I support Phil Robertson

This is the email I just sent to A&E Networks over their handling of Phil Robertson and Duck Dynasty.

I do not know if this email will even get to whoever the powers that be at this network are...but on the chance it does, I am letting you know you have lost a viewer for all time.

Why? Because your network has lowered the boom on a man for speaking his opinion..his personal opinion, one he never claimed to be that of the network or anyone there. Because a very small minority of people who probably never ever have seen the Duck Dynasty show thought that Mr. Phil Robertson was offensive in his opinion, which stems from his religious beliefs.

Sirs/Madams of A&E networks, you cannot legally force a person connected with your network to give up his Constitutional rights of free speech and religion simply b/c you do not agree with either. You knew when you gave this family their show that they stood for Christian values, that their faith was very much a part of who they are and what they do. Otherwise who would watch a show about a bunch of duck call manufacturers?  

I have watched the show because their values are mine. Because it is a show I can watch with my child, age 12, and not worry about sex, drugs, and violence being shoved in our face, not to mention the profanities that most other shows and apparently the FCC seem to think are ok for all to hear. Duck Dynasty, while silly at times, is good clean fun entertainment. Your other programming is either propoganda or wholly made up to get reactions, like the Storage Wars and other junk. 

I sincerely hope you reconsider your decision to indefinitely suspend (a euphemism for fired---your viewers are not stupid) Mr. Robertson and issue a heartfelt and honest apology to the Robertson family and the millions of fans of the show. But I am not going to hold my breath for it and whether you do or not, I hope another network picks up the show, another more tolerant network. you are finished in my book.

I know that the network can s***can a show and cast members for whatever reason...however this one has made a point of stating that this is because of Phil's stated beliefs....Never at any time did Phil claim to be speaking for the network or the show's sponsors..... but quite frankly I am sick and tired, as are many other people, of having our beliefs downgraded, desecrated, and crapped upon simply because a very small minority of folks take offense. I take offense at a lot of people's opinions, Christian and otherwise, but we all have the right to state our opinions, beliefs, and so on regardless of offense taken by others. I may not like your opinion but you have a Constitutional right to it and to state it. As do I. If you are offended by things I say, you have choices---unfriend, block, ignore, reasonably debate me ( and that does not mean saying over and over meaningless things like "but you just can;t say that") and simply shrug and move on. 

I believe in the God of the Bible and His Son Jesus, and I believe a have a relationship with them. No I do not attend a church on a regular basis, although I do have one I continue to call my church home. I do not practice a religion, but my faith.....and not always as well as I should. I also have personal beliefs about gays and other groups of folks. But I do not let them color my relationships with folks I know who are gay. Their being gay or not is not my business. We are commanded to love our neighbor, to love the sinner. Lord above knows I am a sinner, and I hope my neighbors love me as Jesus says. I have no clue if being gay is gene/based or a chosen lifestyle, but I do think that one's lifestyle and choices are between that person and their Maker, whoever they believe that to be. '

I know our free speech rights are limited to a degree---one simply cannot yell "fire" in a crowded gathering space when there is no fire...you cannot use speech to incite panic leading to injury and death....you cannot divulge confidential information about your employer and such---ask any inside trader---there are some limits out of common sense. But to state one;s beliefs, heck I do that at work....always with the disclaimer of "I may be wrong" or "if this bothers you, please tell me and i will not talk about it again." But my place of employment has a fairly close knit group of employees, and no not all of us have the same opinions or beliefs, but we are pretty much a mature lot of folks who understand that we are not always going to agree. 

I was taught to treat people as people, give the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. I do not attack groups of people simply because they are gay, black, muslim, purple polka dotted or whatever. The specific actions of a person in that group, yes. But not the group as a whole unless as a group they do something completely asinine or whatever. 

A&E networks powers that be are simply wrong on this issue. Like the show or not, agree with the stated personal beliefs of any member of the cast or not, you can choose to watch the show or not, to buy the tshirts and related merchandise or not....you do not have the right to demand one of the cast shut up because you do not agree with them. 

I support Phil and the Duck Dynasty cast...The show may drive me crazy with the silliness at times, but I can watch it and not worry about who is in the room with me, because there is no sex, no profanity, no gratuitous violence with the blood and guts, no drug use...It is a good clean show. I hope the show continues, preferably on another more tolerant network.

manners, propriety?

...with the disclaimer that I realize anything can be photoshopped or spun to suit the storyteller....

So all day today I have been treated, anywhere I go online, to a set of pictures. They are of the Obamas, seated at a memorial service for Nelson Mandela (If you don;t know who he was, please google it or at least read something more reliable than mainstream media or wikipedia). They are seated next to a blond, apparently the PM or some such of Denmark maybe? Michelle is not looking pleased as hubby participates in taking a selfie with the blond. next pic shows O and Michelle having switched seats....hmmm...

Now this brings to mind a question or two....one is...as a married man in the public eye (or a married man in general), would you take a selfie with an attractive blond while wifey sits there looking undeniably not pleased? Now if said blond was a relative, that changes things somewhat, but somehow don;t think that's the case here. Plainly if you do, you have no consideration for the feelings of the wife....which could make your home life a little dicey, to say the least.

Number two----as president of a country, representing said country at this memorial event, broadcast on tv and internet worldwide, should you not show a little decorum? Laughter may be appropriate at certain times...i.e. an amusing story involving the deceased, etc....but to be blatantly ignoring social mores by self picture taking and so on...really Presidential behavior, huh?  

Just a little classless and crass, I would say.

But also not limited to the actions of O and his ilk/followers.....I see it too often in everyday life too....

When did it become socially acceptable to wear pajamas and houseshoes out shopping or to any other activity not involving an emergency trip to the doctor or hospital? Or to let ginormous ta-tas hang braless and flopping under teeny shirts not designed to cover them? Or to wear britches with the waistband down so low that anyone who cares to look and more importantly those of us who would rather not see such sights, can see one's underwear down to the crotch of it?

When did it become de rigueur for children of any age to dictate to their parents what is going to happen...like buying them something or letting them do something just because they want to? When did being the parent become such a bad thing? Not to mention applying some discipline to those little brats you gave birth to?

I know I fight a losing battle trying to raise my kids to go against the stream...but I see some wins.....I see kids who have grown up to be thoughtful of others...who for the most part keep the appropriate body parts appropriately covered, who shake their heads at how kids are let run loose in stores and other public areas and vow to raise theirs with some rules and standards. Maybe not always as I would wish, but then I parent differently than my folks did to some degree also....