It appears that Daddy Duck is back on the show.
The timing of the controversy had little impact on the television show. It wasn’t filming when A&E issued the suspension, and the new season — which premieres Jan. 15 — was already completed.
Along with the announcement on Robertson’s reinstatement Friday, A&E said it will launch a public-service campaign attached to the controversy. “We will also use this moment to launch a national public service campaign (PSA) promoting unity, tolerance and acceptance among all people,” according to the statement. “A message that supports our core values as a company, and the values found in ‘Duck Dynasty.’ ”
Stop! If you stand for “unity, tolerance and acceptance among all people” then you don’t stand for the values found in Duck Dynasty. A & E has lost it. Do they think we are all stupid?
Why not just be honest and announce that the network is caving because 12 million of its viewers aren’t offended by Daddy Duck saying that an entire group of people are an abomination and that the same 12 million viewers also aren’t offended by the suggestion that black people were happy before civil rights. Of course, A & E caved in the past also. Dawg the Bounty Hunter (the person) was also reinstated.
Let’s face it. The timing sucked for A & E. The filming for this season’s Duck Dynasty was nearly complete. Not much they could do with a whole season of Duck Dynasty with Daddy Duck who was suspended, right there in the middle of it all
Now let’s discuss stupid remarks. I don’t care what someone’s religion tells them. People in public lives need to not cross the line when speaking of others. It’s just good manners. I honestly don’t know anyone who defines their religion by how it feels about gays, one way or the other. If Daddy Duck doesn’t have a speech about how his faith feels about gays, he had better get a real good version worked up real fast. He can stick to his faith and simply avoid being offensive. Start with “my faith tells me that marriage is defined by the union of one man and one woman only.” There. Issue covered. Nothing offensive has been said. Not everyone will agree but Daddy hasn’t offended anyone.
A & E needs to get a lot smarter. Daddy Duck needs to get a lot smarter. Now seriously, had anyone ever heard of Duck Dynasty before this controversy?
It was hypocritical to begin with. A&E had just finished taping the latest season and Phil was on those tapes….They weren’t about to cancel those shows.
Its nice to see that A&E is respecting religious freedom and opinion and supporting the values of its viewers.
The problem is that GLAAD will find “my faith tells me that marriage is defined by the union of one man and one woman only.” to be offensive. So he might as well tell the truth and when asked….answer truthfully.
Yes….apparently 12 million people, including myself had heard of the show. I’ve watched it one and half times.
The script I suggested was truthful.
Cargo, what you are missing is that what he did say was offensive on so many levels. Actually, what he said about blacks was even more offensive than what he said about gays, to many people.
Do you know what the objectives of GLAAD even are? Check out what the name stands for: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
To say a group is an abomination pretty much fits the defamation definition.
Check out their website and learn a little about the group’s accomplishments over the years. http://www.glaad.org/about/history
I seriously doubt that you are in the position to know how GLAAD would handle “My faith tells me….”
They are certainly no more militant than the NRA. I would say less so. Why do you begrudge an organization going to bat for its members, representing their interests? GLAAD is a media watchdog for LBGT community.
So far only 1 person has admitted to having heard of the show before.
Cargo, you seem willing to defend expressions of faith except for muslims, and all gun owner rights but not reproductive rights or rights of gays and lesbians. I guess I don’t understand how you can pick and chose.
This thing is viewed as a conflagration about freedom of speech, but it’s also about an employee with power choosing to be insubordinate to his employer. He knew they didn’t want him to start giving his (backwards) views in interviews, but now that he has leverage, he did it anyway.
I understand why they wanted to discipline him, and why they were angry that he gave them the equivalent of an upraised middle finger on this. It should also be noted that at least one of the show’s creators who they work with closely is gay.
End of the day, his remarks don’t rise to any level of hate. GLAAD did overreach and does us all a disservice IMO trying to suppress free speech that is not hateful or bullying.
GLAAD works to stop defamation. Calling a group an abomination (yes I heard that word coming out of his mouth) is pretty much defamation in my book. It isn’t just about hate speech.
Then there is this happy go lucky zippidy doo dah version of the happy, shucking and jiving black worker doing stoop work before the age of civil rights…offensively inaccurate.
No one has ever had freedom of speech against an employer. The only freedom is what the employer grants. Otherwise, they just fire your ass.
Rick’s analysis is correct with one exception. Robertson has been making statements similar to the ones published in GQ for years. The difference is impact. Previously no one paid any attention, but now he has access to media outlets that reach much larger segments of the population because the show is a success.
Moon says, “Start with “my faith tells me that marriage is defined by the union of one man and one woman only.” There. Issue covered. Nothing offensive has been said. Not everyone will agree but Daddy hasn’t offended anyone.”
For perhaps the first time I agree with Cargo, that while your proposed statement doesn’t offend you, I suspect it will offend the LGBT/GLAAD communities.
You can say what you want about A&E caving in, but 12 million people constitute a lot of buying power. Call it hypocrisy or call it good business sense. I say, “Tomato”, you say, “Tomahto”.
I don’t think you or Cargo know much about GLAAD.
http://www.glaad.org/about/history
They aren’t militant groups like Queer Nation or Act Up! or even Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. <----- one of my personal favorite outrageous groups.
There are a lot of kids out there growing up who are LGBT. They are still facing bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment and some really negative media–still. The suicide rate for LGBT youth is far higher than for straight kids.
I do think that offensive statements against gays is one of the last forms of accepted prejudice. The Duck Dynasty controversy pretty much proves my point.
What I don’t think is understood is that having good manners doesn’t mean we have to like LGBT-ness. It doesn’t mean that we have to give up religious beliefs. It just means we have to be polite. It doesn’t mean we have to accept men running around publically in chaps only. That behavior is rude also and should remain in private.
They’re baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!
Sorry Jesse you jumped on the race wagon too late this time. You must be losing your touch, or maybe just your supporters!
I found his statement regarding his fascination with vaginal or anal sex ridiculous, and the least offensive of what he said. Its people like him that look obsessed with sex as opposed to the real value of a committed relationship between gay or straight people. Marriages that last have to have a lot more than sex! Why people are so focused only sex says something about how they view relationships as opposed to gay people in my opinion.
I would portend that if the thought of gay sex offends you, you should promote gay marriage! Doesn’t sex drop off as kids and every day life start getting in the way!
His suggestion that black people didn’t mind being oppressed was vile. That people exist today and actually believe that is depressing. Yes, black people loved being oppressed, they were smiling from ear to ear and then the civil rights act happened and just ruined it for everyone?
Time for another round of Zippity Doo Dah? My oh my what a wonderful day…..Plenty of sunshine headed our way….
On another note…much has been said about promiscuity and gays. Well, if you can’t legally marry, doesn’t that more or less resign a person to at least …oh never mind. I am trying to be logical here. Same sex marriage would cut down on promiscuity.
Today’s hate is close to yesterday’s tolerance … what the guy said about homosexuality was mainstream opinion not all that long ago. 9 years ago we had an election swung over Ohio’s fear of gay marriage.
50 years ago Lenny Bruce was getting thrown in jail and losing work for acknowledging gay sex in his act … that was not good was it? We should have some right to say things that are minority opinion even if they offend others – up to some point?
What Robertson said about black people could be seen as an opening point for discussion, that could inform some of our less thoughtful citizenry. What he said sounds way stupid, but it wasn’t coming from a place of hate or a desire to oppress. Just a confused old man trying to give his perspective. Better to enable discussion on these matters than to muzzle people. At least, up to some point.
Billy Graham was a lot more hateful in the 1980’s when he proclaimed that he knew, by virtue of his relationship with God, that AIDS was a punishment for gay sex. Nobody stopped that dumbbell from appearing on TV; heck, he went on to speak at Presidential Inauguration ceremonies.
Include Pat Robertson in the list of dumb bell statements.
I never accused Phil Robertson of hate speech. I said his speech was offensive. there is a huge difference.
Old people seem to think it is perfectly ok to get rid of their filters. It isn’t. They should be setting a good example for everyone else. I say that as a vintage woman. Unless you’re senile, there really isn’t any reason to have bad manners.
“Why people are so focused only sex says something about how they view relationships as opposed to gay people in my opinion.”
Most homophobes are obsessed with a*al sex. They so clearly are jealous of others who engage in it. This is obvious. Meanwhile, not a lot of female homophobes.
“Yes, black people loved being oppressed, they were smiling from ear to ear and then the civil rights act happened and just ruined it for everyone?”
His statement was dumb, but can be used as an entry into more meaningful discussion. I remember years ago there was a study finding that college educated African-Americans were less happy than non college-educated; it suggested that they’d been “conditioned” not to be happy or content with American socity during their education. That’s an interesting topic – to me. I know a lot of African American people, with anjd without college degrees, and think there’s some truth to this. To someone more strident and liberal though I’m probably guilty of hatespeech for wanting to explore it.
I think we would have to decide what metric was used to define happiness. If you can find some stats, I don’t mind exploring it, knowing in advance I cannot speak to the real issue because I am not black.
Logically, the whole thing’s a fine line of silliness. The guy believes that people who don’t worship the same silly God as him are doomed. He beleives that if you and I don’t literally pray to his non-existent God, and pretend that he talks back, we’re sinners. To include Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. Is it really more offensive to believe that if I want to have sex with a guy I’m a sinner?
He’s not a hatemonger. Just a nitwit who has built his whole self image on a silly religion. He’s just giving a straight reading of the inanity he was brought up with.
I agree Rick, I never thought his statement came from hate, just ignorance. But ignorance has codified our nations laws for far too long and that is when people do get hurt.
I’m a big believer in empowering people to have meaningful dialogue. There are limits, as with everything, but he’s nowhere near my limits.
Would someone pleas help Rick have a meaningful dialogue or at least bump into him-his record is stuck?
@Moon-howler
“I don’t think you or Cargo know much about GLAAD.
http://www.glaad.org/about/history
They aren’t militant groups like Queer Nation or Act Up! or even Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. <—– one of my personal favorite outrageous groups."
I didn't say they were militant-I said they would be offended, which is their bread and butter; i.e., when they find something offensive, they work to get a person/group/periodical to adopt less offensive language/practices/etc. Perhaps they could work with A&E or Phil but in the latter case I'm not certain they can get him to change one whit of what he says or believes.
————————————————————————————————————-
I find Rick's commentary about Phil's religious extremely offensive but we live in a nation that allows him to say such crap and I spent nearly half a century defending his right to be so obnoxious. However, I still find it very offensive and I expect there are others who feel the same way.
Specifically, what do you find offensive about what Rick is saying? I know Rick and he is pretty good about discussing these things.
Tell him specifically what offends you. Tell him why.
I doubt that GLAAD would have found what I said offensive. Its all how the response is framed. They realize that there are religious beliefs that disparage homosexuality.
The militant groups tend to react rather than work within the objectives of the group. GLAAD is one of the less militant of the LGBT advocacy groups.
Does this confirm that it was a publicity stunt all along? Ratings getter for the marathon? Was he even suspended for a week??
The tiger is winning.
Here you go….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeyNVOepYyo
Not how I define winning. But then we all have different expectations.
Looks like a tiger win to me. Pretty much of a sweep against a threat of forced personal censorship. Complete with the sour grapes and gnashing of teeth afterwards.
Seems to me that old Phil was referring with personal honesty and transparency to what is written in his standard St. James Holy Scriptures — you know, that translation upon which his and, indeed, much of the Protestant faith is based. Would you then take a scissors to those parts of the book, e.g. Leviticus 20:13, which use terms like “abomination” or would you just prefer to burn the whole thing? Don’t bother to ask for Mr. Bentley’s vote.
Moon, are you trying to lead an old geezer astray?
Wolverine, you have no idea what kind of agreement old Phil came to with his bosses on A & E. I expect he was told to tone it down and he agreed.
I think you missed the point. Again. I don’t want to chop up Leviticus. It is what it is. Go back to my point. Do you even know what my point was? My point was that the owner of the station gets to decide content and what is acceptable speech.
Leviticus is what it is. It doesn’t threaten me at all. I am not a fundamentalist so I don’t have to affix any importance to it whatsoever.
Let’s go back to good manners. There are just certain things one doesn’t say in public if one doesn’t want to get called on the carpet. Dawg, which everyone here defending Daddy Duck is totally chicken Sh!t to touch, is far more defensible. He did assume that he was in his own home on his own phone having a private conversation.
Daddy Duck was just putting it out there. He is inconsequential. People with bad taste will continue to watch that absurd show. There is no law against bad taste. Should there be??
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are bad taste also. They are just many rungs higher on the intellectual food chain.
@Moon-howler
I suggest you read what he says at 17.
“I doubt that GLAAD would have found what I said offensive. Its all how the response is framed. They realize that there are religious beliefs that disparage homosexuality.”
Of course you would doubt they would find what you said offensive. After all, you wrote it. And if you take the time to look, GLAAD is actively involved in “converting” church attitudes toward the LGBT community.
P.S. I don’t wish to have a, “meaningful dialogue” with Rick. The wrestling with pigs adage comes to mind.
I haven’t missed any point. The tiger is winning. The other side lost. And you don’t like it one bit. Otherwise you wouldn’t still be dwelling on it.
Now, tell me whether Dick Durbin was ever threatened with a year-long hiatus from the US Senate for referring to our combat troops in Iraq as Nazi-like. Or Nancy Pelosi et al for referring to fellow Americans in the Tea Party as “terrorists.” I don’t think so. They weren’t even banned from TV appearances.
You are right about there being no law against bad taste. #17 would seem to be proof of the pudding.
@Wolverine
Just providing some sound effects…R-O-A-R!
Tell me, do you watch Duck Dynasty?
I confessed I had not but when the controversy hit, I went right to video on demand and conjured up a show.
I wanted my hour back very badly.
I guess I walked away with something I had known since I was a kid…All the money in the world can’t give you class.
I only knew that because my mother told me about once a week.
Wolverine, did you watch the entire video?
I tried to watch the entire video, but part of it was rather distracting. I wandered a bit.
I never watch anything on TV except a few things posted on the web. Having lived and worked in places where my every movement and communication was monitored by secret police (or so they tried), I do not take kindly to censorship, whether official or non-official. Maybe some of those who try this crap in America ought to be shipped to that kind of place to find out firsthand what real life can be. This kind of punitive bullying of personal thought and speech has to stop or someday we may wind up in that other reality — and God help us if we do.
An hour of your life you can never get back. Sad, very sad.
@George S. Harris
Rick is expressing his opinion.
I doubt that Daddy Duck and I worship the same God either. I might just be a little less cutting about it than Rick.
Daddy Duck might be popular with 12 million people but he doesn’t get to define who God is for all of Christianity.
Look at how many different denominations and sects there are in Christianity. Which one of them is right? Hmmm…it gets a bit more dicey now.
@George S. Harris
Actually GLAAD is busy actively working on how gayness is presented in the media.
As for what I wrote…I wrote it as an example of how to answer without using offensive words…you know, like “abomination.”
What offensive words have I used? No GLAAD doesn’t buy into the DOMA definition of marriage. However, the words I used to express the ‘faith’ weren’t offensive and wouldn’t have brought out a firestorm of protest.
I think you have misunderstood some of GLAAD’s mission.
@Wolverine
It’s a catchy tune. You can’t get it out of your head. Close your eyes and just listen.
I don’t think most people like being censored. However, it is the responsibility of every magazine publisher, TV station owner, newspaper owner, political campaign and yes, blog owner, to set a standard and enforce it. That’s OUR responsibility. The only real protection a person has from censorship is from government censorship.
Let’s see what we are dealing with here…you, Wolverine, don’t want A & E to censor Daddy Duck. George, unless I have misread him, does want me to censor Rick Bentley.
Am I reading all this right? Maybe we all ought to stop and think about NSA rather than Duck Dynasty. I never presumed I had any privacy to start with. Perhaps that’s why I am not outraged over NSA.
@Wolverine
Wolverine, are you ready to call for the punitive bullying of gays to stop?
I am not so sure who is winning. While many of you all (social and religious conservatives) were up in arms over Duck Dynasty, a so-called ‘reality show’ all sorts of events were happening regarding same sex marriage, mainly handed down by the courts.
Same sex marriages performed outside of Ohio would be recognized within Ohio. Illinois and New Mexico now have same-sex marriage. Utah, the most conservative of red states, got shot down again….no stay. Their laws against banning same sex marriage were declared unconstitutional.
So while all goes well on fantasy duck dynasty, it appears that in the real world, Rome is definitely burning. Is that a Memorex roar coming the your tiger?
Well, let the Duck Dynasty people have their TV show back and let them play with their Duck toys. In the real world, state after state are knocking down barriers to same sex marriage. In the long run, that’s far more significant.
Absolutely. Starry is right.
I am smiling at the thought of some of you actually running into the Sisters, Queer Nation or any of the more outrageous activist groups. You would think that GLAAD was your Sunday School teacher.
I don’t think I have ever heard GLAAD try to advance the ‘gay lifestyle,’ whatever that means. I think they have tried to guard how everyone in that community is represented in the media.
There are gay folks that live just like the rest of us do, in fact most of them do. The outrageous chaps-wearing people you see on Pride Day no more represent the gay community than prostitutes represent the straight world.
The only bullying that I see is from GLAAD in order to squelch criticism of the gay lifestyle. The issue of bullying gays came to national attention after the murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998. The narrative that accomplished that, however, was quite untrue, as documented in “The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths about the murder of Matthew Shepard” by Jimenez.
Please tell me you don’t think that Matthew Shephard is the only gay who has been murdered in the United States.
What makes you believe that Jimenez is right and all the other accounts of that murder are wrong?
Saying ‘the gay lifestyle’ just pisses me off. Say exactly what you mean by “the gay lifestyle.” Some people are gay–between 3 and 10% of the population. Some of those people have sex with people of the same gender. Some don’t. They exist. Most don’t have a ‘lifestyle.’
“George, unless I have misread him, does want me to censor Rick Bentley.”
You must get a good deal of exercise jumping to conclusion. I never said anything about censoring anybody. I did ask if someone would help Rick have a meaningful dialogue. I did say I didn’t want to have a meaningful dialogue with him since the thought of it reminded me of the old adage about wrestling with a pig.
And as far as I am concern his “opinion” is still offensive. Probably to more people than just me.
Tough nuggets, George.
Moon, we do have to admit that gay bashing is down in this day and age.
I’m sure that school bullying is still a real issue for some kids, but from what i see in popular culture I think that’s not what it once was either. I don’t think that if a kid thinks they are gay and/or is being called names, that they feel as alone or as vulnerable as they would have in previous generations.
I agree fully with George Harris. No censorship of Mr. Bentley’s rants against people of faith. Let him make his own bed and lie in it. That’s supposed to be the American way.
Good. I was hoping you both would come to that conclusion. While you might not agree in content, Rick is entitled to his own opinion.
Probably everyone could step it up a few notches in the civility dept.
You devil you! You put that kind of scenery out there and then ask me to close my eyes? You trying out for SNL or something?
@Wolverine–the devil made me to it.
Wrecking Ball is far worse 😈
Anytime that an American’s right to express his or her honest opinions is saved from either official censorship or the bullying of unofficial censorship is a victory for freedom. Have we already forgotten the lessons of the 1950’s Black List?
Wolfie,
I hate agreeing with you but fear I must.
But we must all accept the fact that thus is Moon ‘s blog and therefore she is always right, even when she isn’t. ;-/
@Moon-howler
The story of two strangers who attacked Shepard because he was gay emerged in the newspapers nearly immediately, almost as if somebody made it up or assumed a lot. In contrast, Jimenez conducted exhaustive research based on thousands of interviews over a period of years. It is clear that the author put in a major-league effort to figure out what happened.
I choose to use the term lifestyle. According to the CDC, men who have sex with other men account for about 4% of the male population, yet 78% of new HIV cases among men. Also according to the CDC, if HIV continues to spread at the current rate, more than half of all gay college-aged men will have HIV by age 50. These facts speak to a self-destructive lifestyle for a large fraction of gay men.
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/07/03/gay-community-won-battles-on-marriage-but-may-be-losing-war-on-hivaids
Yet spread of aids is very preventable.
I am not sure what you are suggesting. The Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, and the Gay and Lesbian Task Force seem to be dropping the ball. Maybe Act UP and Queen Nation, the more outrageous groups need to come back and rattle everyone’s cage.
Having sex with someone can hardly be considered a life-style. Many other activities that might go along with having sex might be considered a “life-style.”
I expect that young people have probably relaxed their fear of HIV/AIDs because the epidemic appeared to have slowed down.
Let’s look at it from this point of view…all sorts of people have some sexual proclivities I am not interested in. I might even go so far as to say that I find some revolting. However, That is neither here nor there. Different strokes for different folks. People may eschew everything but missionary style and use God to back up their feelings.
They need to do it privately though. Are we really all that far from Loving vs Virginia? (1967) How many people, oh say my parents’ age, would tell you how revolted they were by black and white marriage? Lots. At what point is expressing that sentiment just bad manners? Can they go to the bible and locate justification for their feelings? I expect so.
Many people have been murdered because they are gay. Don’t assume it doesn’t happen.
With the advent of HIV/AIDS, male homosexuality may be a self-limiting “lifestyle”. In addition, I honestly believe people are tired of pouring research $$$$$$$$$$ down a rat hole while male homosexuals continue their SUPPOSEDLY NORMAL “lifestyle” of putting their unprotected penis into the anus of another man or performing fallatio on another male who may well be infected with HIV.
George! TMI
Please. Most of us are perfectly capable of discussion without graphics.
One might say the same thing about straight couples and the epidemic of STDs that lead to other diseases. Are people equally tired of pouring money down a rat hole because men can’t keep their penises out of the vaginas of a women? That damn NORMAL lifestyle!! It is beginning to sound to me like the entire problem is caused by men with penises.
Bottom line. Sex is here to stay. Let’s put it in the realm of JUST IS. People do things we might not like or want to do ourselves. In reality, we might not ever know who does what under what circumstances. I would hope that we don’t define all gays by suggesting they all participate in outrageous, risky sex habits. They don’t any more than heteros do.
@Rick Bentley
Oink, oink.
George! [stern look!]
@Rick Bentley
“I’m sure that school bullying is still a real issue for some kids, but from what i see in popular culture I think that’s not what it once was either.”
Christ-still waiting for a “meaningful dialogue.” Have you been living under a stone?
” I would hope that we don’t define all gays by suggesting they all participate in outrageous, risky sex habits. They don’t any more than heteros do.”
You’re joking right?
No I wasn’t joking. There are plenty of gays who don’t practice any sex habits at all. (sort of like heteros who aren’t sexually active.)
The kind of sex one practices isn’t what defines one’s orientation. George, did you know if you were straight before you had sex with anyone?
Potential New Year’s Resolution – ignore imbeciles and their posts.
As to the whole discussion about gay sex, George don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. As long as you wear a condom I think you’ll be safe. Give it a shot.
In all seriousness, anyone who thinks our government attempting to prevent AIDS is a bad idea, or resents attempts to find a cure, is an abject idiot and pretty much a fine example of what is wrong with the world – a person so hateful and insular that they actually resent attempts to cure disease? Not naming names.
When you make it up to heaven George, give me a shout down below and tell me what Jesus and his Dad thought of the way you conducted yourself.
I can see it now, Jesus giving you a pat on the back for your uncompromising stance on homosexuality. “Come inside, George. Partake of the delights of heaven. This shall be your reward for a life without perversion. Nearly everyone in your country changed their stance on AIDS by the late 1980’s – but you persevered! Praise be to God”.
“You were a good man – a pure man. In an age when perversion of the flesh became common place, you did not even know how to spell the word fellatio”.
Perhaps over the coming decades devout Christian couples will incorporate it into their lovemaking sessions, the way the porn-addled nonbelievers have been doing. Maybe as a form of roleplay … “Can we play Sodom and Gommorah again tonight?” “Okay, but tonight I want to be the outsider and YOU be the archangel – I bought a toy”.
“Oh yeah, baby. Do it, do it. Turn me into salt. Turn me into salt.”
Okay Moon, you figure out whether you want to leave that on your board or not! No hard feelings from me either way.
I have responded. The decision isn’t final. I appreciate the no hard feelings though.
I have a call in to Elena. this will be a joint decision.