Why We Shouldn't Boycott Businesses

First off, let me say that I'm for allowing people to marry who they want to marry.  I don't care if it is man/woman, man/man or woman/woman. To me, it's their business and it is not a religious issue, it is a human rights issue.
I want to make my stance clear.

However, I find the fact that many want to boycott Chick-fil-A because the owner came out against support for gays marrying alarming at best and downright frightening at worst.  Why?

Well, because in this country, the U.S.A.-which so many conservatives want to "get back to the constitution"- we have FREEDOM OF SPEECH!
Now, before you get all up in arms and say that we also have to live with the results of what we say, let me remind you that there are more people involved than this owner.

See, hundreds or thousands of people are employed at Chick-fil-A across the country. Straight people. Gay people. Lesbians. Bi-sexuals. And if enough people boycott it, guess who would also get hurt by it?  All of them.  They would lose their jobs without having done anything to deserve it! Instead of a knee-jerk response, let's think rationally for once.

Hey, the same goes for the other side. The conservatives wanted to boycott General Mills when they came out in favor of gays being able to marry.  How many straight people would lose their jobs if a boycott of General Mills became effective?

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Besides that, people have the right to say what they want in regard to their stance without losing their jobs or businesses.  That is what freedom of speech means.  They should also be able to peacefully protest without fear of the same. It is a basic right in this country.  If we are going to boycot a business for being anti-gay or conservative, where does it stop?  Should we boycott a business where the owner is overheard saying (or says publicly) that he or she is for/against abortion? For/against capital punishment?

Once boycotting for what a person believes in starts, it will get ugly quick.  Boycott because the man is Jewish. Boycott because the woman is too fat. Boycott because that couple is Catholic.  Or Muslim. Or doesn't believe in God at all.  Pretty soon we will not be free.  We will be living in fear of ever opening our mouths.

You know the best way to change a person's mind?  Live your lifestyle happily and openly.  People will want to know the secret to your happiness. And, as far as gays holding "kiss-ins" in front of Chick-fil-A, do those particular people really think that is going to change anyones mind?  It will do the opposite because they are being obnoxious.  I don't like to watch anyone make out in public.  I don't care what sex or combination of sexes they are. Get a room.

Sure, it is fine to hold hands, hug or do a little kiss. But who really thinks having dozens of gays all kissing in front of a restaurant will make conservatives switch their vote?  It may actually swing some undecideds the other way...to voting against marriage for gays, simply because most people don't like seeing a bunch of people overtaking a business and trying to force things down their throats. No pun intended. This just goes to show that there are fools on both sides.

I don't want to see a bunch married straight couples with their tongues down each others throats either.  If you are over fifteen years old you should know better.  It is not shocking; it is not endearing.  It simply makes you look like an immature idiot.

I probably won't eat at Chick-fil-A, but it is not because of the owner.  I just never have eaten at one and don't see a reason to. However, had I been eating there and they had given me good food and service I would continue to.

You boycotters need to think past your nose. Sometimes punishing one person hurts more people than you could ever imagine.  And many of those will be "your own kind" (for those that separate humans into groups like that).