For those that haven't heard, Phil Robertson of the popular show Duck Dynasty was recently suspended from the show over an uproar stemming from comments (albeit colorful comments) that he made that were taken as anti-gay. (He also made some comments, which I would have thought would be found to be more offensive stating that black people were happier under Jim Crow times, pre-entitlement and welfare. But alas, shockingly it's the "I believe homosexuality is wrong" stuff that's got everyone going crazy.)
I am not here to go on a philosophical debate about homosexuality. I want to discuss the right to an opinion. In this country, it is completely alright for people to have asinine opinions you people disagree with. This isn't Iran where you are cast as a pariah for believing the Holocaust existed. People probably think some of my moral views are askew, but in this country, we have a right to those opinions, so long as nobody is harmed by them. That being said, there is absolutely no way Mr. Robertson's bigoted views could harm anybody. He's a person on a television show. He's not enacting legislation. He's not going to be cited by the court's as if he was Dean Prosser on Torts or Blackstone or the Restatements of the Law. He has influence, yes, but not enough for it to affect anybody. People should mind their own business. It's 2013. Spouting off an unpopular, potentially bigoted opinion doesn't cause anyone harm the way it did 50-60 years ago.
Honestly, why are people surprised at Mr. Robertson's comments? The show he is on is very southern, good ol' boy, influenced. I am surprised I don't see a Confederate flag every episode just being flown around. That being said, the south is not known for its progressive views. The fact that a man who looks like the lost member of ZZ Top said that he has a problem with homosexuality should not come as a shock. As a matter of fact, I personally would be more shocked if he said "Yea. Homosexuals are fine. I actually officiated a couple gay weddings up there in 'Frisco." Either way, all he did was go on a publicity interview (one which I would guess was set up by A&E), was asked a question, and gave an honest opinion. Nothing more.
On the other side, A&E does have a corollary right to protect its brand. While I agree with Mr. Robertson's right to speak his mind, speaking your mind does come with its private consequences. A&E is a business and Mr. Robertson is an employee. A&E has a right to reprimand an employee detrimental to the brand. If I was in a workplace and was going around calling co-workers derogatory comments, I would expect a reprimand (if not immediate dismissal). I am harming the company at that point. Mr. Robertson's comments was harming A&E. I can guarantee that A&E was facing the threat of losing sponsors. A show cannot run with Chick-fil-A as the only sponsor. Also, Duck Dynasty is billed as a family show. Mr. Robertson's colourful comments about preferring a "vagina" to a "man's anus" harms the family-friendly image that A&E is trying to build up for the show.
Simply put, in this Duck Dynasty situation, which has been blown out of proportion, there are no bad guys. Simply people utilizing their rights.
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