms. Jacobs said of company backers. "I feel free not to shop at a place that supports something I feel is wrong, so I feel free to shop at a place that supports something I think is right." |