Distracted, yet again.

[pecunium]

I made the mistake, as I was thinking of writing some food porn (Nero Wolfe novels will do that to you) of doing some sidebar reading.

CBS has refused to air an ad by a church (the United Church of Christ). It was an ad about inclusion. It wasn't shrill, it wasn't accusatory, if anything it was too subtle
.
The debut 30-second commercial features two muscle-bound "bouncers" standing guard outside a symbolic, picturesque church and selecting which persons are permitted to attend Sunday services. Written text interrupts the scene, announcing, "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we." A narrator then proclaims the United Church of Christ's commitment to Jesus' extravagant welcome: "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here."

Still Speaking

So why did CBS refuse to air the ad?

"Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations," reads an explanation from CBS, "and the fact the Executive Branch has recently proposed a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the [CBS and UPN] networks."


UCC Press release

The exuctive branch is against gay marriage, so a church which is for inclusion, and makes a very quiet ad about it (if you blink the reference to gays will slip right past you) is told it's too controversial.

I am becoming more nervous every day.

Comments

[fidelioscabinet.livejournal.com]

I'm ashamed to admit how confused I was for a minute by this. You see, here in Nashville, when one hears the name "Church of Christ", one tends not to think of these people, but instead, of these people, who aren't really noted for the warmth and open-mindedness they greet diversity with. I mean, when you'll split the church over whether it's cool to have instrumental music during the service, or actually own church buildings, you tend to be pretty narrow about a lot of other things as well.

However, once I'd sorted out the two different groups, all I could say was "Chickenshite cowards!" in the general direction of CBS/UPN. Yeah, we can and will show all kinds of things on television, which aren't in the least family-values oriented, but we have to draw the line somewhere. So bring on prime-time adultery, murder, rape and so forth, and sell all the ad time you can for anti-impotence drugs, but let's not do anything controversial like exercise charity for all and malice towards none. No siree.

[kynn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the UCC has a real problem with being confused with other groups, sadly.

It'd be ironic if it weren't so sad how the "church of Christ" is splintered.

--K

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

It's worse than that. Josh Marshall has gotten the text of the CBS/UPN refusal, and the only words which come to mind are blatant hypocrisy.

CBS/UPN Network policy precludes accepting advertising that touches on and/or takes a position on one side of a current controversial issue of public importance."

As he points out, this means they don't adhere to this. They ran political ads, as recently as last month. Which points back to kissing up to those in power. Toadying for the Government.

Betraying a trust.

TK