Editorial: Chick-fil-A week - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Chick-fil-A week

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By Mark Wilder - email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-09 23:20:06 GMT
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

Last month the president of Chick-fil-A said that America is "inviting God's judgment on our nation" by condoning same-sex marriage.

In reaction, the mayors of Chicago, San Francisco, Boston and Pittsburg warned that Chick-Fil-A is not welcome in their towns.

In response to those comments Mike Huckabee instigated a Chick-Fil-A appreciation day last week, which prompted the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to support a national same-sex kiss day at Chick-Fil-A restaurants.

I know that impassioned comments and media events such as these raise the awareness of an issue, and  people can express their opinions, boycott or support businesses, or kiss in public.  This is America!

But, did any of this advance the actual discussion about same-sex-marriage?  This is a significant issue about which laws are being written.  We complain about congress' unwillingness to govern, yet are we not just as polarized as they are?  We take intractable sides, then vilify those who oppose us.  

Nothing is black and white, not even this issue.  Compromise is essential for getting along and for making policy.  And grandstanding does not lead to compromise. 

This is just the latest example of why we desperately need to change the us versus them mentality that has become so pervasive in America and in government.

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