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Why Phil Robertson’s suspension from “Duck Dynasty” should matter to ALL Americans

Why Phil Robertson’s suspension from “Duck Dynasty” should matter to ALL Americans

When A&E suspended Phil Robertson from the family’s reality show, “Duck Dynasty,” because of Phil’s description of his personal religious beliefs,  every single American – Christian, atheist, Muslim, Buddhist, gay, straight, bisexual, man, woman. . . well, you get the idea – EVERYONE should have been alarmed.  Reactions have varied, and support groups such as  Bring Back Phil Robertson , and Boycott A&E Until Phil Robertson is put back on Duck Dynasty and Stand With Phil Robertson  have sprung up quickly with hundreds of thousands of supporters.

Phil Robertson

Phil Robertson, an American citizen, was interviewed for GQ magazine.  He described the reasoning behind his beliefs about homosexuality.  He did not treat anyone badly.  He did not discriminate against anyone.  He did not use vulgar language.  He didn’t say anything that was different from what he has said all along.  His words were consistent with who he is.   He simply explained what he believed and why he believed it. For exercising that basic American right, A&E chose to suspend him from the family TV show.

GLAAD,  which stands for the Gay and Lesbian Always Angry and Discriminatory group – Oops,  I’m sorry, I mean it stands for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation group. Anyway, their slogan is “leading the conversation for LGBT equality,”  and they were one of the watchdog groups that was outraged at Phil’s words and put pressure on A&E to kick him out.  A&E, apparently not even considering standing up to the gay gestapo’s bullying tactics, immediately caved to their demands. 

It’s rather ironic that GLAAD has an entire page on their website devoted to their anti-bullying activities – all while they are a leader in bullying actions against people who are different from themselves.  Remember the old saying, “What you ARE speaks so loudly I can’t hear what you’re saying.”  GLAAD, like so many people and groups on the political left, believe strongly in tolerance and acceptance, as long as it’s tolerance and acceptance for their beliefs.  If you don’t believe exactly as they do, then too bad.  You don’t deserve tolerance and acceptance.  You WILL be bullied.

So what did Phil Robertson say that was so “vile” and “extreme”?  Here it is.  Hold onto your seats because this will surely be so heinous you’ll barely be able to get through it:

It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.

Notice the phrases “to me” and “That’s just me.”  Phil is clearly stating that these are HIS beliefs.  

Later in the interview he said:

Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there.  Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.  Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers — they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.

So THAT is what GLAAD describes as “some of the vilest and most extreme statements uttered against LGBT people in a mainstream publication and were littered with outdated stereotypes and blatant misinformation.”

On GLAAD’s news page, they wrote: 

What’s clear is that such hateful anti-gay comments are unacceptable to fans, viewers, and networks alike,” said GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz. “By taking quick action and removing Robertson from future filming, A&E has sent a strong message that discrimination is neither a Christian nor an American value.

The thing is, THERE WAS NO DISCRIMINATION.  There was no hate. The only thing Phil Robertson is guilty of is openly stating his own personal belief.  He did not mistreat anyone in the LGBT community.  He did not discriminate against anyone. Quite the contrary, he emphasized that we should all treat each other with love and respect.  A definite Christian and American value, however, is the right of people to speak about their faith and their beliefs without fear.

Even some on the left and in the LGBT community have questioned this fiasco:

Brian Ambrosino asked, “Why is our go-to political strategy for beating our opponents to silence them? Why do we dismiss, rather than engage them?”

And that brings us back to the point of this post.  Why should A&E’s action alarm everyone?  The “strong message” that was sent by A&E is that people should be very afraid of expressing  beliefs that are not in line with the leftist “gay gestapo.”  I don’t know who first used the term “gay gestapo,” but the term “gestapo,” when used generally, refers to a “police organization that employs terroristic methods to control a populace.”   And that is exactly what GLAAD and other LGBT groups are doing.  Terrorists use fear to intimidate and control.  Today, because of A&E’s actions based on pressure from gay advocacy groups, every single Christian entertainer, has one more layer of fear that a show, an appearance, a career could be ended by a simple statement of belief.  GLAAD and A&E, rather than engaging in conversation, chose to banish the offender.

You may recall this poem:

They came for the Communists, and I didn’t object – For I wasn’t a Communist;
They came for the Socialists, and I didn’t object – For I wasn’t a Socialist;
They came for the labor leaders, and I didn’t object – For I wasn’t a labor leader;
They came for the Jews, and I didn’t object – For I wasn’t a Jew;
– Martin Niemoller, German Protestant Pastor, 1892-1984

According to our Bill of Rights, each American citizen has freedom of speech.  Until we ALL stand up for the freedom of speech for EVERYONE, no one is safe.  Who knows how this Phil Robertson/A&E/GLAAD situation will end.  However, it is one more nail in the coffin of freedom of speech.

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8 Comments
  • ALman says:

    I’ve come up with a new, at least new to me, term. It’s “mouth-twerking”. It’s basis is that Miley made an _ _ _ of herself with her backside. Well, much of the media, special interests groups, and the whiners of this age do the same, yet with their mouth, so “mouth-twerkers”!

    Now, all sorts of mouth-twerking can be broadcast all over the planet. We’re to tolerate this. If we don’t, why we might be called the most hate-filled names, etc. However, let a Christian man express his beliefs in an honest manner without malice and suddenly the “end is nigh'”.

    I hope that history will one day show that this was another turning of events that led to a societal “correction” in our society. Enough is enough. And since you know who is always wanting to take credit, well let him acknowledge his role in contributing to a climate that is intolerant of what so many believe. He’s the chief-mouth-twerker!

  • Melanie says:

    Mouth-twerking! I like that. I also like your idea of societal correction. Maybe this’ll do it. I won’t hold my breath, though. People should not fear that an honest statement could ruin their careers or lives.

  • ALman says:

    Please, don’t hold your breath. The current state of affairs obviously didn’t happen over night, nor will they be corrected quickly. However, I am wondering whether more and more people realize that a balance (?) needs to be restored to our daily living.

    There was a book or ? (I’m being lazy and not looking it up) entitled “I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can”. We didn’t really heed the warning from the financial crisis of 2007/2008. However, in many ways, our society has been “Dancing Faster than It is Able!” Unfortunately, the one whose name we won’t mention (even if I would live another 100 years I would still have heard it too much) is in a big hurry to make a name for himself, rather than realizing that we are in a cycle much needed, a slowing down of sorts.

    BTW, there’s a patent pending on “mouth-twerking” (grin, grin).

  • Jen says:

    Don’t know what Robertson’s contract states, but hopefully they will simply up and leave the A&E channel. I wouldn’t kowtow to that miserable channel, they’ve had nothing but fights with them over editing, etc. Why not go to a channel that actually appreciates the message and isn’t simply putting them on because they think the Robertson’s are a freak show that gets it’s ratings because people are laughing at them and sneering behind their backs.
    This reminds me of the Rush Limbaugh situation over Sandra Fluck. The only reason Rush didn’t get suspended by his stations is because he owns his own program and doesn’t have a boss beholden to money interests from the LGBT community. The few advertisers he lost actually suffered the most revenue loss(Carbonite comes to mind) when they showed their true colors and bolted from his program the first day. He still has advertisers begging to be on his program and has increased his audience. Duck Dynasty can do the same thing as their popularity comes from the values they demonstrate.

  • ALman says:

    Glenn Beck has extended an offer to the Robertsons to join TheBlaze TV.

    Also, the “Stand With Phil Robertson” petition on FB now has 951,000 likes.

  • Blue says:

    And the homosexuals make up 1.7% of the population.

  • GWB says:

    I agree with the characterization of the GLAAD mafia as the ‘gay gestapo’ and the horrid PC nature of this incident. However, this isn’t an example of our First Amendment rights being restricted. The First Amendment applies to the government, and the government is nowhere in evidence here. This would be much like screaming that a store putting up a ‘gun-free zone’ sign would be violating your second Amendment rights.

    A&E had every right to beclown themselves in this fashion. They are an organization of citizens within our country, and have the same rights you do with their own money and time and effort. And – wthin the limits of contractlaw – the Robertsons have every right to walk away. Or, they can pretend they don’t care. Or, they can organize a PR campaign. It’s their life, just like it’s A&E’s company (I presume the shareholders will eventually have an opinion on this).

    The poem you cite was not in reference to private citizens organizing boycotts, but in reference to government action. I think you missed the mark with tkis one, Melanie. As stupid as A&E was to do this, I must disagree strongly with your final sentence. This is NOT one more nail in the coffin of freedom of speech.

  • Melanie says:

    GWB – The first part of what you wrote is true, and I am aware of that – was aware of that when I wrote the post. I was looking at the broader cultural picture. If GLAAD and other gay activist groups have so much power that they can pressure A&E to suspend one of their most popular personalities for saying something fairly innocuous (imo), then there is a problem in our society. A&E has the absolute right to suspend Phil Robertson. GLAAD has the absolute right to complain about what Robertson said and push to have him suspended. I never questioned that. And the poem, regardless of its original intent, is a great illustration of the need to speak up for injustice – even when the injustice doesn’t affect us personally – because somewhere down the road it can/will affect us.

    As far as your last point, we will have to agree to disagree on the “freedom of speech” coffin nails. Soon after this post was published, I read another article arguing that this situation is not a freedom of speech issue. I read the article carefully, and I disagree with it. Whether or not the government protects our freedom of speech is immaterial if we allow others to intimidate us into being silent. And A&E and the gay advocacy groups are attempting to do just that.

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