There's a famous expression that goes something like this: You can't "have one's cake and eat it, too."
According to Wikipedia: To have one's cake and eat it too is a popular English idiomatic proverb or figure of speech, sometimes stated as eat one's cake and have it too or simply have one's cake and eat it. This is most often used negatively, to connote the idea of consuming a thing whilst managing to preserve it. This may also indicate having or wanting more than one can handle or deserve, or trying to have two incompatible things. The proverb's meaning is similar to the phrases, "you can't have it both ways" and "you can't have the best of both worlds." Conversely, in the positive sense, it would refer to "having it both ways" or "having the best of both worlds."
I did the unthinkable today. I don't know why I did it. Afterwards I wished in many ways that I hadn't done it.
But I did.
So there you have it.
What was my heinous crime, you might wonder?
I went onto Dan Cathy's Facebook page and posted some kudos to him.
(I'll pause whilst you gasp and choke and decide whether or not you can associate with me anymore.)
I know. I know. I should have stayed away. After all, it's only the ones who oppose his views that are allowed to comment on his recent statements.
Or is it?
It's an interesting world we live in at the moment.
Interesting in that only one side of any given issue is "allowed" to be spoken. Everyone else must be silenced or else threatened, bullied, and basically made to feel vile for having an opinion opposite of the politically correct/acceptable one.
Um...whatever happened to Freedom of Speech?
Seems to me that it goes both ways. I have to listen to your thoughts and respect you for having and/or sharing them...and you are obligated to do the same. That's a polite society...that's called respecting one another.
Respecting you doesn't mean I agree with you. But it does mean that I don't hate you...or wish you were dead...or think you're a bigot, ignorant a**hole for your viewpoints.
But that's exactly what people who disagree with Dan Cathy's personal statement on his beliefs think. I posted the following and within seconds got the comments below it:
"Thank you, Dan, for being a public figure who stands up and is HONEST about his beliefs. It is so refreshing and such a blessing to have someone for our kids to looks up to. We will always support your business. And we thank God for you!!"
Comment 1: Learn to be a good Christian and not hate.
Comment 2: What an interesting parent you must be to want your kids to look up to the president of fast food who advertises his "Christian" morals of hate!
Wow!
What did I say that made them think I hate anyone?
And, for that matter, what did Dan Cathy say?
Here's a snippet from an article I read:
Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy said this week that his privately owned company is "guilty as charged" in support of what he called the biblical definition of the family unit.
The Atlanta-based chain opened its first location in a Georgia mall in 1967 and grown to more than 1,615 restaurants in 39 states and Washington, D.C., with annual sales over $4.1 billion, according to its website.
"We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that," Cathy told the Baptist Press, the news agency of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Later in the article:
Chick-fil-A released its own statement, saying it has a history of applying biblically-based principles to its business, such as keeping its stores closed on Sundays.
"The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect — regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender," according to the statement.
"Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena," it said.
Seems to me that people want their opinions heard, but they don't want to listen or read or see or know that the other side is disagreeing -- respectfully -- with them. And that's sad to me. I hear and read and see and know that the other side disagrees with me...but I never call them names or belittle their ideas or hang about on sites they like and wait to post mean comments.
Whoa. It's called Freedom of Speech? Something that we're all -- on both sides of the aisle -- guaranteed.
That I could post something personal and seemingly benign that within seconds had comments against it just makes me wonder if these people have too much time on their hands.
Or maybe I just live in a bubble most of the time... Maybe this is really how the world behaves...
I think I'll go back inside that bubble for awhile...and maybe I'll take a piece of cake with me.
The thing about freedom of speech is that it has to go both ways. You cannot tell one side to agree...or shut-up. Sort of goes contrary to the whole meaning of freedom, right?
