Google Logo Tweak Sends Critics Into Orbit

Los Angeles Times ^ | October 9, 2007 | Jim Puzzanghera

[kellynla]

WASHINGTON -- Should the world's most-used search engine be more of a Yankee Google Dandy?

Google Inc. occasionally features light-hearted doodles on its colorful home-page logo to commemorate special occasions. But now they are drawing criticism from conservatives for not being more patriotic.

The Mountain View, Calif., company bathes its logo in stars and stripes every Independence Day, but last week's decision to honor the 50th anniversary of the Sputnik launch -- the second "g" in Google was replaced with a drawing of the Soviet satellite -- is being blasted by some conservatives.

Not only did Google honor an achievement by a totalitarian regime that was our Cold War enemy, they griped, but it did so without having ever altered its logo to commemorate U.S. military personnel on Memorial Day or Veterans Day.

"It's a kick to your belly," said conservative blogger Giovanni Gallucci, 39, a social media consultant from Dallas. "I understand these guys are scientists and engineers and they have their quirks and want to make sure people are recognized who might not normally be recognized . . . but why not celebrate the struggles that we've come through as a people?"

[george76]

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[BenLurkin]

Just as the Nazis were the first to launch a missile in warfare

Good point!

GOOGLE should be celebrating the first V-2 launch.

After all, what Sputnik meant was that the Soviets had developed ICBM technology. Sputnik had nothing to do with human exploration of space.

[Aquinasfan]

Not only did Google honor an achievement by a totalitarian regime that was our Cold War enemy, they griped, but it did so without having ever altered its logo to commemorate U.S. military personnel on Memorial Day or Veterans Day.

That's what ticked me off yesterday. Glad to hear I wasn't the only one.

[DryFly]

Private property. Or have we forgotten about that?

[kellynla]

“This is silly?”

This may be “silly” to you but the fact that the Google goons have deliberately omitted commemorating Veterans Day & Memorial Day is not at all silly to those of us who served especially those who paid the ultimate price for freedom...and their families. The Google goons commemorate the Commies but not America’s finest? The only thing that is “silly” is that you and others on this thread don’t get it!

[Aquinasfan]

I don't have a problem recognizing history. Only totalitarian regimes attempt to rewrite history and make certain people and events "nonpersons."

So why does Google ignore Columbus Day and Veterans Day? Do we really need to ask why?

[Dave thA]

Although beaten by the Chinese, some thousands of years before...

[zencat]

This is silly. Of course the USSR was a hated enemy. But they were first into space. You cannot change that fact.

Yes, and it was the 50th anniversary of space flight. It's not like they've done it every year. It was an extraordinary human accomplishment. Google also being a 'technological achievement' itself, it seems an appropriate acknowledgment.

[Tanniker Smith]

I heartily recommend the book/movie "October Sky" (aka "Rocket Boys", which, oddly enough is an anagram of "October Sky" or vice versa). It's the (true-ish*) story of four high school boys' desire to build rockets -- they went into aeronautics as adults.

The "October Sky" referenced in the title was watching Sputnik orbit overhead. (With no further mention in the film).

TS
(* true-ish -- it is Hollywood we're talking about, but they were real people)

[gracesdad]

“Not only did Google honor an achievement by a totalitarian regime that was our Cold War enemy, they griped, but it did so without having ever altered its logo to commemorate U.S. military personnel on Memorial Day or Veterans Day.
That’s what ticked me off yesterday. Glad to hear I wasn’t the only one.”

They HAVE recognized Memorial Day at least once (other threads about this have carried it; soldiers with their arms around each other) and they’ve also recognized the Moon landing. They recognize July 4 every year. It’s just silly and useless to get upset about this.

[BenLurkin]

Ping to post #17

[gracesdad]

Google has recognized the Moon landing, Memorial Day at least once, and recognizes July 4 every year. Stupid commies.

[B-Chan]

Oh, come on. This is crazy. Sputnik was a great achievement for all mankind, not just the USSR. I can’t believe anyone with sense is really upset by the logo thing.

[george76]

[gracesdad]

“The Google goons commemorate the Commies but not America’s finest?”

So it means nothing that they commemorated the Moon landing long before Sputnik?

If Google were commemorating the commies they would have changed the logo on May Day or Lenin’s birthday, not on the date Sputnik launched.

[dfwgator]

Why doesn’t Google just go ahead and commemorate the V2 Rocket as well?

[montag813]

This may be “silly” to you but the fact that the Google goons have deliberately omitted commemorating Veterans Day & Memorial Day is not at all silly to those of us who served especially those who paid the ultimate price for freedom...and their families.

I agree, and have pointed out when Google is wrong, such as failing to commemorate 9/11, even with a simple ribbon. But they are not wrong here.

[lormand]

"Private property. Or have we forgotten about that?"

Hypocrisy and the ability to object to it, have we forgotten about that?

[bmwcyle]

Good point!

[cynwoody]

They HAVE recognized Memorial Day at least once (other threads about this have carried it; soldiers with their arms around each other)

False. Google remains Memorial-Day challenged. But not for want of help:

Google Memorial Day Logo Design Contest