I have a facebook account and a twitter account. I keep them separate because the audiences are different. Facebook you kind of get stuck with people you can't unfriend for one reason or another. Before you criticize me on this think about it. We all have family and friends who we don't agree with, but stay connected for civilities sake. Also, I adore my friends, just not always their opinions. I expect them to feel the same way about me. With twitter there's more anonymity, and it's easier to follow people that I may be more politically or thematically aligned. It's also my number one source of geeky news.
Because I am from and went to college in the Southeast I see a fair amount of conservative stuff come through my fb feed. It doesn't usually bother me because everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Every now and then something does strike the proverbial chord. So here's my opinion on the Duck Dynasty hubbub, and you can be incredibly outraged or not.
It's pretty stupid. We have the freedom of speech in this country, yes. That doesn't mean that you are protected from the repercussions of what you say. You can yell fire in a crowded building all you want, but don't be surprised if you get slapped with citing a riot. In the Duck Dynasty case, this isn't even just about freedom of speech. It's about money and public opinion. A&E looked at the demographics and saw they would lose out in the long run. Also, from what I've read the show hasn't been canceled just the lead guy "suspended indefinitely." Which to me translates as A&E is going to let this blow over, and put him back on the air.
As for the public opinion piece of this, I think it's awesome. I'm part of the LGBTQ community. Growing up I knew I was gay, but didn't come out until college where it was safe. Even though I wasn't out other kids in high school would yell derogatory terms at me like "fag" or "dyke." These were kids who regularly attended church especially during revival season. Anything that was different or not "Christian" was to be bullied. Did you know that LGBTQ youth have the highest rate of suicide in this country? And it's because of behavior like this. When I was in high school in 1992, the Duck Dynasty stance on gays would have been applauded. Today it is not. Public opinion is starting to recognize that I am not any different from the rest of society, and it's not cool to discriminate. Yes, I know that the patriarch of DD says that he wouldn't treat anyone differently for being gay. Those of us in the LGBTQ community groan every time we hear this kind of statement b/c it's the same thing as saying "I'm not racist, but..."
So yeah I think it's pretty cool that a cable network felt enough pressure to at least suspend the showrunner based on a homophobic remark. And as for Christian discrimination, you guys can sit down and shut up for a change. You've had the upper hand in the U.S. government for what seems like eons. You've never had to sit in the back of the bus, or be told your partner can't stay in your hospital room. Because let's face it, the people outraged right now are white, straight, conservative, Christians. Shouldn't you be watching the "War on Christmas" over at FOX News anyways?
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