Something that bothered me at work.

Prince of Darkness · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:41 am **Posts:** 11048

Our principal sent this out.

Quote:

Here is a great fundraiser for our senior Project Graduation (the all night substance free grad party). This Wednesday, if you go to the Chick-fil-a on Research and present the coupon in the attachment, our Project Graduation gets 20% of the proceeds. That is BIG. The owner of this Chick-fil-a is a parent of two of our seniors and has supported our athletic teams and the school with discounts on food for the four years his children have been students here.

We know that Chick-fil-a has been in the news for some remarks made by the corporate office. However, this is not a political issue. This is a support for our wonderful all night substance free grad party to keep our kids safe. Please consider going to Chick-fil-a and supporting the senior class.

VT Principals - If you could get this out in your emailed newsletters and to your staffs, we would really appreciate it. Thanks, All.

It really bothered me, all day long. So I wrote her back.

Quote:

Mrs. ******,

I don't know if anyone else is bothered by this one, but I am. I understand that free money for your seniors is free money, but I personally wouldn't want it precisely because of what that company has decided to associate itself with. If you think that accepting that money doesn't condone intolerant thought and affirms their clientele who are intolerant, I believe that you are wrong.

I understand that many Chick-Fil-A stores are independently franchised, but that still doesn't make it right because that is now what that company has chosen to stand for.

David and I talk about our beliefs all the time, and on this issue we're divided, and I respect his choice to continue occasionally eating there. I'm not quite sure why this bothers me, except that maybe it's encouraging a large scale acceptance of a thought that I choose to disagree with by choosing to look at a temporary benefit for a small population.

Sorry for bending your ear, I just felt strongly enough to voice an opinion to you. I think your previous email states your stance on this matter clearly, so there's no need to reply unless you feel compelled to.

I hope you don't take this as an attack on your character as a person or a principal. I just didn't want to be silent when it bothered me.

Thanks. Have a nice day.

Did I lose my mind for sending that? Maybe I can chalk it up to traumatic brain injury when they try and fire me.

rogneeb · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:07 pm **Posts:** 12618

Seems reasonable to me

Guessing at some of this, but you're likely in so many legally protected categories, you can never be fired...race, FMLA use, disability/history of disability, public employee with free speech and due process rights, collective bargaining agreement...

Prince of Darkness · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:41 am **Posts:** 11048

oh good.

mutty · **Posted:** Tue Nov 06, 2012 8:40 pm

I didn't know that they were a franchised chain. Are they all still closed on Sunday Do they even do that still? There are no branches anywhere near me, but I would be more likely to overlook corporate statements if I knew that the local branch was independently owned.

billy g · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:41 pm **Posts:** 9020

rogneeb Wrote:

Seems reasonable to me

Guessing at some of this, but you're likely in so many legally protected categories, you can never be fired...race, FMLA use, disability/history of disability, public employee with free speech and due process rights, collective bargaining agreement...

Plus you pretty much told her to feel free to ignore your email which is going to be her easiest course of action.

If she does respond and seems upset with you, you could always backtrack and say that what you were really objecting to was that the grad party is going to be "substance free"

mutty · **Posted:** Tue Nov 06, 2012 8:54 pm

As far as your email, however, I think you did the right thing. What bugs me the most about her email is the use of the word political. It is a moral issue. Calling it a political issue implies that one political party has a monopoly on the "right" answer.

Cupcakes · **Joined:** Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:04 am **Posts:** 3271

I used to commonly re:email on "principle".
And although I was lauded by colleagues, it's all very cringeworthy in retrospect.
Pick important battles, not the most convenient ones because you're feeling pissy.
You can fight it further, but you're going to look like a petty jerk.

Prince of Darkness · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:41 am **Posts:** 11048

My colleagues don't know, just you guys.

I'm not sure what battles are important. I almost didn't send the email, but, felt bad for not doing it. Now I still don't feel good, but I don't feel as bad.

PopTodd · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:05 am

Good for you for saying something. And your note is pitch-perfect, the right balance of indignation, acknowledgement, and deference.
Bravo, sir!

catswilleatyou · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2012 1:36 pm

Jerkass Wrote:

Pick important battles, not the most convenient ones because you're feeling pissy.
You can fight it further, but you're going to look like a petty jerk.

If you sent your kids to a school and found out an event was being funded by a coupon drive from a proudly-homophobic fast food chain you wouldn't be a little peeved?
If the principal takes just a few additional seconds to think about it because of Prince of Darkness's email it was well worth it.
Despite a few yesterday's election victories for the gays this battle is still important. People on the wrong side of the argument need to be shut the fuck upped.

I say, well put Prince of Darkness. If anything you were too nice about it.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2012 1:57 pm

Exactly what Cats said. A well-worded, cautious, but ultimately worthwhile reminder to someone in a position to offend that something he/she's doing is potentially very offensive. In this corner, we have a fun but superfluous senior event one evening. And in the other corner, we have intolerance and civil rights.

rogneeb · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:07 pm **Posts:** 12618

funnily enough I've been dealing with some legal issues at my job related to people voicing support for Chick Fil A. we hired some people from texas.

Prince of Darkness · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:41 am **Posts:** 11048

No reply.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Mon Nov 12, 2012 2:38 pm

Maybe that's best.

Prince of Darkness · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:41 am **Posts:** 11048

If we didn't understand each other before, we most certainly know where the other stands now.

ShamWow! · **Posted:** Mon Nov 12, 2012 9:56 pm

catswilleatyou Wrote:

People on the wrong side of the argument need to be shut the fuck upped.

Something that bothered me at work.

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