Cracker Barrel removes Duck Dynasty stuff from shelves so as not to offend.
Then, after offending people, they put them back up.
And that's what wrong with this whole dang country. Here's why:
Instead of making a decision based on beliefs and character, Cracker Barrel stuck it's finger into the wind and said, "Which way is the cultural wind blowing? Oh, it's going that way? That's what we'll do!"
Then, a few moments later, they stuck their finger back up into the wind and said, "Okay, which way is it blowing now? Okay, we'll go THAT way!"
This type of decision making is typical of America now. Instead of making decisions based on character and belief, we decide what is right and wrong according to what is popular, what is convenient, and what we think will offend the least amount of people.
I wish that Cracker Barrel would have made a decision and stuck with it, owned it, and stood by it regardless of blowback or criticism. I don't particularly care WHICH side they chose- I just wish that they would have demonstrated a little bit more backbone.
But, instead they showed themselves to be a wishy-washy company making decisions based on fear and what is popular, rather than on character and principle. And like I said before, that's what is wrong with this whole dang country.
How many of us make decisions, and I mean BIG decisions, not based on our character or a principle, but on which is most convenient? How many of us make big decisions about morals, beliefs, values, profession, etc not based on a deep-seated belief in right and wrong (one we are willing to sacrifice for and own even in the face of opposition) but based on which will generate the least controversy and will make us the most popular?
As the old country song goes, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything." Cracker Barrel showed that this past week. They showed that they were trying to move with the popular trends, trying to appease, trying to go with what was easy and convenient rather than make a decision based on a principle. You can argue that they are a profit-motivated company, which they are, and that they were concerned about upsetting customers and all that. I get that. However, by doing that, they exposed themselves as wishy-washy fearful people who would rather be popular than right.
Like I said, I don't care what side they chose- stock the Duck Dynasty stuff or don't. I don't care. I really don't care much about Duck Dynasty merchandise. I don't own any of it and am not planning on buying anything that is a passing fad, like this stuff is. (I learned that lesson back in 1985 when I HAD to have a multi-zippered Michael Jackson "Beat It" jacket. My parents wouldn't let me. I hated them for it. Now, I'm glad I never got it, because a 39-year-old guy wearing a "Beat It" jacket would look quite silly, but I digress). However, I wish they would have made a decision and stuck with it. Owned it. Stood in the face of criticism because of a belief.
Unfortunately, that is very rare nowadays. It is very difficult to find anyone who stands for principle or belief and is willing to take heat and criticism and loss because of it. Maybe the prevalence of social media amplifies the amount of criticism exponentially so that anyone standing for a belief is shouted down in degrees never before seen in human history.
I was disappointed in Cracker Barrel, not because of whatever decision they made, but because of the lack of spine they showed in making them. I like Cracker Barrel as a restaurant. I don't like their lack of backbone. I think it is very indicative of the culture we have become- a culture of people who stick their finger into the wind to find out which way the popular and non-controversial winds are blowing and take the path of least resistance.
The worst thing is when the Church does this. Instead of taking unpopular Biblical stands, the Church sticks its finger into the wind and rides the easy path of least resistance, all in the name of inclusiveness and "love." The problem is- Jesus never did that. Our founder- the founder of our faith, Jesus Christ- was killed because He refused to go with what was popular and easy. They don't kill guys who want to make everyone happy, people. If that is what happened to Jesus, that is what will happen to us as well. We shouldn't expect popularity or worldwide acclaim for what we believe.
Don't choose your actions according to the cultural winds that blow. Don't choose your actions based on what is easy and convenient and least controversial. Base your decisions on what you believe to be right. Then, stick with them no matter what the blowback, no matter what the criticism, no matter what the results. Right and wrong aren't based on results. Right and wrong are based on right and wrong, and our decisions should be made on unchanging principles and objective standards rather than changing cultural acceptances. The fact that principles and standards are disappearing from our country is what is responsible for the whole mess our country is in right now.
It starts with you and me.
Then, after offending people, they put them back up.
And that's what wrong with this whole dang country. Here's why:
Instead of making a decision based on beliefs and character, Cracker Barrel stuck it's finger into the wind and said, "Which way is the cultural wind blowing? Oh, it's going that way? That's what we'll do!"
Then, a few moments later, they stuck their finger back up into the wind and said, "Okay, which way is it blowing now? Okay, we'll go THAT way!"
This type of decision making is typical of America now. Instead of making decisions based on character and belief, we decide what is right and wrong according to what is popular, what is convenient, and what we think will offend the least amount of people.
I wish that Cracker Barrel would have made a decision and stuck with it, owned it, and stood by it regardless of blowback or criticism. I don't particularly care WHICH side they chose- I just wish that they would have demonstrated a little bit more backbone.
But, instead they showed themselves to be a wishy-washy company making decisions based on fear and what is popular, rather than on character and principle. And like I said before, that's what is wrong with this whole dang country.
How many of us make decisions, and I mean BIG decisions, not based on our character or a principle, but on which is most convenient? How many of us make big decisions about morals, beliefs, values, profession, etc not based on a deep-seated belief in right and wrong (one we are willing to sacrifice for and own even in the face of opposition) but based on which will generate the least controversy and will make us the most popular?
As the old country song goes, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything." Cracker Barrel showed that this past week. They showed that they were trying to move with the popular trends, trying to appease, trying to go with what was easy and convenient rather than make a decision based on a principle. You can argue that they are a profit-motivated company, which they are, and that they were concerned about upsetting customers and all that. I get that. However, by doing that, they exposed themselves as wishy-washy fearful people who would rather be popular than right.
Like I said, I don't care what side they chose- stock the Duck Dynasty stuff or don't. I don't care. I really don't care much about Duck Dynasty merchandise. I don't own any of it and am not planning on buying anything that is a passing fad, like this stuff is. (I learned that lesson back in 1985 when I HAD to have a multi-zippered Michael Jackson "Beat It" jacket. My parents wouldn't let me. I hated them for it. Now, I'm glad I never got it, because a 39-year-old guy wearing a "Beat It" jacket would look quite silly, but I digress). However, I wish they would have made a decision and stuck with it. Owned it. Stood in the face of criticism because of a belief.
Unfortunately, that is very rare nowadays. It is very difficult to find anyone who stands for principle or belief and is willing to take heat and criticism and loss because of it. Maybe the prevalence of social media amplifies the amount of criticism exponentially so that anyone standing for a belief is shouted down in degrees never before seen in human history.
I was disappointed in Cracker Barrel, not because of whatever decision they made, but because of the lack of spine they showed in making them. I like Cracker Barrel as a restaurant. I don't like their lack of backbone. I think it is very indicative of the culture we have become- a culture of people who stick their finger into the wind to find out which way the popular and non-controversial winds are blowing and take the path of least resistance.
The worst thing is when the Church does this. Instead of taking unpopular Biblical stands, the Church sticks its finger into the wind and rides the easy path of least resistance, all in the name of inclusiveness and "love." The problem is- Jesus never did that. Our founder- the founder of our faith, Jesus Christ- was killed because He refused to go with what was popular and easy. They don't kill guys who want to make everyone happy, people. If that is what happened to Jesus, that is what will happen to us as well. We shouldn't expect popularity or worldwide acclaim for what we believe.
Don't choose your actions according to the cultural winds that blow. Don't choose your actions based on what is easy and convenient and least controversial. Base your decisions on what you believe to be right. Then, stick with them no matter what the blowback, no matter what the criticism, no matter what the results. Right and wrong aren't based on results. Right and wrong are based on right and wrong, and our decisions should be made on unchanging principles and objective standards rather than changing cultural acceptances. The fact that principles and standards are disappearing from our country is what is responsible for the whole mess our country is in right now.
It starts with you and me.
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