First, I will start with I have never eaten at a Chick-fil-a.  Mostly because there are not many in this area, but also we try to do our best to avoid fast food as much as we can.  So this can be taken with a grain of salt.

I have come to realize as I have gotten older, the power of consumerism.  People can boycott something and thanks to social media, it can go viral and destroy a company.  Similarly, a good company can be on the receiving end of the same kind of viral messaging.  We are lucky in that way to have more “power” and “influence” than perhaps any other time in history.  We are able to find out more easily about a company who makes products in sweatshops with child labor or a company that sticks to local buying.

We have chosen to try to raise our kids as responsible citizens knowing not just about the products the consumer but their companies.  We try to buy local when we can.  We try to support organizations who do great things.  New Balance gives back to the community, we buy sneakers there (for example).  We purchase fruits and vegetables at a local Dorchester fruit market that is family run.

Opinions matter and the opinion of the person running the company sets the tone for the core values and culture of the company, implied or otherwise.  Denied others rights is not something our family believes in.  For that reason, we will not be going to Chick-fil-a.

I’m not one for blasting a company, rather standing with those who are standing for the rights of all, the Jim Hensen company who pulled their toys, for example.  Mayor Menino  worded his letter well.  While I would not stand in the way of a company bringing jobs to the city, I do not think it would do well.  Only time will tell.