Duck Dynasty star indefinitely suspended for anti-gay remarks - right move or PC run amok?

[BSM1]

This site comes from a conservative Protestant viewpoint that I don't agree with, but it is a good resource for what the Bible really says on the subject of homosexuality (as well as transgenderism, transsexualism and cross-dressing): Gay Christian 101 - Affirming God's good news and Bible truth for all GLBTs.

So even if you don't share their denomination's viewpoint, it's great for learning about the cultural context of those verses.

Thanks for the heads-up. This is a perfect example of why I say everyone has to find their own truth.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Thanks for the heads-up. This is a perfect example of why I say everyone has to find their own truth.

You're welcome.

 

[Pine]

I've been following this controversy for a couple of days now and I'm firmly behind this man, Robertson. I don't watch the show, but when I heard about the attack on his First Amendment rights I was appalled.

He is protected by the Constitution in his beliefs and no one should try to silence him.

I realize A&E has the right to end his contract, and that's fine, but they shouldn't expect him to compromise his personal beliefs or ethics.

 

[Awoon]

I've been following this controversy for a couple of days now and I'm firmly behind this man, Robertson. I don't watch the show, but when I heard about the attack on his First Amendment rights I was appalled.

He is protected by the Constitution in his beliefs and no one should try to silence him.

I realize A&E has the right to end his contract, and that's fine, but they shouldn't expect him to compromise his personal beliefs or ethics.

But he did compromise his beliefs or ethics to become a Christian. No?

 

[Pine]

But he did compromise his beliefs or ethics to become a Christian. No?

How do you figure?

 

[Revoltingest]

He is protected by the Constitution in his beliefs and no one should try to silence him.

The Constitution protects us against government censorship, but not private censorship.
An entertainer often has a contractual obligation to avoid saying/doing things which would go
against an image the employer wants.

 

[Awoon]

How do you figure?

His beliefs were not Christian before he was Christian.

 

[Pine]

The Constitution protects us against government censorship, but not private censorship.
An entertainer often has a contractual obligation to avoid saying/doing things which would go
against an image the employer wants.

So he should shut up just because someone won't like his opinion?

 

[Pine]

His beliefs were not Christian before he was Christian.

That's your opinion and nothing more.

 

[Awoon]

How do you figure?

What is this some kind of joke or troll? I answered you already.

 

[Revoltingest]

So he should shut up just because someone won't like his opinion?

I wouldn't say that.
But there are consequences in one's professional relationships for saying
uncomfortable things. I'd prefer that the duck guy be able to say such things
without severe fallout, but that's easy for me to say....I don't run A&E.

 

[Pine]

I wouldn't say that.
But there are consequences in one's professional relationships for saying
uncomfortable things. I'd prefer that the duck guy be able to say such things
without severe fallout, but that's easy for me to say....I don't run A&E.

I don't think he cares about the fallout. He was asked a question and he answered it honestly. I respect him for that.

 

[Revoltingest]

I don't think he cares about the fallout. He was asked a question and he answered it honestly. I respect him for that.

No argument here.

 

[Sees]

So he should shut up just because someone won't like his opinion?

Personal choice, most will shush it for financial security and wealth. I've lost a couple jobs/positions for speaking my mind or not going with the flow... most people said it was foolish. The ones who agreed with me before the hour of truth were not next to me at the end.

Real world

 

[Pine]

Personal choice, most will shush it for financial security and wealth. I've lost a couple jobs/positions for speaking my mind or not going with the flow... most people said it was foolish. The ones who agreed with me before the hour of truth were not next to me at the end.

Real world

Yes, I know. I lost my career to a closed mind.

 

[Penumbra]

Did A&E make the right decision to suspend Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson indefinitely?

Sure, I think they made the right decision. Words have consequences and faith is not a proper defense.

The biggest problem I've seen about this, honestly, is the misunderstanding that people have regarding the first amendment, free speech. Politicians and public figures have come out and said, "first amendment!" as though it means anything here, which shows a misunderstanding of the differences between law and private consequence.

The government isn't the one going after him. It's not against the law to say such things, and it's protected by the first amendment.

But the first amendment, free speech, doesn't mean there aren't private and social consequences for speech. People can kick you out of their house for saying things they don't like. People can get fired for speech that is disturbing to those that run the business unless it's a specifically protected class. This guy was let go from his position, not assaulted by the government, and people don't seem to be aware of the difference.

Since when are hate speeches against the law?

The law didn't do this, the company did. He's not being charged with anything, because it's not against the law.

I've been following this controversy for a couple of days now and I'm firmly behind this man, Robertson. I don't watch the show, but when I heard about the attack on his First Amendment rights I was appalled.

He is protected by the Constitution in his beliefs and no one should try to silence him.

I realize A&E has the right to end his contract, and that's fine, but they shouldn't expect him to compromise his personal beliefs or ethics.

It's not about the first amendment or the Constitution because nobody is censoring him and the government isn't going after him about any crime. That's what the first amendment protects from.

This is a consequence of an organization where they decided not to associate with someone that makes that sort of statement, to no longer give them a stage and a microphone and money.

 

[Pine]

He's not hurting for money. This whole thing was petty.

 

[Revoltingest]

Paglia: Duck Dynasty uproar 'utterly fascist, utterly Stalinist' | The Daily Caller

The suspension of Phil Robertson from A&E’s Duck Dynasty is outrageous in a nation that values freedom, according to social critic and openly gay, dissident feminist Camille Paglia.
“I speak with authority here, because I was openly gay before the ‘Stonewall rebellion,’ when it cost you something to be so. And I personally feel as a libertarian that people have the right to free thought and free speech,” Paglia, a professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, said on Laura Ingraham’s radio show Thursday.
“In a democratic country, people have the right to be homophobic as well as they have the right to support homosexuality — as I one hundred percent do. If people are basing their views against gays on the Bible, again they have a right of religious freedom there,” she added.

 

[Awoon]

Paglia: Duck Dynasty uproar 'utterly fascist, utterly Stalinist' | The Daily Caller

Is the Bible now considered a Religion?

 

[Revoltingest]

Is the Bible now considered a Religion?

Nah....it's just the How-To-Manual for the religion.