A redneck made redneck comments and a network made a decision to fire him. He has a right to say what he wants and the network has a right to fire him. This is selective outrage and this whole situation is ridiculous.
It's doubtful that they fired him especially with how they worded it as an "indefinite suspension". What A&E has failed to mention in all of this is that they have basically finished filming the upcoming 5th season of this show as 9 out of the 10 episodes have been completed which means Phil will be in at least 9 episodes of season 5. That also means A&E has from now through the duration of season 5 and another work hiatus and up until they start filming season 6 to right this ship... ie" more than a few months for Phil to serve their "indefinite suspicion" all the while missing one episode of season 5 and being back for season 6.
No wonder nobody in this country can agree on anything. Look up the word "Stalinist" - if you're doing that from your computer in your own home, and not a gulag, guess what: you've used it hyperbolically and incorrectly! You're why we can't have nice things.
Naah... I suspect the A&E execs view the suspension as nothing more than a time out... putting Phil in the penalty box for the storm (and right-wing afterstorm) to blow over and for Phil ('s PR person) to write a sincere apology for his comments. If he was going to be fired... it would have happened already.
The Left used to be (60's) the champion of free speech and tolerance. Now they have become the champions of intolerance and bullying. What happened to the live and let live approach? Political correctness and the thought police can't tolerate an opposing viewpoint. True intellectualism, where you win by the force of your argument has died and childish yelling your opponents into submission is the order of the day. Really sad.
Let's get a few things straight. The "left" isn't responsible for the firing. That would be big business in the form of A&E. The left did not in any way hamper with the guy's free speech. What he said was just inappropriate, more because of how classless and crudely he voiced it rather than the opinions he voiced. If you haven't read the actual article, try doing that before defending what he said. His free speech wasn't interfered with in any way. His firing had nothing to do with the left. However, he showed himself to be an ******* with what he said and the way he said it. There is no problem with people treating him like an ******* since that's what he acted like.
Correct, The Pope didn't try to inflame the discussion by bringing in graphic descriptions about vaginas and anuses. Which obviously contributed the the A&E execs's decision that Phil's comments warranted suspension. And, the Pope didn't describe Jim Crow era deep south in his comments. Again, Phil did, which also contributed to his suspension. Again, this is stated in such a way to inflame. I suspect Pope Francis hasn't included bestiality in his comments about homosexuality.
Free speech is not even remotely implicated here. "Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech." Has A&E somehow assumed the role of Congress? Is firing someone somehow legislative? I can't believe conservatives are outing themselves as not understanding the Bill of Rights. Your boss can fire you for making a mockery of your company by saying something stupid. http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/american-millennial/2013/dec/20/phil-robertson-and-americans-consitutinal-right-fr/
Either that or social conservatives' "viewpoints" on the equality of other social groups just hasn't evolved since the '60s, so rebutting the same backwards and hateful logic is too redundant and exhaustive an alternative to "yelling," whatever that is.
The left are truly the intolerant people in our society today. They are all for the free expression of opinions, unless it differs from their opinion.
Some will criticize you for this post. I suspect they know nothing about the 60s and everything about Jay Z.
NObody's a champion of anything. The first lens you tell the difference between a state actor (USA) and a non-state actor (A&E)?