Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty
Hollywood Reporter:
‘Duck Dynasty’s’ Phil Robertson on Indefinite Hiatus Following Anti-Gay Remarks
A&E has placed Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson on indefinite hiatus following anti-gay remarks he made in a recent profile in GQ.
“We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson’s comments in GQ, which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series Duck Dynasty,” A&E said in a statement. “His personal views in no way reflect those of A+E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community. The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely.”
The news comes after Robertson compared homosexuality to bestiality in an interview with the magazine. He’ll likely appear in season four, which bows Jan. 15, since production is largely wrapped.
“It seems like, to me, a vagina — as a man — would be more desirable than a man’s anus,” Robertson says in the January issue of the men’s magazine. “That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”
During a discussion about repentance and God, Robertson is asked what he finds sinful.
“Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there,” he says. “Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.”
He goes on to paraphrase Corinthians: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers — they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”
GLAAD on Wednesday condemned his remarks as “some of the vilest and most extreme statements uttered against LGBT people in a mainstream publication” and said “his quote was littered with outdated stereotypes and blatant misinformation.”
“Phil and his family claim to be Christian, but Phil’s lies about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe,” GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz said. “He clearly knows nothing about gay people or the majority of Louisianans — and Americans — who support legal recognition for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples. Phil’s decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a stain on A&E and his sponsors, who now need to re-examine their ties to someone with such public disdain for LGBT people and families.”
GLAAD responded to A&E’s suspension, commending the network for its swift decision. “What’s clear is that such hateful anti-gay comments are unacceptable to fans, viewers, and networks alike,” GLAAD’s Cruz said late Wednesday. “By taking quick action and removing Robertson from future filming, A&E has sent a strong message that discrimination is neither a Christian nor an American value.”
Robertson released his own statement in response to the flap early Wednesday: “I myself am a product of the ’60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior. 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.”
First of all let me state that I have never watched more than a few minutes of Duck Dynasty. I heard the buzz about the show and decided to check it out, and then quickly decided it was not my cup of tea. I’m not knocking the show, I’m jut saying it’s not for me. YMMV.
Secondly, let me state that I am a life-long heterosexual (retired) who was raised in a fundamentalist Christian church but I went over the wall in my teens and I am currently not particularly religious. I guess you could classify me as a theist.
In other words, I don’t have a dog in this fight.
What this whole kerfluffle is all about is a conflict in values. There really is no “right” answer to this problem. People are just gonna have to agree to disagree.
Phil Robertson is entitled to his opinion. He is also entitled to practice his religion. He believes that homosexuality is a sin. Not only is he entitled to believe that, he is entitled to express his views.
GLAAD and others are entitled to disagree with Robertson. They are entitled to feel offended. They are entitled to express their opinions. Last but not least, they are entitled to be completely hypocritical. (See: Baldwin, Alec) But they are NOT entitled to shut down opposing points of view.
A&E Network is also entitled to an opinion. But even if they have no opinion (or don’t want to admit to one) they have a monetary interest in this conflict. A&E is a corporation that is jointly owned by Hearst and Disney-ABC. They have an fiduciary duty to their stockholders to protect that monetary interest.
The First Amendment does not apply to this case because there is no government action involved. Robertson can shoot off his mouth, A&E can fire him, and if there are any contractual breaches then they can settle it in court for money.
But one thing that Robertson cannot do is force A&E to put him on the air.
The rest of us have rights too. We have a right to agree or disagree with either or both sides. We can refuse to watch Duck Dynasty or purchase any of their related merchandise that is widely available at Walmart and other retailers. Or we can boycott A&E for suspending Robertson. Either way we can express our opinions and intentions to the world.
Personally, I agree with Robertson about the anus vs. vagina stuff (I am pro-vagina) but I do not agree with him about homosexuality being a sin. I support same-sex marriage and LGBT rights but I think that sometimes the gay advocacy groups get carried away (transgendered bathrooms?).
Strategically I think this was a bad move by A&E – Duck Dynasty is really their only hit show, and compared to other cable programs it is a monster hit. I checked last night’s A&E schedule and during prime time they had three solid hours of Duck Dynasty. If they lose that show it will cost them millions.
On the other hand, maybe they are more interested in principles than money. {{LAUGHTER}}
Tomorrow and probably for the next few days there will be a lot of hot air and pixels employed by both sides in this argument. But in the end I doubt if any opinions will have changed.
The closest thing to gay sex I have ever done was getting my prostate checked, and I can assure you that there was nothing the least bit erotic or pleasurable about the experience. I don’t know why anybody would do that for fun.
The towering babble rises higher.
Pretty interesting comments over at The Hollywood Reporter of all places.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/duck-dynastys-phil-robertson-indefinite-666808
Doesn’t he know that Sarah Palin is the only person with whom you’re allowed to be disgustingly, crudely, anti-human? Toe the line, Mr. Duck.
I’m sure that members of GLAAD and the “Human Rights” Campaign have always been personally kind to Sarah Palin and other women — or something.
Me thinks Mr. Duck has a micro-focused, uber-detailed, pre-occupation with the problem….not that there’s anything wrong with that, LOL.
He was A&E bread and butter so he figured he could say anything he wanted. This is a precautionary tale for the high and mighty.
I have no duck in this fight. I agree with the Klown. All parties had the right to do what they did. I just hope Mr. Duck has a good savings account and told no one where he lives. I hope A&E survives. We need more cable. In my life, there are greater problems than what happens to a blow-hard or his network.
What kills me is that Phil would do an interview with GQ. Now there’s some irony for you….and not the Alanis Morissette kind.
Sorry, I find the whole situation comical.
He’s worth about $80 million right now. I pity the fool that heads down to Redneck, LA to start trouble with him.
Yep, he’s “earned” his right to say whatever he thinks.
No — you are completely wrong about Phil Robertson. He made himself a millionaire BEFORE Duck Dynasty (the TV show) started. He *earned* his right to say whatever he thinks the day he was born a free man in the United States of America, no matter how much the vile prog thought police bullies want to change that.
As for where he lives — it’s pretty much public knowledge, but if you’ve ever seen the way he can shoot a squirrel in a tree through the eye you won’t be going anywhere near there. As he said on the show “In the big city, you call 911. Out here, I am 911.”
I predict there will be t-shirts with quotes from Robertson. One of them will say:
Sin: It’s not logical, my man.
Or some variation thereof.
LOL, found one:
I haven’t watched the show either, but I have been following GLAAD for years and their selective outrage from the fringes disquised as “gay rights”. What Alec Baldwin said is far worse than the duck caller said, and they were silent ? Or the abuses against gays in middle east countries that Obama’s cozying up to doesn’t bother them either ?
Oh yeah, and it’s okay to call anyone who disagrees with Obama a “teabagger”, as I understand is a gayish word used in a vile context ?
So I naturally take the side of anyone that upsets them, because like most of the left (NOW, NAACP ad nauseum), the hypocrisy is stunning.
Maybe I’ll take another look at their “agenda” when they send a super-gay delegation of famous LGBT’s to a country that tortures and kills “their people” just for breathing the same air.
Iran executes people for being gay. Let them start protesting that.
And I have photos of it. Truly horrendous.
I posted one in the last thread via Gay Patriot’s “fixed” tweet to GLAAD. And yes, I’ve seen worse photos than that.
Iirc GLAAD was completely silent when Obama said “I believe marriage is between a man and a woman.”
In 08 didn’t her also go on tour(campaign) with Mary Mary and a few other very vocal anti-gay in South Carolina?
I wouldn’t be surprised. I remember him picking Rick Warren for some prayer thing.
It’s the hypocrisy is infuriating.
Same state the words “the Clintons are racist” were first uttered ? Because they criticized Obama as not being ready for prime time or something like that?
The Robertson family are not a bunch of poor dumb rednecks. They are rich dumb rednecks.
Phil Robertson has master’s in education (side note: he started ahead of Terry Bradshaw at Louisiana Tech University and declined recruitment to the Redskins).
I was reading that all the kids have at least a bachelor’s degree, Si’s daughter is a Rhodes scholar, and the oldest is an ordained minister. Not sure if that is all exact – the internet can be a little fast and loose with accurate details. But, I would never call them dumb. They are certainly smart enough to be 1%ers on their own drive and ambition.
Duck Dynasty is humorous, often witty–especially compared to other reality shows.
If they’re so dumb, how come they’re so rich?
🙂
Read it this morning…good read.
Good read. The guy needs to write a book, then the movie 🙂
Couldn’t help but notice “Palin Defends Duck Dynasty” is the top trending article at Politico right now. I bet it is … lol.
Wait, there’s more……
OT – Target shoppers!
I just heard this morning on the news that if you shopped at a Target store between “around Black Friday” and Dec 16, your credit card was probably hacked.
Est 40 million accounts stolen.
(I shopped there one time in that period for less than $10. Grrr. I called my cc company & they are sending me a new card just in case)
http://fox2now.com/2013/12/19/target-40-million-customer-credit-debit-cards-may-have-been-hacked/
I’d get a credit report as well.
Good idea. 🙂
I just received an email from Home Depot thanking me for my online purchase. I made one online purchase a week ago. when I called to aske about this email, they said “It was probably related to the purchase from a week ago.” They could not tell me what the email was specifically related to. I suggested that they review their policies, and then redesign their email “Thank you’s” to reflect accurately what sale/purchase, the message specifically refers to. Now I
have to call the bank and request a new debit/credit card. What a pain.
I wonder how many shoppers were signed up with LifeLock(tm)? If they’re Rush listeners that is 🙂 Bet that company is pulling their hair out now.
My mom’s card was hacked — bank called her this morning as they caught a $12 suspicious charge. Card is cancelled; new one is coming.
I don’t know for a fact she shopped at Target, but I can almost bet she did (she goes shopping every day between Black Friday and Christmas eve — it’s the marathon she trains for the rest of the year).
I’ve never watched Duck Dynasty but my understanding is part of the reason the show is such a hit is precisely because of the family values they espouse. My understanding is that the family members are devout Christians and somehow A&E was surprised by this? (Correct my assumptions if they’re wrong, I honestly don’t watch the show) BTW you can’t win a values argument, because it’s about values and everyone’s values are different.
My sister’s family watches Duck Dynasty all the time but for them it’s more about gawking and making fun of southerners. My sister was born a southerner…….a fact that somehow seems to escape her. Anyway my BIL marvels at the fact that what her perceives to be ignorant rednecks have managed to run a succesful business and actually become millionaires. His perception of southerners is that we sit on porches with banjos, drooling.
Drooling banjos?
I used a comma! I was trying to evoke an image of deliverance.
My BIL has an attitude that all southerners are ignorant and inbred. He believes any southern school is inferior, jokes that when a child learns to tie their shoes in the south they graduate from elementary school. He jokes about that, but he honestly believes graduating from a southern high school is equivalent to finishing 7th grade in California or the northeast. He also believes obtaining a BA or a BS from a southern university is equivalent to a high school diploma from California or the northeast. You can show him statistics and graduation requirements all day long and he blows you off. He honestly believes that and so do his children.
He delights in telling southern jokes. Whenever they come for a visit he is so arrogant and condescending toward everyone. He has instilled his views of southerners in his children too. The kids are the worst because they don’t tend to have any kind of filter and some of the things they say and do make me want to slap the snot out of them. They openly joke and mock people in public, as well as their own family members. They mock all of us and it’s infuriating, their fake southern accents are the worst.
Oh and they’re coming for Christmas this year…..fa la la la la la la la la!
They best be careful. Rednecks and southerners aren’t as restrained in expressing themselves as Yankees are. Even their women are known to enjoy public fist-fighting.
Half my family is from the south and half of us live up nawth. My southern aunt taught me “Bless her heart”, for which I am eternally grateful. It’s just the right thing to say in so many situations. She signs her cards to me “Ant Betty” so I won’t forget how it’s properly pronounced. While I stayed up north to go to college, most of the kids in the family near my age swapped places. It meant you got to experience life away from home with a cocoon if you needed it. We stopped fighting the Civil War years ago, and all is good.
These comments about southerners being stupid, cross-eyed drooling banjo players always makes me wonder … do any of these northerners read anything from the Literary Top 100 List? Has your BIL ever read anything by such southern idiots as … Carson McCullers, John Grisham, Anne Rice, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Harper Lee, William Faulkner?????
lol Somebody, klown was doing a riff on Dueling Banjos ….. I think 😛
“Whenever they come for a visit he is so arrogant and condescending toward everyone”
That is pretty typical of east coast people. They really believe they are superior people who go to superior schools and do everything in a superior manner. They are so completely behind the rest of the country in their treatment of women that it is just stunning.
excellent!!! 😀
was in response to Klown’s “drooling banjos”.
Da-da dang dang dang dang dang dang daaaaaang ….
WOW a politician with common sense and balls.
On an unrelated note: I am one of the lucky people in NY who had my insurance policy cancelled so I can give you an insider’s view on what the absurd Obamacare process. Hours on hold, repeatedly bumped off the web site in mid-data entry, and innumerable hours trying to understand the exceptions and rules to 57 different available plans. One plan I narrowed in on gave me access to a nearby hospital, but the only approved doctors were in a totally different county!?! My semi-retired father has been a doctor for 60 years, and he loves a project, so he started doing the research for me because I have an actual JOB that requires my attention. If this is any indication of what someone has to do to sign up, I can’t imagine most people going through it successfully.
😦
How hard things are depends on the state. In NH for example you get a choice of one insurance company and a few plans. Easy. But the choices are horrible. In many states or areas of states you get two or three insurance companies to chose from. And the hard part is the data they have for what doctors and hospitals are in the plan are not up to date. You won’t find out if you can really use that doctor until sometime next year. It’s an adventure.
Speaking of New Hampshire – Scott Brown has sold his home in Wrentham, MA, and is now listing his permanent address as his home in Rye, NH, which he has owned for many years. Still practicing law in MA until he’s admitted to the bar in NH, which should just be a formality. Senator Shaheen, “of course, you’ll be able to keep your insurance if you like it”, isn’t available for comment.
Go Scott Go ! I always liked him, not sure why the tea party got their panties in a wad which gave the last election to Princess SummerFallWinterSpring.
It had something to do with noses and scissors.
Sad!!! 😦
Honk Honk!!!!
Like the Super Gaystapo Delegation Obama is sending to Sochi ? And Greg Louganis wants every Olympic medal winning athlete to dedicate their medals to a gay family member ? True story. Let’s see, stick it to Putin AND ignore the violence against gays in Obama’s cozy Muslim countries. Go USA !
Hmmmm?
I think he was deliberately poking A&E with a stick.
Just because one CAN do something doesn’t mean they should.
A little diplomacy goes a long way. 🙂
Here’s a tip for parents …. Want to get rid of your 18+ or post college Special Snowflake? Set house rules, no smoking, drugs, alcohol or bringing home a date for sexy time. Guaran-U-Teed, they’ll be gone and earning a living before you know it. It’s also know as a kick in the ass.
I’m working that on my last kid (22) now. They actually always tell me my rules “aren’t fair” because they are “adults”…I just tell them it’s my house if you don’t like the rules, move. What ever happened to kids spreading their wings and flying? It seems I have had to evict each and every one of my little freeloaders. I left home voluntarily at 18.
One could say both Robertson and GLAAD are intolerant. Two wrongs do not make a right!
Not really. Tolerance doesn’t mean everyone agreeing, it means people being willing to peaceably disagree. Robertson isn’t trying to stop anyone from disagreeing with him. GLAAD is.
GLAAD’s ignored other “intolerant” idiots, like when Obama went on record for being “marriage is between and man and a woman”, now we know he lied about that too. The duck caller was more honest than our President O’Breezy.
Why pick a fight with Duck Dynasty? I agree that GLAAD is totally intolerant. Robertson made a general comment based on his values, whereas progs like Bashir and Baldwin have directly attacked individuals. I’d love to know who really is behind this latest outrage.
Or why the GLAADs don’t go after “Sheldon Cooper” ‘s bigoted, racist mom on Big Bang? Her (the wonderful Lauie Metcalf) lines certainly are groan worthy….and funny too!
Ed Morrissey:
They belong to the Church of Christ denomination. They are very strict in many of their fundamentalists views. But they are not hypocrites as a rule. I do not think A&E understood what they were getting themselves into when they signed up with the Robertsons. They are not ignorant, nor uneducated but straight line Calvinists in their approach to everything.
Proof that God does exist? 😀
A&E is going to have a new show: Pajama Boy Pederasty
What about moron, I mean mama grizzly’s hypocrisy? She was all for Martin bashir getting the boot, and now dumb dynasty dick is having his free speech taken away? She’s lucky her supporters are as stupid as she is. Btw, did you know duck fucker once beat the shit out of a woman? Real moral authority from that one! You perpetual victims just love to cling to your persecution complex. What that asshole said was vile and bigoted. May he reap what he’s sown.
Glad to hear from you – was worried that you had been stolen by OFA and reprogrammed. Still praying that your health insurance will continue to pay for your treatment. BTW – Merry Christmas to you.
Merry Christmas and have a wonderful and Blessed 2014 Blessyourheart !
Fuck you, you vile cunt. May you drop dead and rot in hell
I see you renewed your membership in NOW.
That was awesome, like Dracula hissing away from a crucifix.
I will wish every troll a Merry Christmas from now on.
Do you eat with that same mouth or do you get a replacement for mealtime?
The C-word is worse than the N-word.
elliesmom ~ I’m with votermom. That response was simply the best.I now regret my judgmenttal reaction.
(Although I first said it when one of my in-laws was using the N-word and bragging that he went to Mass everyday. I then asked him if took communiion with that same mouth. My kids still remember that story and still brag about it to their friends.)
According to how this threadline looks on my screen, was Blessie responding to his/herself ? Whatevs, it appeared in my notifications, so I won’t take it personally.
I make it a practice to remind every prog who calls women vile names which side lets them get away with it.
Now Denise – her response may have been directed at me for wishing her a Merry Christmas.
I was just thinking, maybe Wanda/Blessyourheart just turned 27 and has to get her own insurance now. He/She is just a tad DISAPPOINTED that the joy ride is over and bronco played her like a cheap fiddle.
Duck Dynasty is popular because it is is FUNNY AS HELL ! I am not a regular watcher, but the times I have , I have literally laughed out loud. They are hilarious ! They are genuine people , and not at all ridiculous like Honey Boo Boo . I watched one episode where one of the dads took his daughter to buy a prom dress .OMG toooooo funny . Neither is Duck Dynasty the Clampetts in Beverly Hills . They have a certain level of astute sophistication , and they are loving and caring and respectful of one another as well, and funny as hell !
My granddaughter made me watch Honey Boo Boo with her because OmG!OmG!OmG! Grandma it’s so funny. So I did. It was about farting and a game about if you fart, and you don’t grab the closest door knob as fast as you can, then the rest of the family can beat the snot out of you. Hillarity ensued. Umkay, that child along with her twin have since moved to Denver where it’s too cold to fart. I got the last laugh.
“fif, on December 19, 2013 at 7:09 am said:
On an unrelated note: I am one of the lucky people in NY who had my insurance policy cancelled so I can give you an insider’s view on what the absurd Obamacare process………. so he started doing the research for me because I have an actual JOB that requires my attention.”
******
The bottom line is that it is “junk insurance” and worse than a previously legal catastrophic policy. One aspect of the Obamacare fraud that I haven’t found a definitive answer to is: Do costs for “out of network” care and “off formulary” drugs count as part of yearly maximum out of pocket expense?
The real come to Jesus moment for Obamacare will happen, beginning Jan. 1, when people start using it for medical care and find that they can’t afford to pay the $5,000 up front money before Obamacare starts to pay 60% of the costs.
Yep. Payday loans taken out to treat sick babies will go over not so well.
The Doctors talk show pulling out all the stops to shill for obama are. Found that really offensive.
Tell me this is a made up character from SNL. How can one dweeb hit every single ridiculous trait of a HBO not funny twenty something fantasy of just missing coolness. Bacon socks? Speeches at college? Obama for Obama employee? And he is a Krupp!
The Krupp-Neblett Hour is now an MSNBC dream team 😀
funny how no one talks about this part of the GQ interview
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” ― Voltaire
“I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an ass of yourself.” ― Oscar Wilde
Yep, I’m missing that whole “question authority” thing pounded into me since the 60’s.
WTF?
I’ve been hearing a lot today about Sarah Palin’s “hypocrisy”. Not just from our sweet-tempered troll. Martin Bashir said what he said on the air in the performance of his job and directed it at a particular individual. While his notoriety from Duck Dynasty might have been the reason GQ wanted to interview Phil Robertson, what he said was not said in the performance of his job at A&E, was not promoting violence, and was not directed at any one person. Alec Baldwin is a better comparison to Bashir.
I’m just amazed that Todd hasn’t beaten up Bashir. Of course he’d have to get in line, after Piper.
I just got back from the cardiologist and I’m not dead! He said I looked much better. I said full makeup and a hairdresser with a dye pot can do miracles. Seriously I am off restrictions so I can clean my dirty house. And I can eat salty ham for Christmas.
You go, Girl!
Woot!
Yay!
oh, Lulu, that is such great news!!
And if ham is what floats your boat, by all means have it.
Merry Christmas! 😀
No salt for six weeks was tough. I’m told that when I was a toddler my grandfather had to catch me before I could get to the cattle’s salt lick.
After doing the no salt thing, a little salt goes a long way for me.
Merry Christmas dear Lulu ! Great news indeed.
Thanks much.
What a wonderful Christmas gift.
so glad you are better. now every thing in moderation
1 hour housework
2 hour rest
3 hour party
you choose the rest of the hours
OT, I’m almost finished with Breaking Bad. Walt is my favorite character. I don’t like Jesse at all. I stopped watching the show after the ATM head crush, but I gave it another go and I’m glad I did.
I still in love with Saul. I can’t wait for his new show.
WOW – Obama’s bro spills the Tea, calls him out on all of his lies! Early Christmas gift?
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/ap-interview-obamas-brother-writes-abuse-21271512
looks like an interesting read
http://townhall.com/columnists/victordavishanson/2013/12/19/the-lost-generation-young-people-have-been-had-n1765180/page/full
good article by victor davis hanson
young people have been had
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/12/19/another-miserable-failure-white-house-says-its-ending-obamacare-pr-blitz/
scrooge backtrack is ending ammunition for jokes during the holidays
Watched Brett B. tonight. His special guest was Sen. Mark Warner who did the 2 step on answering questions. Would like to hear others opinions on his ‘performance.’
He avoided pretty much everything and did the usual political dance. No surprise there. I don’t expect much more from the establishment of either side. He is one of my senators and was quite a good governor. But he’s a politician with ambition, and sadly this is what most of them do.
Maybe it was me, but I got the impression the panel and even Brett were a little star struck or something. They didn’t push much, and they seemed to like him. Maybe they just like him, or maybe it’s how he’s rising in the ranks and has a likely big future, or maybe it’s a charisma thing happening. Not sure.
No Phil, no show.
If a judge can order a a Christian to serve a homosexual couple against his will, can a judge order A&E to put Phil back on the air?
I for one will be glad when this bunch of yahoos are gone, not because of what he said but because I believe this idiotic show and the morons on it have done more harm to the waterfowl population than market gunning ever did.
What I don’t understand is why a pharmacist can refuse to fill my prescription, due to his religious beliefs, and still keep his job but this guy just runs his mouth about his religious beliefs and he gets fired. Unlike the pharmacist, he didn’t impose his beliefs on anyone, he just voiced them. Seems to me that the freedom of speech/religion exceptions are not being applied fairly.