Okay, so I had to bring it up. What do you all think of Phil Robertson being suspended over his comments in GQ?
His comments on homosexuality: "It seems like, to me, a vagina -- as a man -- would be more desirable than a man's anus," Robertson told GQ. "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."
"Everything is blurred on what's right and what's wrong. Sin becomes fine," he later added. "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."
His comments on race: "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 hoed 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!... Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues."
The whole interview: http://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson#ixzz2oRrkXOPX
A&E is a company that makes a habit of not letting their stance on Homosexuality and race issues be known. They're a private company that has the right to also terminate controversial people they no longer want to pay. As far as free speech is concerned, I don't think they should fire him. But I love the outrage that comes out when a Christian is taken to task for ignorant statements, then a war breaks lose. God forbid anyone speaks out against the troops, our history of global espionage and imperialism. That person is "unamerican" and should be killed for treason. I have no sympathy for any of the duck dynasty or the political right. Stage a protest at Chik-fil-a, another ignorant, divisive, useless enstablishment.
Quote from: ConanEdo on December 24, 2013, 09:32:09 PM
My personal reaction: "A redneck said something that could be construed as bigoted? Who could have seen that coming?" I don't give a .poo. and if other people don't care they should just not tune in.
This, completely! I haven't even looked into this topic, but I've heard complaints. What did people expect his views to be? 😑
That's why I'm emigrating as soon as possible leave the U.S. and go somewhere my political views are accepted. Russia :)
Freedom of speech, freedom of religion.
They'll just suspend him because the seasons already shot, and they will not shoot for the next season for a couple months. In that time in which he is suspended, they won't be shooting anything, and they will bring him back just in time for the next seasons shooting saying he has "learned his lesson"
Quote from: Dudecore on December 24, 2013, 09:28:24 PM
A&E is a company that makes a habit of not letting their stance on Homosexuality and race issues be known. They're a private company that has the right to also terminate controversial people they no longer want to pay. As far as free speech is concerned, I don't think they should fire him. But I love the outrage that comes out when a Christian is taken to task for ignorant statements, then a war breaks lose. God forbid anyone speaks out against the troops, our history of global espionage and imperialism. That person is "unamerican" and should be killed for treason. I have no sympathy for any of the duck dynasty or the political right. Stage a protest at Chik-fil-a, another ignorant, divisive, useless enstablishment.
I laughed do hard at this.
Quote from: Dudecore on December 24, 2013, 09:28:24 PM
A&E is a company that makes a habit of not letting their stance on Homosexuality and race issues be known. They're a private company that has the right to also terminate controversial people they no longer want to pay. As far as free speech is concerned, I don't think they should fire him. But I love the outrage that comes out when a Christian is taken to task for ignorant statements, then a war breaks lose. God forbid anyone speaks out against the troops, our history of global espionage and imperialism. That person is "unamerican" and should be killed for treason. I have no sympathy for any of the duck dynasty or the political right. Stage a protest at Chik-fil-a, another ignorant, divisive, useless enstablishment.
*tips fedora*
It's all freedom of speech and expressing yourself until a Christian comes along, then it is bigotry... Honestly, he can feel however he wants on the subject and it is his right to and I don't believe A&E should have suspended him for telling them what he thought, but frankly, I don't even think Phil gives a .poo.
Quote from: ConanEdo on December 24, 2013, 10:55:30 PM
Quote from: IceScythe on December 24, 2013, 10:52:30 PM
It's all freedom of speech and expressing yourself until a Christian comes along, then it is bigotry... Honestly, he can feel however he wants on the subject and it is his right to and I don't believe A&E should have suspended him for telling them what he thought, but frankly, I don't even think Phil gives a .poo.
Please, don't even try to play the persecuted Christian card in a post-colonial, western-dominated age. As for pulling him off the air, this is how capitalism works kid, he is seen as a financial liability and gets canned.
Don't talk down to me Conan, we're all friends here. And as I said, I don't really think Phil cares that he was pulled off. He most certainly doesn't need the publicity or the money.
Quote from: Necromancerman on December 24, 2013, 09:59:42 PM
That's why I'm emigrating as soon as possible leave the U.S. and go somewhere my political views are accepted. Russia :)
Because Russia is doing wonderful.
Russia is a bastion of free speech.
Certain segment of the Christian base (the majority) does not approve of homosexuality. So they want to hide behind "freedom of religion" (not a right btw) and freedom of speech. It's no shocker that this is something that is testing the boundaries of free speech. It checks everything off the list: Christian persecution complex, celebrity worship, Atheist/Marxist/intellectual enemies. I'm sure most would sooner defend some morons "right" to be a bigot long before they read the constitution they believe protects that stupidity.
Russia is a craphole dude. Sure not all, but 99.999999999% of it is a barren war zone.
Free speech is totally allowed in Russia
Just ask Pussy Riot...oh wait
Not to mention their strict anti-homosexuality laws.
Free speech is 100% allowed in America, that's one of the things that make it great. It's also the reason Phil Robertson is not in jail. He is entitled to his opinion. But on the flip side, the duck dynasty show is his job that is paid for by A&E, he said things publicly that his employer is not ok with, therefore he was fired. The same exact thing that would happen to you, me, or the next guy that said something offensive in front of customers. Yes, we have the right to free speech, but that does not make it so that we are not responsible for what comes out of our mouth. Just my view on the subject.
Well said, Wingnut.
I think Phil Robertson needs to take advice from Mackelmore:
"America the brave still fears what we don't know
And God loves all his children, is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written thirty-five-hundred years ago" -Same Love, by Mackelmore and Lewis
Grass is always greener on the other side when your opinionated.
And neither side will win. So save yourself the friendships and focus on the common ground.
And I really hope you don't take this the wrong way but since when was popular culture icons, hip hop stars, and movie stars the ideal place to start takong advice and mentorship from...
Quote from: Gorzo on December 25, 2013, 01:01:42 PM
Well said, Wingnut.
Thank you, thank you. Try the veal.
The way he worded himself was vile and lacked respect. His employer was completely within their rights to suspend him. Unfortunately, I doubt he will learn anything from it.
Also, what he expressed was hatred hidden behind the veil of religion. Pretty pathetic, IMO. If he's going to be a bigoted .rearexit., that's totally on him, he's just giving god a bad name because he wants to justify his asinine beliefs.
EDIT: part of the interview that was particularly offensive to me.
"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,"
First let me say that I have no problem with what he said, how he said it, or what happened to him for saying it. I think he should be able to say whatever he wants. Just as I believe that his employer should be able to fire/suspend him for those statements. What I find fascinating is the hypocrisy. If A&E fired some person for making a gay statement, even if that statement was unbecoming to A&E as a company, the outcry would not be the same. I think there is a double standard. If your beliefs are not part of the mainstream, then you must be wrong, right? Fifty years ago gays were persecuted because being gay was not mainstream and nowadays anybody who believes that being gay is wrong is persecuted. All the same, Robertson's beliefs are his and his alone. He can believe anything he wants. Tell anybody what he believes. Just as you and I can believe anything we want and tell anybody what we believe.
Quote from: ConanEdo on December 25, 2013, 05:15:19 PM
It's not mainstream, it's recognizing biological prederelictions for what they are, instead of interpreting them through some document written over 3000 years ago.
Just because something is right, it doesn't mean it isn't mainstream. Regardless of personnel belief (I have no problem with homosexuality btw), if someone disagrees with the gay lifestyle then they are torn apart by the media. I just don't think that is right.
Even if you don't agree with homosexuality, why does it matter if someone is gay? It has literally no affect over your life. The "well I have to explain it to my kids" excuse is stupid. I know no one here has said it but I hear it often and I'm tired of hearing it.
In the words of Louis CK: "Two men or women shouldn't get married because you don't want to talk to your ugly kid for five minutes?"
As for the Phil Robertson thing. Freedom of speech is not freedom from responsibility. As stated above, if I blow up on a customer, I have to deal with the blow back. That's on me. It's the same with A&E.
Quote from: Mikefrompluto on December 25, 2013, 06:51:05 PM
Even if you don't agree with homosexuality, why does it matter if someone is gay? It has literally no affect over your life. The "well I have to explain it to my kids" excuse is stupid. I know no one here has said it but I hear it often and I'm tired of hearing it.
In the words of Louis CK: "Two men or women shouldn't get married because you don't want to talk to your ugly kid for five minutes?"
As for the Phil Robertson thing. Freedom of speech is not freedom from responsibility. As stated above, if I blow up on a customer, I have to deal with the blow back. That's on me. It's the same with A&E.
Couldn't agree more. It does work both ways though. Even if you agree with homosexuality, why does it matter if someone is against someone being gay? It has literally no effect over your life. If I go off on my boss or go off about something that is detrimental to my company, I expect to be fired. Anyone who doesn't expect it is crazy.
Quote from: Tonygrabowski4 on December 25, 2013, 07:07:47 PM
Quote from: Mikefrompluto on December 25, 2013, 06:51:05 PM
Even if you don't agree with homosexuality, why does it matter if someone is gay? It has literally no affect over your life. The "well I have to explain it to my kids" excuse is stupid. I know no one here has said it but I hear it often and I'm tired of hearing it.
In the words of Louis CK: "Two men or women shouldn't get married because you don't want to talk to your ugly kid for five minutes?"
As for the Phil Robertson thing. Freedom of speech is not freedom from responsibility. As stated above, if I blow up on a customer, I have to deal with the blow back. That's on me. It's the same with A&E.
Couldn't agree more. It does work both ways though. Even if you agree with homosexuality, why does it matter if someone is against someone being gay? It has literally no effect over your life. If I go off on my boss or go off about something that is detrimental to my company, I expect to be fired. Anyone who doesn't expect it is crazy.
That's the thing though. People being anti-gay does affect other people's lives. Look at gay marriage. Still illegal in a large part of the US. I highly doubt pro-gay people are the reason gay people can't get married.
Quote from: Agrus Kos, Enforcer of Truth on December 25, 2013, 01:07:55 PM
I think Phil Robertson needs to take advice from Mackelmore:
"America the brave still fears what we don't know
And God loves all his children, is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written thirty-five-hundred years ago" -Same Love, by Mackelmore and Lewis
Except he never said we shouldn't love all people and he wasn't paraphrasing.
Was it necessary to word it the way he did or even answer the qurstion in that manner? No, but that doesn't change that he was speaking his beliefs and the belief of his faith, which people should have expected...
The point here isn't an argument but if you ask a devout Christian what is right and wrong, homosexuality will show up as one thing on the list. You can agree or disagree on the topic and how you feel about the Christian faith but that's not the point.
If A&E wants to suspend him and it's within their contractual right they can, but in doing so they run the risk of losing the show and pissing off probably most of the people who watch it.
Quote from: Mikefrompluto on December 25, 2013, 07:13:35 PM
Quote from: Tonygrabowski4 on December 25, 2013, 07:07:47 PM
Quote from: Mikefrompluto on December 25, 2013, 06:51:05 PM
Even if you don't agree with homosexuality, why does it matter if someone is gay? It has literally no affect over your life. The "well I have to explain it to my kids" excuse is stupid. I know no one here has said it but I hear it often and I'm tired of hearing it.
In the words of Louis CK: "Two men or women shouldn't get married because you don't want to talk to your ugly kid for five minutes?"
As for the Phil Robertson thing. Freedom of speech is not freedom from responsibility. As stated above, if I blow up on a customer, I have to deal with the blow back. That's on me. It's the same with A&E.
Couldn't agree more. It does work both ways though. Even if you agree with homosexuality, why does it matter if someone is against someone being gay? It has literally no effect over your life. If I go off on my boss or go off about something that is detrimental to my company, I expect to be fired. Anyone who doesn't expect it is crazy.
That's the thing though. People being anti-gay does affect other people's lives. Look at gay marriage. Still illegal in a large part of the US. I highly doubt pro-gay people are the reason gay people can't get married.
I wasn't talking about the anti-gay party. I was talking about those who, like myself, don't agree with homosexuality, but who also don't really care if someone is gay. IMO homosexuality is wrong, but if you want to practice it, more power to you. I don't really care how you live your life. If I offended anybody with my comments, I am sorry.
Quote from: Tonygrabowski4 on December 25, 2013, 07:07:47 PM
I wasn't talking about the anti-gay party. I was talking about those who, like myself, don't agree with homosexuality, but who also don't really care if someone is gay. IMO homosexuality is wrong, but if you want to practice it, more power to you. I don't really care how you live your life. If I offended anybody with my comments, I am sorry.
I see. Well I, for one, don't care what someone thinks or believes unless they're shoving it down someone's throat. Live and let live, yo.
Quote from: Mikefrompluto on December 25, 2013, 07:40:07 PM
Quote from: Tonygrabowski4 on December 25, 2013, 07:07:47 PM
I wasn't talking about the anti-gay party. I was talking about those who, like myself, don't agree with homosexuality, but who also don't really care if someone is gay. IMO homosexuality is wrong, but if you want to practice it, more power to you. I don't really care how you live your life. If I offended anybody with my comments, I am sorry.
I see. Well I, for one, don't care what someone thinks or believes unless they're shoving it down someone's throat. Live and let live, yo.
Yep. Well said. Live and let live.
Is being straight something you "practice" as well?
Quote from: Moneekahh on December 25, 2013, 08:33:46 PM
Is being straight something you "practice" as well?
Lol, as often as I can. Sorry, couldn't resist.
Quote from: Moneekahh on December 25, 2013, 08:33:46 PM
Is being straight something you "practice" as well?
I do. I think you know what I meant by that, btw. 😛
Quote from: Wingnut on December 25, 2013, 12:39:34 PM
Free speech is 100% allowed in America, that's one of the things that make it great. It's also the reason Phil Robertson is not in jail. He is entitled to his opinion. But on the flip side, the duck dynasty show is his job that is paid for by A&E, he said things publicly that his employer is not ok with, therefore he was fired. The same exact thing that would happen to you, me, or the next guy that said something offensive in front of customers. Yes, we have the right to free speech, but that does not make it so that we are not responsible for what comes out of our mouth. Just my view on the subject.
Agreed. Couldn't say it better myself- though, minor part, you can't say whatever you want. If you say something potentially very painful, you can go to jail.
Example: I'm whipping a huge crowd into a frenzy and their rioting, and I shout "Go kill that black kid over there!" If they do it or are likely to do it I can go to jail for murder, as I started te chain reAction
Example: I'm robbing a bank and a cop finds me. I start running, he shoots, he misses and kills a civilian, I can be arrested for murder, as I started the chain. ;)
But otherwise Wingnut wrapped it up. 👍 I'd give you one more karma if I had enough posts lol
Ps: the veal was great but I preferred the salted pork. ;)