Duck Dynasty Star Banned Indefinitely for Anti-Gay Comments

[FloatingFatMan]

This would not have been a violation of his freedom of speech if A&E did not suspend his filming and GLAAD did not issue the hate speech about him and his family. Remember in the US everyone is supposed to have the same rights.

 

His freedom of speech isn't dependent on them continuing to employ him, you know.

 

Now, if they attempted to silence him, THEN they would be infringing his rights, but by firing him, they're just disassociating themselves with his bigotted views.

 

Also, you know even seem to know what your freedom of speech laws ARE, so go back to school and do some studying.

[Dinggus]

Westboro people don't get fired from their jobs, why should he?

 

I think the world is to ######ing sensitive. Who cares what who believes?

[jesseinsf]

Remember he had to sign a contract agreement and he most likely violated part of the agreement. So there is no violation of a 1st amendment.

[Atomic Wanderer Chicken]

Sometimes you just need to shut up about things like this. He had the right to say this, but it was completely stupid to say it in public

[xendrome]

Kinda sad how many people in this topic have no idea what "1st Amendment rights" and "Freedom of Speech" mean, in the US at least. Anyone who isn't American or who hasn't educated themselves on the topic get a pass, but Americans, for shame.....

[techbeck]

Another example of things getting blown way out of proportion.

[FloatingFatMan]

Kinda sad how many people in this topic have no idea what "1st Amendment rights" and "Freedom of Speech" mean, in the US at least. Anyone who isn't American or who hasn't educated themselves on the topic get a pass, but Americans, for shame.....

 

As I understand it, your first amendment rights & freedom of speech entitle you to speak freely without fear of intervention or censure from your government.  However, private speech such as this, has absolutely nothing at all to do with that and private individuals or companies have every right to disassociate themselves from you, or you from them, if you say something they don't like.

 

Ergo, TV studio can fire this jerk for flapping his yap, and it's not a rights violation to do so.

[Atomic Wanderer Chicken]

There are many aspects to freedom of speech such as it doesn't cover libel and slander and also doesn't covers people expressing to harm the government.  Freedom of speech is much more complex topic than it appears on the surface.

[Art3x]

Everyone is so overly sensitive about everything.  Who cares, grow up, move on.

 

If you don't like him don't watch his show, but don't suspend a man for stating his opinion.  

[TrevorLahey]

Actually, my post was about small time actor arrogance, I've seen many acting like spoiled brats, whereas, the big names, the ones like the late Elizabeth Taylor, or Tom Cruise, (just to name 2) who have earned the right to act diva-esq show great humility and diplomacy when speaking to interviewers. You also must realise that the show is aired in other countries, UK had freedom of speech rights too, just hate speech, isn't

arrogance?  he just answered a question he was asked?  He answered it truthfully and now everybody is attaching him because people are at home crying themselves to sleep because they are offended.

 

 

give me a break!

[Atomic Wanderer Chicken]

Shame on people judging others by their looks.

 

Degrees and first jobs[edit]

After receiving his bachelor's degree in physical education and a master's in education, Robertson spent several years teaching. He said while his students claim he was an excellent teacher, spending time in a classroom brought him to the conclusion that his time and talents would be better spent in the woods.[10]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Robertson

[TrevorLahey]

There are many aspects to freedom of speech such as it doesn't cover libel and slander and also doesn't covers people expressing to harm the government.  Freedom of speech is much more complex topic than it appears on the surface.

There are certain groups that make it a complex topic... By law, it isn't.  It's pretty actually pretty easy.

[Rippleman]

A&E and GLAAD are violating the guy's first amendment right.

 

He is still free to say and believe whatever he wishes... how did he lose this?

[adrynalyne]

the show centers around a bunch of rednecks with too much money and not enough brains and ends in a prayer at the dinner table; who do you think the viewership is? HINT: It's not the gays.

Rednecks that pray and have too much money aren't allowed to be gay?

 

Or if you prefer:

 

What makes you an authority on what homosexuals like to watch? ;)

[trag3dy]

I've only seen maybe 2 or 3 episodes of the show but I don't see how it can continue without him. Isn't he the central person on it?

[Rippleman]

Everyone is so overly sensitive about everything.  Who cares, grow up, move on.

 

If you don't like him don't watch his show, but don't suspend a man for stating his opinion.  

 

would you still employ a man who "in his opinion" say child porn is awesome and should be legal? Opinions very much define who the person is. 

[Atomic Wanderer Chicken]

I've watched several episodes of duck dynasty and I didn't like it because it seemed heavily scripted and everything do seem like reenactments or something.

[theyarecomingforyou]

The 1st Amendment protects him from being prosecuted for expressing his opinions and/or beliefs but it doesn't protect him from the consequences of doing so. The comments he made were intolerant and discriminatory and the network was perfectly justified in responding as it did.

[firey]

I've watched several episodes of duck dynasty and I didn't like it because it seemed heavily scripted and everything do seem like reenactments or something.

 

Most reality shows are now.  Like big brother (supposedly natural responses) is very much controlled by the production team.  They will tell the HG's who to vote for, and who not to vote out.  If the house turns against production, the leader of the turn is usually voted out, or put at a disadvantage in the competitions.  Also they are told who to vote for at the end of the show.

In Jersey Shore there was scripts, and situations purposely introduced (ie: free drinks, purposely bringing in ex's, etc). 

[MDboyz]

Can't wait for our first gay president !!! .....

[Atomic Wanderer Chicken]

I have watched many other reality shows, but Duck Dynasty seems more unrealistic and scripted than others. American Chopper seemed more natural and authentic

[XerXis]

Kinda sad how many people in this topic have no idea what "1st Amendment rights" and "Freedom of Speech" mean, in the US at least. Anyone who isn't American or who hasn't educated themselves on the topic get a pass, but Americans, for shame.....

More or less the exact same rights are written in almost every constitution. It really isn't that hard to understand what freedom of speech means, you don't have to be an American ;).

 

I think the only difference is that most European countries will give a somewhat broader meaning to hate speech, I'm quite sure something like the westboro baptist church would fall under the hate speech category in my country and thus be illegal.

[FloatingFatMan]

I've watched several episodes of duck dynasty and I didn't like it because it seemed heavily scripted and everything do seem like reenactments or something.

 

Of course it's scri[ted. You're not one of those people who believe "Reality TV" is actually -real-, are you?

 

It's all pre-scripted fakery designed for pretty basic entertainment.

[Atomic Wanderer Chicken]

One reason for the founding father creating free speech was for citizens to freely voice their opinions to the government without being getting interfered by a 'arbitrary' government

[Soldiers33]

I have no problem with free speech, unless it involves cutting other people down.

 

Oh, and I never "chose" to be hetero. We are who we are, so why all the hate? Is that what your god teaches you? Funny, here I thought gods loved everyone. Perhaps they do, but it seems their followers haven't gotten the memo.

so you only support freedom of speech if you like it. Thats not freedom of speech then. I agree with him, being gay is wrong. Doesnt matter how you look at it. women are made for men and vice versa not men for men; thats just disgusting. Everything is just going back to the days of Sodom. Where there was prostitution and gays, and orgies. It says it all in the bible. Why was everyone against gay's then suddenly its perfectly fine and they allowed to get married, its because thats what the devil wants. For people to become corrupted.