UPDATE*** This post has received MUCH publicity in the last two days. JD is discussing this very article on his radio program and podcast, The Pulpit and Pen Program, on Monday (12/23/13). You can find links to this podcast (and to subscribe) under “The Program” tab. Also, if you would like updates from this collaborative blog, please click the link on the home page that says, “Become a Pulpiteer.”
A&E “fired” Phil Robertson for speaking his mind, articulating a worldview that clashes with the worldview of those operating the cable network. Technically, A&E didn’t fire an “employee,” but chose to suspend their relationship with a contractor. It appears that the rest of the Duck Dynasty cast (the Robertson clan) are choosing not to continue their contract with A&E without their father. This controversy is about a number of things, but it’s not about “free speech.”
There are lots of…
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The Battle Cry 
I’ve been seeing a lot of reference to JD and Pulpit and Pen online recenlty…is this something new or am I slow?
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I doubt you are slow. I ran across the above just looking around for DD articles to see what folks are saying. I thought this one had a lot to offer and think about. Then I discovered that this is the same JD Hall who was hammered over at the ‘Spiritual Sounding Board,’ where they bash a whole lot of Biblical concepts and principles, and a site that has banned this old guy. JD Hall is now on the lineup of speakers at Worldvieww Weekend Radio (Brannon House). He also preached a rather SBC critical sermon at Reformation Montana 2012 Conference.
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Here is an interesting and perceptive ‘Letter to the Editor’ posted yesterday at the Washington Times:
“Last night for the first time, I watched an episode of “Duck Dynasty” and enjoyed it. That’s good news because I saw an entertaining reality show in which I really liked the characters, all of whom seemed “real.” That’s bad news because I put another viewer in the A&E “win” column in the midst of all this mess. I don’t agree with A&E’s stance on the issues here (“Huge backlash mounts over suspension of ‘Duck Dynasty’ star Phil Robertson.” Web, Dec. 19).
People should be able to say what they want about what they believe in. Mr. Robertson answered a question posed to him without considering what people might think. As I read all the press and think about what has happened here, I’ve come to a conclusion: This is not really a free-speech issue. The First Amendment was written so that government could not infringe upon the freedom of its citizens to say whatever they wanted about the government without the fear of reprisal. In fact, the first word of the First Amendment is “Congress,” as in: “Congress shall make no law … .” This is a prohibitive amendment, not a supportive one.
The “Duck Dynasty” furor is really a free-market issue. A&E bowed under pressure from an advocacy group, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and suspended Mr. Robertson because the network believed it was the best business decision. A&E failed to realize that “Duck Dynasty” has a bigger following than GLAAD has members. Now they have to figure out how to walk back the suspension and save face — and then save their other networks. We’ll see how that works out.”
LYNN BEAMON
Owings Mills, Md.
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