‘Duck Dynasty’: Phil Robertson Suspended Indefinitely Following Anti-Gay Remarks

[MoonSister75]

Originally Posted by I'msoAfraid95

It really depends on the individual church itselfn how the pastor and congregation feels. I doubt that most churches would deny a person access, but they might not be very welcoming. You might be singled out.

I've been wearing boys clothes(I'm physically a female, mentally a male) since I was old enough to pick out my own clothes and thw church I went to growing up was ok with it.

That's good to know that they can use their discretion, and practise some common sense. And its good to know you were able to wear clothes you were happy with

Originally Posted by Dex

Churches that I've spoken to that do not condone homosexuality say that they "welcome" gay members. Just as long as they are not actually having sex. It's pretty classy. Celibacy has obviously worked so well for Catholic priests over the centuries, I can see why other denominations and religions would want to hop aboard that gravy train.

I don't know. As I've said earlier in this thread, if people believe that I am going to hell because their religion tells them to (which is really all the original post and controversy was about), I really don't care about that. It's when that belief starts to practically affect their operation in an officially secular society that I have a problem. Logic and reason need to rule in those contexts, and the "because of my religion" defense doesn't hold water. People have used religion to defend racism and slavery, too, let's not forget. And when those opinions affected secular policy, it was a problem.

thanks for the extra info

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by Dove

Yes, his first amendment right was violated. It is purely unconstitutional for a citizen of the US to lose their job/get suspended because they answered an interview question in full honesty.

No offense intended, but this is wrong.

A&E has a constitutional right to not be a platform for ideas they don't agree with, and Mr. Robertson's rights to speak freely were not infringed. He can go on saying whatever ugly mean-spirited things he'd like to say.

Mr. Robertson is not employed by A&E - he's a business owner with his own company that will contine to go on long after this controversy blows over.

Freedom of speech does not mean you can speak without consequence.

I work for a Department of Defense contractor, and believe you me, if I got interviewed and said what i really think of the DoD and the NSA and our bloated military, I'd be fired because my views are in direct opposition to my employer.

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by I'msoAfraid95

Another thing that gets me upset and I don't understand it, is why do some "christians"(quotes used for a reason) act or think like we're trying to force them to be like us? All most of us want us to be viewed as equal human beings.

because if you do not follow their belief, then you are evil, vile, etc...Take it from me, up until recently I attended a Methodist Church, but I quit attending for the simple fact that many of those who attend are nothing but pure, unadulterated H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E-S!!!! These "people" don't want anyone in this town to be nothing, unless it is just like them...I am the triangle peg in their circular board, just isn't going to work for me. I'm not a "liberal" (I loathe the Clintons & Obama too much for that) but I sure as hell will NEVER be considered a "conservative"

When I was a child, I had religion FORCED upon me, it does NOT work for me now and to be honest I see that it never will (I once described my attending church as a child to "how some of the victims of the Holocaust must have felt arriving at Auschwitz"). You cannot force will upon someone with freewill - and I will do what has worked best for me for the majority of my adult life...Be spiritual and that is all! I'm not going to start hating someone who has a different lifestyle than mine because SOME RELIGION makes me...or FORCES me too!

A few years ago, before Debbie passed, we were two of the only three votes in this town against the defining marriage law that passed in Oklahoma - which outlawed same sex marriage...BUT, being that I am ALSO a Native American, I laugh at how tribes here in Oklahoma will ALLOW same sex marriage licenses to be issued as long as one of the two people is of Indian Blood and a tribal member, thus pissing off the STATE OF OKLAHOMA because each tribe is a recognizable NATION and the state of Oklahoma cannot do a DAMNED THING about it.

[WildHearted]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

No offense intended, but this is wrong.

A&E has a constitutional right to not be a platform for ideas they don't agree with, and Mr. Robertson's rights to speak freely were not infringed. He can go on saying whatever ugly mean-spirited things he'd like to say.

Mr. Robertson is not employed by A&E - he's a business owner with his own company that will contine to go on long after this controversy blows over.

Freedom of speech does not mean you can speak without consequence.

I work for a Department of Defense contractor, and believe you me, if I got interviewed and said what i really think of the DoD and the NSA and our bloated military, I'd be fired because my views are in direct opposition to my employer.

Exactly. It's not a constitutional right to appear on an A&E television show. He's not in jail, he's not being censored by the government... his freedom of speech is not in jeopardy. He can say whatever he likes.

[louielouie2000]

I think the actual shocking part of this guy's remarks was when he declared that blacks were happy before desegregation. To top it off, a GOP congressional candidate has said that this Duck guy is "the Rosa Parks of our generation." Right, Rosa Parks would have LOVED being compared to a man who said Jim Crow laws made people of color happy.

http://www.thewire.com/politics/2013...ht-say/356384/

What I find most interesting is the fact that conservatives are always calling liberals cry babies. Yet, whenever anyone shines a light on conservatives public ignorance, they are the first to cry that they're being victimized. Conservatives are all about personal responsibility... this Duck guy calling out blacks & gays publicly wasn't very personally responsible. Obviously he won't suffer legally from his remarks, but he may just suffer financially. However, I doubt even that. The same people who have rallied behind Chick Fil-A will be right there with him. His income in the next year will probably triple from people snapping up his paraphernalia.

[I'msoAfraid95]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

because if you do not follow their belief, then you are evil, vile, etc...Take it from me, up until recently I attended a Methodist Church, but I quit attending for the simple fact that many of those who attend are nothing but pure, unadulterated H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E-S!!!! These "people" don't want anyone in this town to be nothing, unless it is just like them...I am the triangle peg in their circular board, just isn't going to work for me. I'm not a "liberal" (I loathe the Clintons & Obama too much for that) but I sure as hell will NEVER be considered a "conservative"

When I was a child, I had religion FORCED upon me, it does NOT work for me now and to be honest I see that it never will (I once described my attending church as a child to "how some of the victims of the Holocaust must have felt arriving at Auschwitz"). You cannot force will upon someone with freewill - and I will do what has worked best for me for the majority of my adult life...Be spiritual and that is all! I'm not going to start hating someone who has a different lifestyle than mine because SOME RELIGION makes me...or FORCES me too!

A few years ago, before Debbie passed, we were two of the only three votes in this town against the defining marriage law that passed in Oklahoma - which outlawed same sex marriage...BUT, being that I am ALSO a Native American, I laugh at how tribes here in Oklahoma will ALLOW same sex marriage licenses to be issued as long as one of the two people is of Indian Blood and a tribal member, thus pissing off the STATE OF OKLAHOMA because each tribe is a recognizable NATION and the state of Oklahoma cannot do a DAMNED THING about it.

Up until about 4 months ago, I was a semi active member of a Baptist church that I had been going to since I was 3. When I started coming to terms with myself and realizing who I was, I also realized how stupid and unrealistic some Christian beliefs are. I have to fake it because of my family. I hate having to keep my mouth shut.

I'm in the middle politically. I can't stand most politicians. I think that any loophole you can find to br with the one you love is a goodthing.

[olive]

the before A&E and after pictures of them are great

[Newzchspy]

Now that MANY of you are bringing one of my favorite subjects into this, where in our Great Constitution does it say that he (Duck Commander) has a Constitutional RIGHT to a JOB with A & E. He may have a First Amendment right of Freedom of Speech and to express his beliefs, BUT there is NO Constitutional right to a job on TV (or making ducks calls for that matter). The ONLY right either he or AE may have is a contractual right to enforce (or not) his employment contract. Trust me, AE has a contract with this GUY and his family as well to produce a show, pay royalties and all the assorted items that go along with contracts. BUT to say that he has a Constitutional RIGHT to the job (or the show) is ridiculous.

NOW, can AE fire him? I don't know, as I haven't seen the contract and can he fire (aka sue) AE if they choose to either cancel the show or NOT renew the show? Again, this is a matter of Contract. Offer, Acceptance and Consideration................(and breach).

As a practical matter, we can all debate whether Duck Commander should have just kept his mouth shut and went on with the show or AE should have just let this ride and made millions off of the family. Regardless, nowhere does the Constitution enter into what's going to happen on this issue. Its all a matter of Contract.

No one is debating whether he has a right to say what he did, as he most certainly does (as you and I also have a Constitutional right to Challenge his beliefs and statements). BUT please don't bring one of the greatest living documents ever drafted into an argument where it clearly does NOT belong.

This issue harkens back to two years ago with Charlie Sheen and Two and a Half Men and much earlier in 2003 when Natalie Maines couldn't keep her trap shut (one which she stated last year she does NOT regret) about President Bush. The blowback for all of them, including the two innocent Dixie Chicks was tremendous and its reported that her comments cost the band $$ millions of dollars (and its future for that matter). Remember, just because you can say it doesn't mean you should!!!

[olive]

you can't make this stuff up they are now saying the man who invented them created the show starredi In the movie fluffer it's about the gay porn industry ..,......CHICKS ROCK!

[becca]

"But he lumped us in with bestiality so politely!" Yeah, nothing personal, just judging people one doesn't know on something extremely personal.

Well, I don't know what it's like to be mentioned as a sin in the company of people desperate enough for a thrill to do things to unconsenting animals (judgement call of my own, true)... perhaps I am totally off base for thinking that would be pretty offensive and ignorant? I haven't actually conducted a survey you see, like the Duck fellow has of all black people in the south when he was a child in the 1960s. But since the bible is brought into this what is wrong with when someone makes public their judgements of large groups of people that many will judge that person right back?

Polite would be... "for me homosexuality would be a sin." Just speak for yourself. I don't know of any christianity that allows people to speak for God, so you can quote your translation and that's it, and mine doesn't say what this person's says, it says the very opposite a lot of times in many different ways.

[becca]

Oh yeah, I think if black people in the south are suddenly complaining a lot more these days it would be in places like Florida where they had to wait in line for many hours to vote, or in districts redrawn by one party to minimize the party they tend to support, or maybe it's when they are shot the non-black shooter getting set free and told to get another gun for protection?

Culture wars = no future.

Hate = no future.

Blaming the poor = defund birth control and ban abortion for the poor so there will be more to blame in the future?

[I'msoAfraid95]

i should have figured. Head line of a story on my nbc/abc station: Local church to capitalize on Duck Dynasty. Watch to find out what this Sunday's sermon is about.

[I'msoAfraid95]

Originally Posted by becca

Oh yeah, I think if black people in the south are suddenly complaining a lot more these days it would be in places like Florida where they had to wait in line for many hours to vote, or in districts redrawn by one party to minimize the party they tend to support, or maybe it's when they are shot the non-black shooter getting set free and told to get another gun for protection?

Culture wars = no future.

Hate = no future.

Blaming the poor = defund birth control and ban abortion for the poor so there will be more to blame in the future?

Conservative ideals make a lot of sense, don't they?

[chriskisn]

Originally Posted by I'msoAfraid95

Didn't Australia just legalize same sex marriage?

Nope. The Australian Capital Territory just legalised it, which was then challenged in the high court by the Australian federal government and overturned. So yeah, some people managed to get married for less than a week until the court decision annulled it.

[estranged4life]

when it comes to freedom of speech, I feel sorry for one character in particular: