Jumping into the Fray

A wonderful friend of mine posted something that I so agreed with her thoughts on "stop the madness", I decided to go ahead and post something I wrote a few days ago.   Because even though I am so tired of hearing about a not-to-be-named out loud restaurant, I feel really strongly about what has been going on in the media and social networking arena. (Not-to-be-named because I adamantly REFUSE to give them any more publicity than they have already received...and further it is likely I will NEVER eat there again.)

I am definitely not a person who gets involved, online or on this blog (but in person and without publicity is another thing entirely), in politics or religion. I just don't.  Having said that, I am sure from all of my blog posts you would have gleaned by now that I believe in God and am a practicing Christian, and in fact, am mostly conservative in my political views - except that I lean towards the side of conservative that wants to get government OUT of our lives and our bedrooms, our healthcare, our welfare system....the list goes on and on.  Less government, not more!

Having said that.  I am FED UP with hearing about the restaurant which shall not be named and is owned by someone who says he is Christian (and I am NOT saying he isn't, but I don't profess to personally know him, unlike so many people out there right now!  Really, how many of you know this person?  Personally?)  Seriously, I am sick of it.  

I completely respect the right of any business owner to set their hours of operation,and if they choose for religious beliefs to be closed Sunday, I totally respect, and in fact, think it is cool that workers in this type of industry have a mandatory day off of sorts.  Truth be known I would personally like to go back to the days when nothing was open on Sundays just because I think we ALL need a break and should observe some type of day of rest, meditation, Bible study, Koran study, whatever it is,  whatever your religious (or non) views.  I further do not believe any mall a business should choose to open in, or any city, state or federal government has the right to tell a private business what to do otherwise.  They negotiated, and are paying their rent, like everyone else.  It is no one else's business what hours of operation they choose.   And, let me just add for posterity sake, that if they should go OUT of business based on their choices I also don't believe the city, state or federal government should bail them out!!!  

Additionally, I believe said restaurant franchises which shall not be named operate in good faith for the most part and contribute to the communities they are located in for the most part.  Again, wonderful thing!  No issue there.

However, if the other ten thousand restaurant entities around choose to be open whatever hours they are...and by this choice presumably you would think, given the current onslaught of bullshit on the Internet, makes them somehow in cohorts with the devil ...well, so be that too.  At least I've got somewhere to eat on Sunday after Church.  And to all of you Christians patting yourselves on the back about the shall not be named place being closed Sundays because they are "good" Christians- where do you eat lunch after Church?  Because although it has been about six months since I was in Houston; Sunday, after Church, was prime seating in all the restaurants, fast food or otherwise. I guess what I am saying is it is great they exercise the right to be closed on Sunday based on the owner's religious beliefs but Christians who back this vehemently are still out on Sunday patronizing other businesses.  Seems like a dichotomy at best...hypocrisy at worst.  I say be glad they are closed on Sunday because it should be the RIGHT of the business owner.  And, if as Christians, we choose to give more business to them in support of their choices  (though I personally will not) based on religion then go about and do that!  I just don't see buying into the marketing campaign or making it a public spectacle (which is why I will not!)

Today I saw a really good post that I believe hit the nail on the head.  It was a picture of a church sign saying something to the effect of "....wouldn't it be wonderful if all those thousands of people who stood in line to eat (at the not to be named restaurant) on August 1 had instead volunteered at a food bank or VBS (Vacation Bible Study)...Love, God."  I could not agree more with that sentiment.  And would further have added that the shall not be named restaurant could have GIVEN away free meals to the homeless or something on August 1 and I would have had an immense amount of respect for that.  The almighty dollar...it trumps religious beliefs too, make no mistake about it.  It couldn't have been a better marketing campaign if it had been engineered by Don Draper himself.

Last, I may as well go for it as I've surely already made a number of people mad...I personally could care less what the owner of shall not be named restaurant chain believes or doesn't about gay marriage.   In all honesty, I don't think what my neighbor does in their home, bedroom, or wherever is any of my business.  If I don't choose that for my personal life based on my personal beliefs, I still don't believe it gives me the right to judge the person who does.  Or, frankly, to somehow be intolerant of their choices.  That should be left up to God.  And, it sure the hell won't be left up to the owner of shall not be named restaurants to dissuade me in my personal beliefs one way or the other.  I have friends who are gay and I would happily attend their wedding if invited.  To tie it all together - I no more believe that any government entity has the right to tell individuals who they can marry than it has the right to tell a restaurant franchise what hours of operation they must choose...or that the person/entity cannot base their choices on their religious beliefs either way.  

Get government out of our personal lives and our private businesses.....PLEASE.  They screw up enough without this minding of our personal life choices.  

There you go....I apparently just branched out into politics and religion.  Oy vey.    Love to ALL the people in the world and the religions  (or not) they CHOOSE to believe in, spajunkie

Comments

[Karen Oliver Kessinger]

Amen, Sister!!!

[Danice Oliver]

thank you Karen! I felt I took a very questionable stance here! That you say that makes me feel way better! Love you, cant wait to see you soon!