I have never watched the show DUCK DYNASTY even though
friends and family have highly recommended the show; it just looks stupid to me
but how should I know since I don’t watch the damn thing.
Anyway, a big brouhaha has developed from statements the
elder duck (Phil Robertson) gave to GQ Magazine during an interview.
Yes the statements and views were highly homophobic
(anti-gay) and even, according to a few people, racist. He is after all, a
Bible thumping product of his generational and geographical upbringing.
People and organizations were quick to condemn his views and
the A&E channel that airs the show even “suspended” him from the show.
Just as quickly, people and organizations came out in
support of his right to say whatever the hell he wants to (free speech anyone?)
I have never understood why people who utter things thought
of as “inappropriate” in “today’s” society are not only criticized by people
that are offended by the words / ideas put forth (which is quite acceptable) but
also punished or banished for expressing their views as in Phil Robertson’s
case.
I will admit that ole’ Phil said things that are totally
ignorant and offensive with the emphasis on ignorant, but he is only one person
out of a huge portion of our population (40%?) that believes exactly what he
believes and that includes people I call friends and family members.
My wife agrees with those that condemned Phil for what he
said and said that people like that need to know there are consequences for
what they say and do…really?
I will agree that there are consequences for public figures
that show their ignorant bigotry publicly. Politicians may not get re-elected after
uttering ignorant things or behaving badly. People may quit watching the Duck
show or quit buying Duck paraphernalia and thereby hurting the Ducks
economically because of what they say or believe in but should a TV show or
network automatically punish and banish a celebrity for what he or she said
outside the show…like Paula Deen?
Many companies are fearful of what the public may do to them
if they do nothing about something an employee of theirs said or did and I can
understand that they do not want to be labelled as supporting that type of
thinking and therefore lose money as a business that exists to make money.
This will be a hard decision for the A&E Channel to make
since the show does bring in lots of money but it is their decision to make.
I on the other hand, grudgingly in some cases, support
people’s right to free speech no matter how offensive as long as it is within
legal limits; pose no danger or harm to anyone.
There will be consequences for what these people say and do
but I think that is up to the public to decide and not some blowhards (from
either side).
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