Dear Duck Dynasty Fans,
Recently, Phil Robertson of A&E's reality show Duck Dynasty made remarks in GQ magazine that condemned homosexuality as a sin that serves as a gateway to bestiality, and reminisced on how kindly white people treated the black cotton farm workers back in the 1960s.
A&E immediately made the decision to suspend Robertson from the show indefinitely, sending many of you into a blind rage. I can see by your Facebook comments that hundreds of thousands of you are very concerned about the homosexuals trampling on the United States Constitution.
Take a look at the First Amendment, in case you've never actually read it:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
The First Amendment prevents the government from passing unreasonable laws abridging your right to free speech.
The First Amendment does not prevent a television channel from firing your favorite reality show star because his anti-gay statements reflect poorly on the network.
This is not a violation of the Constitution. A&E is not a governmental institution. This is an issue involving an employee of a television network who probably has a "don't say something stupid that makes us look bad" clause in his contract, and was punished accordingly.
The Constitution does not guarantee your right to a cushy television gig. If it did, I would be at The Weather Channel right now refusing to hype up flurries by giving them the name of a Greek god.
It is your right to boycott A&E as you wish.
It is also A&E's right to suspend him.
The ones who are first to scream about an abuse of their Constitutional rights are usually the ones who understand them the least.
RTFC.