Posted on 12/20/2013 12:29:01 AM PST by Impala64ssa
The suspension of Phil Robertson from A&Es Duck Dynasty is outrageous in a nation that values freedom, according to social critic and openly gay, dissident feminist Camille Paglia.
I speak with authority here, because I was openly gay before the Stonewall rebellion, when it cost you something to be so. And I personally feel as a libertarian that people have the right to free thought and free speech, Paglia, a professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, said on Laura Ingrahams radio show Thursday.
In a democratic country, people have the right to be homophobic as well as they have the right to support homosexuality as I one hundred percent do. If people are basing their views against gays on the Bible, again they have a right of religious freedom there, she added
Robertson has been suspended from Duck Dynasty due to comments he made to GQ that have been deemed anti-gay. According to Paglia, the culture has become too politically correct.
To express yourself in a magazine in an interview this is the level of punitive PC, utterly fascist, utterly Stalinist, OK, that my liberal colleagues in the Democratic Party and on college campuses have supported and promoted over the last several decades, Paglia said. This is the whole legacy of free speech 1960s that have been lost by my own party.
Paglia went on to point out that while she is an atheist she respects religion and has been frustrated by the intolerance of gay activists.
I think that this intolerance by gay activists toward the full spectrum of human beliefs is a sign of immaturity, juvenility, Paglia said. This is not the mark of a true intellectual life. This is why there is no cultural life now in the U.S. Why nothing is of interest coming from the major media in terms of cultural criticism. Why the graduates of the Ivy League with their A, A, A+ grades are complete cultural illiterates, etc. is because they are not being educated in any way to give respect to opposing view points.
There is a dialogue going on human civilization, for heaven sakes. Its not just this monologue coming from fanatics who have displaced the religious beliefs of their parents into a political movement, she added. And that is what happened to feminism, and that is what happened to gay activism, a fanaticism.
When I was young in the theater of NYC, gay men were incredibly knowledgeable and culturally aware. I’m thinking of the amazingly brilliant actor George Rose who was an expert on the history of theater. Today, almost all gay men in NYC are so culturally ignorant, it brings tears to my eyes. All they know is who is gay (Leonardo!) and who is not (Phil Robertson and those pretty, blond Mormons).
The closet had its values: these men had to find a way to express themselves in other ways than narcissistic behavior. Hence, they educated themselves in the arts. Some of them created the most beautiful Hollywood movies while hiding who they were. One day, we will again realize that limiting ourselves can bring about great creativity.
Camille Paglia speaks very off the cuff in her interviews - a bit like a woman she admires: Sarah Palin. To get a true, deep understanding of her views I’d advise you read her books or look for her essays online. She’s extraordinarily well-educated and erudite. She just talks like a real person.
I have noticed that a disproportionate number of celebrities "come out" as homosexuals. I wonder if that is a reaction to the overwhelming amount of attention they get from fans of the opposite sex. I remember reading an interview with Lucy Lawless (star of Xena), where she described getting hundreds of letters every day from men expressing their sexual fantasies about her. A star might profess to be openly gay in order to decrease the amount of unwelcome attention they get.
You mean that is NOT Rachel Maddow. Oh, mah bad.
Cultural decadence accompanies the decline of civilizations. The American Experiment is too important in human history to let it slide into oblivion. Paglia understands that.
This is the new McCarthyism, coming from the left - and on steroids, because the original “McCarthyism” had legitimate issues and this is just wrong and a suppression of freedom of speech.
“Homosardony”
I love it and might even try using it; this concept is a far more precise definition of the actual mindset of those of us skeptical of the homosexual act. The vast (99.9% I would even venture to guess) majority of us are not haters and those of us (myself included) who are Christian sincerely subscribe to the “Love the Sinner; Hate the Sin” position. Loving the sinner can and should include pointing out how unnatural homosexual deeds actually are in the factual sense.
Anti-homosexuals do not fear/hate - we are laughing scornfully at such an act being normalized. We are not laughing scornfully at the person - it is the behavior!
Phil is not a fool. He has been down the same road of sin. He knows gay people very well. His sin amongst gays is apostasy, not really his views.
People/Perverts who support the homosexual lifestyle are clearly “Godphobe” extremeists.
“..communists under the bed...”
Hah! See my post #27 - I hadn’t read yours yet when I posted - (great minds think alike).
There is no such thing as homophobia. A phobia is an irrational fear of something. No one is afraid of homosexuals. People are merely disgusted by them.
Argue with her as you will, and I will, but let’s not become our own speech police.
Sarah: I think this article draws it's source credibility from saying the author is a democrat leftist. Which doesn't really say much for her understanding of the issue or the rights she is referring to.
Me: Since Camille Paglia was at the forefront of radical feminism and gay rights almost from the inception of the words, I don't see how anybody can question the depth of her understanding of the issue. Disagree with her position, that's fine and I bet she expects a lot of that from those normally found in her corner, I think her credibility on the issues and as an intellectual is top notch. Questioning her credibility does not necessarily move the needle to your side of the discussion.
Sarah: 1st amendment rights are not protected when contractually representing a business. Celebs know better or hire publicists. Fact of the matter is 1st amendment protects against government oppression. No one was infringed on or violate she needs to look up the supreme courts decisions on 1st amendment rights instead of defending a bigot
Me: I just re-read the article and found no direct mention of the 1st Amendment. Sure, Paglia centered her argument around concepts found in the 1st Amendment but was making her point in the broader sense of human freedom. I agree that the relationship between A&E and Phil Robertson is governed by a contract with specific obligations for both parties. Asserting that celebs universally know better ignores the reality of Alec Baldwin and Charlie Sheen, to just name a couple of large exceptions to your statement.
Sarah: Implied authority drawn by loose associations is the hallmark of bs writing so I'm sorry but I respectfully disagree it's Phillips page I don't think it's appropriate to continue arguing on it.
Me: I'm sure Camille Paglia would find your assertion of "implied authority" amusing.
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I love playing "logic tennis" with a lib that forgot to bring a racquet.
Homosardony
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Y’all may be looking for (prefix) miso- or (suffix) -misia
QUOTE
Words that include: miso-, mis-, -misia (Greek: hate, hater, hatred; disgust for)
/QUOTE
You see this all the time with thoughtful homosexuals. They fear backlash that will result with the GLBT agenda being forced on people. They would rather have a discussion and leave each other alone.
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