Phil Robertson’s anti-gay remarks have caused an uproar, but his racist remarks have gone under the radar as people rush to defend his right to free speech.
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A dialogue is the home of true communication and possible transformation. In order to have a dialogue one must listen to the other voice and respond with thought. That is if you are actually interested in having a dialogue and not in delivering a monologue disguised as dialogue. If it is established a true dialogue is the intent, then all voices must be heard and acknowledged. This is in order to truly hear all arguments in order to contemplate them and offer a well thought out rebuttal.
Whew. OK. Guys and Gals now I can take off my terminal graduate degree hat and write like a normal human being. So the Duck Dynasty guy said he isn’t too fond of gays. A&E was embarrassed and responded with termination. All of this seems normal and fair. You reading this article, if you said something in front of the world in an interview that could be determined as hate speech, you’d be fired as well.
There are several things that as a queer person of color I find interesting about this whole recent. Phenomenon.
One: I find it fascinating though at the same time typical that the comments made by Phil Robertson about race have basically been ignored and people are just angry about the homophobic comments. Once again the people of color come last in the order of priority.
Thus the headlines I see, “Duck Dynasty suspended after anti-gay remarks”, “Duck Dynasty star fired after anti gay remarks.”
Go back and read the interview. He basically says that blacks were happy in the south in Louisiana pre civil rights era … Yet there is little to no mention of his basically denying the existence of racism and the lynchings, rapes, and mutilation that occurred in the south against blacks. This is akin to holocaust deniers. Those who heard nothing and didn’t see the ashes falling from the sky or hear the trains coming into Auschwitz and Buchenwold. I am sure if pressed Robertson also doesn’t believe the holocaust happened. He most likely thinks all of those Jews just went on a long extended vacation, never to return…
Two: I am utterly appalled at my gay brothers and sisters who are rushing to defend Robertson. My well intentioned LGBTQ brothers and sisters seem to see some free speech violation in the disciplinary action A&E has taken. Several conversations have been had with people of the LGBTQ community on social media where comparisons to ENDA are being made. I am thoroughly confused and saddened by this base level misunderstanding of what sexual orientation and your rights are versus hate speech and public opinion. Without getting into too much legal gobbledygook, ENDA has to do with an employer not liking your being. An employer should not be able to fire you based on whom you love. That is a private matter. The duck dynasty star expressed an opinion that is discriminatory and homophobic and racist in a major media publication, for the world to consume. This made a public relations nightmare for the A&E company. A&E had little choice but to fire Robertson, or their silence could be interpreted as tacit approval. In terms of public relations, Phil Robertson forced the hand of A&E to do something.
You may say whatever you like in America, but I’m not sure where the law is that says you are protected from the consequences of your speech…can someone find that for me?
This might be a tempest in a social media teapot, however the ignoring of the racist implications denies the existence of the pain. It invalidates the hurt of a people. Simply I have to ask what is UP with my gays? Y’all need to check yourselves! Don’t side with the oppressor OK?
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Photo: AP/A&E/Zach Dilgard