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Networks Running Scared
The Berkshire Eagle ^ | 4 November 2004

Posted on 12/04/2004 8:54:10 PM PST by Racehorse

The refusal of CBS and NBC to air an advertisement from the United Church of Christ that says it welcomes all people, even homosexuals, to worship, is evidence that there is no need for official government censorship in the United States. All the government has to do is create a climate of fear, intimidation and intolerance of views that differ from its own, and the TV networks will censor themselves.

If you watch the ad featuring two bouncers at a rope line, selecting the crowd for church, you will see that it broaches the subject of homosexuality in the most oblique and uncontroversial way imaginable -- the bouncers turn away two men holding hands and the spot ends with the phrase "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we."

Last spring, church media buyers had no trouble placing the ad. It prompted an enthusiastic response in the test markets where it aired, and the church decided on a $1.7 million nationwide campaign at Christmas time. But since the election, both CBS and NBC have decided the subject matter is "too controversial," and refused to air it.

(Excerpt) Read more at berkshireeagle.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ads; advertising; alternativelifestyle; antichristian; ccrm; celebrateperversity; choosingsexovergod; christianity; christians; church; culturewar; doasthouwill; gayrights; hedonists; homosexual; homosexualagenda; ifitfeelsgooddoit; itsjustsex; liberalbigots; libertines; media; religion; religiousintolerance; satanicphilosophy; sex; sin; sinners; sodomandgomorrah; sodomites; sodomy; ucc
Portion of a letter published in the Boston Globe: Despite the feeble justifications of network spokespersons, it seems clear that the real issue is money, not broadcast values. I have no doubt that if the United Church of Christ could mobilize the same kind of funding as Republicans, Democrats, and swift boat veterans, these networks would miraculously discover that their advertising policy was as welcoming as our churches. Rev. JAMES. A BRONWELL Pastor, United Church of Christ, Sutton http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2004/12/04/feeble_arguments_by_networks_on_ad/
1 posted on 12/04/2004 8:54:11 PM PST by Racehorse
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To: Racehorse

This story is ridiculous. The real problem with this ad was that it attacked most churches in the US as racist.

The networks are probably just creating this false gay issue to further brand church-goers as intolerant.


2 posted on 12/04/2004 8:59:49 PM PST by TFine80
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To: Racehorse

"...a climate of fear, intimidation and intolerance of views that differ from its own"

All of which used to be called "taste" and "judgment". I can't watch network television with my young children without seeing ads for penis enhancing drugs, ads for erectile dysfunction remedies, ads for antidepressants touting "no sexual side effects!", or ads for shows featuring blatantly homosexual characters talking about their sexuality. Does the existence of perversion in the world mean that it has to be on television?
Needless to say, we have almost entirely eliminated television from our house. We probably miss some entertaining and educational programming, but it's just not worth sifting through the filth.


3 posted on 12/04/2004 9:01:22 PM PST by Luddite Patent Counsel ("If you accumulate enough layers of superficiality, that's pretty much the same as having depth")
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To: Racehorse
My My, a UCC pastor who is not a pastoress or a priestess as my son calls them, or does he want to be?
4 posted on 12/04/2004 9:02:27 PM PST by Little Bill (A 37%'r, a Red Spot on a Blue State)
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To: Racehorse
Since when are "money" and "broadcast value" opposites? Of course it's about money; I give my money to causes I like. Defaming my church as hateful to gays is not one of those causes.
5 posted on 12/04/2004 9:04:06 PM PST by SteveMcKing
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To: Racehorse

I don't appreciate a church implying that other churches are bigots and racist. Their commercial just gives more ammo to the liberals who think Christians are intolerant. My church would allow gays to worship with us. They sure as heck wouldn't condone their lifestyle though.


6 posted on 12/04/2004 9:16:23 PM PST by Giliad (Ouside of a dog a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.)
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To: Racehorse
It would appear that the Old Media are struggling to understand the many facets of Faith.

It seems difficult to them to fathom where they should stand.

This is nothing more than an Ignigma of their own making.

The struggle they find themselves in is a battle they are ill equiped to embrace.

They are forced to reject their secularism, but how?

7 posted on 12/04/2004 9:16:41 PM PST by smoothsailing (Eagles Up !!)
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To: TFine80
Racist?

Did I miss something in the article, or are homosexuals now a "race"?

I thought it was true that some churches don't openly welcome homosexuals?

If the networks wanted to "brand church-goers as intolerant" wouldn't the ad visually reinforce that notion?

8 posted on 12/04/2004 9:17:27 PM PST by Socrates1 (Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.)
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To: Racehorse

BTTT


9 posted on 12/04/2004 9:18:23 PM PST by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: Racehorse
If you accept that not "welcoming" homosexuals is bigoted or racist (what about homophobic?) you are playing right into to lunacy that says everyone must "accept" everyone else.

Isn't that the attitude the source of the problems that Europeans are having.

Apparently they repealed the concept of "freedom of association" somewhere along the line?

10 posted on 12/04/2004 9:23:19 PM PST by Socrates1 (Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.)
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To: Racehorse

The Church I go to isn't full of a bunch of fags and lesbians. It's called common decency.


11 posted on 12/04/2004 9:27:37 PM PST by BobS
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To: TFine80

The networks are pretending to be afraid of the FCC to create a climate of distrust in the Bush administration, just as they did when they arranged for some of their stations to black out "Private Ryan."

No one in their right mind thought the FCC would challenge the movie, it had already been televised in the past. But the media whores and scoundrels want to give the impression that the rightwing censors are on the march...


12 posted on 12/04/2004 9:32:28 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: TFine80
no, they're looking for warm bodies.

And let's not forget that average gay income is very high, + they are also participate and protest for the "Justice and Peace Issues"

UCC is pretty active in the justice and peace arena.

13 posted on 12/04/2004 9:32:34 PM PST by Cheapskate ("America , F _ _ _ Yeah !)
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To: Racehorse

Oregon TV stations differ with two networks over church ad
Seattle Times / AP ^ | Rukmini Callimachi
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1294334/posts


14 posted on 12/04/2004 9:34:36 PM PST by Valin (Out Of My Mind; Back In Five Minutes)
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To: Socrates1
If you accept that not "welcoming" homosexuals is bigoted or racist (what about homophobic?) you are playing right into to lunacy that says everyone must "accept" everyone else.

It is not only "acceptance" they demand, they also demand approval! They are not satisfied with "I don't judge you, I just don't like you." They demand approval under the "acceptance" Trojan Horse.

15 posted on 12/04/2004 9:35:07 PM PST by Judith Anne (Thank you St. Jude for favors granted.)
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To: Giliad

The teachings of Christ are for everyone. As you said, worship is welcome but leave the lifestyle outside....or change.


16 posted on 12/04/2004 9:35:53 PM PST by Dallas59 ("A weak peace is worse than war" - Tacitcus)
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To: Racehorse

Homosexuals are welcomed to worship at any church as any sinner is. Just don't expect all churches to celebrate perversity and encourage such sin.


17 posted on 12/04/2004 9:39:28 PM PST by weegee (WE FOUGHT ZOGBYISM November 2, 2004 - 60 Million Voters versus 60 Minutes - BUSH WINS!!!)
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To: Socrates1

You can download the ad on the Net.

It does imply other churches are racist as well as 'homophobic' (which is actually hard to even notice). This 'bouncer church' turns away blacks and hispanics.


18 posted on 12/04/2004 9:41:24 PM PST by TFine80
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To: TFine80

Yes, but before we can jump on that Church for making others look racist we have to defend their right to have it aired...rofl


19 posted on 12/04/2004 10:12:05 PM PST by Recall
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To: Luddite Patent Counsel
I can't watch network television with my young children without seeing ads for penis enhancing drugs, ads for erectile dysfunction remedies, ads for antidepressants touting "no sexual side effects!", or ads for shows featuring blatantly homosexual characters talking about their sexuality.

Yah and then when neilsen goes off and reports that fewer folks are watching the tube the networks get all yanked off and claim Nielsen can't be telling the truth and try and figure out what happened.

Hello. WE DON'T WANT TO WATCH THIS CRAP !
20 posted on 12/05/2004 6:36:18 AM PST by festus (The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now !)
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