'Duck Dynasty' Culture War Far from Over

Supporters and opponents of the Duck Dynasty family vowed to keep a close eye on A&E’s next moves after the network announced it had ended the suspension of patriarch Phil Robertson over supposedly “anti-gay” comments to GQ magazine. 

Faith Driven Consumer, which started the “IStandWithPhil.com” online petition that got more than 260,000 signatures, wondered whether the voices of the 260,000 people who signed the petition were actually heard:

Despite our celebration, we remain uncertain of A&E’s true intent. Today, in the network’s statement of their core values – centered on ‘creativity, inclusion, and mutual respect’ – Faith Driven Consumers are left wondering whether A&E considers us to be a part of America’s rich rainbow of diversity. Do they also now embrace the biblically based values and world view held by the Robertson family and millions of Faith Driven Consumers?

GLAAD, the gay rights advocacy group that has tried to bully its opponents into submission, was largely responsible for getting Robertson suspended in the first place. The organization blasted A&E, saying it chose profits over blacks and gays.

“Phil Robertson should look African-American and gay people in the eyes and hear about the hurtful impact of praising Jim Crow laws and comparing gay people to terrorists,” GLAAD said in a statement. “If dialogue with Phil is not part of next steps then A&E has chosen profits over African American and gay people – especially its employees and viewers.”

Though A&E reportedly gave the Human Rights Campaign assurances that the Duck Dynasty family would have a dialogue with gays and blacks, these organizations signaled that the fight in this culture war was far from over.