phil robertson suspended from duck dynasty

I guess rights aren't all equal anymore...

while it IS your right to have whatever lifestyle you want, what about peoples right to NOT agree with it..

I guess the populous supposed to be sheep and not think/form an opinion different from the masses now?

being in the public eye though, god forbid you have an independant thought...

Everyone is free to express their own personal opinion, but it's naive to assume that there aren't consequences for doing so, especially when you have a performance contract with a private cable network at stake. A&E has a product to sell, and if they feel like one of their performers' opinions will cause them to lose money by losing viewers (not just for one show, but with everything they air), obviously they're going to do what they think is in their best interest to retain as many of those viewers as they can, even if that means the suspension or dismissal of someone from a television contract.

There are plenty of reasons to not watch a staged, manipulative "reality show" that relies on characters and catchphrases to market merchandise and DVD sales. Predictably crass comments from one person and the subsequent damage control from a network aren't high on my list though.

My 2 cents. I am a fan of the show. I have watched most of the episodes and enjoy it. I love the way they are raising the kids and sticking to their roots and getting the kids off of video games and outside. My friend has been to a religious conference where one of the women on the show, Missy, was speaking and she said it was absolutely amazing. I think Phil should've never been asked his opinion on that topic in the first place. They are very outspoken and hold true to the their beliefs and asking that question was setting him up for this. Yes, he could've been more tactful, but they really aren't known for their tact, ya know?

It wasn't just about homosexuality...Robertson also made comments about blacks in the GQ article.

"I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once., Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hod cotton with them. I'm with the blacks, because we're white trash. We're going across the field. ... They're singing and happy. I never heard one of them, one black person, say, 'I tell you what: These doggone white people' -- not a word!"

Then he goes on to basically say they were happy because they were godly.

As for "comparing" gay sex to beasteality, he was asked what he considered sinful and he mentions beasteality and also sex outside of marriage in general, no matter who it is.

Just to clear that all up.

All clear here

i love how people are saying he should sue. sue for what? was his freedom of speech violated? last time i saw he wasnt arrested for his comments.

now, should be people be arrested for being stupid enough to believe that freedom of speech is some type of shield that people arent allowed to disagree and hold you accountable for your idiotic thoughts? no, that isnt what freedom of speech means.

and for anyone in this day and age to equate homosexuality to beastiality shows what an ignorant wipe of a buttocks they are, but then again believing in a fairy tale of a book to be your moral compass, i wouldnt expect much different

One could argue he was fired based on his religious beliefs. Just throwing that out there.

Yes, he has a right to his opinion, and his employer (in this case A&E network) has the right to terminate him for expressing an opinion they don't agree with. Simple as that. An employer exercising their rights. He could have said that he hated cats for all it matters, A&E didn't like it, it probably violated something in his contract, and they were within their rights to 'suspend' him.

Hmmmm. "We have to be careful what we say in this day and age"
That ought to be telling for any of you paying attention. Phil was asked his opinion, he gave it. If it was so disagreeable to you that you are unable to continue to watch his show on A&E, feel free to avoid it. When you lose a job for an opinion that is contrary to what today is considered Politically Correct, I see that as a problem. If A&E would lose considerable revenue because of his actions, I could understand his firing. But you folks calling for punitive action to an individual because they don't agree with you, shame on you. Those of you calling his opinion "hate speech" that needs to be squashed are yourselves being intolerant, to the point of denying Phil Robertson his 1st ammendment rights. It's a sad state when only opinions that agree with yours are tolerated.

First of all, A&E probably would lose considerable advertiser dollars if they left the show on the air, because companies wouldn't want to be associated with those opinions.

Second, it was not a First Amendment violation, because A&E is not the government.

I'm just going to keep posting this until people actually read it.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

It wasn't just about homosexuality...Robertson also made comments about blacks in the GQ article.

Pretty sure Oprah wish/ordered death upon many a caucasions and I don't recall any lashback on her career...

Source?

In November she said “there are still generations of people, older people, who were born and bred and marinated in it – in that prejudice and racism – and they just have to die.”

didnt read any responses, but i think it's pretty simple.

he is certainly entitled to his opinion.
he has a right to voice it.

A&E also has the right to distance itself from it.

his rights are not being infringed upon, he's just feeling the repercussions of his words.

seems pretty cut and dry to me.

I would have to agree with Palin, free speech is an endangered species.

Suspending Roberston is appeasing the liberal bullies and their very flexible definition of "hate speech."

Free speech does not mean free of consequences.

Again,

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Note the very first word.

My biggest issue overall is that A&E used to show educational, interesting, quality shows. Now it's all cheap, crappy reality TV. I couldn't tell you the last time I watched anything on that channel.

I saw we boycott A&E for that reason alone.

same with TLC... WTF is educational about honey boo boo???

You're learning how to make a camouflage wedding dress look even tackier than it sounds!

:drinker:

My biggest issue overall is that A&E used to show educational, interesting, quality shows. Now it's all cheap, crappy reality TV. I couldn't tell you the last time I watched anything on that channel.

I saw we boycott A&E for that reason alone.

same with TLC... WTF is educational about honey boo boo???

You're learning how to make a camouflage wedding dress look even tackier than it sounds!

Have you guys really watched any of the episodes, rather than just a 5 second flip through? I find Duck Dynasty to be educational, interesting, and a quality show. The way they are raising their kids to be, is how it should be. Get the kids off of the dang video games and outside playing, hunting, learning, etc. Take the kids to church (if that's your belief), work with the charities, and do some good for society. Yes, they wear camo and talk funny, but really watch the show and see what they are about.

Now, Honey Boo Boo. That's just crap tv right there. Enough said.

I know I will get bashed, but whatever. For the record, I am not white trash, yada yada.

It wasn't just about homosexuality...Robertson also made comments about blacks in the GQ article.

Pretty sure Oprah wish/ordered death upon many a caucasions and I don't recall any lashback on her career...

Source?

In November she said “there are still generations of people, older people, who were born and bred and marinated in it – in that prejudice and racism – and they just have to die.”

I think what she probably meant was that those beliefs by those people are not going to change. The only way for those beliefs to "die out" is for those people to die. In other words, you aren't going to change their minds. I don't think she meant that white people need to die lol. It was a bad choice of words because a lot of people are going to take that differently.

Let's all be clear.

No one should die. lol

I agree, but either way it was poorly worded.

Also, what she probably meant was misconstrued much the same as Phil's, albeit on a different subject.

Let's all be clear.

No one should die. lol

But all of us are....right now.

The thing with this is Phil wanted off the show as he said it was becoming to scripted. He could not quit to get out of the contract so he found a way to get fired and bring publicity to the show. That is a win-win for A&E and the Robertson family. The show has been declining in popularity recently and they need to sell the merchandice that is sitting on the shelves.

This is all about capitalisim not freedom of speech.