NBC Apologizes To Congress For 'Under God' Edit

[tygerarmy]

Not under god

By Jack Jenkins
Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS) NBC has issued a formal apology to more than 100 members of Congress for omitting the words "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance during a patriotic montage that aired last month.

The letter, signed by Kyle McSlarrow, president of NBC Universal, comes in response to a complaint by 107 members of Congress alleging that a montage shown during coverage of the U.S. Open golf tournament obscured America's religious heritage.

The montage featured video of schoolchildren saying the pledge alongside images of soldiers and American flags, but did not include the phrase "under God." It also omitted "one nation" and "indivisible."

McSlarrow expressed regret over the segment, saying "a serious error in judgment was made by a small group of people. To be absolutely clear, this was not an ideological decision by the company and was not discussed with or approved by any senior NBC official."

[Dragon Zachski]

..........

Wow.

This is... stupid.

[Amaranth]

Now when do they apologise to me for wasting my time on something so goddamned stupid?

[Mlle Antéchrist]

To be honest, the whole concept of kids reciting a pledge at the beginning of every school day kind of makes me uncomfortable, regardless of whether or not it includes the word "God".

[Amaranth]

Jul 14, 2011 21:27:56 GMT -5 Mlle Antéchrist said:

To be honest, the whole concept of kids reciting a pledge at the beginning of every school day kind of makes me uncomfortable, regardless of whether or not it includes the word "God".

Loyalty oaths are as American as Apple Piue. After all, what could be less American than turning against the ruling authority?

[Thejebusfire]

*Yawn*



Who cares?

[Oriet]

I thought "under god" was a completely optional part anyway, so there should be no harm in showing it not being said. There's also that it wasn't in the original pledge, so if you're trying to be historical (heritage wise) with your pledge you'd want to omit it even aside from that.

Or: What the bloody hell, congress? Why are you complaining about something so trivial when we have this, what was it again... oh yeah, this looming debt crisis* bullshit that you need to fix (and that's your fault to begin with).

*Not caused by masses of people being in debt from the buying of looms, or because of a lack of loom industry.

[VirtualStranger]

What the hell happened to the usual privileged Republican rhetoric, "if you don't like it, just don't say it"? Now apparently it's "say it, or else we'll make you"?

Also, do these people not realize how an official loyalty pledge towards the state reeks of fascism?

[Amaranth]

Jul 15, 2011 11:23:15 GMT -5 VirtualStranger said:

What the hell happened to the usual privileged Republican rhetoric, "if you don't like it, just don't say it"?

That's only if you're a whiny liberal. If you're a network, corporation, or public figure, we will browbeat you, because how dare you disrespect the troops?

Or something.

[Yla]

Jul 15, 2011 11:23:15 GMT -5 VirtualStranger said:

Also, do these people not realize how an official loyalty pledge towards the state reeks of fascism?

This.

[Smurfette Principle]

Jul 15, 2011 16:24:18 GMT -5 Yla said:

Jul 15, 2011 11:23:15 GMT -5 VirtualStranger said:

Also, do these people not realize how an official loyalty pledge towards the state reeks of fascism?

This.

My dad is from Austria. He says that stuff like the pledge would never be suggested in Europe, let alone mandatory, exactly for that reason.

[Dragon Zachski]

I haven't said the pledge in years

[Mlle Antéchrist]

Jul 15, 2011 22:14:32 GMT -5 Smurfette Principle said:

My dad is from Austria. He says that stuff like the pledge would never be suggested in Europe, let alone mandatory, exactly for that reason.

The whole thing is just too nationalistic. I mean, there are echos of nationalism in anthems and whatnot, but "I pledge allegiance to the flag" is so overt about it, yet a lot of people don't even question it. Countries should strive for patriotism through demonstration, not nationalism through rote.

(not just talking about America here -- all countries do this kind of thing to various different extents)

[Amaranth]

Jul 15, 2011 22:14:32 GMT -5 Smurfette Principle said:

Jul 15, 2011 16:24:18 GMT -5 Yla said:

This.

My dad is from Austria. He says that stuff like the pledge would never be suggested in Europe, let alone mandatory, exactly for that reason.

But this hurr is amurrica. We don't take to people who don't blindly worship the flag!

[DeadpanDoubter]

I've always figured pledging allegiance to the 'flag' as really just promising to uphold American ideals (life and liberty for all, religious freedom, etc.) but then I stop and think: do the people who salivate over the pledge really want those things?

But yeah...the Bellamy Salute is fun.