Journalist Jenni Osborne Craig has long documented her affection for animals—especially her beloved duck cleverly named ‘Duck’-- but A&E network’s recent exiling of Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson because of his anti-homosexuality remarks in a Gentleman’s Quarterly article has caught her attention. Jenni and husband Ryan Craig, who live in Russellville, own and manage Kentucky’s most highly honored small-town newspaper, the Todd County Standard.
Her remarks follow:
As for the Duck Dynasty ruffled feathers, I don't know why I even have an opinion since what happens to this show is of no interest to me personally, but it is hard not to form one based on the social media saturation of this topic.
A) Look, I HATE at least part of these guys' schtick-- their picture in the famous GQ article involved dead ducks hanging from their belts, for goodness' sake -- but I read that article and any man telling a GQ reporter about Jesus is refreshing and wonderful.
B) However, that was clearly GOTCHA journalism, as Ryan and I said, and that reporter knew what this dude would say, and he was delighted to catch him. That reporter was absolutely a jerk, which you could tell from reading. But A&E, which surely edits out half the things these people say for the show, also should have been aware he would tell the truth and either had him a handler, forbid the interview or just explained to him beforehand, "Say what you want to say, but you may get fired for it." And then he could have answered accordingly. I don't think he would have lied, not at all, and I think he would have said exactly how he believes, but he might not have discussed the anatomical terms so freely. Or else he would have, and then he would have expected a phone call from his boss.
C) Because there is no such thing as freedom of speech as far as advertisers are concerned. It was perfectly fine for Phil to say what he did. The government isn't going to do anything to him, and that's the First Amendment. But the First Amendment doesn't have anything to do with whether your boss (A&E) thinks it's going to lose money (advertisers) because of you and fires you.
Turns out, it may be a more costly decision after all to have fired him than it would have been to just issue an "A&E does not agree with the remarks of its stars..." statement, but it is still not interfering with anyone's free speech. Just their paid speech, as in Phil's A&E payday. A&E should also know its audience and I'm pretty sure most of them have no problem with what Phil said to GQ, so it will probably end up putting him back on there. It's about money to them, after all.
D) It does seem rather incongruent we complain our reality stars aren't "real," (i.e., Kim Kardashian) and then when one behaves as honestly as possible, we can't handle it. And if you didn't know or suspect how this man felt about gay people already, I worry about your deductive reasoning abilities.
E) Again, and last time I said this, people were offended, but remember those few Christian groups who wouldn't let the Duck Dynasty group speak because they now endorse a line of wines? I would be interested to see what those same groups say about this. But anyway, the majority of folks who are lifting Phil up for speaking out against sin today never questioned that, nor did they mind a wine-making episode. I said it was a strange way to make money on their part because it could make a specific portion of their audience angry or make them appear hypocritical. But it seems no one really cared after all, so I guess that they and Luke Bryan just made a bunch more money on something that doesn't directly endanger wildlife.
F) Whether I like these folks or am annoyed that people are erroneously citing the First Amendment, whatever, it takes a real human being to admit how you truly feel, but with kindness, and if people don't like it, I'm pretty sure that doesn't matter:
Phil said: "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."