FASCISM and FREE SPEECH

[petdance.livejournal.com]

Comments

[petdance.livejournal.com]

It's funny because boycotting Chick-Fil-A is not suppressing anyone's speech.

What's extra funny is that the groups that have benefited from Chick-Fil-A's $5,000,000 of donations include American Family Association and Focus on the Family. These groups love to exert financial pressure on businesses they don't like. For example, American Family Association calls for boycotting Office Depot, JC Penney and Sears (http://www.afa.net/Detail.aspx?id=2147524770), and Focus on the Family is no stranger to boycotts (http://family.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22969/kw/boycott).

And if we really were living under fascism, we wouldn't have any choice where we bought our chicken sandwiches.

[macychick.livejournal.com]

Ditto.

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

I don't give a shit if people want to have traditional marriages, I have a problem when corporations give money to groups like the FRC that lobby Congress to deny rights to other people. Saying that they suck and support bigotry is part of my FREE SPEECH.

[thebigbadbutch.livejournal.com]

Which government entity tried to SHUT DOWN a chick-fil-a?

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

exactly. This faux oppression bullshit gets old fast.

[chron-job.livejournal.com]

There were two incidents of City mayors talking (so far as I know, just talking) about now allowing franchises in their municipalities because of Chick-fil-a's stance.

But these legislators have been, and should be, rebuked by people and organizations who value free-speech.

Though I have no idea if this is the point of the original cartoon author.

[miss-peg.livejournal.com]

The issue, as I see it, isn't one person's opinions. But his actions with the money he makes from the business. It's a fair thought to boycott something when you know your money may go towards something you don't like.

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

The corporation itself also made donations to those groups through its charitable arm.

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from criticism. Indeed, it means freedom of criticism.

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

".....he didn't die for the fucking flag, it's a piece of cloth..... he died for what the flag represents, which is, THE FREEDOM.... TO BURN - THE FUCK-ING FLAG!!!!!!" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBCkm9-LvRg)

[soliloquy76.livejournal.com]

It's amazing how this simple concept seems to elude people who are on the other side of an issue.

[wight1984.livejournal.com]

God, yes. Such a simple point but it really needs constant reiteration until people get it.

[maladaptive.livejournal.com]

I thought money was speech. Making me spend money at CFA violates my freedom of speech. Making me spend money on shit I don't want is FASCISM! Or something.

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

I defend the owner's right to say and believe whatever the hell he wants. I also defend my right to call him an asshat, boycott his business and support gay marriage. That's how it works.

[hittokiri-korru.livejournal.com]

Huzzah the double edge of free speech!

[ladycakes.livejournal.com]

His opinion was no longer private once he opened his yap in public and it is the public's right to call him out on his shit.

[farchivist.livejournal.com]

I really don't see a business being shut down. People are free to boycott or patronize as they choose. What happens to a business because of that is purely incidental.
If someone wanted to shut CFA down, they'd send in Imperial Stormtroopers.

[kadaria.livejournal.com]

Many people also seem to be missing the point that a town or county doesn't have to give you a zoning or building permit just because you want to build there.

[atreides74.livejournal.com]

Bullshit. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.
I will not give my money to a company that uses that money to fund right wing hate groups. Period. Fuck those bigots.

[lafinjack.livejournal.com]

Countdown until someone complains bitterly about calling them hate groups in 3... 2...

[ericcoleman.livejournal.com]

This is not a free speech issue, it is a free market issue.

[i.livejournal.com]

^ What he said.

[theloudcafe.livejournal.com]

pretty sure you need to look up fascism and free speech again, buddy.

also, not sure how people get to defend chick-fil-a's right to free speech, and yet mine is shunned because it's an opposing opinion?

and as far as "rights denied: 0" goes, i think you need to look at state laws again. here in kansas, it is legal to deny someone housing and employment based on sexual orientation. yep, zero rights denied...

[hittokiri-korru.livejournal.com]

No we can't expect chick-fil-a to be shut down because of the ceo's opinion, but because this is a free market economy and a land where speech is free. He was free to say what he did and he is responsible for the PR nightmare he now has. Those that don't like his comment or his contributions are free to not eat there and to protest the chain.

I for one have refused to eat there because of their "christian heritage". I don't mind a business owned and operated by christians but when christ becomes part of your business model, i don't want anything to do with it. Plus if I want to drive 45 minuets for fast food, I'll head west (the direction opposite the nearest chick-fil-a) and have Sonic.

As for the localities that want to deny entry to chick-fil-a, I say it's their right. A city can deny a liquor license because they feel the location might be a nuisance then they can deny a restaurant the right to open because it can be a breeding ground for hate.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what I meant to say below.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with all the great points made (especially those involving cat animations), but the truth is that here in Chicago a local alderman is working to refuse a zoning permit to allow the second (!) CFA to be built in the city, which I guess is shutting them down. His point is that in a neighborhood like this, what CFA is promoting is hate speech.

[bonesnapdeez.livejournal.com]

I lol'ed at "fascism."

[lafinjack.livejournal.com]

You called me a jerk! Fascism! You had a different opinion from me! FASCISM! I stubbed my toe! FASCISM!!!

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

But what about the chickens? THINK OF THE CHICKENS!

[lafinjack.livejournal.com]

Oh, trust me, I do.

[chessdev.livejournal.com]

Get the definitions right -- that is not FASCISM, it would be Totalarianism.

But anyway...

[seamouse.livejournal.com]

Near as I can tell, my vote at the cash register counts for a hella lot more than my vote at the ballot box. Since the Supreme Court approved corporate sponsorship - sorry, DONATIONS to political campaigns, we're more like the United Corporations of America, anyway. I'm exercising the right to vote by patronizing or not patronizing a corporation based on how its actions line up with my values. I support gay rights and gay marriage. The corporations that don't can stop whining anytime. or not. doesn't make a difference to me.