This is a reprint
from an earlier Facebook posting I did, but I thought it needed more
circulation for a wider audience.
“I am going to weigh
in on this duck dynasty fiasco sweeping the political discussions across our
nation. There are two huge points that one needs to take into consideration
when looking at Phil’s remarks.
One: In the free enterprise system of capitalism, if you work for a company you do not have freedom of speech in all cases. They can fire you for things you say, write and even repeat. It happens all the time. A&E has the right to let go anyone for any reason that they believe speaks against the basic values to which the network adheres.
On the other hand, point two is that Phil has the right in America to say whatever is on his mind. He is free to espouse his OPINIONS when asked a question by a reporter. You and I my not agree with him. (I know I don’t.) but he is guaranteed under the constitution the right to say whatever is on his mind, short of yelling “fire” in a crowded theater. He can make as big a fool of himself as he wishes. Our constitution guarantees him that freedom.
However, A&E is a private concern that answers to a board of directors and stock holders and has a network standards practice and if it felt that an employee violated what A&E stood for, then they could fire (and did) fire him. Think this is wrong? Imagine a spokesman for the Billy Graham Crusade saying publically that he thinks Jesus was just a neat guy and probably not the savior in his opinion. How long do you think that guy would be getting a check signed by Franklin Graham? Not long, I can tell you. That would be the prerogative of the mission group. They haven’t said that their member couldn’t feel that way, nor even speak that way; but they don’t have to support such views. The same is true for A&E.
I don’t like what Phil said. But he has the right to say it. But A&E doesn’t have the responsibility to be a sounding board for those ideas. And that is where they drew the line.”
One: In the free enterprise system of capitalism, if you work for a company you do not have freedom of speech in all cases. They can fire you for things you say, write and even repeat. It happens all the time. A&E has the right to let go anyone for any reason that they believe speaks against the basic values to which the network adheres.
On the other hand, point two is that Phil has the right in America to say whatever is on his mind. He is free to espouse his OPINIONS when asked a question by a reporter. You and I my not agree with him. (I know I don’t.) but he is guaranteed under the constitution the right to say whatever is on his mind, short of yelling “fire” in a crowded theater. He can make as big a fool of himself as he wishes. Our constitution guarantees him that freedom.
However, A&E is a private concern that answers to a board of directors and stock holders and has a network standards practice and if it felt that an employee violated what A&E stood for, then they could fire (and did) fire him. Think this is wrong? Imagine a spokesman for the Billy Graham Crusade saying publically that he thinks Jesus was just a neat guy and probably not the savior in his opinion. How long do you think that guy would be getting a check signed by Franklin Graham? Not long, I can tell you. That would be the prerogative of the mission group. They haven’t said that their member couldn’t feel that way, nor even speak that way; but they don’t have to support such views. The same is true for A&E.
I don’t like what Phil said. But he has the right to say it. But A&E doesn’t have the responsibility to be a sounding board for those ideas. And that is where they drew the line.”
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