This wouldn't be Insult.org without commentary on the stupidity of Americans and this week it hit a hilarious low. Additionally, I would not be me if I didn't jump all over the opportunity to call someone a racist and/or a homophobe.
So you probably already know about the Duck Dynasty guy.
I'll forgo my typical tirade about the lunacy behind this man's motivations. I know, rare! Instead, I have something different to offer up mainly because there seems to be a huge portion of the populace that doesn't understand the concept behind freedom of speech.
This man has a right to say what he wants. The government did not retaliate against him, his company did. His freedom of speech has not been impinged. Most employers have conditions in the contract of employment you sign. It appears his did. What he said apparently violated a condition. It is legally acceptable to suspend or terminate him based on that.
It is perfectly legal and ethical to have an employment condition against hateful speech. It is absolutely not legal or ethical to have one against a person of a protected class. Expressing an opinion of a protected class (in this case, a religion) is not inclusive of the class.
The most offensive thing here is this man is part of a reality television show, which should not be a qualification for being interviewed by GQ.
His "beliefs" are stupid, yes, and anyone defending him is a racist and/or a homophobe. But there are two forces at work: the amount of inappropriate/outrageous required to maintain the attention of the trogs who watch this drivel and the amount of inappropriate/outrageous required to be noticed by the intelligent people who don't watch this drivel. The network certainly knew what they were getting into with this show - an argument can probably be made they picked these morons specifically because of their asinine beliefs - and this Robertson fellow crossed the line by bringing his nonsense to the GQ interview. The street of blame in this city of idiocy is not one way.
But to those who think this is a freedom of speech issue, your opinion is bad and you should feel bad.
End of discussion.