Chick-fil-A Principles Guide Vandals Penalty

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 08/08/08 | Moni Basu

[epow]

Vandals entered the six-bedroom lodge and sprayed the interior with fire extinguishers, slathering the floors and walls with dust.

They poured cooking oils, soaps and lemon juice in the living room, halls and kitchen and even on a dining table large enough to seat 20 for dinner, using it as a slip-and-slide.

They threw eggs on the walls and television set. They scribbled obscenities. They stole two hair dryers and two pillows and left the water running.

They might have spent five years behind bars had they been adults convicted on burglary and vandalism charges. As preteens, they might have had to do community service. They would have lived with criminal records the rest of their lives.

But the three girls, who are not identified because they are minors, chose to break into Florida property owned by none other than Truett Cathy, the founder of Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A restaurants.

[epow]

Mr. Cathy, the founder and sole owner of the Chick-fil-A fast food chain is a devout Christian who has donated millions of dollars to orphanages and other facilities for orphans and disadvantaged kids over the last few decades. You may not agree with his forgiving attitude toward the young vandals who ravaged his FL residence, but I have to admit that his largely unpublicized generosity to troubled kids and orphans has earned him the right to deal with them them according to his Christian beliefs and principles.

I don't know if rooting for a business is allowed on FR, but Mr. Cathy's Chick-fil-A TV advertising slogan, "Eat Mor Chiken, works for me.

[JRandomFreeper]

I prefer to keep government out of it. He was the injured party. Let him deal with it.

/johnny

[gov_bean_ counter]

I went to college with Mr. Cathy’s daughter. Genuine man, genuine family.

[the anti-liberal]

I’m sure that taught those girls a lesson they’ll never forget - Christians are push-overs, use ‘em and abuse ‘em!

[SoftballMominVA]

Chick-Fil-A is my all time favorite restaurant! A good Christian organization built on Christian principles. Mr. Cathy did what he thought was right based on his knowledge of the Bible. I hope I could be so forgiving.

[txroadkill]

I don’t know if they still do it, but I remember him being a big hit in around our house (my dad is a preacher) because he did not open his restaurants on Sundays so his employees could go to church. He was the source of several sermons on how to be an example of Christ.

[Dick Bachert]

Mr. Cathy is a REAL Christian who puts his beliefs into actual practice.

How novel in 21st century America.

May his tribe increase!!

[Blood of Tyrants]

I’ll bet he never gets the first book report. I’ll also bet that at least 2 of the 3 girls will be pregnant by 15. I would have made them fix every thing they had done themselves no matter how long it took.

[Pablo64]

If I ever got the urge to go back into food service and look into a franchise, Chick-fil-A is the only one I would look into. They held fast to their principles and refused to be open on Sunday, even when many mall food court locations tried to fight them on that, stating that all mall stores must keep mall hours.

People might think that Mr. Cathy let the girls off too easy, but perhaps the shock of someone actually caring for these girls might cause them to think about what they did and to begin to realize how fortunate they are he isn't pressing charges, rather than just being thrown into the system and adding to their already jaded and hardened outlook toward life.

Maybe it won't work, but I applaud him for at least giving it a try. He obviously cares about people more than "stuff".

[sitetest]

I hope that Mr. Cathy’s methods with these young women bear good fruit.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

e did not open his restaurants on Sundays so his employees could go to church.

That is still the company policy. It's explained on their website under the Frequently Asked Questions - Corporate Information page.

[surely_you_jest]

Interesting. I, in no way, agree with Mr Cathy.

But I give him a great deal of credit for practicing what he apparently preaches, for (literally) putting his money where his mouth is, for eschewing publicity over this, and for his charity.

[Billthedrill]

You cannot watch television or play video games for six months.

That might just be a life-changing experience in itself if the kiddies stick to it (which is doubtful, but you never know). I hope if they do let Mr. Cathy down he never finds out about it. I hope they don't.

[I see my hands]

"his largely unpublicized generosity to troubled kids and orphans has earned him the right to deal with them them according to his Christian beliefs and principles"

I'm interested what the girls' next victims will think of his principles.

[Vigilanteman]

I love this company. All three of my daughters worked for them (including a year when they were all there at the same time). The only complaint I ever heard from them was that they couldn't get enough hours.

While McDonald's, Burger King and most of the rest whine that they can staff their places without illegal aliens, Chick-fil-A manages to hire the same local teenagers which the illegal alien lobby tells us won't do this work. The food and service is also great. My daughters have leveraged their experience at Chick-fil-A to get walk-in jobs elsewhere.

My wife and I still drop by the local restaurant from time-to-time and, often as not, the local franchise owner is there. He always makes it a point to ask us how our daughters are doing and let us know that if they need to earn a little spending money during a vacation visit back, they are always welcome. I'm sure we're not the only parents of former employees who get treated this way either.

[Theo]

Jesus: Use Him and abuse Him.

[Damifino]

I’m sure that taught those girls a lesson they’ll never forget - Christians are push-overs, use ‘em and abuse ‘em!

I'm sure it's likely that that is the lesson they will get... but maybe they'll learn the grace of forgiveness. For this man it was worth the chance.

[the anti-liberal]

I guess “spare not the rod” is out of fashion these days?

[Tex Pete]

It sounds cheesy, but I like the fact that Chick Fil-A employees are trained to respond to “Thank you,” with “It’s my pleasure.”

I am so tired of hearing people tell me “Not a problem,” when I say thank you. It is very impersonal.

[SoConPubbie]

I guess “spare not the rod” is out of fashion these days?

People today seem to have forgotten the concept of accountabilitty.

It is immediately apparent from reading the New Testament that both Jesus and His heavenly Father were big proponents of accountability coupled with forgiveness.

The most important example was Christ's death on the cross which was meant for the forgiveness and salvation of every living soul on this earth, however, that forgiveness and salvation is unattainable without repentence on the part each and every human being who wishes to take advantage of this free gift of Jesus Christ.

This is where the accountability comes in.

You cannot have forgiveness without justice, it is just a worthless action.

[the anti-liberal]

Just as you cannot have freedom without responsibility, which is what the Left in this country clamor for - the right to do as they please without having to bear any responsibility for the exercise of that right. It is sad to see the Right helping this right along.

What we'll be left with is the Left.

[Gondring]

For this man it was worth the chance.

Nice, if you can afford it.

[Vigilanteman]

LOL! I didn't know that. My daughters still respond that way and, until now, I wasn't sure where they had gotten it.

But they still remember that Boston Market, the first place they applied to work because it had a big "Now Hiring" sign in the front, are a bunch of liars. The person who interviewed promised to call them back with a decision and never did. I explained that was typical with most businesses, but they've never forgotten it, nor have we ever dined there since.

I've also made it a point to call back business who we solicit for proposals and don't give the job to call or e-mail them back with our decision. I don't want our business viewed in the same way as my girls see Boston Market. Yeah, I get a few jerks who are put out because we didn't accept their proposal, but most of them are very understanding and some even submit a more competitive proposal the next time we make a request.

[Grams A]

It’s called being gracious, hospitable and polite. Manners 101 - and it’s not being taught or enforced by parents any more. Has nothing to do with where you live, what color you are or how much money you have. My 45 year old son still remembers having his mouth washed out with soap on more than one occasion and having to write 200 sentences “He and I...” instead of “Him and me...” or “It is I” instead of “It’s me”. He still can’t spell but his grammar is flawless. Little evidence of polish or class any more - except perhaps low. I do go to Chick Fil-A and always tell the young person at the window how wonderful it is to hear someone so polite and professional.

[epow]

Christians are push-overs, use ‘em and abuse ‘em!

That was my first thought on reading the article, and it may yet turn out that way. But it's also very possible that the girls have never had the experience of good parenting by devoted parents who love them and take the time to bring them up right. Maybe, just maybe, they will be moved by Mr.Cathy's kindness and turn their lives around before it's too late. If so, that would be worth much more than the property they destroyed. Many parents leave their kids to their own devices because they don't have the time o and/or interest in the kid's welfare to raise them properly. The kids of those parents will almost always turn out like the three young girls who vandalized Mr. Cathy's home.

After giving the article some thought I decided Cathy did the right thing by giving those pre-teen girls a second chance to straighten out their young lives before they get into more serious trouble and end up in prison for a serious crime. His strategy may not work, but at least the girls can't say they got a bum deal from a Christian man who took enough interest in them and who showed enough care for their future lives to give them a second chance.

"My heart goes out to young people," Cathy said. "If there is anyone on trial here, it should have been the parents.

I think his remark about the parents who obviously failed their kids and society in general by their haphazard child raising was right on the money. The failure of parents to love and care for their kids by disciplining them when they deliberately misbehave and raising them properly by being good examples themselves is one of the worst aspects of modern life in America. I don't know the complete answer, but throwing them into a prison with hardened criminals for a first offense is probably the wrong answer IMHO.

[JSDude1]

Would It be justice for God to eternally punish me for my sins against both He and my “neighbor”??

(....) He forgave me while ‘I was still a sinner’.

I think this businessman’s actions are admirable (and he is trying to follow the Bible in his princples in life and work).

[BBell]

From the article:

"If they were my children, I'd put them on my lap and spank them," he said."

He being Truett Cathy.