‘Duck Dynasty’: Phil Robertson Suspended Indefinitely Following Anti-Gay Remarks

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by Dex

Generally I agree with you, but I think it's important to point out the "everyone is entitled to their opinion" mantra can only go so far. Some opinions are dangerous and hurtful. When someone espouses the opinion that I shouldn't be allowed to live openly, or adopt a kid, or that I should be killed because "ew", then I take issue with that. However, if someone just espouses the opinion that I am not "going to inherit the kingdom of God", or something like that, I really don't care. At all. The latter example applies in this case. This guy has an opinion that frankly doesn't affect my life at all, and he can carry on having it.

Generally I agree with you, as well. But...I'm an American, and one of the things that we learn early in our lives is that we all have the right to pretty much say whatever we think. Some people are more polite and considerate than others, and some live to offend. As much as I might not like the opinion this guy has, or that of the KKK, or the Chick-Fil-A guy, or Sarah-I'm-an-idiot-Palin, or whoever is saying whatever with the intention to offend and hurt, I'll usually stand by their right to speak their mind. It's sort of a reflexive reaction - I defend his right to speak his opinion so that he in turn will defend my right to speak mine. Most Americans believe very strongly in the right to express yourself verbally - an MSN poll today shows that 83% of respondants support his right to say whatever he thinks.

I know in some European nations, hate-speech is a punishable offense, but here in the U.S. you have to act on your opinions for them to be considered potentially criminal. Of course, that won't stop people from shunning you for what you said, all the while defending your right to say it, as we've seen with Phil's suspension by the network.

Originally Posted by TrueFaith77

And what of GQ for printing the interview? They are the ones responsible for propogating his alleged hate speech and providing him a platform. GLAAD never takes on MTV or Eminem either.

In another land where propagating hate-speech is a crime, perhaps they bear some responsibility. From my perspective, their right to publish his comments is just that - a right protected by law.

I'm a fan of Eminem, oddly, and have never found his gay-bashing offensive.