Duck Duck

                Most of us have been enjoying family and loved ones while celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, but there have been other people causing “a tempest in a tea pot” in the name of tolerance.  Duck Dynasty has been in the news because Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the family, described behavior that these people hoped to keep unspoken.  The gay community is upset because he made “graphic comments” about homosexuality in an interview with CQ Magazine.  The A&E Network suspended him from the show  indefinitely, and Cracker Barrel pulled Duck Dynasty items from its shelves.  In spite of all the problems, Robertson refused to back down on his controversial remarks.  So what did Robertson say that was so bad?

                Robertson was asked a question during the interview, and he answered in “crass terms” by saying that he does not understand how “two men could enjoy making love to one another.”  He was asked what constituted sin, and he expressed his personal views of sin, “Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong…  Sin becomes fine.  Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there….  Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.”  Because Robertson gave his opinion of what constitutes sin – when he was asked for it -  GLAAD accused Robertson of lying and not living Christian values. 

                The “deeply religious” Robertson commented on the uproar, “I myself am a product of the 60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior….

                “My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the Bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together.

                “However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me.  We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity.  We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.”  

                In spite of all the problems, the Robertson family has stood with their patriarch and has basically said we are a family that stands together.  A&E Network is feeling the wrath of viewers of Duck Dynasty who are threatening to boycott the network if Robertson’s suspension is not revoked.  The network is caught between a rock and hard place with the gay community on one side and the possible loss of their very popular show.  Cracker Barrel decided to put the Duck Dynasty items back on its shelves because of customer complaints.  Robertson has not backed down from his comments.  Under Armour, one of the main sponsors of the Duck Dynasty franchise, is backing the Robertson family.  Glenn Beck offered a spot on his network to Robertson and his family.

                Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) believes that tolerance should be a “two-way street.”  He said that “the reason that so many Americans love Duck Dynasty is because it represents the America usually ignored or mocked by liberal elites:  a family that loves and cares for each other, believes in God, and speaks openly about their faith” 

                Cruz wrote on his Facebook page, “If you believe in free speech or religious liberty, you should be deeply dismayed over the treatment of Phil Robertson. … Phil expressed his personal views and his own religious faith; for that, he was suspended from his job.  In a free society, anyone is free to disagree with him – but the mainstream media should not behave as the thought police censoring the views with which they disagree.”  

It appears that Phil Robertson will be appearing when Duck Dynasty begins airing new episodes of the show on January 15.  

                I do not watch Duck Dynasty and have no ties to Robertson, but I believe  his first amendment rights are being abused.  Christians and Jews and all people who believe in the teachings of God in the Bible must stand with Phil Robertson.  We must “stand together or hang separately” as Benjamin Franklin once said.   When one person’s freedoms are threatened, everyone’s liberty is at stake.

                I believe Robertson was attacked because he dared to remind all of us that there is such a thing as sin and that the Bible contains the word of God.  It appears to me that the gay community wants the freedom to commit sin but does not want their actions to be called sin.  They want the freedom to say and do whatever they desire but do not want other people to have the right to share their opinions.  In other words, the people who demand tolerance for their life styles refuse to have tolerance for people with different opinions.  Tolerance must be a two-way street if America is to remain free for all citizens.  We should all listen carefully to the words of Robertson, “We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.”  May God watch over and bless America!