Duck Dynasty – A Win For Civil Libertarians

Duck Dynasty

A&E Reinstates Phil Robertson

Late Friday night A&E announced that is was going to resume filming the show with family patriarch Phil Robertson:

(CNN) — Little more than a week after it suspended “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson for incendiary remarks about homosexuality, the cable channel A&E said Friday that it would include him in future tapings of the reality television show, effectively lifting the suspension amid a flurry of petitions in support of Robertson.

I’ve stated many ties that I am a firm believer in the concept that people enter into relationships voluntarily and that they may exit those relationships at their discretion.  For example, if I take a job and begin to grow out my hair -I have hair down to my mid back- I should feel free to do so.  However, if my employer doesn’t like her employees to have long hair, she should be free to terminate my employment.

I have no problem with A&E terminating Phil Robertson for his hair, his beard, his age, his religion or his general redneckiness.

But we don’t like in my world – we live in a world where people have been granted civil liberties.  And one of those liberties is the protection of religion.  I may not hire or fire someone based on their religion.

And Phil was.  He was fired for his fundamental Christian beliefs.  There isn’t anyone who thought that he would have answered in any other way than he did when asked about his feeling towards homosexuality.  None.

And as much as I disagree with Phil, and agree with A&E’s right to fire him, the rules of this real world don’t support their decision.

Now, I’m also not so naive to think that A&E backed down due to some noble adherence to law; no – make no mistake about it, they backed down because without Phil they lose 14 million viewers and the money that goes from “Duck Dynasty” to “Duck Commander”.

Phil wins, for the wrong reason, and I lose.

16 responses to “Duck Dynasty – A Win For Civil Libertarians

  1. They never were going to fire him – this was clear from the start. They were treading a PR line of needing to do something but not hurting a show that makes them a lot of money. What’s funny is the emotion that so many people put into this, even though the end result was pretty well known in advance. If you looked at the wording he was never really fired – I don’t think anyone expected him not to come back. Just spectacle!

    • Just spectacle!

      In fact, it may have been planned. A&E had a rep present during the interview — they certainly knew what he had been saying long before the interview hit.

      • Oh yeah, it wasn’t even well hidden. I think a lot of the outrage was manufactured by media types who use emotion to try to gain listeners. I suspect, though, he’ll think twice before making those kind of comments again. I still think the whole thing was silly – I’m 100% in favor of gay rights and gay marriage, our culture is clearly headed there. But the outrage over his comments was a bit over the top, this is a culture in transition after all. That means its natural for old views to persist quite awhile. I have nothing against him even if I disagree with his position.

        • I think a lot of the outrage was manufactured by media types who use emotion to try to gain listeners.

          Clearly true.

          I suspect, though, he’ll think twice before making those kind of comments again.

          My views are different than his, however, I doubt he’ll edit his content much. After talking to folks I’ve discovered that most people are okay with his personal view, but that the comparison to bestiality was too far. Maybe he can temper that kinda stupidity.

          I’m 100% in favor of gay rights and gay marriage

          Yup – me too. However, that’s a legal distinction. As far as the theological debate – that’s still out there. If homosexuality is a sin, I equate it to premarital sex.

    • “They never were going to fire him – this was clear from the start.”

      Evidently it wasn’t, or you would have said so before instead of engaging in partisan gainsaying, like a child, just like you’re pretending to have predictive powers after-the-fact here, also like a child.

  2. Well, I’m glad it worked-out in the end. That is the chief virtue of capitalism: it subordinates politics, which is why Leftism (aka politics) can only ever be a parasite. 🙂

    • I’m liking this guy more and more. 🙂 Sex realism is in, folks, Progressive lies are on their way out. Times are changing.

      • Actually the culture wars are over and the libertarians have totally defeated the social conservatives. That’s why gay marriage is spreading so fast, when 15 years ago it was seen as too much even by liberals. The real battle now is over just how economically libertarian the system should be.

        • The real battle now is over just how economically libertarian the system should be.

          It’s just a TV show, but I’ve been watching “West Wing”. In it, the democrats are jumpy on gay rights (marriage) and “hate crimes”.

          “Of course the crime is horrible, I’m just not sure if we wanna legislate what people think.”

        • You really should have a better understanding about what I’m referring to before trying to refute it with a stock oblique talking point. You’ll appear less foolish in the future.

      • I can never tell if you’re a horrible person or just enjoy playing one on the Internet. I hope it’s the latter.

    • Great quote from Anne Marie Cox of The Guardian: “Know what? If you had told me, a month ago, that the Christian Right would have a strong reaction to a bearded religious zealot in a headscarf urging men to take child brides, I’d have believed that.” She also has a good point on how this could hurt the right: some of what this guy has said is downright bizarre, and could be an image problem if embraced by conservatives: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/01/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson-child-brides

      • Sorry, Phil is old news now. Astroturfing feigned outrage over this guy will go nowhere, and your betters in the Inner party know it, so they won’t even try.

  3. Oh, and before I forget, let’s destroy that “both sides do it!” meme utterly with this handy rundown of recent purges:

    http://handleshaus.wordpress.com/2013/12/26/bullied-and-badgered-pressured-and-purged/

    Enjoy! 🙂

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