It was my husband’s idea this year to do some Christmas shopping at Bass Pro in Calgary. No sooner had we entered the store than we were immediately
surrounded by merchandise from “Duck Commander” and “Duck Dynasty”. It was camo overload! There were even some full size figures of the Duck gents that patrons could take their pictures beside…which we did. I giggled at all the little metal signs printed with some of Si Robertson’s quotes from the T.V. show and there was even a huggable pillow of Jase that you could squeeze and he would spout off one of his redneck truisms. The famous duck calls which sell for nearly $50.00 here in Canada were nearly sold out, which indicates that this is a family who knows how to market themselves and their brand and why they are a financial dynasty!
The patriarch of the Robertson clan, Phil, is outspoken and at times shocking. He is so blatantly honest and straight forward about his beliefs that sometimes I cringe. He is NOT politically correct and my Canadian sensibilities tingle when he talks about sex, marriage and raising children. The thing is, he only says out loud what people think and I agree wholeheartedly with him especially when it comes to his interpretation of the Bible.
Yesterday, Phil Robertson was suspended from the A. & E. T.V. show for comments he made in a recent interview with GQ. He expressed his beliefs about marriage that the network was afraid would offend some people.
Excuse me????
For a country that prides itself on freedom of speech and freedom of religion, it is interesting how Christians seem to be targeted the most to keep their opinions to themselves in the U.S. (Yes, here in Canada too.) For a country who has “In God We Trust” embossed on each coin and dollar bill, and the fact that the country was founded on Christian beliefs and principles, those who still hold to those beliefs are now banned from speaking out in public because it may offend others who do not espouse the same belief.
For shame, A. & E., in an effort to appease a few complainers, you have successfully shot yourself in the foot.
Phil Robertson has an incredible testimony of faith that cannot be silenced. He has never pretended to be anyone else but who he claims to be: a follower of Jesus. Each one of his four boys profess to be Christian and his grandchildren are all raised in Christian homes.
That is a true Dynasty!
Lynn Dove's Journey Thoughts 
America may pride itself on freedom of speech but A&E is not the American government and is entirely within its rights to suspend or fire any employee or representive who embarrasses them or expresses beliefs counter to those A&E seeks to espouse as a company and as a brand. Furthermore, Duck Dynasty is one show. A&E has other shows, a good number of which are made for or otherwise appeal to gay viewers. They have not shot themselves in the foot, they’ve made a business decision.
Remember, freedom of speech means the government cannot prosecute you or persecute you for espousing unpopular views or beliefs. It doesn’t protect you from personal, social or business consequences for expressing theose beliefs, nor should it.
It’s interesting to see this today… this is from the outside looking in- a non-American perspective.
“For a country that prides itself on freedom of speech and freedom of religion, it is interesting how Christians seem to be targeted the most to keep their opinions to themselves in the U.S. (Yes, here in Canada too.) For a country who has “In God We Trust” embossed on each coin and dollar bill, and the fact that the country was founded on Christian beliefs and principles, those who still hold to those beliefs are now banned from speaking out in public because it may offend others who do not espouse the same belief.”
To me, THIS is the heart of the issue. People who support Phil Robertson right now aren’t heralding an anti-gay campaign, they’re pissed because every other group has more rights to express their opinions than Christians do. Networks air television shows all of the time that are offensive to Christians; there are multiple celebrities that are verbal atheists and say things that make Christians double over as though they’ve been punched, but no network has rebuked them. It’s been happening for a long, long time. If tolerance is the word for the decade, I’m sure not seeing it extended to Christians right now.
Before you start making comments on this, please remember that I am a Christian through and through. I also have a huge network of friends and family that are gay/lesbians whom I love dearly. Therefore, I will not tolerate any bashing or hate toward either side. I think Jesus’s example in John 8 is perfect. Who is free to judge Phil? A&E? Homosexuals? Christians? Who has a right? The crowd gathered around the woman caught in adultery ready to stone her to death. And Jesus said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” They all left one at at time, until it was just Jesus and this humiliated woman standing before him. He asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir…” Jesus declared, “then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”