Overheard at Chick-fil-A

"Being against gay marriage doesn't mean I'm anti-gay."

Um, yes it does. Just like being against inter-racial marriage means you're racist. It kind of goes with the territory, by definition. Don't deny the obvious. Instead, fall back on your next defense, explain why you're anti-gay.

"I'm just trying to live my life according to the Bible."

No, not really. Or only selectively. There are dozens of outdated rules in the Bible. Why are you so obsessed with the biblical comments about homosexuality when you don't give a flip about prohibitions against eating shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, mussels, etc., or any of the many other behaviors that are supposedly abominations before the Lord? For the answer, see above.

After the jump, more conversations overheard at Chick-fil-A.

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"I'm standing up for free speech."

Good for you. Only no one is arguing that the owner of a chain of chicken sandwich restaurants should have his free speech suppressed. Just like no one wants their own speech suppressed if they accuse him of bigotry. No, when everyone has free speech and you stand up behind one of the speakers, you're standing up for what that one speaker is saying. As for what that is in this case, see above.

"I'm protesting those mayors who said Chick-fil-A isn't welcome in their cities."

Good for you. What they said was out of line. Just like Gov. Rick Perry was out of line when he said about Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke, "we would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas." The governor and the mayors are probably speaking the truth, but elected officials ought to set a good example, not sink to the worst instincts of their constituencies.

"Since when does every act of our daily lives have to signal affinity with a political tribe?"

OK, that one wasn't overheard at Chick-fil-A. It was an unvoiced thought in my own head (h/t to @pourmecoffee). I used to occasionally eat at Chick-fil-A. I knew it was a conservative restaurant chain owned and run by a conservative Christian businessman. I just felt I could eat there without that act making it look like I endorse his anti-gay bigotry. I don't feel like I can do that any more. I think America is a little bit diminished because of that.

If you see me in line at KFC or Church's Chicken, please don't tell me what it means about me. To me, it'll just mean I'm hungry.