Daily Archives: December 23, 2013

Parikrama concert for Banned Expression: Support Free Speech in Tibet

By: Banned Expression: Support Free Speech in Tibet

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Parikrama concert for Banned Expression: Support Free Speech in Tibet - Video

Duck Dynasty Gay Controversy - Free Speech vs. Homophobia
imlonelyandsad doesn #39;t like ducks, their dynasties, or you.

By: imlonelyandsad

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Duck Dynasty Gay Controversy - Free Speech vs. Homophobia - Video

GDTC FREE SPEECH What it means to me and Merry Christmas
where I stand.

By: GreenDragon Tavern Chats

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GDTC FREE SPEECH What it means to me and Merry Christmas - Video

What You Know About the Porn Moratorium is Wrong

By Diane Duke

On Friday, one of the testing facilities that serve the adult industry alerted us to a positive HIV test by an adult film performer. While we don't yet know if the performer acquired the virus in his or her personal life, or while working in adult film, weve called a moratorium and immediately halted all production. Unfortunately, I've seen a lot of misinformation in the media, and some truly reprehensible behavior on social media over the past few days, and felt it was necessary to explain how a moratorium works, and call for compassion for the positive performer.

A moratorium is a preventative measure used to protect adult performers. Over the past year, we've called two other moratoriums when performers who wished to work tested positive for HIV. In each case, the virus was acquired offset and was prevented from entering the performer pool by our testing system (known as PASS). Like a ringing car alarm, a moratorium is a sign of a working system, not a broken one. Adult performers like all of us have personal lives. We cannot control, and should not look to control, people's private lives. What we can do is make sure that HIV is stopped at the gate by testing protocols.

Once a moratorium is called, all production stops so the genealogy of the virus can be traced. The performer who tested positive is interviewed. All sexual partners on-screen or off who fall within the transmission window are contacted and tested. This allows doctors to trace the transmission history of the virus: how it was acquired, if any other performers were exposed, and if there is any further threat to the performer pool. What doctors dont disclose is the performers identity.

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Welcome to the Free Speech Coalition

Susan Stamper Brown is an opinion page columnist who writes about politics, the military, the economy and culture.

December 23, 2013|8:25 am

Driving around last week as I finished my last bit of Christmas shopping, it seemed like Duck Dynasty merchandise was everywhere. Who would have thought, in 2013 the hottest gift ideas would involve rednecks from Louisiana? What's more, I never would have believed anything the "Duck" family said would be a source of national controversy.

Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson's interview with GQmagazine sparked an all-out assault on him, his family and of course, Christianity. This overreaction underscores the double standard of those who applaud free speech, as long as they approved the message. And if you dare talk about something like abortion or homosexuality, then it is all-out war, and those decrying intolerance become the very thing they claim to hate.

To be fair, it is dangerously myopic to not realize tolerance is a two-way street. There are those like the Westboro "church" crowd who think it is okay to cherry-pick scriptures like the one Phil Robertson referred to in 1st Corinthians 6:9-11, gathering mentioned sins like stones to hurl at everyone but themselves. Jesus had an answer for that: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

While that scripture lists specific sins, including homosexuality, it does not say homosexuality is worse than slander or greed. Quite honestly, the first sentence of verse 11 indicts everyone: "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?" In other words, we're all wrongdoers, including the openly admitted former drunkard, Phil Robertson, and hence, the desperate need for that baby wrapped in swaddling clothes whose birth we celebrate this time of year.

After getting things in context and because this is not a sermon, let's get back to the non-stone-throwing Phil Robertson and his interview with GQ. In a seemingly obvious attempt to generate a controversial response, the interviewer asked, "What, in your mind, is sinful?" My response would have included something about eating that crme-stuffed cupcake drenched in dark chocolate icing last night. Phil's response was a bit more pointed, offering his own southern-drawled translation of 1st Corinthians. Those offended by his response should take it up with God while at the same time thanking him for the First Amendment.

People became so unglued over the idea that the Bible calls their type of sexual behavior "sin" they refused to listen to, as Paul Harvey used to say, the rest of the story: "We never, ever judge someone," said Phil in the same interview, "who's going to Heaven, Hell that's the Almighty's job. We just love 'em, give 'em the good news about Jesus-whether they're homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort 'em out later"

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You may not like the way he put it, no more than I cared for Martin Bashir's comments about Sarah Palin, but the First Amendment is meant to cover us all, no matter how offensive. As a Christian, I tire of the constant theme of homosexuality or casual sex which is woven into more prime time shows than I can count, but I can simply change the channel.

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Free Speech, Duck Hunting and Double-Standards

December 23, 2013|4:42 pm

(Photo: Comedy Central Screenshot)

Jon Stewart discusses "Duck Dynasty" on "The Daily Show" on Dec. 19, 2013.

Comedy Central "news" pundit Jon Stewart voiced his support for the free speech argument that some "Duck Dynasty" fans had used to defend Phil Robertson, after A&E suspended the reality television show star for comments he made about homosexuality.

"I think what the guy said was ignorant. But I also have an inclination to support a world where saying ignorant s- on television doesn't get you kicked off that medium," Stewart toldan applauding audience.

"But I guess I stand with the free speech absolutists at Fox News who don't believe you should pressure people to have to adhere to culture norms of speech mostly," said Stewart, who had earlier conceded that he did not watch the show.

Stewart went on to point out that Fox News seemed in favor of free speech when it came to "Duck Dynasty," but drew the line at the "war on Christmas." He showed a series of brief segments of the cable news network channel hosts and guests expressing outrage whenever Christmas had seemingly been scratched from the holiday lexicon.

"[Fox News'] belief in free speech doesn't extend to the holidays, when the word 'Christmas' is mandatory," Stewart quipped.

Stewart also took on Robertson's claims that among the black people he had witnessed in pre-Civil Rights Louisiana, "no one was singing the blues."

"[He's] forgetting of course, that there was where the blues were invented," said Stewart.

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Jon Stewart Defends Phil Robertson's Free Speech