Part of this blog, especially concerning the holiday season was begun prior to the Christmas/New Year's break.
My thoughts regarding recent events is that we are once again in the Season. The Season of False Outrage.
You know the annual whining about the fictional "War on Christmas" used by many to boost book sales or ratings.
Or the not at all seasonal outrage that confuses the Constitutional right to free speech with the consequences of exercising that right.
Like many I find the whole "War on Christmas" is getting old. It doesn't exist. People are free to celebrate Christmas in their own lives and in their own way. This phony War on Christmas trope is used by those who want everyone to acknowledge their personal beliefs as the predominant or "one true" religion. They refuse to allow any accommodation for those with differing beliefs than their own, but insist that everyone accommodate their beliefs.
These are the bullies who complain when a low paid clerk at a retail store gives the more general "Happy Holidays" greeting as opposed to "Merry Christmas". Never mind that the clerk is only doing what they were instructed to do because after all how do they know what the religion/beliefs are of the person across the register from them? And for that matter how does the offended shopper know what the religion/beliefs of the clerk may be? The difference is the "good Christian" shopper insists on having their belief system acknowledged under any and all circumstances and doesn't care about the clerk's position or beliefs.
Which brings us to Phil Robertson and "Duck Dynasty" on A&E. For those who only track real news or dropped out of site the month of December, Phil is the patriarch of the clan shown in A&E's reality show hit "Duck Dynasty". He is one of those good ol' boys from Looz-ee-ana who has found religion. He gave an interview in a magazine where he sounded off on issues like homosexuality and race. He basically blasted gays and gay marriage because, well you know, the Bible. And he also basically said things in the South were a lot better, everyone got along, and blacks were a lot happier when they knew their place.
For these statements Phil was suspended from A&E. This of course brought out the right wing outrage machine all whining about the "PC police" and the trashing of the First Amendment. And predictably Phil's suspension was short-lived, he's back on the job, and the right wing has a new homophobic, racist folk hero.
Now Phil has every right to be an ignorant bigot. And he has every right to be an ignorant bigot publicly. And the First Amendment guarantees that the government cannot do anything or take any action against Phil for holding and stating these views.
But the First Amendment does not guarantee Phil that he suffers no consequences for holding 19th century views in 21st century America. Let's return to our erstwhile retail clerk. Imagine the clerk insists on lecturing customers about his/her beliefs or views while on the job. The management would likely receive complaints and ask the clerk to desist. If the clerk didn't stop proselytizing on the job, the clerk would likely lose that job and justifiably so. They have the First Amendment right to hold and state their views/beliefs. But that is not a shield from suffering non-governmental consequences.
The difference of course is that the Christian right only believes in the First Amendment for itself and its views. They would leap to the defense of the clerk in our example if the views being expressed by the clerk were fundamentalist Christian beliefs. But if the clerk was espousing liberal views or those of Islam or promoting atheism, well then First Amendment be damned, fire their sorry ass! The management has every right to do so! Cuz it's Amerka!
And the sad and scary part of that is they see no inconsistency or illogic in holding those incongruent views.
Happy New Year and hope to be sharing more with you in 2014!