Phil Robertson suspended
 

I find this quite interesting actually.

First off here is a link to why http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/1...n_4465564.html

For anyone that cares, Phil Robertson is head of the duck call making millionaire family now with their own tv show. He was suspended from the tv show for the comments made in the above article.

But in my mind it begs the question that is it alright to be anti gay when you are using the bible as your reference. (Thats rhetorical btw its not right to be anti gay with any reasoning, but theres a bejillion (well not quite) people coming out in support of and agreeing with Mr Robertson, and likely noone will bat an eyelid because they are all god fearing bashers that are merely following what the good book says. To the point that people are openly defending his right to say that because of the whole freedom of speech thing aside from anything else. (which I also get btw)

But if on the other hand you take the bible out of it, and Phil and his followers were coming out and saying we hate gay because it's not normal. There would be an outcry.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

I haven't read his speech or whatever he said, I believe he said that being gay is not normal, I am not that bothered by that, and won't be loosing too much sleep over a few words spoken by a duck call maker.

But can I ask what ever happened to free speech? It's supose to be in the constitution or maybe it's just ok for some to say stuff, and not ok for others. Using the bible is neither here nor there, it's still his honest opinion period. Sort of a free speech if it is PC and checked out by the Gov first rule.

I don't agree with what he said, but I do agree he should be allowed to say it, same as the critics are saying he was wrong to say stuff, that's their use of their access to a free and open opinon granted in the free world.

Just to add, I had a read, so why did the paper even print what he said? I say they are just as much to blame for upsetting the gay and lesbians because if they would have said, we can't print that it's total bull crep then no one would be upset and we all be happy little peoples. No one would have known that he had these opinions would they!!!

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

He was allowed to say it. He said it and he's not in prison, ergo it's free speech. Your point is moot.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Hmm yeh, good point. He lost is job tho yeh? Or suspended for it.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

I've no idea who this bloke is or what he stands for, but apparently Sarah Palin (remember her) has jumped to his defense; so, based on this fact alone I believe it's safe to assume he's a twat.

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/12...ay-statements/

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Good article, Mandy, also the one linked beneath it on fans' reactions. I guess we'll find out what happens next year. Although many fortunes are at stake the family is already rich, so doesn't alsolutely need the show. There was no mention of the rest of the family, so we don't know if Phil's fundamentalism is shared or what pressure he may come under from them, but as the article says there isn't enough conservative support to drive the ratings and A&E can't chance it anyway, plus they have all next year except for one episode already in the can. If what they've produced but not aired becomes unusable because of this, (unlikely though that is) and millions and millions head for the drain, A&E is still big enough to take the hit.
I don't think the viewers would buy a half-baked retraction from Phil, (the predicted response). The Dali Lama got away with it though, softening his stance that homosexuality is a abberation totallly incompatible with Buddhism, to homosexuality is a lifestyle that is not appropriate for a Buddhist priest,but that all are accepted as followers. A&E must be scrambling like crazy to save the work they've already done.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

If he'd been gay himself and started with "start with heterosexual behaviour and work out from there" what would have been the result?

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

No idea? What do you think of it and what if he did do what you said, have you got an opinion on this or not?

I have to say that Mr Jones has his MO down perfect.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Since A & E is not the government, they have every right to restrict who and what is said on their network, freedom of speech only applies to to the government creating laws restricting 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."

One has the freedom of speech from being restricted by the government, but private entities have the right to restrict it, be it on their TV shows or elsewhere.

Same reason forums such as this can moderate and delete opinions that don't mesh with the rules of the forum.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

He's a conservative on TV. It would be more newsworthy if he had said he had a gay couple as friends.

God Bless America.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

I've never paid much attention to this before but I'm curious is to why there a tv programme about a family of tramps? Is it some sort of postmodern ironic voyeurism for the student/clubbing crowd?

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Given his background and beliefs nothing he said is particularly surprising. The TV Network obviously was surprised for some reason...

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Just saw the full AP article and see the family is behind him, and say they won't play without him, which makes me wonder if a less savoury network like Fox or some rogue satellite channel could pick them up. When you top the ratings there's so much money involved...

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

This really suprises me that a fire and brimstone lay preacher from the deep south(there are videos out there) quotes the bible and upsets people,,NOT.
I also read the media were bringing up quotes out of context about in his words blacks picking cotton,,,but when you read the article phil was also in the fields hoeing /picking cotton alongside his sharecropper neighbours.
seems to me the paper asked the questions knowing that publicity /outcry would sell more papers.
jimmy

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Nobody is infringing on his right to free speech (a right which is not without reasonable limits) in any way. He is free to say whatever he wants. But A&E is also just as free to remove him from the show.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Suspending him was a financial decision by the network because they didn't want pressure put on advertisers who then might pull their ads from the show and thus cost the network money.

But that pressure goes both ways as was demonstrated when Christian groups decided that they didn't like the show GCB (otherwise known as Good Christian B**ches) and put immense pressure on advertisers to pull their ads from the show. Instead of just not watching something they didn't like they decided that nobody else should be allowed to watch it either. But now that the shoe is on the other foot it is somehow an attack on free speech? Hypocrisy at its best.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

I've never watched the show as I dislike all so called 'reality TV' but they are not tramps. They have had a family business for years which makes and distributes various hunting products (duck calls, etc.) and they were multimillionaires before they ever appeared on the show.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Thank you for that. When I opened the thread I was wondering "rugby? ice hockey? golliwog?"

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Awesome TV show - political correctness gone mad! I don't share the same opinion as him but it doesn't bother me that they are his views.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Scalia Calls “Duck Dynasty” Decision Unconstitutional


http://www.newyorker.com/online/blog...tcid=obnetwork

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

It's a slippery slope don't you know

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Except that he is not being stopped from expressing his views. He is free to express them and A&E are free to fire him. But even after being fired he can still express those views.

And this little clip shows just what those views are:

http://www.heavy.com/entertainment/2...eo-homophobia/

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

I think the NYer article was tongue-in-cheek.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

I didn't read it...having an issue with links at the moment (downloaded an ad-on for my browser and things have been weird since I did).

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

So much this :goodpost:

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

You mean the part at the bottom where it says 'Get all the fake news delivered to your inbox by The Borowitz Report':D

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

:rofl:

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

But surely this is the problem with this type of tripe? It's a N. American version of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding...terrible lowest denominator rubbish, but fine viewed from the back of a cushion....then some sad group of souls start to identify with 'em, and they are suddenly 'heros' and we have to live with their ghastly homespun ramblings.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

I take it that you have never watched it. The comments being discussed were not stated during the show.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

No, I did know the views wern't on the show, because I saw all the furore about it in the news and then looked it up. However, had the man not been on the show, nobody would have asked him for his views or been in the slightest bit interested.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

I just now watched a piece on CNN. Never, until now, ever heard of this guy. CNN pointed out he is not only anti-homosexual, but against adulterers as a well and in essence is abiding by scripture.

So why has the spotlight been on homosexuality?

(my apologies for asking a stooooooooopid question)

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Being gay isn't a choice people make. As opposed to being ignorant, which is a choice that you can make.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Jamesmc pointed out that controversy sells more papers, and I can't fault the logic. It's dollar driven and maybe A&E didn't see it coming. I've only seen a little bit of the show because I don't get A&E but I liked My Big Redneck Vacation on CMT. What I saw of DD didn't impress me that much, truth be told, and I can't stand any Fear Factor, Survivor, Amazing Race, Wipe Out type of nonsense and absolutely no Heartland.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

alan2005

have you looked in the mirror of late?

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Is this sarcasm?

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

no, this time I am dead serious

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

'being gay' as you term it is only one aspect

Pressed to give his own definition of sin, he first suggested homosexuality, then added: "Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men."

"Don't be deceived," he continued. "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."

this is from the bbc report

Fact is he was not exclusively speaking of homosexuals, but an entire list of people, in accordance with his beliefs in the scriptures. The basic point I was making, and you seem to have a problem comprehending, was that he was not only referring to homosexuals.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Not too many of them have 'pressure groups'.
Perhaps that's why the complaints are only about the one part of his rant?

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

That is what struck me also and that was precisely the point being made this evening on CNN.

So this begs the question: Why is 'gay-bashing', even it is true in this case, invoked so often? His latest rant speaks volumes but the one sided reaction to it does also.

Re: Phil Robertson suspended
 

Is this sarcasm?