Commentary: Hundreds of Thousands Support Free Speech At Local Chik-Fil-A’s

Whether you like chicken or just enjoy supporting a company's First Amendment right, last night at the Cheyenne Chick-Fil-A in the Frontier Mall was the place to be. From about 7 am in the morning well into closing time last night, the line to get a chicken sandwich seemed never ending. The lines literally were a "block buster" in many senses of the phrase. When I arrived last night, you couldn't even see the Chick-Fil-A red sign from the back of the line because of it's length.

Yesterday was known as Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day, where hundreds of thousands stood in line or sat in their cars from coast to coast across our fruited plain to support a great family-run business who dared to take a stand for the Godly values that they, and many American's, hold dear and acting upon their First Amedment rights.

People young and old, children, babies, different races, creeds and colors all stood in line fellowshipping with each other waiting for their opportunity to purchase their favorite meal from the local Chick-fil-A. It seemed more like an amusement park rather than a fast food chicken place.

It was a long day for the employees of the restaurant chain, but even at 6:30 last evening, you received service with a smile. The employees did a great job in serving the masses in a non-stop manner. One young man behind the counter was quoted as saying, "This is crazy", when he realized the line was not going to dissipate anytime soon. It was a great atmosphere to be in that's for sure.

This was all a result of the recent question to Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy, who admitted to the Baptist Press that he was "guilty as charged." When asked about the company's support of traditional family values, this was Cathy's response:

“We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.
“We operate as a family business … our restaurants are typically led by families; some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that,” Cathy emphasized.
“We intend to stay the course,” he said. “We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.”
Well, you would think that we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles without being demonized as hate mongers, homophobes and to be stopped and attacked by local, state and federal governments. The problem with the statement is that is flies in the face of the current administration and other state and local governments because this is one of the attacks of the Communist manifesto which is to break down and destroy the traditional family unit.

Because of Cathy's honesty about their convictions of family values and upholding that standard, The Jim Henson Company pulled all of their toys from the Chick-Fil-A kid's meals and a Chicago Alderman, with the support of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, is planning to block any future building plans of the restaurant in the city's Northwest Side.
As Boston Mayor Thomas Menino stated, in a very direct letter to Cathy, to allow the chain to build in his city "would be an insult." Surprisingly though, New York City Mayor Bloomberg disagreed with the former mayors and stated that the ban on Chick-Fil-A would not take place in New York City. Way to go Mayor Bloomberg, for once!

Because of all the attacks on a very successful, traditional family friendly business, former Governor Mike Huckabee had called for a "Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day" yesterday, for their stance against same-sex marriage issues and their convictions to uphold the marriage that God has ordained, which is marriage between one man and one woman, period.

It's pretty sad when you can't even answer a question honestly, without a godless, bully government coming in to demonize you for your beliefs, and or First Amendment right. Well, I can say that what was to be a reproach to a family business, became a rallying cry for freedom loving Americans. They turned out in droves. Just here in Cheyenne, locally, Chick-Fil-A management suspected about 4000 customers alone in one day! For such a great event, there didn't seem to be much local media coverage, but wait! Friday is coming!

This Friday, rumors have it that the LGBT representatives are scheduled to show up to protest the restaurant chain against their stance on traditional marriage. Even though they may show up in smaller numbers, we know that it will most likely draw cameras, videos and make the 6 o'clock news from media sources across the country, even though the turn out will be laughable.

So hats off to all American's who showed up to help support one of our most precious resources. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of the Press, Freedom to a Peaceable Assembly, and Freedom of Petition. Most all of these were displayed last night from town to town, city to city and state to state.
Too bad the government disagrees with the First Amendment. We are now on the offense and the liberal governmen'ts and those who would seek to destroy the traditional, God-ordained institution of marriage are on the defense. If God be for us, who can be against us? Stay strong Chick-Fil-A and thank you America for your participation as well.

Daniel 11:32, "...but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." And that's exactly what America showed us yesterday at their local Chick-Fil-A's. Let Freedom and Free Speech ring!

Gary Freeman is a local pastor of New Testament Christian Church. He also writes for Liberty’s Torch and other news outlets. You may contact him at his email address: acrossamerica@reagan.com.