Chick-fil-a Was Never a Christian Company

Here is a letter I wrote to a local radio host:

This morning you discussed the "change of heart" by the Cathy family regarding their stance on pro-marriage charities.

When Christians nationwide overwhelmingly supported Chick-fil-a by standing in line on August 1, I was struck by the sheer ridiculousness of Christians supporting a company that serves a very un-Christian menu.

Please let me explain:

We've been ignorant for over 20 years about the use of genetically modified foods along with antibiotic and growth hormone injected meat.

At best, the Cathy family has been willfully ignorant about the food that they are serving their customers.

The information is out there - and I'm sure the Cathy family have chosen their products based on profit alone.

For instance, did you know that cloning is a big part of genetic modification of plants and meat?

Chick-fil-a uses plenty of GMOs, like High Fructose Corn Syrup in their cooking oil - the same genetically modified corn base that gave those rats giant tumors in the most recent French study.

(And no, it is not the same thing as sugar.)

We are playing God with our food - and Chick-fil-a has no problem with that. 

The fact is that this genetically modified food is not anything that God would want. He's already provided food for us - but scientists and companies like Monsanto have adulterated our food supply so badly that this country is dealing with epidemics of diabetes, cancer, and a list of other un-natural diseases that have lifestyle and environmental causes. Where is Chick-fil-a on this issue? Deviously silent. 

It takes about 30 minutes to do the research online.

The evidence is out there - and it's easy to find.

Are you telling me that the Cathy family is serving the most healthful food to their customers? No. And they know that.

I think that knowingly serving food that eventually hurts people's health is a very Un-Christian thing to do.

Jesus served the people loaves and fishes - but those loaves weren't full of gluten and those fishes weren't full of GMO corn.

Unfortunately, Chick-fil-a is just another company using Christianity to profit. 

Can anyone argue that donating to "Christian" charities the money made by feeding people unhealthy foods is the "Christian" thing to do. Do the ends justify the means? I believe Paul would would argue no (Romans 3:8). So why does Dan Cathy think it's ok?

Those people who stood outside of Chick-fil-a to support "Christian" ideals were also supporting something else - an industrial food system that is evil to the core.  

Sincerely,

Danan Whiddon

Why I Left My Bra at the Belcourt

Before there were hipster icons like Jack White, there was the real thing - Crispin Glover.

Crispin Glover may be one of the weirdest - and most genuine actors of our time.....or any time. That's why I took off my bra at the Belcourt Theatre and left it there...in honor of him. Or of his insistence on making people uncomfortable. Or it could have been the wine. Whatever.

I can't really explain the movie, What Is It. Or the 8 book readings that Crispin Glover performed before the showing of the movie. But I can list just a few things I saw and heard. I leave it to your judgement/enjoyment/horror to digest. But there's no way I can help you understand.

Book Readings:

Pictures of rat carcasses
A picture of a guy doing a lamb
That lamb skinned
Yelling about turnips!
I love you.
Quiet!


The movie: What Is It


People with Down Syndrome getting it on
A guy with Down Syndrome getting a hand job from a naked lady with a monkey mask on
Killing snails with salt - lots and lots of snails
Shirley Temple with a nazi whip in her vagina
Red Swastikas
A guy in black face representing Michael Jackson
A racist country song

Basically, the movie is all about doing anything that makes corporate media uncomfortable. It may not be anything that you or I would want to see, but the fact that he is out there fighting them makes him ok with me.

And that's why I left my bra.

Watch this for further explanation:

Goodbye Cable TV - Hello REAL World

I am finally calling to disconnect my cable TV today. I don't need it anymore. (I actually never did - I always knew it; but I never knew how important it was to take a stand against it.)

2012 is the year that we should all try to reconnect to what is real. I mean - really real. And what is true and right for each of us. Increasingly it's become apparent that television does not give us reality- and probably never did. I mean, they called it the BOOB TUBE back in the 50s didn't they? It it has only gotten worse since then. Way worse.

Please join me, and free yourself from the crap-encrusted chains of cable television. 

Here are 10 reasons to turn off the TV for 2012:

1. Anything interesting that might happen to be aired on TV can be seen on the internet HOURS (sometimes days) before. And sometimes the really interesting stuff is never seen on TV because someone, somewhere does not want you to see it and they mistakenly think they can keep you from it.

2. You have to search for the truth - the television is NOT the place to find it. Cable news will NEVER tell you the truth - never, ever.

3. Reality television is not reality, nor is it entertaining...unless you feel the need to waste your time relishing in the misfortune and embarrassment of others.

4. The TV does not allow you to comment, give your opinion, or call bullshit on what you read, hear, or see - the internet does.

5. Drug company ads. Especially those trying to push anti-depressants.

6. "Healthy GMOs" (the world's most dangerous oxymoron) advertisements. No, High Fructose Corn Syrup is NOT just like sugar, no matter how many times and ways they say it.

7. The Mayans say we have less than a year left on this planet - do you really want to spend it watching someone else living a fake life? Wouldn't you rather spend what precious time you have left living your own life?

8. Political LIES - both sides, all channels. This is an election year - and every politician will be on TV telling lies. (Except Ron Paul - he's awesome.)

9. You will always be more interesting than any person on TV. Period.

10. $$$$$ - Why should we pay inflated prices for something that hides the truth, does not entertain us, may actually hurt us, and can never be as interesting as our own lives? That's like paying for an ex-boyfriend to hang around. Isn't it?




And if you need another reason, watch this video for inspiration:

Vishnu in Nashville

Recently I toured the Vishnu exhibit at the Frist Museum in Nashville.  I was surprised at the pieces in the collection - statues from the 12th Century up to modern interpretations of Vishnu in Indian homes today.

Before my tour, I knew very little of Vishnu. In fact, the only Indian god I was aware of was Ganesh.

This is a fun tour and something that I think many Nashies will enjoy seeing.  Vishnu, HINDUISM’S BLUE-SKINNED SAVIOR -  Feb. 20–May 29, 2011.  

My One-Sheet

A Feminist Call to Action

Feminist frameworks have been baseless because of the classification of a dichotomous sexual preference system. We must now move to a nullification of all feminist theory based on these systems.  They're the same as if we were using science based on the idea that the sun revolves around the earth. But now we must start over - only this time with the truth.

True feminism is honorable. The power of the feminine is not in the shadows or secret places - no, its true power is in the fearless examination of the real.

In the past, there was no such thing as heteronormity because there was no such thing as homosexuality. How convenient those labels became as people sought to control more and more of the population - and what better way than to judge and classify based on a false shame of what one does with one's genitals. (How very Victorian.)

It's because of this that the so-called Queer Theorists should have been initially regarded as conspiracy theorists - at least by those holding patriarchal power.

What was once called "Feminist Theory" disintigrates when held up to the light. Its ephemera is its very history - made of lies based on lies, based on lies.  We have to be transcendent and transversal to the old waves of feminism. We have to stop presupposing what a woman is or is not. The feminine is in everyone, everything. The feminine honors individuality; and it is in this that the feminine is the pathway to true power.

Now, living in the truth offers us great opportunities for transgression. When all rights become equal we can go back to being people who are judged on our character and not our holes.

Notes from Big Red 4

Random notes:

I just picked up two new blogs that I'll be writing and updating monthly for a media company in Louisiana.
That should be fun work!!

So far, I have one tutoring student in Franklin.

And I've been Christmas shopping and baking cookies while getting organized.
I have yet to get my TN Driver's License (oops) or my library card (a must).

My reading list this week:

Dune
Feminist Social and Political Theory
The Republic

Tutoring Services starting in January

Starting in January 2011, I'll be offering the following tutoring sessions in the Nashville area for students and homeschoolers of all ages. Please contact me at dananwhiddon@gmail.com to be added to my 2011 roster. (A Shakespeare and Great Books module will be added soon.)




English Tutoring for Non-English Speakers - Any level of student is welcome - $25 per hour

Special Tutoring Sessions

Writing a College Essay - $25 per hour - 4 hour minimum

This session takes place in one week with no book required.  (Homework is required.)

Instruction includes grammar, usage, spelling, vocabulary and rhetoric



Writing a College Research Paper - $25 per hour - 5 hour minimum

This session takes place in two weeks with no book required. (Homework is required.)

Instruction includes grammar, usage, spelling, vocabulary and rhetoric along with additional instruction on research, writing, editing, and citing sources.

Library trip included!