This Was Supposed to Be All About Phil Robertson But

     Something happened as I was attempting to write an open letter to Phil Robertson. I am a Duck Dynasty fan and I am an atheist. Those of you who find that to be contradictory-- tell someone who cares. Not all of us non-believers are liberal or progressive or democrats or some combination of the three. I digress.

     The thing is, I was reading through the ton of media and blog coverage on Phil Robertson's remarks to the Vero Beach Prayer Breakfast that took place on Friday morning, March 20th in Vero Beach, Florida. Yeah, I listened to the recordings and watched the videos too.

     Phil Robertson is entitled to freedom of expression, just like every civilian in the United States is. Within that protection, he is allowed to be rude and crude and shocking and controversial. Talking about castration during a breakfast might have made me lose a bit of my appetite had I been there. But I wasn't there. Didn't know about it. Could not have afforded to go if I had been invited. Wasn't invited. Might have preferred to hang on the beach or at a bookstore instead had I been in Florida that morning.

     The rest of us civilians are entitled to freedom of expression too. Some folks have supported Phil. Others have not. And some people have pretty much exercised their freedom to not give a damn. Because as my good buddy Jeremy Crow points out, freedom of speech is not equivalent to freedom to be heard. We cannot fight all the battles there are or attend all the celebratory parties either.

     At first, I thought I hope Phil isn't suffering from some sort of neurological condition or disorder that would make inhibiting his dis-inhibitions tougher. [Between the changes after my brain injury and watching dad getting swallowed up by Lewy Body Dementia, there remains no mystery as to why I would think that almost immediately]. Then I thought, Geez, Phil Robertson doesn't think that we atheists have morals or values. Finally I said to myself, "I don't really know what he thinks. He is a dude on the teevee on a show that I love."

     Where his comments outrageous? Sure. Shocking? Yup. Do I approve of his parable about the atheist family? Nope. Does that mean he ought not to have said that stuff? Nope. Could he have expressed his point better? That's an opinion question. Will I continue to watch Duck Dynasty? Yep.

     Detractors talked about Phil Robertson having some kind of sick fantasy life. Defenders talked about moral relativism. I wasn't sure about this moral relativism stuff so I had to look it up. Some percentage of Christians are opposed to moral relativism. So Phil Robertson is a Christian who is opposed to moral relativism. Okay. Fine. I get that. Cool. And then I discovered that I fit-- somewhere-- into that scale of morally relativistic, although I am not sure of exactly where. Because there are things that I recognize as being wrong. I wanted to be some kind of Ayn Rand when I grew up, or at least a Nathaniel Branden. Instead I discovered that I am a sort of libertarian anarchist with decided ideas about less government being more fun. Which perhaps borrows something from each of them but with a slightly different spin.

     Christians who believe in absolute morality e.g. "God said it's wrong so it is" have a hard time understanding that atheists too possess morality. Rejection of a personal belief in any gods does not mean an automatic rejection of any sort of moral standards. Wherever morality and conscience come from, believers say the deity of their choice delivered the laws to live by and gave us individual consciences. Non-believers may cite Hammurabi's Code and then go on to talk about the evolutionary process and perhaps cultures and stuff like that.

     Then I ran into this article about The Islamic State training kids in the fine art of beheading people. 
http://www.gospelherald.com/articles/54915/20150326/isis-recruits-over-400-children-as-cubs-of-the-caliphate-training-includes-beheading.htm  Uh. That there is wrong. The Islamic State or ISIS or those other initials that I can never remember indicate people following a version of Islam which is also caught up in the usurption of power and lives from a bunch of other nations and people.

     From there, my brain and my fingers jumped to some articles on the National Prayer Breakfast held on Feburary 5, 2015 in Washington D.C. at the Hilton. Not your average local diner or small restaurant. The guest list included the Dalai Lama dude in spite of protests by China over interference of other nations in the affairs of Tibet.

     Whether or not the current president is a "secret Muslim," he is doing a piss-poor job of convincing people otherwise. And then I made a judgement call. What President Obama said at the National Prayer Breakfast was far, far worse than what Phil Robertson said at the Vero Beach Prayer Breakfast. Obummer's appeal to the religious to remember that no one's god wants them to go whupping ass at random did not have any good effect on me. His stunning revelation that Christians did the Crusade thing back in the Middle Ages left me coldly shrieking in rage. Yo, the Crusades were a response to the Muslims of that time doing invasions. And many more people have been slaughtered by the uh extremist jihadists who we aren't supposed to believe are true Muslims than by the Crusaders. Besides that, the Crusades ain't happening now. 

     We are living in a world where people get beheaded and stuff gets blown up. A world where some little kids strap on suicide vests and other little kids learn how to behead their perceived enemies. A world where Islam itself has not yet proven that it can take a seat at the prayer breakfast table. 

     There's gangs of young people roaming around London imposing Sharia law at will. And other places too are getting thrust into this sort of stuff. What gives them the right? Every time we try to play nice with the ruffians who are endeavoring to take over the sandbox, we give them that right. Our president-- America first and all of that, home of the brave and the free-- gives them that right when he preaches his gospel of denial.

     Mr. President, your denial is threatening our way of life. The Islamic State or ISIS or whatever you wish to call it is composed of people following some version of Islam. They are Muslims. Not all Muslims want to implement or live under sharia law. But and however, the ones making the most noise right now are. Your failure to address this current event-- the attempted takeover by those favoring Sharia law-- sucks. 

     Furthermore, I am still not over the notion that you visited Saudi Arabia recently in order to pay homage to both a dead king and a live king. Saudi Arabia, country of public beheadings. Don't you dare tell me that the folks in charge over there are not Muslims.

     And by the way Mr. President, some of us still fervently believe that human lives are far more important than big oil. Some of us acknowledge that we as a nation need to become independent of and and all oil that originates in other nations apart from this one, and that we need to develop technology for transportation that does not involve consumption of oil-- in that order, period. We need to make some tough decisions as a nation. If you are incapable of doing that, then you deserve to be voted out next time or not to run at all.

     You've encouraged (and that is putting it mildly) the N.S.A. and those other agencies to collect metadata on everyone everywhere to the point where sifting the threats and the possible threats from the non-threats is a daunting task (to put it mildly). Our fundamental right to some privacy has been eroded. You have cut the military defense budget. That is the height of stupidity given what is happening all over with the proponents of Sharia law. Then you tell the U.N. that ISIS is not Muslim and you tell a prayer breakfast stuff about distorted faith. 

     Maybe Phil Robertson can pound some sense into your head, Mr. President. At least he is clear about exactly what the Islamic State is composed of and exactly what their aim is. And he has a plan for ISIS too. Phil Robertson is not living in a fairy tale world Mr. President. You are.


References

This is wrong:

http://www.gospelherald.com/articles/54915/20150326/isis-recruits-over-400-children-as-cubs-of-the-caliphate-training-includes-beheading.htm


Sharia Law:

http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/frontpagemag-com/video-muslims-enforcing-sharia-law-on-the-streets-of-london/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcsG-u2GtZE

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/7428933/Muslim-gangs-imposing-sharia-law-in-British-prisons.html

http://dailycaller.com/2014/11/02/swedish-police-release-extensive-report-detailing-control-of-55-no-go-zones-by-muslim-criminal-gangs/

http://www.akdart.com/islam10.html



Obama and the Christian vs. ISIS thing: [National Prayer Breakfast 2/5/2015]

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/02/05/remarks-president-national-prayer-breakfast

http://www.wsj.com/articles/obamas-crusades-1423256805

http://madworldnews.com/obama-jihad-crusades/

http://www.christianpost.com/news/franklin-graham-responds-to-obamas-isis-christian-prayer-breakfast-comparison-jesus-lived-for-peace-mohammed-killed-innocent-people-133714/

http://www.joelrieves.com/why-thats-just-crazy-talk/

http://www.thefederalistpapers.org/us/this-video-blows-up-obamas-argument-about-the-crusades-verses-islamic-extremists-today

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/02/06/mad-bill-donohue-demands-apology-from-obama-for-the-presidents-mention-of-the-crusades-and-the-inquisition/

http://www.religionnews.com/2015/02/05/obama-condemns-distorted-faith-national-prayer-breakfast/

http://www.tpnn.com/2015/03/08/jackie-mason-slams-obama-for-insulting-bibi-not-isis/

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/02/jim_crow_south_s_lynching_of_blacks_and_christianity_the_terror_inflicted.single.html


Phil Robertson at Vero Beach Prayer Breakfast 3/20/2015
mostly supportive reactions, or attempts to be neutral:
     
http://www.trunews.com/friday-march-20-2015-phil-robertson/
   ~ part of Phil Robertson talk as broadcasted on trunews radio ~

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7yCksfdINE
   ~ Phil Robertson's acceptance speech at C.PAC

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/bristolpalin/2013/12/leave-phil-robertson-alone/

http://www.gospelherald.com/articles/54890/20150325/duck-dynasty-patriarch-phil-robertson-receives-criticism-for-comparing-violence-to-atheism.htm

http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2015/03/25/debunked-medias-latest-ignorant-bigoted-attack-on-duck-dynastys-phil-robertson/

http://www.trunews.com/friday-march-20-2015-phil-robertson/

http://thehayride.com/2015/02/louisianas-own-phil-robertson-wins-the-breitbart-free-speech-award-at-cpac-calls-stds-revenge-of-the-hippies/

http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2015/03/phil-robertson-atheist-rant-slammed-by-critics-defended-by-suppo/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheHollywoodGossip+%28The+Hollywood+Gossip%29

http://ca.thetruth24.com/article/41330/phil-robertson-condemned-for-offensive-morality-tale-that-imagines-rape-and-murder-of-atheist-family

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/03/25/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson-under-fire-for-graphic-anti-atheist-speech-at-prayer-breakfast/?intcmp=features



Moral Relativism:

http://www.moral-relativism.com/
     
http://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_moral_relativism.html

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Moral_relativism

https://carm.org/moral-relativism

http://www.peterkreeft.com/audio/05_relativism/relativism_transcription.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_ethics



morals: where do they come from?

http://www.vice.com/read/sorry-religions-human-consciousness-is-just-a-consequence-of-evolution

http://www.livescience.com/47799-morality-religion-political-beliefs.html

https://thezephyrlounge.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/where-do-my-morals-come-from/



mostly against Phil Robertson's morality illustration:

http://blackchristiannews.com/2015/03/duck-dynastys-phil-robertson-under-fire-again-for-telling-graphic-atheist-story-at-prayer-breakfast/

http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2015/03/mobile_atheists_react_to_duck.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/25/phil-robertson-atheist-rape_n_6936662.html

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/phil-robertson-hypothesizes-about-atheist-family-getting-raped-and-killed

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/brotherrichard/2015/3/duck-dynastys-phil-robertson-says-if-an-atheist-family-is-raped-and-killed-they-would-discover-right-and-wrong/

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/3/25/when-phil-robertson-fantasized-about-the-rape-and-murder-of-an-atheist-family-what-part-did-he-leave-out/

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/03/24/duck-dynasty-daddy-muses-about-atheist-family-getting-raped-shot-beheaded-castrated-to-show-how-god-is-good/

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/excommunications/2015/3/phil-robertsons-shocking-bet-has-a-simple-answer/

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/07/19/new-study-shows-breakdown-of-people-who-believe-you-need-god-to-be-good/

http://radaronline.com/photos/bayou-logic-or-hate-speech-duck-dynasty-stars-28-most-shocking-quotes-of-all-time/photo/614117/



http://www.politicususa.com/2015/03/24/duck-dynasty-star-fantasizes-rape-murder-atheist-family-prayer-breakfast.html

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/03/duck-dynasty-star-fantasizes-about-atheist

http://www.ringoffireradio.com/2015/03/duck-dynasty-hick-uses-daughter-rape-castration-and-decapitation-to-preach-god/

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2015/03/duck-dynasty-beard-in-chief-fantasizes.html

http://www.nola.com/entertainment/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2015/03/phil_robertson_rape_murder_ath.html

http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/03/26/phil-robertson-morality-tale-has-atheists-daughters-raped-and-shot-wife-beheaded-and-man-castrated/

http://www.inquisitr.com/1952056/duck-dynastys-phil-robertson-salivates-over-rape-and-castration-of-atheist-analogy-to-prove-point-about-the-goodness-of-god/

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/03/25/duck-dynasty-star-phil-robertson-under-fire-over-graphic-comments-about-atheists-rape-and-murder/

https://storify.com/cmgnationalnews/duck-dynasty-star-phil-robertson-under-fire-for-a?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=publisher&utm_campaign=embed-header

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/duck-dynasty-star-fantasizes-about-atheist-familys-brutal-rape-and-murder-to-make-point-about-gods-law/

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/24/decapitate_her_head_off_phil_robertsons_vile_message_to_atheists/

http://hurryupharry.org/2015/03/25/phil-robertsons-atheist-family-fantasy/

https://thezephyrlounge.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/commentary-on-abstract-morality-a-response-to-phil-robertsons-recent-atheism-commentary/

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2015/03/duck-dynasty-dude-openly-fantasizes.html

    

Going Quackers Over Duck Dynasty

     I love Duck Dynasty. I don't care that the Robertson family has different beliefs than I do. I don't care that they are considered to be "rednecks." They make me laugh and they remind me of Louisiana. I lived in Louisiana for almost a year once. 

     Things are different in the Deep South than they are in the Frozen North. When people don't like each other in Louisiana, they say so. When they disagree, they say so. Up here, not so much. Up here people hide behind their masks, pretending that they object to Susie and Josh mixing it up for any other reason than a difference in skin color. Louisiana is a far more honest place and I miss that part of living there in particular. 

     One place in particular up here in the Frozen North that I used to work at had a "morality clause" in their employee handbook. We were not under contract and this state is a "work at will" state and not a "right to work" state for those who know what that means. The fact that we had no legal protection made the clause that much more odious. The wording ran something like "We can terminate your employment if you commit any immoral or indecent act even if you do it on your own time and not here on the work site." The language sounded more official than that but the message was plain. Do something we don't like-- even on your own time away from the facility-- and we reserve our option to give you the ax. 

     I do not know what A&E's contract with Phil Robertson says. I propose to you that the reason why a television station thought it could get away with suspending Phil Robertson because of something he said during an interview with a magazine was similar to the outdated reasoning behind my previous employer's morality clause. Then GLADD had to get into the act. A&E went quackers and GLADD made the whole thing worse in my opinion.

     Phil Robertson has the right to express his beliefs clearly to someone interviewing him for a magazine. He was asked what he considers to be sinful behavior and he answered the question according to what his church teaches about what the Bible considers to be sinful behavior. He did not say "Homos are scum and all of them deserve to die." He said what he believes. And yes people, the vast majority of preachers and congregations are not ready to roll out the welcome mat to non-heterosexuals who are not celibate. Lest non-hets feel slighted, Phil also added adulterers and practitioners of beastiality to the mix. He went on to say that he treats all people with respect.  http://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson

     The adulterers and fornicators did not come blasting out of the woodwork screaming "That big meanie Phil said what we are doing is wrong." Neither did the folks who do it with four-leggeds. And there are some of those in Louisiana. I knew two of them within five miles of each other. Neither one knew the other. I suspect it might have been fun for them to compare notes if they had. Sheep man was an older fellow who liked sheep overly much. Goat man preferred goats. They were not ashamed of what they did. They embraced their nicks openly. [Both of them were heterosexual men by the way]. I don't advocate that particular lifestyle. I'm just saying that it exists in Louisiana and elsewhere in the world.

     The idea of being attracted sexually to a four-legged is foreign and gross to me just as the idea of wanting a man is not something that is logical to Phil Robertson. Phil Robertson is a straight man living a straight man's life. Of course he does not understand why two men would want to have anal sex. That plus his religious beliefs makes for a man who says "That's illogical."

     A&E un-suspended Phil Robertson and I am glad of that. I suspect that GLADD is not so glad but I don't give a damn about them. In looking up the interview, I noted that there is now an old vid that has surfaced featuring Phil talking about marrying teen girls. Again, Phil Robertson has a right to say this. Furthermore, the age of consent for marriage is set by each state in the United States and not by federal law. In some states, that age is set at sixteen. In others, that age is set at eighteen. In a few, that age is set at seventeen. http://family.findlaw.com/marriage/state-by-state-marriage-age-of-consent-laws.html Folks under the age of sixteen can marry with parental permission or under special circumstances in some states. If you don't want to marry a teenager, you don't have to. 

radical sapphoq says: I am an atheist and a bisexual woman and I am a fan of Duck Dynasty. Phil Robertson has the right to freedom of speech just like all other civilians do in the United States. A&E (probably, I suspect) had the legal right to suspend him. Fans of Duck Dynasty had the right to protest the suspension. I protested it also because I am a fan of the show. Even though A&E has lifted the suspension, the Robertson family has the right to move their show to a Christian station, or to a station that will not edit out any of the "in the name of Jesus" or "in Jesus' name" from the praying, or even to get their own station. And I hope the Robertson family does pull their show from A&E and go to another station. I for one will follow them and continue to watch Duck Dynasty.