Preston Xanthopoulos: Boycott Chick-fil-A? You've got to be kidding.
I was going to talk about the fact the former president is campaigning on a plan to use an executive order to change the Constitution, then I decided if he gets elected again, the Supreme Court can handle that one, because there's something far more pressing than a Constitutional crisis this week — we're supposed to boycott Chick-fil-A?
It’s no secret, I love good food. I love quality ingredients in my dining fare; I love to cook and when the season arrives, I love fresh produce at farmers markets. But, let me tell you what I look forward to even more than the arrival of grilling season: the once or twice a month I have to go to Salem, New Hampshire, because just off the highway on route, in Methuen, Massachusetts is a glowing, glorious, drool-inducing Chick-fil-A.
I literally plan my timing of my destination around this fact. Do I leave early and stop on route, or conduct my business and reward myself on the ride home? I fantasize on the way about the moment I will slather the special sauce all over the Chicken Deluxe and take a giant sloppy bite, that requires a minimum of two napkins to clean up … per bite. Not really fan of the waffle fries, they should crisp them up more. The husband and I just last week tested out the nuggets, (fried, not grilled, what’s the point of a grilled nugget?) and the chick-n-strips. Both delicious, but nothing satisfies more than that buttered roll of chicken perfection. I’m not boycotting. I am, however, now salivating.
I didn’t boycott Chick-fil-A when the “left” told me to because they were donating to Christian organizations and were perceived as anti-gay, which they’re not, and I’m not boycotting because the extreme right says they’re pro-gay or woke or whatever the claim is being made. I don’t blow my waistline on deep fried goodness because of the politics of the owner, I simply don’t care about anything but that once clucking chicken.
This whole thing is old news anyway. Two years ago, the company retitled a long-term employee to the position of “vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion," but keyboard warriors just noticed it. Some “conservative" I've never heard of with 166,000 followers made a hullabaloo over this and even linked the company’s website that has posted an outrageous statement that says in part:
“Chick-fil-A, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We make employment decisions on a non-discriminatory basis and remain committed to maintaining work environments free from any form of harassment.
“One of our core values at Chick-fil-A, Inc. is that we are better together.”
Outrageous! No, it’s totally not outrageous. It’s basically the law and how things should be. I have no idea what I'm supposed to be outraged about at all, let alone to the extent that I should be proverbially flogging myself, by denying myself the undeniable deliciousness that is Chik-fil-A. But, a whole lot of people online think I should. More chicken for me!
I’m not into this whole "boycott culture" or "cancel culture" or any of it. It has to be an enormous affront to my God, my country or my nation for me to consider doing such a thing. I once did boycott French wine, but that had to do with a pretty significant war-related disagreement between our two nations.
I’m also told now to boycott Bud Light, that's easy, I don't drink beer. That actually was a misplaced marketing concept though, I mean, know your audience. Not because of the issue, because why have any issue in a beer promotion. It’s for sports and barbecues. Not politics.
I can’t shop at Target, because they sell rainbow emblazoned items for Pride Month? That’s seems like a pretty extreme reaction. Yes, I saw the transgender bathing suit thing, I don't care about that either. For those worried about it confusing children, because I do care about that, if a kid asks what it is, just do what moms have been doing since that dawn of man to protect their children from adult things — lie to them.
I’m also supposed to boycott Kohl’s because they sell a pride onesie for a baby? Why not just don’t buy a pride onesie for your baby? There, I cut the Gordian knot on that one. If a company has a product they can sell that someone will buy, have at it. That’s called capitalism.
I don’t approve of the left ruining people’s lives and careers because they did or said something stupid 12 years ago, and I don’t approve of the right's attempt to destroy companies because they don’t like their politics. It also doesn’t make sense. I mean, I’m going to punish myself because I may not share a social or political viewpoint with a billionaire business owner that doesn’t know I exist? Am I supposed to just throw away my Kohl’s cash? Ain’t happening.
Yes, everyone’s got the right to boycott any business they want. I’m just expressing that a “boycott culture” is as equally divisive and socially harmful as a “cancel culture” and I want no part in just one more thing to make us all mad at each other. Now, if you instead want to experience happiness, joy and sweet bliss, I’ll meet you in Methuen, for some chicken.
Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos is a former political consultant and member of the media. She’s a native of Hampton Beach where she lives with her family and two poodles. Write to her at PrestonPerspective@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Preston Xanthopoulos: Boycott Chick-fil-A? You've got to be kidding.
