Searching For A Better Way
Intolerant of Tolerance
It is not often that I come across something so offensive, so mindlessly disgusting that my stomach actually rolls and I taste bile in the back of my throat. This post by Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo actually almost made me sick. Josh does not let you link to one post, so scroll down to the post that begins with The United Church of Christ. . .
Just as a brief summary, the United Church of Christ has started an ad campaign to promote and identify their denomination. One of the messages they are promoting is that they are a tolerant and accepting denomination that welcomes diversity. CBS and NBC have rejected this ad as being too controversial. Please take a second to view this ad so that you can judge for yourself. You can then read the UCC press release in which CBS and NBC explain their decision.
I really am not sure what country I am living in any more and I am not kidding about that. It is like living in some bad, crass, consumer culture parody of George Orwell.
NBC’s blatant hypocrisy in deciding to not air the ad is highlighted by the fact that they broadcast Will and Grace. Apparently, to NBC, it is acceptable to portray gays on TV, so long is it is clear that Jesus has nothing to do with them.
I don’t think Will and Grace would get made in today’s atmosphere, nor would any Ellen Degeneres sitcom. Gays have gone from a lukewarm public acceptance to being radioactive and I am becoming very frightened for the safety of my gay friends.
This is especially true after ABC’s 20/20 aired this piece alleging that the murder of Matthew Shepard was not because Matthew Shepard was gay, but because of a drug deal gone bad. On the face of it, this is ludicrous. First, we are asked to believe the story of two convicted murderers years after the fact, especially when they have motive to change their story. There are rumors that this will be part of an attempt at clemency or reducing the sentence (I honestly don’t know how the Wyoming legal system works or what they might realistically be seeking). Second, they admitted they killed him because he was gay of their own free will. Third, drug deals gone bad usually end in a shooting, not a prolonged, protracted torture session. Fourth, if Shepard was really murdered when his killers, Mc Kinney and Henderson were on a speed binge, it seems very unlikely that while on speed they would take the time to drive him to the country, tie him to a fence post and beat him. Why not just beat him to death right where he was? And why stop while he is alive? If they were speeding as they claim, I would bet they would have just killed him.
What motive would ABC have in running this story? I am honestly not sure why they would dredge this trash up now. I do know that I feel I am living in a nation that is very hostile to gays right now. The banning of the United Church of Christ commercial makes me feel like even being tolerant of gays is frowned upon.
We don’t have to tolerate this garbage. There are things we can do about it. Remember, NBC and CBS DO NOT own the airwaves. We do. The airwaves belong to the public.
Please contact NBC and CBS and urge them to run the ads:
NBC
Randy Falco
President
NBC Television Network
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-5083 (Mr. Falco's office)
Phone: 212-664-4444 (general switchboard)
Fax: 212-664-3019
E-mail: nbcshows@nbc.com
Robert C. Wright
Vice Chairman and Executive Officer
General Electric (he is also Chairman and CEO of NBC)
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-4555 (Mr. Wright's office)
Fax: 212-664-7288
Web site: GE (this includes a "contact us" section for e-mailing GE)
CBS
HOW TO CONTACT CBS:
CBS TELEVISION IS A DIVISION OF VIACOM, INC. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B)
CBS Television's main phone number is 212-975-4321. You may also find this information helpful:
Sumner M. Redstone
Chairman and CEO
Viacom, Inc.
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
212-258-6000
Mr. Leslie Moonves
Chairman and CEO
CBS Television
7800 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-575-2600
email: audsvcs@cbs.com
This contact information comes to you courtesy of Focus on the Family’s website.
Remember: tolerance is a family value.
Just as a brief summary, the United Church of Christ has started an ad campaign to promote and identify their denomination. One of the messages they are promoting is that they are a tolerant and accepting denomination that welcomes diversity. CBS and NBC have rejected this ad as being too controversial. Please take a second to view this ad so that you can judge for yourself. You can then read the UCC press release in which CBS and NBC explain their decision.
I really am not sure what country I am living in any more and I am not kidding about that. It is like living in some bad, crass, consumer culture parody of George Orwell.
NBC’s blatant hypocrisy in deciding to not air the ad is highlighted by the fact that they broadcast Will and Grace. Apparently, to NBC, it is acceptable to portray gays on TV, so long is it is clear that Jesus has nothing to do with them.
I don’t think Will and Grace would get made in today’s atmosphere, nor would any Ellen Degeneres sitcom. Gays have gone from a lukewarm public acceptance to being radioactive and I am becoming very frightened for the safety of my gay friends.
This is especially true after ABC’s 20/20 aired this piece alleging that the murder of Matthew Shepard was not because Matthew Shepard was gay, but because of a drug deal gone bad. On the face of it, this is ludicrous. First, we are asked to believe the story of two convicted murderers years after the fact, especially when they have motive to change their story. There are rumors that this will be part of an attempt at clemency or reducing the sentence (I honestly don’t know how the Wyoming legal system works or what they might realistically be seeking). Second, they admitted they killed him because he was gay of their own free will. Third, drug deals gone bad usually end in a shooting, not a prolonged, protracted torture session. Fourth, if Shepard was really murdered when his killers, Mc Kinney and Henderson were on a speed binge, it seems very unlikely that while on speed they would take the time to drive him to the country, tie him to a fence post and beat him. Why not just beat him to death right where he was? And why stop while he is alive? If they were speeding as they claim, I would bet they would have just killed him.
What motive would ABC have in running this story? I am honestly not sure why they would dredge this trash up now. I do know that I feel I am living in a nation that is very hostile to gays right now. The banning of the United Church of Christ commercial makes me feel like even being tolerant of gays is frowned upon.
We don’t have to tolerate this garbage. There are things we can do about it. Remember, NBC and CBS DO NOT own the airwaves. We do. The airwaves belong to the public.
Please contact NBC and CBS and urge them to run the ads:
NBC
Randy Falco
President
NBC Television Network
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-5083 (Mr. Falco's office)
Phone: 212-664-4444 (general switchboard)
Fax: 212-664-3019
E-mail: nbcshows@nbc.com
Robert C. Wright
Vice Chairman and Executive Officer
General Electric (he is also Chairman and CEO of NBC)
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-4555 (Mr. Wright's office)
Fax: 212-664-7288
Web site: GE (this includes a "contact us" section for e-mailing GE)
CBS
HOW TO CONTACT CBS:
CBS TELEVISION IS A DIVISION OF VIACOM, INC. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B)
CBS Television's main phone number is 212-975-4321. You may also find this information helpful:
Sumner M. Redstone
Chairman and CEO
Viacom, Inc.
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
212-258-6000
Mr. Leslie Moonves
Chairman and CEO
CBS Television
7800 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-575-2600
email: audsvcs@cbs.com
This contact information comes to you courtesy of Focus on the Family’s website.
Remember: tolerance is a family value.
posted by Andy Ternay at 11:19 AM
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