Chik-Fil-A president Dan Cathy recently made the news when he came out as opposed to same-sex marriage. This has all kinds of people upset. Gay-rights activists are calling for protests and boycotts against Chik-Fil-A, for being hateful. Many Christian groups are calling to openly support Chik-Fil-A and their freedom of speech.

But both sides are really missing what, for me, is the real issue:

Chik-Fil-A sells crappy food!

I know this makes me a minority. It might even make me un-American (and if that doesn’t, the fact that I think the latest Batman movie sucks surely does).

And this isn’t just a way to side-step the issue of freedom of speech or gay rights.

It’s a way to side-step all kinds of nasty social issues.

I don’t have to decide whether KFC is intentionally sterilizing African American men. I don’t eat there, either, because their food is gross.

I don’t have to decide if I support McDonald’s environmental decision to use Styrofoam instead of paper, to save trees. I can’t stand their food.

Fast food just sucks. Period. And I boycott all of it.

“Okay, okay. But you’re not getting off that easy,” you may say. “What if some other sort of business that you do patronize came out opposed to gay marriage, would you boycott them?” Well, that’s a fair question. But of course, it’s none of your business. And it’s none of my business why you do or don’t choose to shop at Chik-Fil-A.

The United States of America constitution guarantees something called “freedom of speech,” which gives fast food chain presidents the right to say whatever silly things they want. And it gives you the right to respond by saying whatever silly things you want. It also gives me the right to say the silly things in this article.

What the constitution does not guarantee is freedom from insult, when someone else exercising their freedom of speech says something you don’t like, or that you disagree with. And it doesn’t not guarantee freedom from ridicule when you say something silly.

Bottom line? Boycott them if you want. Post stupid Facebook status updates about your boycott if you want. Or support them if you want, and post stupid Facebook status updates about that. But when you get criticized by your Facebook friends who disagree with you, don’t be surprised.

I think a better solution for those who disagree with Chik-Fil-A would be to quietly boycott Chik-Fil-A, and the thousands of other companies that oppose gay marriage. This would be a more tolerant protest. And tolerance is the key, right?

And for those of you who support Chik-Fil-A, by all means, continue shopping there, but do so quietly. Don’t blabber all over the Internet about how “anti-gay” you are. Spend that effort telling everyone how much you love them, as a Christian should.

Is this issue really worth making enemies and losing friends, over? Taking any stronger stand than just voting with your dollars, only polarizes your opposition (regardless of which side you’re on).

Both sides claim the moral high ground.  So step up, and behave more morally!

If you support gay rights, be more tolerant of those who don’t (as long as you’re preaching tolerance, you don’t get to choose to whom you will be intolerant). If you’re a Christian who opposes gay rights, be a better Christian (if you claim to follow Christ, then you don’t get to choose whom not to love), and extend some charity to those you disagree with.

Then go home and make a sandwich. Out of real food.