The past few days and weeks have seen fast food chain Chick-Fil-A embroiled in controversy over the owner's comments expressing support for traditional marriage. But the debate has quickly focused squarely on freedom of speech. While the left claims to be clamoring for diversity, the most important type of diversity is being lost - diversity of thought and opinion. While the left claims anyone who disagrees with their position are hatemongers, the truth is that many who supported Chick-Fil-A are standing up for the right of a private business owner to openly their opinions and values without being greeted with hate and vitriol from those who disagree. On radio, Glenn reacted the controversy and explained what was really happening as this story becomes a bigger part of the national conversation.
Glenn opened the monologue by making it very clear that this controversy is not about gay marriage or intolerance, explaining that he doesn't want to surround himself with anyone who would hate another person if they were gay.
"This is not about homosexuality. This is about the First Amendment. It's the right to speak your mind on a controversial subject, especially in a respectful way, and still continue to be able to maintain your livelihood," Glenn explained.
"Tolerance does not put people out of business. To speak up without fear of prosecution or persecution or ruin. You should be able to speak your mind. That's why hundreds of thousands of Americans, just everyday Americans, stood up," he said.
"We have said nothing for too long. Meanwhile the actual hatred and bigotry coming from the other side has been nothing short of shocking. The viciousness of the tweets about those going to Chick‑fil‑A yesterday, wishing death and disease on the participants. It's yet another wake‑up call, America."
"There's no difference between those people that were tweeting those things and the Westboro Baptist Church. There's no difference. From the 'God hates fags' and the 'God hates the Chick‑fil‑A' people. There's no difference. It's the same hatred, just a different cause, a different mask. A different side."
"Hatred has many facets. As does tolerance. Most of us have finally realized that respect and tolerance are not the goals with most of these people. Because tolerance for the most part has already been achieved. It's been achieved over generations of people struggling just to say "I am a man." Most of our children don't hate black people, don't hate white people. Most of our children don't hate homosexuals, don't hate straight people. They don't hate people. Most of our children are not filled with hate. If we have a problem with our children, it's not that they hate. It's that they don't care."
Glenn took particular issue with the idea that political spin of this controversy. While the left is trying to push this as a civil rights issue and that somehow Chick-Fil-A is oppressing an entire minority group because their owner made a comment about supporting traditional marriage - never mentioning gay marriage - the truth is that this controversy is being used to shut down the voices of those who don't agree with the left.
"And you know why most of this is happening? It's not even really about homosexuality. It's not about chicken sandwiches. It's about a stupid election. They're dividing us again for election points," Glenn explained.
"But the goal now is to get somebody elected, and the goal is to totally and completely silence you, eliminate another point of you altogether. And that we must not and will not ever tolerate."
Glenn believed that the reaction to the hatred from the left, which resulted in thousands turning out to support Chick-Fil-A, comes from two things: 1) Americans are fed up with having their opinion shouted down by those that disagree and 2) They want to support Chick-Fil-A because they are taking a stand for their values and principles.
"These are good, decent people. They're not haters. They're people who have taken a risk. I mean, who closes their national chain on Sunday? They're being blessed for it," he explained.
Ultimately, the reaction from the left will only energize conservatives.
"In November if we continue to do the right thing and stand up, then we'll show up at a polling place and we'll taste the delicious fruits of our four years of labor and send the ultimate sandwich message: Mr. Obama, welcome back to the general public. Have a sandwich."
