Hi! I was thinking about this today and I decided to ask because you always give educated, well thought out responses. I was wondering if you had heard of the Duck Dynasty escapade and what you thought about that if you had. Obviously the person they interviewed was being very offensive toward LGBT people (and people in general, based on the other things he said in that interview) but I'm mostly curious as to if you think A&E had a right to put him on probation. Thanks. :)
I heard of it from my brother and so I looked up what happened and what was said and personally, I think A&E took the perfect approach in all honesty. Anti-gay sentiments and opinions are not only insulting, ignorant, uneducated, but just plain bigoted and wrong and those types of opinions only further perpetuate intolerance and inequality for the LGBTQ community. Bigoted messages are harmful and damaging to a social atmosphere in which underprivileged people are trying desperately to gain footing and equal rights and social status. By removing Phil Robertson from future filming, A&E has sent out a clear cut message that says they do not tolerate bigotry or discrimination against the Queer community. And that is the right thing to do. If more organizations would provide consequences to their employees who show clear homophobia and blatant bigotry towards oppressed people who are fighting for their rights, then maybe we'd be more steps ahead in gaining equality for the Queer community. There's no issue of impeding anyone's free speech here, like some are arguing. He implemented his right to free speech and he was never arrested for saying what he said. He hasn't had any of his rights impeded upon. He is simply reaping the social consequences of his ignorant and rather hurtful and insulting statements. You have the right to free speech, no doubt. But freedom of speech doesn't guarantee that you can say anything you want and not face some consequences, like losing one's job or facing scorn from the public. It means you can say whatever you like, no matter how idiotic and homophobic it is, and you will not be arrested for it. That's it.
