Good history lesson.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF-QIJyLhKQ&feature=related]Behind The Dixie Stars - YouTube[/ame]

Originally Posted by dklassen

I think in general there are very few people who are truly racist except for the most extreme. Living in TN for the last 4.5 years I have yet to meet one, black or white. People should be judged on the content of their character not the color of their skin. Many here in TN are proud of the starts and bars as it relates to their true history and ancestry... both black and white.

I am going to embrace that thought and I thank you for it.

The accusations about Truett Cathy being too selfish to pay more than minimum wage leave me speechless, so I will refer the prejudiced, bigoted vilifiers of him to this, as a start:

"Cathy has dedicated his time and resources to many philanthropic causes, focusing on those related to the welfare of needy children. In 1984, Cathy established the WinShape Foundation, named for its mission to shape winners.

WinShape Foundation consists of WinShape Homes, WinShape Retreat, WinShape Marriage, WinShape Camps, WinShape, College Program, WinShape Wilderness and WinShape International. In 2010, the foundation provided roughly $18 million to fund the development of foster homes and summer camp.

Past donations from the WinShape Foundation include the funding of several college scholarships and marriage counseling programs. The foundation has awarded nearly 820 students of Berry College with scholarships of up to $32,000. WinShape has also donated an estimated $5 million to pro family groups since 2003. Approximately $2 million was given in 2009 and almost the same amount in 2010. s caused consternation for advocates that have denounced the chain over its support of groups opposed to same-sex marriage, and has led to instances of movements to refuse or remove Chick-fil-A restaurants and products from college and university campuses; Northeastern University's Student Senate voted on February 28, 2012 to cancel plans for an on-campus Chick-fil-A restaurant.

In 2008, Cathy's WinShape foundation became the winner of the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic leadership which awarded it $250,000 towards future philanthropy, as a result of its contributions to society. The prize was created to further ideals such as personal responsibility, resourcefulness, volunteerism, scholarship, individual freedom, faith in God, and helping people who help themselves. It honors living philanthropists who have shown exemplary leadership through their charitable giving, highlights the power of philanthropy to achieve positive change, and seeks to inspire others to support charities that achieve genuine results.

Additionally, Cathy has dedicated his time and resources towards welcoming homeless children into his home and has taught in Sunday school sessions. He has fostered children for over 30 years, and has since taken in nearly 200 foster children through WinShape Homes. WinShape Homes is a long-term foster care program that includes 11 foster homes throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.[7][8]

Cathy also has a Leadership Scholarship program for Chick-fil-A restaurant employees, which has awarded more than $23 million in $1,000 scholarships in the past 35 years.[8]
In recognition of his philanthropic efforts through WinShape, Cathy received the Children's Champion Award for Family and Community from the charitable organization Children's Hunger Fund in 2011.

Honors and memberships
......Cathy has received numerous honors, including membership in Omicron Delta Kappa (OΔK), the National Leadership Honor Society. He received OΔK's highest award, the Laurel Crowned Circle Award in 2009. He also received the Norman Vincent and Ruth Stafford Peale Humanitarian Award, the Horatio Alger Award, the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership, and the Boy Scouts of America Silver Buffalo Award. Cathy was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2003.......

S. Truett Cathy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by ilovetv

The accusations about Truett Cathy being too selfish to pay more than minimum wage leave me speechless, so I will refer the prejudiced, bigoted vilifiers of him to this, as a start:

"Cathy has dedicated his time and resources to many philanthropic causes, focusing on those related to the welfare of needy children. In 1984, Cathy established the WinShape Foundation, named for its mission to shape winners.

WinShape Foundation consists of WinShape Homes, WinShape Retreat, WinShape Marriage, WinShape Camps, WinShape, College Program, WinShape Wilderness and WinShape International. In 2010, the foundation provided roughly $18 million to fund the development of foster homes and summer camp.

Past donations from the WinShape Foundation include the funding of several college scholarships and marriage counseling programs. The foundation has awarded nearly 820 students of Berry College with scholarships of up to $32,000. WinShape has also donated an estimated $5 million to pro family groups since 2003. Approximately $2 million was given in 2009 and almost the same amount in 2010. s caused consternation for advocates that have denounced the chain over its support of groups opposed to same-sex marriage, and has led to instances of movements to refuse or remove Chick-fil-A restaurants and products from college and university campuses; Northeastern University's Student Senate voted on February 28, 2012 to cancel plans for an on-campus Chick-fil-A restaurant.

In 2008, Cathy's WinShape foundation became the winner of the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic leadership which awarded it $250,000 towards future philanthropy, as a result of its contributions to society. The prize was created to further ideals such as personal responsibility, resourcefulness, volunteerism, scholarship, individual freedom, faith in God, and helping people who help themselves. It honors living philanthropists who have shown exemplary leadership through their charitable giving, highlights the power of philanthropy to achieve positive change, and seeks to inspire others to support charities that achieve genuine results.

Additionally, Cathy has dedicated his time and resources towards welcoming homeless children into his home and has taught in Sunday school sessions. He has fostered children for over 30 years, and has since taken in nearly 200 foster children through WinShape Homes. WinShape Homes is a long-term foster care program that includes 11 foster homes throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.[7][8]

Cathy also has a Leadership Scholarship program for Chick-fil-A restaurant employees, which has awarded more than $23 million in $1,000 scholarships in the past 35 years.[8]
In recognition of his philanthropic efforts through WinShape, Cathy received the Children's Champion Award for Family and Community from the charitable organization Children's Hunger Fund in 2011.

Honors and memberships
......Cathy has received numerous honors, including membership in Omicron Delta Kappa (OΔK), the National Leadership Honor Society. He received OΔK's highest award, the Laurel Crowned Circle Award in 2009. He also received the Norman Vincent and Ruth Stafford Peale Humanitarian Award, the Horatio Alger Award, the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership, and the Boy Scouts of America Silver Buffalo Award. Cathy was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2003.......

S. Truett Cathy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But, you must admit that although he is a wonderful man, he is a bigot.

How about typing no more blue on a green background. Can't read it and you are wasting lots of your time doing that. Pick another color.

Everyone here libs and conservs holds a pretty hard line view. Aren't we all then the definition of a bigot?

Originally Posted by dklassen

Everyone here libs and conservs holds a pretty hard line view. Aren't we all then the definition of a bigot?

Best post of the year.

Originally Posted by dklassen

Everyone here libs and conservs holds a pretty hard line view. Aren't we all then the definition of a bigot?

No, because the definition of "bigot" includes "treats members of a group with hatred".

Most people understand the meaning of and the difference between "Love the sinner...hate the sin".

I'm pretty sure Truett Cathy would try to adhere to "Love the sinner....hate the sin".

Definition of BIGOT

: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance

Merriam Webster Dictionary online

People seem to be drifting away from the true situation here. Mr. Cathy simply stated that he views marriage to be between a man and woman. He has not acted in any way that could be construed in the liberalist view as being bigoted.

The Gay Nation went berserk because they viewed his view as a threat to their agenda. The Gay Nation's reaction and complaints led to some spineless opportunists politicians and Hollywood people to discriminate against Mr. Cathy and his business Chick-fil-a

People on the side of Mr. Cathy are outraged that people in responsible government positions, et al would intentionally take actions to damage Mr. Cathy's business. These tactics mimick the hit list being applied in the Obama Administration. These once again hitman tactics created by "Saul the Maul" Alinsky.

I have already ask my wife to accompany me on a date tomorrow to purchase a tasty Chick-fil-a

Mr Cathy in essence is being persecuted for his religious beliefs

Good post, Rubicon.

One thing that always strikes me with "gay marriage" is that "marriage" is a religious covenant/promise/sacrament, as well as being a civil union in our nation and in Europe and other places.

Who do gay "marriage" proponents think they are, re-defining a 6,000+ year-old religious rite, when it is Judeo-Christian religion and laws that they cannot stand??

A big part of the problem is calling it gay "marriage", when the religious rite of marriage is and always has been between a male and a female. Who are gay rights proponents to change the definition of millennia-old religious rites???

A lot of this fighting would stop if gay proponents would focus on a "civil union" or "domestic partnership", and leave the religious rites alone as they have stood for thousands of years.

I can't think of anybody I know who is not okay with a "civil union" or "domestic partnership" sanctioned by civil authorities, while leaving the religious union/rite up to the churches/synagogues.

Originally Posted by ilovetv

Good post, Rubicon.

One thing that always strikes me with "gay marriage" is that "marriage" is a religious covenant/promise/sacrament, as well as being a civil union in our nation and in Europe and other places.

Who do gay "marriage" proponents think they are, re-defining a 6,000+ year-old religious rite, when it is Judeo-Christian religion and laws that they cannot stand??

A big part of the problem is calling it gay "marriage", when the religious rite of marriage is and always has been between a male and a female. Who are gay rights proponents to change the definition of millennia-old religious rites???

A lot of this fighting would stop if gay proponents would focus on a "civil union" or "domestic partnership", and leave the religious rites alone as they have stood for thousands of years.

I can't think of anybody I know who is not okay with a "civil union" or "domestic partnership" sanctioned by civil authorities, while leaving the religious union/rite up to the churches/synagogues.

ilovetv, I absolutely agree with you. Any committed couple should be afforded the opportunity to form a "civil union" or "domestic partnership" and with that commitment should be able to realize all civil benefits currently extended to married couples. These benefits would include inheritance rights, tax benefits, banking/financial benefits, etc. Society can call these unions - "civil unions" or "domestic partnerships".

If that couple chooses to "go the next step" and make a commitment between themselves and their God, society can label that as "marriage".

Originally Posted by Rubber Bucket

ilovetv, I absolutely agree with you. Any committed couple should be afforded the opportunity to form a "civil union" or "domestic partnership" and with that commitment should be able to realize all civil benefits currently extended to married couples. These benefits would include inheritance rights, tax benefits, banking/financial benefits, etc. Society can call these unions - "civil unions" or "domestic partnerships".

If that couple chooses to "go the next step" and make a commitment between themselves and their God, society can label that as "marriage".

There is absolutely NOTHING different between a gay couple being married by a Justice of the Peace or a judge than a straight couple being married in the same way. It is a CIVIL ceremony. It is a civilized thing to do!

IF a church wants to recognize the civil ceremony with a religious ceremony of it's own, THAT is up to the church. The GOVERNMENT should keep it's nose out of the church business.

If the CEO of Chick-fil-a wants to come out and denounce gay marriage - nothing wrong with him doing that. If groups want to protest his actions by boycotting the restaurant - nothing wrong with that, either. GOVERNMENT should not be involved IN ANY WAY.

Go ahead and buy your sandwiches tomorrow. Nothing wrong with that, either - except for the huge amounts of grease and sodium and empty calories in the sandwiches. Those waffle fries do sound good, though.

.....

Originally Posted by KeepingItReal

(There is absolutely NOTHING different between a gay couple being married by a Justice of the Peace or a judge than a straight couple being married in the same way. It is a CIVIL ceremony. It is a civilized thing to do!)

Of course that is your opinion but that does not make it so! It is very clearly obvious to most people that there is definitely a difference!

Okay - I'll bite. What's the difference?

Originally Posted by KeepingItReal

(There is absolutely NOTHING different between a gay couple being married by a Justice of the Peace or a judge than a straight couple being married in the same way. It is a CIVIL ceremony. It is a civilized thing to do!)

Of course that is your opinion but that does not make it so! It is very clearly obvious to most people that there is definitely a difference!

Originally Posted by Rubber Bucket

Okay - I'll bite. What's the difference?

me. too - i'll bite! please explain your post.