Which hate is the better hate?

In case you don't recognize the face on Gus Cutty's mural on the wall of Forever Tattoo at 98 N. Lexington Ave., it is the CEO of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy [see the Web story, “Divine Fillet,” at http://avl.mx/ja]. The artist has depicted him as Divine, the drag queen from many of John Waters' cult classic movies, such as Pink Flamingos.

Many people in this town have commented that Cathy is the new face of bigotry, hate and intolerance. Some rally in support to defame the man for his beliefs and views on gay marriage. A huge movement has started all across WNC, if not the whole country, to do everything they can to show how much they despise him for his opinions and beliefs. I’m sure many of out there reading this would agree.

With all the recent attention to Chick-fil-A and Cathy, I have to wonder: Is the hate and intolerance of a single man's beliefs better than a single man's hate and intolerance of a group of people's beliefs? What makes hate for one thing better than hate for another thing?

Don’t get me wrong — I am not in support of Cathy, nor do I share his views on the subject. I just feel that when it comes to this issue there seems to be a bit of a double standard. Everyone is expected to be on one side or the other of hate. You are either supposed to hate Cathy and all his Christian supporters or you hate gays and all their supporters. Which hate is the better hate?

— Shane Jenkins
Canton

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10 thoughts on “Which hate is the better hate?

  1. Well said. Thanks.

    The people who have worked long and hard to free themselves from the pain and oppression of bullying have themselves become the bulliers.
    ……………………

  2. bsummers

    “You are either supposed to hate Cathy and all his Christian supporters or you hate gays and all their supporters.”

    Well hold on, Sparky. I think you are mis-stating the opposition to Cathy and Chick-Fil-A. I don’t think it’s fair to say that anyone has targeted “all his Christian supporters”. I know Christians who are horrified by the sorts of statements made by Mr. Cathy. And I strongly suspect that many who support him in his oppression of gays aren’t by any measure “Christians”.

    Aren’t you guilty of a little unwarranted “Us vs. Them” here?

    And people weren’t just reacting to

    “the hate and intolerance of a single man’s beliefs”,

    they were reacting to this man using his position as a business leader to spread his bigotry. He made this a bigger issue by using the money collected at his restaurant chain to influence the debate, and using the big microphone at his disposal to trumpet his beliefs. I have no sympathy. He made himself a target.

  3. travelah

    eat mor chikin

    I love Chick-fil-a and will patronize their business more frequently than I have in the past. There is nothing wrong with Cathy’s religious faith and views. He expressed support for traditional Christian marriage and millions of decent Americans support him.

  4. And in related news:

    ……………………
    Security guard shot at Family Research Council in downtown D.C.

    “The official also said the shooter was carrying a bag that had a Chick-Fil-A bag inside.”

    http://snipr.com/24o3h4v
    ……………………

  5. “Corkins had been volunteering for about the past six months at The DC Center for the LGBT Community, said David Mariner, executive director of the community center, which is in Northwest Washington. He usually staffed the center’s front desk on Saturdays, and his most recent shift was about two weeks ago.”

    http://snipr.com/24o4017
    ………………………..

  6. Ascend (of Asheville)

    Don’t conflate derision aimed at an opposing view with “hate”. The mural is not reflective of hate. It is reflective of sarcasm, satire and humor at Cathy’s expense. That is still not hate.

  7. john

    Mr Cathy was interviewed in a Christian publication. It is well-known that his business is family-run, Christian and is closed on Sundays. In the interview he didn’t mention homosexuals. When asked, he stated that he believed in the traditional woman-man definition of marriage. And suddenly, people are shocked and outraged! OMG! What a surprise! Listen up all you intolerant, fundamentalist-leftist bigots who wet your pants whenever anyone expresses an opinion that you disagree with: If you don’t like Chick-fil-A, don’t eat there. If you don’t like guns, don’t buy one. If you dislike the military, don’t join it. If you hate Walmart, don’t shop there. If you think eating meat is murder, don’t eat meat. But stop trying to make everyone like you in your collectivist little hell. Try actually LIVING the tolerance and celebration of diversity that you so loudly flap your gums about–but so rarely ever live.

  8. Suspect charged in shooting at Family Research Council headquarters

    “The Virginia man accused of shooting a security guard at the headquarters of a conservative lobbying group after saying, “I don

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