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The Real Ducks Waiting it Out
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As weather has warmed, the mallards of Central Park have been returning to Harlem Meer over the past couple of days.
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But, unlike the frigid, snow-laden nights of this past week when a few ducks remained and desperately tried to do battle with the quick forming icy lake by swimming non-stop circles in a small pool of water, the returning ducks have been taking it easy.
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They are apparently keenly aware of the brief warming trend and that the ice will melt on its own. No need thus, to waste energy.
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The past couple of night have found the mallards casually loafing on the icy lake, barely moving a muscle.
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They have only to wait it out.....
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The Human "Duck Dynasty", a House of Cards
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One group of "ducks" apparently not content to wait out the storms are members of the so-called, "Duck Dynasty" whose "patriarchal" and controversial leader was recently suspended from the popular A&E show for inflammatory remarks he made about gays and other "sinners" who, according to him, are unwelcomed in God's Kingdom.
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The family has insinuated that unless Phil Robertson is reinstated to the show, they may walk out on their contract.
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Their fans, more than a million of whom have signed on to their Facebook page and organized petitions demanding reinstatement (of Phil Robertson) have similarly threatened station boycott.
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So much for a corporation's right to hire and fire who they please based upon contractual agreements and adherence to written standards.
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But, what personally gets me in all this hoopla, is that anyone would be surprised with the rigid, intolerant, extreme and judgmental pronouncements expressed by Robertson, both on YouTube videos and in a recent article in GQ magazine.
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Did any of us seriously think that those who delight in blowing away animals would suddenly exhibit compassion and empathy towards their fellow humans?
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"Duck Dynasty" is, in my view, a house of cards that rocketed to fame on the backs of victimized animals and humans who, at least on the surface, appeared to look, speak and act in some kind of appealing, down home manner.
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Perhaps it was refreshing in some ways to see people who aren't attached to their I-phones or laptops and who actually sit down to dinner together.
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But, beneath the ZZ Top, kind of fun, laid back appeal, were attitudes of religious superiority, judgmentalism and hypocrisy based upon personal and rigid interpretations of the bible.
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And that is when personal views and opinions can become dangerous -- especially when used by those in positions of power and influence to incite others to attitudes of intolerance, superiority, judgment and even hostility towards groups of people different in some way from themselves.
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Its particularly dangerous when delivered in folksy, down home manner by those who claim to have been "saved by Jesus" and are supposedly speaking for Him.
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The fact is, no one has a lock on whose getting to the "Kingdom of God" and who is not and no one speaks for Jesus save His own quoted words. -- Among some of the most well known, are "Let him who without sin, cast the first stone."
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It seems a show celebrating the casting of bullets, arrows and verbal stones would be the last place to seek the spirit and soul of Jesus.
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But, then who am I to judge?
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I just know that while others may sit down to follow this so-called, "reality show" every week, I will be enriching my soul with the very alive ducks in the real world.
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I have feeling that long after the "Duck Dynasty" show has finally folded like a flimsy deck of cards, real ducks will still be flying or swimming or "loafing" according to what the weather -- or God may bring. -- PCA
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