You Can't Eat That Around Here

Looking for Chick-fil-A in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago?

Sorry. You can't eat that there. You have to join in the boycott of the Southern fried fast food emporium because the alderman has decided that for you.

Somewhat like the way the city council decided that Wal-Mart couldn't open stores within the city's borders because they were anti-union. Kept all those non-union jobs out of the city, and allowed other competitors to move in.....Oh, right. No jobs came at all.

A Chick-fil-A franchise opened at Loyola University's downtown campus, but that was before the recent dust-up. Chicagoans discovered the tasty sandwiches and there are new franchisees who would like to take advantage of the demand.

The reason that Mr. Joe Moreno wants to ban Chick-fil-A from his ward is because the company's president has come out of the closet and declared that he is not a proponent of gay marriage.

Like so many Southerners, Dan Cathy arises from a conservative, somewhat fundamentalist religious background, and that religion colors his outlook on life.

Have you ever tried to shop at Hobby Lobby on a Sunday? Well, don't expect to buy a breaded, fried piece of chicken on Sunday either. Both companies are rooted in Bible-based teachings and they make sure their employees can keep holy the Sabbath.

It's an attitude that makes Chick-fil-A and Loyola University a good fit. The Catholic Church isn't a proponent of gay marriage either, and the Vatican has long been promoting monogamy and fidelity and the traditional nuclear family.

But Alderman Moreno isn't of like mind. As far as he's concerned, Chick-fil-A discriminates against gays because the president spoke out against a gay marriage.

Did you think that you could speak your mind freely and not be punished? Did you think that you could actively practice your religion without repercussions?

Not in Chicago you can't.

So Mr. Moreno intends to block the zoning changes needed for Chick-fil-A to build their new store on busy Elston Avenue. He's stated quite clearly that the reason is because of an anti-gay marriage stance.

In which case, Chick-fil-A just might see the City of Chicago in court. And the taxpayers of the city will all get to pay for Mr. Moreno's big mouth.

All he had to do was work on a ban on excessive MSG in fast food, and that would be the end of Chick-fil-A in the city. There's no free speech infringement there. But there's no opportunity to grandstand for your many gay constituents, either.