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

incidentally...

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

I've put what contact information I could easily find up here (http://www.livejournal.com/users/moominmolly/235612.html) -- it's a bit incoherent, but hey, this makes my blood boil. I strongly believe in telling them that this sort of shit doesn't go unnoticed.

Re: incidentally...

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

I followed that link information and sent them this comment. Followng my comment is Leslie Moonves's statement on diversity, featured on the same page. I quoted that statement in full in my comment; I imagine that a number of other people have done so as well.

I'm writing about something I have not yet seen on CBS television.

Please accept the United Church of Christ's advertisement and demonstrate to the world that your statement about diversity is not just window-dressing. Now, as ever, we need a free and vigorous press, supported by the widest and most diverse body of advertisers. The marketplace of ideas isn't a true free market if certain ideas are excluded before they ever come before buyers.

Thank you.

"As broadcasters, we aim to ensure that our national viewing audience is reflected in our programming and our people.

"We recognize that a work force comprised of a wide variety of perspectives, viewpoints and backgrounds is integral to our continued success.

"This is not a campaign, but rather a fundamental way of doing business at CBS, and we continue to be steadfast in our goal to become more diverse and more representative of the public we serve."

-Leslie Moonves
Co-President & Co-Chief Operating Officer of Viacom
and Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of CBS