A&E is intolerant...

[RDKirk]

No you are not. What is the point of freedom of speech if one can be stopped from speaking because someone felt harmed by what they said? Speech cannot cause literal damage to another person. The damage caused by someone else's speech is self inflicted. Who is the arbiter of whether a particular thing said is harmful. Should a Nazi feel harmed by being called a racist would it be proper to stop people from calling Nazis racists? Or Klansmen? .

There are civil state laws against slander and defamation of character.

 

[bhsmte]

If that's all that happened, I would agree, and this would all be sound and fury signifying nothing. However, they took it a step further, and "suspended" him for his opinion.

He said something they felt damaged their reputation and they needed to send a message it was not acceptable and they did.

Do you not think that A&E had attorney's look over his contract numerous times to determine they had the legal right to do what they did?

 

[mpok1519]

Phil can say whatever he wants.

The guys who pay him can also do what they want with their property, the tv show.

America.

Frankly, he could have spoken his mind a bit more tactfully. He could have simply stated he believes homosexuality to be immoral, without relating gays to people who have sex with animals.

 

[psalms 91]

There exceptions to Freedom of Speech outlined in Case law. Yelling fire in a movie theatre is a perfect example. Inciting violence or riots. Defamation, etc. All are exceptions to the Freedom of Speech law.

Well, I am also against that lifestyle so does that constitute defamation or yelling fire in a movie theater? As I said that is a dead network to me

 

[cow451]

seems to e that the first amendment just got trampled. They have no problem showing the gay lifestyle so why not opposing opinions? That is now a dead channel to me

And your freedom of speech allows you to express that opinion and state that you intend to watch other programming instead.

 

[psalms 91]

There are civil state laws against slander and defamation of character.

Since when is saying you are against something defamation? It is going to be that the truth of the bible will not be able to be preached, oh wait they are already working on that

 

[Metal Minister]

He said something they felt damaged their reputation and they needed to send a message it was not acceptable and they did.

Do you not think that A&E had attorney's look over his contract numerous times to determine they had the legal right to do what they did?

They may have had a contractual ability to, but as I said, it shows the weakness of the position held.

 

[RDKirk]

seems to e that the first amendment just got trampled. They have no problem showing the gay lifestyle so why not opposing opinions? That is now a dead channel to me

Are you saying that TBN should be showing positive programs about the gay lifestyle as an opposing opinion?

 

[KitKatMatt]

Phil can say whatever he wants.

The guys who pay him can also do what they want with their property, the tv show.

America.

Frankly, he could have spoken his mind a bit more tactfully. He could have simply stated he believes homosexuality to be immoral, without relating gays to people who have sex with animals.

Agreed.

Even my family, who holds a different view on homosexuality than me, found his choice of words incredibly tacky and crude. Especially when he starts talking about body parts and which ones he prefers.

If he had handled himself better, I don't think it would have turned out like this. Sure, people would have probably been mad over something he said (but who cares, there's always going to be someone who is angry)- it's possible that he wouldn't have gotten reprimanded by A&E though.

 

[psalms 91]

Phil can say whatever he wants.

The guys who pay him can also do what they want with their property, the tv show.

America.

Frankly, he could have spoken his mind a bit more tactfully. He could have simply stated he believes homosexuality to be immoral, without relating gays to people who have sex with animals.

And the bible says? Both are sins

 

[grasping the after wind]

If this guy said something as negative about christianity, the same exact thing would have happened to him. Some christians really need to get over this; persecution complex they have.

Show me the cases where such things have happened and I will believe you but I know of no one being fired or suspended for saying they don't like Christianity and can't understand it because it is obvious that this life is all there is or that Christians are guilty of crimes over the centuries so that proves it is a religion of hate or that religion is the cause of more evil in the world than all other causes put together. All these have been said by very public people but none has lead to suspension or firing that I know of. Nor would I wish it to.

What exactly did this man say about gays that was so much more negative than those? He says he doesn't understand it and that it is a sin. He may, though I am not sure of this, lump all the sins he mentioned together and say they are equally bad . So drunkards, adulterers and beast lovers are no different than homosexuals to him. That seems to be the gist of it. Did I miss something that was more negative than this?

He thinks it ought to be obvious that vaginas are more fun than anuses, Is that an insult?

Perhaps there are parts of the interview I have not seen or did not notice or perhaps I do not understand what about the things he said people find so extraordinarily offensive in comparison to things other people say on prime time television? I would really like to know the particulars of which statements he made are the most offensive ones and why they are considered so much more offensive than some of the things others say as to make him more deserving of ostracizing.

I understand that people do not like being compared to others that they feel they are better than, but if one complains about that sort of comparison isn't one being offensive to the adulterers, drunkards and beast lovers? I for one will not take offense if anyone tells me I am no better than a drunkard, adulterer or beast lover even though I do not indulge in any of those things. I won't take offense if people tell me this because it is the truth. I am not better than they are, just different.

 

[Metal Minister]

Are you saying that TBS should be showing positive programs about the gay lifestyle as an opposing opinion?

Can you name one they show that is negative to the gay lifestyle? http://www.tbs.com/schedule/

 

[psalms 91]

Are you saying that TBN should be showing positive programs about the gay lifestyle as an opposing opinion?

Oh come on, there are many shows that are positive to the lifestyle on many channels so why cant someone say that they oppose the lifestyle and call it sin? Do that and watch what happens, oh yeah we just did.

 

[bhsmte]

Agreed.

Even my family, who holds a different view on homosexuality than me, found his choice of words incredibly tacky and crude. Especially when he starts talking about body parts and which ones he prefers.

If he had handled himself better, I don't think it would have turned out like this. Sure, people would have probably been mad over something he said (but who cares, there's always going to be someone who is angry)- it's possible that he wouldn't have gotten reprimanded by A&E though.

As I have already said, if he would have stated something like; "what christian's believe is the equivalent of people believing in the tooth fairy", he also would have been suspended, because he would have offended a large portion of the US population.

 

[cow451]

That equates to "My freedom of speech ends where your nose begins." Freedom of speech does not imply anyone has the right not to hear something they don't agree with. It simply guarantees everyone has the right to say what they think.

And employers have the right to say what they think.

Example: "I am suspending you because you said something that does not reflect well, in my opinion, on your employer."

 

[durangodawood]

The US Constitution angle is such a ridiculous red-herring.... I'm embarrassed for you all who even invoke it.

The constitutions regulates the activities OF GOVERNMENT, not of private parties.

If you work in public-profile fields like entertainment, your employer may well demand you dont embarrass them by behaving like an ass. I dont like it. But its perfectly legal. I wont say its "constitutional" because that doesnt even make sense.

 

[Cearbhall]

If that's all that happened, I would agree, and this would all be sound and fury signifying nothing. However, they took it a step further, and "suspended" him for his opinion.

I was responding to your comment about GLAAD, not A&E.

 

[bhsmte]

The US Constitution angle is such a ridiculous red-herring.... I'm embarrassed for you all who even invoke it.

The constitutions regulates the activities OF GOVERNMENT, not of private parties.

If you work in public-profile fields like entertainment, your employer may well demand you dont embarrass them by behaving like an ass. I dont like it. But its perfectly legal. I wont say its "constitutional" because that doesnt even make sense.

This is what I have been saying, but some seem to insist, the constitution allows a person to say whatever they like, whenever they like and there are absolutely no consequences.

 

[Harry3142]

Both HLN News and Fox News had people on commenting concerning what Phil said. HLN had a gay rights activist on who stated flatout that Phil needed to abandon his beliefs and 'get in line' behind their agenda. Fox News had a woman on who stated that Phil needed to apologize to homosexuals for putting Scripture ahead of their agenda. And it is Scripture, not Phil, that identifies homosexuality as a sin:

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (I Corinthians 6:9-10,NIV)

Those of us who are conservative Christians accept this. We also accept that no one who is a Christian will engage in such activities. If the homosexuals object to it, that's their problem. Christianity will not subordinate itself to sinful desires, irregardless of the temper tantrums that are thrown by those who want their lusts put ahead of Scripture itself.

P.S: The other men on Duck Dynasty are Phil's sons. So A&E has in all likelihood lost a show that it was counting on to increase its audience, while Phil will continue to make millions of dollars from his patents.

 

[mpok1519]

Agreed.

Even my family, who holds a different view on homosexuality than me, found his choice of words incredibly tacky and crude. Especially when he starts talking about body parts and which ones he prefers.

If he had handled himself better, I don't think it would have turned out like this. Sure, people would have probably been mad over something he said (but who cares, there's always going to be someone who is angry)- it's possible that he wouldn't have gotten reprimanded by A&E though.

Right? AnE is not upset at what was said, but how it was said.