The Price of Intolerance

Now, before anyone protests what I’m about to say, I will let you know where I stand.  I am a Christian, and I will stand firm in my faith.  But I don’t think that I really have authority over who can marry who, nor do I think our government should be able to outlaw something, mostly on the grounds of what one religion says.  So, yes, I am a Christian, and I am also a supporter of tolerance and equal rights.  [Cue backlash.]

But I digress.  The LGBT community is upset about Mr. Cathy’s intolerance, and so, to show that they will not tolerate such intolerance, they are boycotting.  Something just doesn’t seem right there.  On the other hand, the intolerance that they’re boycotting isn’t something they’ve made up; extremely far-right conservative Christians do have a history of some pretty intense intolerance.  Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Oreo cookies, Democrats, all have received their fair share of flak from right-wingers.  As soon as a company, an organization, an individual comes out in support of LGBT rights, boycotts, petitions, and the like seem to become commonplace.  All Oreo had to do was post to Facebook a photo of a cookie with rainbow cream and the single word “PRIDE,” and conservatives cried foul.  Ben & Jerry’s received similar backlash for their support of gay marriage.  And then, this summer, the Democratic President Obama came out in support of marriage equality, and conservative Republicans almost instantly cried out with a collective, “He’s the worst!  I told you so!”

Furthermore, further examination of Chick-Fil-A shows that they have donated money to many anti-gay organizations [as many anti-Chick-Fil-A'ers quickly pointed out], including ones which support deporting homosexuals just because they’re gay, and at least one specific “hate organization.”  So does that mean the the Chick-Fil-A boycott is justified?  Not exactly.

You see, the old adage is entirely correct: two wrongs will never make a right.  I know, I know, it’s old news that cliches are obnoxious.  But seriously, combatting intolerance with more intolerance…where is that going to get anyone?  Yes, the LGBT community has been treated absolutely terribly by an organization that is supposed to be founded in love.  But they know better than anyone that intolerance really doesn’t change anything.  Just as those with Christian viewpoints cannot force biblical practices and beliefs on the rest of the nation, boycotting a company because you don’t agree with their practices probably won’t change much.  What is the point?  All this proves is that intolerance tends to lead to more intolerance, creating a huge cycle, leading nowhere.  No one, I believe, is right here, and no one wins.