January 2014
June 2012
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY By Seth Halpern Editor
A
few weeks ago a reality show star and committed Christian gave an interview with a secular magazine. It was a recipe for a media firestorm. No doubt you have heard that Phil Robertson, patriarch of the wildly successful “Duck Dynasty” show was suspended and later restored by the A & E network after granting an interview to GQ magazine and making statements regarding homosexual marriage. The Robertson interview launched a media frenzy because he made disparaging remarks about gay men and their choices. He began by paraphrasing I Cor 6 but added some colorful comments about men’s and women’s anatomy and personal preferences. GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) immediately responded with outrage. A & E briskly suspended Robertson in order to save face with gay supporters. Christians and political conservatives defended the statements as the right to free speech
and biblical values. Duck Dynasty merchandise was pulled from stores and everyone voiced their opinion. Facebook and Twitter were ablaze! At the time of this writing, the merchandise has been re-stored and “Papa Beard” has returned from his “indefinite hiatus” without ever leaving. A&E issued yet another statement of support for the gay community, while ambiguously rescinding the suspension. Every one is still talking but not sure if this is over. As editor of a Christian newspaper, I did not offer a single post, tweet, or comment about the issue on social media. Yet, I feel somehow that I need to speak on it, albeit reluctantly, so here are my thoughts for what it’s worth. First, I am not a Duck Dynasty viewer. We ran a cover story on the phenomenon of the show several months ago because when a show about a bold and vocal Christian family is the number one rated tv show in the history of cable television…well, you just have to talk
about it. That issue has been the most popular issue in the eight years we have printed The Ambassador. The show is about a family that does things in a humorous but clean way. They pray at the end of each episode and seem to love each other in spite of their idiosyncrasies. I personally don’t watch it for the same reason I don’t watch Honey Boo Boo, the Kardashians, Braxton Family Values or any other “real life” family on TV. Frankly, I don’t think it’s any of my business what another family does at home whether they bring in cameras to film them or not. As for the controversy, I find it interesting that the principle people involved (the Robertsons and A&E particularly) didn’t see this coming. This self-described redneck family from the bayou says things that offend a certain demographic from the big city in a magazine that wants to sell copies. Really??
“Lessons from a Cat” p. 4
“Religious Freedom in 2014” p.9
“Bible Heroes on Big Screen” p. 12
Cont. on p.7
The Ambassador
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