What's The Big Deal About A Guy Who Makes Chicken Sandwiches?

That's the question my liberal/progressive friends and acquaintances are posing to me in the wake of the "Chick-Fil-A" controversy. 

The answer is so simple and obvious that I have to laugh.  They must be asking tongue-in-cheek!

First off, opposing gay marriage is not a radical position.  Approximately half of America feels the same way.  why, their own "Dear Leader" held the same position a mere three or four months ago.  And Obama was only moved off of his previous position be yet another Biden gaffe.  Where were all the "kiss-in" people back in April?

And even if it was a radical idea, Dan Cathy still engaged in what we like to refer to as "Free Speech".  You know that little right that the Founding Fathers thought was so important that they put it in the First Amendment. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Now, granted, Mayor Menino didn't enact a law that abridged Dan Cathy's right to free speech.  But don't you get the feeling that he would have if he could have?

It doesn't matter what your feelings are about gay marriage or civil unions.  All that should matter is that one man expressed his opinion and the highest government official in the City of Boston retaliated.

As my favorite Mayor used to say "Muth-ra-Gawd!"

So yes, we are at war and we have crushing unemployment and bad economic news every quarter.  Yet plenty of us on both sides of these social issues care a great deal about the "Chick-fil-a" business.  Because it was blatant and right in our face.  And we were able to speak out definitively.  I can't act in response to unemployment or foreign policy.  I can't fight our nation's battles.  I can't solve our economic woes.  However, I can fly a flag to support our nation.  I can donate to charities to help my fellow citizens.  I can buy a sandwich in support of free speech.

Because for the majority there is no gray area here.  He gets to say what he wants.  You are free to disagree.  And neither of you should be threatened by the Mayor of Boston.

If people don't like his opinion, they are free to boycott him.  But the Mayor should not be interfering with the man's business.