CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – We are told that “weary travelers want a place to re-fuel their cars and grab a bite to eat.” Highway rest areas exist for them. How dare one of the fast food joints not be open seven days a week?
New York’s state assembly will vote on a bill that will require all restaurants at freeway rest stops to operate 7 days a week, not 6. The needs of the traveling public supersede a restaurant that wants to be closed on Sundays.
That restaurant, of course, is Chick-fil-A. Since the chicken chain was founded, their ownership insists on being closed on Sundays, the Sabbath. Their company policy says they are closed as a day of rest or prayer for their employees.
Chick-fil-A already operates 14 locations at highway rest areas along the New York State Thruway. And, on Sundays, travelers may choose Burger King, or Mcdonald’s, or Sabaro pizza, or Arby’s or Auntie May’s pretzels for snacks on their journey. To say nothing about the seven highway rest areas that are completely out of service while New York State renovates them. If you’re hungry during those stretches of your trip, you’ll just have to keep driving.
No, this is an example of how Chick-fil-A, an openly religious and conservative corporation, is unfairly targeted by the political left. As a company, they dare to honor the sabbath and keep it holy. They do not conduct business on the lord’s day. Their founding family has donated to religious causes and candidates. They’ve said that marriage is between one man and one woman. And for that, they are an unacceptable choice to sell their chicken sandwiches on college campuses and at highway rest areas.
Here’s what you need to know about Chick-fil-A. If their food wasn’t good, they’d be out of business. After all, they operate one-seventh less than their competitors and still have the longest lines at their drive-thrus. If the general public objected to the company’s religious and political views, they’d vote with their feet and eat somewhere else.
No, the New York thruway rest area bill has nothing to do with hungry travelers. It’s about the raw politics of hatred and intolerance.
Chris Conley
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