Sitting Down at the Table Together
January 29, 2013
Sunday we posted on loving enemies. Monday a remarkable story emerged of two “enemies” choosing love over hate. In July 2012, America was embroiled in a passionate controversy – over chicken sandwiches. Must we boycott Chick-fil-a if they are donating money to anti-LGBT groups? Must we eat at Chick-fil-a to support a pro-family agenda? It seemed almost everyone picked a side. But two men at the heart of the controversy have opted to stand together.
While the nation lined up at Chick-fil-a, either to buy a chicken sandwich or to hold a kissing protest, Chick-fil-a president Dan Cathy and Campus Pride executive director Shane Windmeyer began talking with one another. They quickly learned they share a broad piece of common ground: both unreservedly affirm a commitment to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect. They followed through on that commitment with one another. While their disagreement over gay marriage remains, they sat down together as human beings, who are to be loved and understood, rather than standing against one another as embodiments of impersonal ideas that are to be squashed.
Kudos to Dan Cathy for initiating the relationship and for seeking to understand his “enemy” with genuine kindness. Kudos to Shane Windmeyer for overcoming suspicion and offense to accept Cathy’s invitation. Kudos to both for demonstrating a more excellent way.
References
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/28/us/chick-fil-a-philanthropy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shane-l-windmeyer/dan-cathy-chick-fil-a_b_2564379.html
While the nation lined up at Chick-fil-a, either to buy a chicken sandwich or to hold a kissing protest, Chick-fil-a president Dan Cathy and Campus Pride executive director Shane Windmeyer began talking with one another. They quickly learned they share a broad piece of common ground: both unreservedly affirm a commitment to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect. They followed through on that commitment with one another. While their disagreement over gay marriage remains, they sat down together as human beings, who are to be loved and understood, rather than standing against one another as embodiments of impersonal ideas that are to be squashed.
Kudos to Dan Cathy for initiating the relationship and for seeking to understand his “enemy” with genuine kindness. Kudos to Shane Windmeyer for overcoming suspicion and offense to accept Cathy’s invitation. Kudos to both for demonstrating a more excellent way.
References
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/28/us/chick-fil-a-philanthropy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shane-l-windmeyer/dan-cathy-chick-fil-a_b_2564379.html
