In the past week we’ve heard stories about a
five year old playing army at school and being suspended for pointing his hand
in a way that was emulating a soldier with a weapon shooting at the enemy. We’ve
also heard of a school that edited out references to Jesus in the song “Silent Night”. The children
were not allowed to say certain words during the song lest it offend non
believers. Then there is the one that has generated the biggest headlines. Duck
Dynasty star Phil Robertson saying that he doesn’t believe that God sanctions
the gay lifestyle.
His comments appear in the January issue of
Gentleman’s Quarterly (GQ). You can read the entire story at http://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson.
I warn you up front that if you read this
article, it’s laced with foul language including the “f” word on several
occasions, but not by Robertson. It’s all by the writer. You also have to be
careful not to take the writers words as part of what Phil Robertson believes
or says. If you want Phil’s words, read the quotes. The writer put his own
interpretation into things said and the environment they are in for the
interview.
I have never watched the Duck Dynasty
television program so I know virtually nothing of what it’s all about other
than what I’ve read lately. I always thought that it was a hunting program and
while I have hunted and enjoyed hunting, watching on television as people sit
in a blind and whisper their tips and what they are seeing has never been a big
thrill for me.
The quote that has been the center of the
controversy is: “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.”
I want to look at the first five words of
this quote. “It seems like, TO ME”. In
the fourth and fifth words he is making it clear that it is HIS opinion. He
gets his opinion from his belief in God and what the bible says. Others may get
a different opinion but this is his opinion and he states that it is in his
first five words.
There is another quote in the article: “We never, ever judge someone on who’s going
to heaven, hell. That’s the Almighty’s job. We just love ’em, give ’em the good
news about Jesus—whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God
sort ’em out later, you see what I’m saying?”
There isn’t one place in the article with all
of the quotes by Phil Robertson or even the others in the family where they
condemn homosexuals or anyone else to hell.
So the gay group GLAAD came out with their
quote the day that the article was published. "Phil and his family claim to be Christian, but Phil's lies
about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe. He
clearly knows nothing about gay people or the majority of Louisianans — and
Americans — who support legal recognition for loving and committed gay and
lesbian couples. Phil's decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a
stain on A&E and his sponsors who now need to reexamine their ties to someone
with such public disdain for LGBT people and families."
Someone please tell me where are the lies? Is
the lie where he says “we just love em”?
Was his description of a gay mans
activities wrong? If his description of their activities is correct, shouldn’t
GLAAD be embarrassed for calling their own activities “vile and extreme? If we compare the truthfulness between
Robertsons quote and GLAADs quote, the lie appears to be coming from GLAAD. Their
quote is “He clearly knows nothing about
gay people or the majority of Louisianans-and Americans-who support legal
recognition for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples.”
Louisiana has a constitutional ban on gay
marriages. I believe it’s up to 34 states now where the people have voted
against gay marriages. Some are being overturned by the courts, but the people
have voted against it. So if we’re going to start calling things lies or
truths, I believe that GLAAD has stated the lies, not Robertson.
GLAAD immediately called on A&E (the
cable network carrying Duck Dynasty) to condemn Robertsons remarks. Later that
same day, A&E complied and then expressed their own opinion of the issue.
“We are extremely
disappointed to have read Phil Robertson’s comments in GQ, which are based on
his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series Duck Dynasty. His
personal views in no way reflect those of A+E Networks, who have always been
strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community. The network has placed
Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely.”
A&E
then went a step further and suspended Robertson indefinitely. As I understand
it, A&E is less than truthful in their statement as they say that Robertson’s
beliefs are not reflected in the series Duck Dynasty. From all that I’ve read,
they pray on the show, they give Christian values on the show. So their views
are reflected in the series.
One
more quote for you.
That is from the Constitution. It says that Congress shall make no law, and so far they haven’t made a law against the free exercise of religion nor abridging freedom of speech. However, it seems that A&E is perfectly willing to prevent freedom of speech and freedom of religion and most importantly using your freedom of speech to share your beliefs of your religion or your views on other topics, but in condemning Robertson for expressing his views, they offer a differing view. In other words, they are suspending Robertson giving their views in announcing the suspension for Robertson expressing his views that they admit they don’t agree with.
John
Podesta, on the very same day that the GQ article was published with Robertsons
quote, said that “Republicans are a cult worthy of Jonestown”. He apologized
for stating his beliefs and all is well with him.
Robertson
has not apologized for his views and I’m glad (no pun intended) of that. So
far, he has stood up for himself. Something we rarely see any longer.
I
still have no intention of watching Duck Dynasty. But I’m glad it’s out there.
If they are stating Christian values, that is something I wish my children
would watch rather than the crap that’s out there on television and in movie
theaters.
I
hope that the Robertsons find a way to resolve this without it turning into a
huge battle or angry words in public. So far, they don’t seem to be throwing
darts back at their detractors. It appears as though they are being the one set
of adults in the room.
By
the way, when I was a child, westerns were big on television. We used to play
cowboys and Indians in the back yard with mock fights and shootouts and we even
had our own toy holsters and toy guns. I also remember in grade school doing a
Christmas program where we sang Silent Night and Coming round the mountain.
Nobody edited it out and they even said “Merry Christmas” to each other at the
end of the program and nobody got offended.
With
the backlash that GLAAD is getting from this, which is the first time that I can
think of that happening, I’m glad this happened and maybe it will be the
catalyst for everyone minding their own business and allowing others to have
their own beliefs without being scorned or scolded by others. I’d rather have
the Robertsons as role models for my kids than GLAAD or A&E and if that
offends any of you, then feel free to fill out the complaint box. You can find
it on any liberal website you look at.
You’re
welcome to comment.
Brett
