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, 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.