The Logic of Chicago

What interesting times we live in.  A very interesting confluence of events over the past week in Chicago.  It began last week with a double tragedy at a Planned Parenthood clinic in the city (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-07-22/news/chi-planned-parenthood-issues-condolences-following-clinic-death-20120722_1_clinic-death-legal-abortion-services-parenthood).

A healthy 24 year-old woman went in for an abortion and died during the procedure.  Her death has been ruled an accident, no ruling on the death of the child.

Then this week the furor over the Chick-Fil-A President daring to have his own opinion on the definition of marriage reached Chicago.  As is happening in Boston, the city government is now trying to block the company from opening a business within the city (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-met-chicago-chick-fil-a-20120725,0,929023.story).

Let us put these two stories together.  The message seems to be that while the city has no issues with abortion clinics, purveyors of quality chicken sandwiches are not welcome.  But more than that, it is clear that government is now determined to arbitrarily impose its values on all citizens without any regard for a common moral foundation or frankly the common good.

As populations plateau and prepare for an imminent decline in the next decade, having fewer young people is not serving anybody.   Furthermore, in a largely Catholic city like Chicago, abortion is against the religious beliefs of a majority of its citizens.  Yet the city has apparently no issue with Planned Parenthood or other abortion providers operating in the city.  They would likely argue that abortion is legal and these businesses should be allowed to operate where they see fit.

So then we come to Chick-Fil-A.  Their President simply said that they are a family run company that ascribes to a certain set of values, faith based values, one of which being that marriage is between a man and a woman. 

For no other reason, the city of Chicago is likely to block their previously approved attempts to open a business in the city.  Their only recourse it would seem to be, would be to retract their statement, support gay marriage, and apparently pledge to hire a lot of gay, lesbian, and transgender employees.  In other words, the message is, they cannot do business unless they are willing to violate their conscience, sound familiar Catholics?

Americans should be outraged at this incredible over reach of government.  If we do not want to lose what precious freedom we have left, now is the time to push back.  I think a great starting point would be asking those on the left to play out this world view to show us what the vision for the city of Chicago is.

Clearly it is one where children are aborted, gay marriage abounds, and the city’s residents deal with the consequences from these decisions.  When thought through, it is likely not a city many of them would want to live in.