NBC apologizes for cutting 'one nation under God' from Pledge of Allegiance during US

[Klaatu]

NBC apologizes for cutting 'one nation under God' from Pledge of Allegiance during US Open telecast

BY Richard Huff
DAILY NEWS TV EDITOR

Monday, June 20th 2011, 10:05 AM

The Pledge of Allegiance includes the phrase "one nation under God" -- except when it's part of NBC's coverage of the U.S. Open Championship.

Someone in the editing room, trimmed two references to the line during an opening piece that aired Sunday on patriotism. It showed children in a classroom reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

NBC Sports immediately came under fire when folks on Twitter began slamming the network for the ungodly trim.

Shortly after the piece aired, NBC Sports host Dan Hicks apologized for the cut.

"We began our coverage of this final round just about three hours ago and when we did it was our intent to begin the coverage of this U.S. Open Championship with a feature that captured the patriotism of our national championship being held in our nation's capital for the third time," Hicks said. "Regrettably, a portion of the Pledge of Allegiance that was in that feature was edited out. It was not done to upset anyone and we'd like to apologize to those of you who were offended by it.

No shock, that wasn't enough.

Religion is a hot-button issue and any reference is likely to generate blowback. And in today's arena where anyone can take to Twitter or Facebook to vent their anger, everyone has a voice.

Sunday and into Monday they were using them, big time.

"Why does mainstream America not trust media? Simple, you can't get Pledge Allegiance right, why trust you to tell us anything else? #NBC," Pastor Michael Catt posted on Twitter.

"If NBC can omit "under God" from the Pledge, I can omit them from my TV lineup. I like God far more (than) The Office! #NBC," wrote Clark Goble.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, a number of posters found enjoyment in watching the backlash.

"Stupid #NBC should have stuck to their guns," wrote heatherewf on Twitter. "Under God has no place in a pledge to a country based on religious tolerance."source
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/06/20/2011-06-20_nbc_apologizes_for_cutting_one_nation_under_god _from_pledge_of_allegiance_during.html

[Klaatu]

What is the big deal here? So what if "under god' was omitted?

Watch the film The Bells of Saint Mary's. Made before the dubious phrase was added, it is refreshing to hear the pledge recited without it. (Not that I "pledge alligience" to Amerika or anything, with it's capitalistic corporate corruption... I just love controversy, that's all. I love to watch these religion morons squirm.)

That being said, it is proper to say the pledge either way, with the under god or not. This is for two good reasons: (A) it was written that way originally, and (B) What of the children in the above-mentioned film - are we to dub in under god into the freakin soundtrack or something? Gimme a break.

[DiaMat86]

Too late, luckily the belly of hell is never full!

[xub3rn00dlex]

To be honest, I don't remember how the pledge of allegiance goes. But anytime the term under god is involved in it, it always erupts in controversy by either attempting to remove it completely, make/ not make it mandatory, omit it, etc. The way I see it this will go on indefinitely until we abolish capitalism and nationalism.

[Revy]

The reality is many students are forced to say the pledge, or at least to stand for it. When I was in school, we were FORCED to stand for the pledge. If you did not stand you were sent to the dean to be punished.

I don't see the point of the pledge. It should not be used. It's just really dumb, whether or not there is God in it. Is there anything like that in other countries? Why are they doing the Pledge anyway during a sporting event, and not the national anthem? Can you imagine how dumb it would look if they did the pledge during a baseball/football/basketball game?

[Mather]

Another storm in a teacup brought to you by the moral 'majority'.

I really do long for the day when Christians stop going mad over nonsensical shit like this.

[Klaatu]

I think Jehovah Witness children cannot be compelled to recite the pledge.

A religion that actually exhibits common sense?

[Robocommie]

Please remember that just because some Christians are making a big deal about this, it does not mean all, or even most, are doing so. I'm willing to bet most American Christians have more important things to worry about than the pledge. In the meantime it's better not to give the loud-mouthed morons increased legitimacy by buying into their bullshit of being representative of Christians at large.

[CynicalIdealist]

It's a stupid world.

[Demogorgon]

"One nation under God" is hardly the creepiest thing about having people reciting that pledge.

[Jimmie Higgins]

"One nation under God" is hardly the creepiest thing about having people reciting that pledge.What could possibly creepy about this...
http://surferjerry.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/pledge-of-allegiance.jpg
or this...
http://rexcurry.net/scouting-calgaric-lithuanian-klaipeda08-17-1933.jpg

[Dimmu]

I have never understood why "god" would support USA? I mean is there any reason why he would choose US out of hundreds of other countries?

[Jimmie Higgins]

I have never understood why "god" would support USA? I mean is there any reason why he would choose US out of hundreds of other countries?:lol:. Yup - Bob Dylan has a song about that and Mark Twain wrote about this same connection during the jingoism of the Spanish-American war:


The War Prayer

by Mark Twain

It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and spluttering; on every hand and far down the receding and fading spread of roofs and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun; daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by; nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting, to patriot oratory which stirred the deepest deeps of their hearts, and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause, the tears running down their cheeks the while; in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag and country, and invoked the God of Battles beseeching His aid in our good cause in outpourings of fervid eloquence which moved every listener. It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety's sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way.

Sunday morning came -- next day the battalions would leave for the front; the church was filled; the volunteers were there, their young faces alight with martial dreams -- visions of the stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender! Then home from the war, bronzed heroes, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory! With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy, and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag, or, failing, die the noblest of noble deaths. The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read; the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose, with glowing eyes and beating hearts, and poured out that tremendous invocation

*God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest! Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!* Then came the "long" prayer. None could remember the like of it for passionate pleading and moving and beautiful language. The burden of its supplication was, that an ever-merciful and benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers, and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their patriotic work; bless them, shield them in the day of battle and the hour of peril, bear them in His mighty hand, make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody onset; help them to crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country imperishable honor and glory --

An aged stranger entered and moved with slow and noiseless step up the main aisle, his eyes fixed upon the minister, his long body clothed in a robe that reached to his feet, his head bare, his white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness. With all eyes following him and wondering, he made his silent way; without pausing, he ascended to the preacher's side and stood there waiting. With shut lids the preacher, unconscious of his presence, continued with his moving prayer, and at last finished it with the words, uttered in fervent appeal, "Bless our arms, grant us the victory, O Lord our God, Father and Protector of our land and flag!"

The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside -- which the startled minister did -- and took his place. During some moments he surveyed the spellbound audience with solemn eyes, in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice he said:

"I come from the Throne -- bearing a message from Almighty God!" The words smote the house with a shock; if the stranger perceived it he gave no attention. "He has heard the prayer of His servant your shepherd, and will grant it if such shall be your desire after I, His messenger, shall have explained to you its import -- that is to say, its full import. For it is like unto many of the prayers of men, in that it asks for more than he who utters it is aware of -- except he pause and think.

"God's servant and yours has prayed his prayer. Has he paused and taken thought? Is it one prayer? No, it is two -- one uttered, the other not. Both have reached the ear of Him Who heareth all supplications, the spoken and the unspoken. Ponder this -- keep it in mind. If you would beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware! lest without intent you invoke a curse upon a neighbor at the same time. If you pray for the blessing of rain upon your crop which needs it, by that act you are possibly praying for a curse upon some neighbor's crop which may not need rain and can be injured by it.

"You have heard your servant's prayer -- the uttered part of it. I am commissioned of God to put into words the other part of it -- that part which the pastor -- and also you in your hearts -- fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly? God grant that it was so! You heard these words: 'Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!' That is sufficient. the *whole* of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory--*must* follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God fell also the unspoken part of the prayer. He commandeth me to put it into words. Listen!

"O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle -- be Thou near them! With them -- in spirit -- we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it -- for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.

(*After a pause.*) "Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits!"
I wish he had ended it the same way Obama and Bush end their national addresses: "And may God continue to bless the United States of America".

[Klaatu]

I have never understood why "god" would support USA? I mean is there any reason why he would choose US out of hundreds of other countries?

And the "god" is not a Republican, either. And if he exists at all, he would be a Socialist. That I am sure of. ;)

[Octavian]

And the "god" is not a Republican, either. And if he exists at all, he would be a Socialist. That I am sure of. ;)
That's Jesus. God on the other hand would be a fascist militaristic dictator hell bent on racial purity and blood sacrifices.

[Mather]

Please remember that just because some Christians are making a big deal about this, it does not mean all, or even most, are doing so. I'm willing to bet most American Christians have more important things to worry about than the pledge. In the meantime it's better not to give the loud-mouthed morons increased legitimacy by buying into their bullshit of being representative of Christians at large.

I agree, most will but I was aiming for those who do make a fuss.

[Red Commissar]

Nearly every time a business, media group, or government entity omits "Under God" from the words of the pledge you are bound to get a PR shit storm from some people. It always happened- just awhile ago Snopes had covered a similar PR shitstorm arising from a Dr. Pepper can design (http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/undergod.asp). Or paranoia over removing the motto from the pennies (http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/lincolncent.asp). Or US dollar coins (http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/dollarcoin.asp).

Unfortunate thing is related groups do get a deluge of angry calls and emails over this issue, that largely taps into the whole "damn political correctness" fixation a lot of the populist right is tapping into currently as well as the whole fixation on being "American".

[Pyramid]

What was creepy about this to me was a news source cutting ANYTHING out. Okay if they want to bleep out certain words; that's not the same thing. But removing content is more scary than whatever the words of the Pledge may contain.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I just can't wait until that stupid phrase "one nation under god" gets taken out, too many times have Christians annoyed me with that shit.

[MattShizzle]

Pledging allegiance to the flag is reactionary regardless of whether the phrase is there or not.

[Klaatu]

That's Jesus. God on the other hand would be a fascist militaristic dictator hell bent on racial purity and blood sacrifices.

You might just be right about that!

[Klaatu]

Absolutely no "under god" nonsense here!

The first part is hard to discern, but the middle of the clip it is clearer: NO UNDER GOD

The U.S. Constitution is godless, as was originally intended by the framers!

l7Sq_U44gko

[MattShizzle]

What could possibly creepy about this...
http://surferjerry.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/pledge-of-allegiance.jpg
or this...
http://rexcurry.net/scouting-calgaric-lithuanian-klaipeda08-17-1933.jpg

Just want to reiterate this. The exclusion of Atheists and Polytheists is bad, but the whole idea of "Pledging Allegiance to the flag" is out and out Fascism.

[Demogorgon]

Just want to reiterate this. The exclusion of Atheists and Polytheists is bad, but the whole idea of "Pledging Allegiance to the flag" is out and out Fascism.
While I am not sure if I would use the word fascism, it is certainly ultra-nationalism and part of quasi-fascist national conservatism. Certainly the concept of people-particularly children-ritually swearing allegiance to a flag really bothers me.

[MattShizzle]

The last phrase in the pledge (with liberty and justice for all) is a pretty good joke, though.

[Landsharks eat metal]

1. The pledge and everything that comes with it is idiotic.
2. There was something in my local paper about how NBC had to apologize to everyone, not just those who were offended :confused:. I'm fine with not being apologized to.

[Psy]

While I am not sure if I would use the word fascism, it is certainly ultra-nationalism and part of quasi-fascist national conservatism. Certainly the concept of people-particularly children-ritually swearing allegiance to a flag really bothers me.

Swearing allegiance to a flag is not the real problem, the problem is the bourgeoisie state trying to justify itself through God as it opens the door to the divine right of the state like Israel uses.

[Fulanito de Tal]

"One nation under god," is too short and imprecise of a description for me. I would rather have, "One globalized economy, controlled by one nation, controlled by 1% of the population, with division and fear for all." And then, we all go to the mall and find arguments to support our claims of needs for something we just found out existed at an attainable price at that moment.

[Klaatu]

Jack Cafferty of CNN insists that "those responsible at NBC should be fired" (for leaving out under god)

Really, Jack? Fired?

Perhaps the the film "Bells of Saint Mary's" should be banned too?

Gimme a fucking break

[Klaatu]

What could possibly creepy about this...
http://surferjerry.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/pledge-of-allegiance.jpg
or this...
http://rexcurry.net/scouting-calgaric-lithuanian-klaipeda08-17-1933.jpg

Looks a lot like this:

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQx3RTJXU1SdLo-ZyBwzHAhSsbEsfy8AouqHs4P7ScRx407fYKoQm0sm-Z88Qhttp://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRZJvQsUkquRn369CsXBf2ri8ISspafg tS3Pcs6f7fdEycRIP0DvA
(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQx3RTJXU1SdLo-ZyBwzHAhSsbEsfy8AouqHs4P7ScRx407fYKoQm0sm-Z88Q)

[Fulanito de Tal]

Jack Cafferty of CNN insists that "those responsible at NBC should be fired" (for leaving out under god)

Really, Jack? Fired?

Perhaps the the film "Bells of Saint Mary's" should be banned too?

Gimme a fucking break

I'm pretty sure the Holy Bible says, "And Jesus toldeth the boss, 'Thou shall remove from your employee list any person that might maketh an error against mine father. This power I handeth to you because thy wealth shows your similarity to mine father, so thou shall be as close to him in power as possible.' God foundeth this to be good."

[Klaatu]

I'm pretty sure the Holy Bible says, "And Jesus toldeth the boss, 'Thou shall remove from your employee list any person that might maketh an error against mine father. This power I handeth to you because thy wealth shows your similarity to mine father, so thou shall be as close to him in power as possible.' God foundeth this to be good."

I remember a lyric from an old Todd Rundgren song:

"Chaper 6 and Verse 11, if you want to get to heaven, you gotta ask the man who owns the pro-per-ty..."

[Ocean Seal]

Well for what its worth, I'm a Christian and not only do I omit that phrase but I omit the whole pledge. My allegiance is to my class, under God, indivisible with equality and justice for all.

[Klaatu]

Well for what its worth, I'm a Christian and not only do I omit that phrase but I omit the whole pledge. My allegiance is to my class, under God, indivisible with equality and justice for all.

"I pledge allegiance to the working class."

I like that! :D