In response to the outrageous display of racist and homophobic remarks by Duck Dynasty actor Phil Robertson, Vietnam veteran Robert Anderson mounted a campaign demanding that the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Albuquerque get rid of the Duck Dynasty merchandise being sold at the VA Medical Center canteen.
Anderson is an adjunct instructor at Central NM Community College, a trade union activist and a leader in the anti-war movement. He and his partner, Jeanne Pahls, are the founders and coordinators of the Stop the War Machine Coalition in Albuquerque, a leading anti-war organization.
In his letter to the VA in Albuquerque, Anderson wrote: “As someone who served in the Air Force in Vietnam in the Sixties, I was greatly offended that the VA store would sell items promoting an entertainment group that clearly stands for racism and bigotry.
“The reactionary views incorporated into the Duck Dynasty group are contrary to the policies and mission of the VA medical system to not discriminate among veterans based on race or gender. Please remove these ugly divisive items immediately.”
In an email to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Anderson demanded that quick action be taken “to remove the racist and bigoted products from VA canteens.”
While the VA national office has not yet responded, the Assistant Chief of the Albuquerque store, Debra Abeyta, agreed with Anderson, stating that the stores are in the process of getting rid of all Duck Dynasty materials as quickly as possible. Abeyta states that the items were ordered prior to the controversy and that she, too was “very upset by the racist remarks. We here at the canteen in no way promote such ideas.”
Liberation News spoke with Robert Anderson about his successful campaign to shut down Duck Dynasty at the VA Medical Center.
Liberation: WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO CONFRONT THE VA ABOUT DUCK DYNASTY MERCHANDISE?
Bob Anderson: I was passing by items in the VA canteen and happened to notice a numerous item display of their CDs, DVDs, dolls, key chains and other items. I was offend by it because the message is one of bigotry and hate based on gender, sexual orientation and race, to promote a white supremacist so-called “religious” point of dominance. I just thought for a moment that, here I am, in the VA hospital which is mandated to serve all veterans of all races, religions, genders and nationalities without discrimination, and this hateful message flies in the face of that. I was thinking, what if this becomes the view of the VA medical centers? What a horrible situation it would be for veterans to get help.
WHY IS DUCK DYNASTY SUCH A SERIOUS THREAT TO VETERANS AND OTHERS?
I think the rise of the Duck Dynasty is part of the ongoing so-called cultural wars. It represents a backlash, or counter-attack against the gains of the civil rights and LGBTQ movements in recent history.
WHAT’S BEHIND THE DUCK DYNASTY MESSAGE?
These folks would love to roll back our gains. The cultural sphere, as we know, is powerful. It is an important arena for raising and building the struggle for justice and class consciousness…or something like that….and we have to take on these reactionary fascists when and where they raise their message.
