Posted on 09/11/2012 9:15:12 PM PDT by Drango
Mitt Romney's rally in Mansfield, Ohio, on Monday began the way every political event begins. "Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and our country's national anthem."
This is always an uncomfortable moment for me. While I sat at my laptop, most of the reporters around me stood and put their hands over their hearts. This time instead of just sitting and working, I tweeted what I was feeling:
@Ari_Shapiro: As a reporter I'm torn about joining in the pledge of allegiance/national anthem at rallies. I'm a rally observer, not a participant.
And then:
"Yet most reporters around me stand for the anthem & pledge. I'm one of the few that doesn't. Setting myself up for accusations I guess."
I expected a flood of vitriol. Instead, a thoughtful Twitter dialogue unfolded about what it means to be a journalist, what it means to be American, and what role the Pledge of Allegiance plays in our society. Other reporters joined in, including some sitting around me at the rally.
There were strong disagreements, sometimes passionate ones. There were witty moments of irreverence. But not once did anyone accuse me of being an America-hating Communist. Here are some highlights from that dialogue:
@ChrisJohnson82: I feel the same way. I've made a compromise where I stand with my hand over my heart, but remain silent.
@CarolineZilk: But you're an American! ...I say, participate unless you're busy recording, taking a photo or writing something down.
@Monbud: As an American, of course, it's optional to join in no matter where you are.
@StevenPortnoy: I stand with my hand over my heart. Liberty and justice for all are American ideals worthy of objective endorsement.
@Ari_Shapiro: But aren't lots of ideas at rallies "American ideals worthy of objective endorsement?" I'm not disagreeing with the pledge.
@Tcmassie: As a former radio reporter, I had conversations with colleagues who did not register to vote, so as not to seem partisan.
@Ari_Shapiro: Yet I vote, as an independent.
@ScrollnKey: Pretty ridiculous thought. At a minimum u should participate just to celebrate that u have the freedom to choose.
@Snaggleswood: The whole concept has always struck me as a bit fascist, having to stand when demanded to affirm our allegiance.
@Shoshuga: Now if you were going to stand up and sing Hatikvah [Israel's national anthem], then I'd completely understand your concern.
@PatOBeirne: If you are there to report, you shouldn't participate. Just don't be disrespectful.
@TournezVous: Do what I did when my old job's shareholder meetings opened with prayer: bow your head & check your blackberry.
@Ari_Shapiro: Every political candidate has lines I agree with. But of course I don't applaud in the stump speech. So why draw a line at the pledge?
@McKayCoppins: I think the argument is that the pledge is supposed to be apart from politics—not being used to elect a candidate.
@GlobeSessions: I stand (so as not to disrupt by drawing attention to the sitting man) but do not recite. Blending w/o participating.
@Kimu: AS a qualitative researcher, I aim for respectful non-participation & try to blend into the background. #FlyOnTheWall
@Slichtor FWIW, I'd stand (same for any nat'l anthem) but history has shown that there's a fine line btwn blind patriotism & xenophobia.
@DjCiskey The pledge is a unifying, non-partisan statement of values. Reciting it w/ Ds or Rs does not imply support for their platform.
@TiChall If you were reporting from another country, would you stand when that country's anthem was played?
@MiraOberman As a Canadian reporter I stand out of respect for anthem, pledge or prayers but don't sing/pledge/pray along as disingenuous.
@BFreedInA2: Observe/participate line can be tough to draw. Humming along/tapping your foot to the music? The tunes they play can be catchy.
@Ari_Shapiro: Currently tapping my foot to "I Was Born Free..."
@Cakilpack: Not standing for the pledge is not neutral; it's a statement.
This debate has a postscript.
As Romney took the stage to deliver his speech, he used a rhetorical device he debuted over the weekend at a rally in Virginia. He talked about the Pledge of Allegiance and reminisced about reciting it in his fourth-grade class. Then he used each line to make a point — about unifying the country, or strengthening the military, or the role of God in public life.
Which prompted this tweet:
@Karinchu: @Ari_Shapiro so much for the pledge being apolitical.
@CarolineZilk: But you're an American! ...I say, participate unless you're busy recording, taking a photo or writing something down.
Although I don’t think anyone should be coerced into reciting the pledge, failure to do so makes a statement.
I could understand if someone did not want to participate because they did not agree with the pledge. To recite it would be like lying. But even if that were the case, I can see no reason why a person would not be able to show some respect by standing up (assuming they are not disabled). If I were in a foreign country, for example, I would not recite the pledge, but I would stand respectfully when everyone else did.
If you don’t respect the flag or the country, you can at least show respect for the people around you. Or is he trying to tell us that not only does he disrespect the flag and the country, but all the people around him as well?
Reporting? Give me a break. How much breaking news does he need to type during the two minutes of the pledge? If he needs to report on the pledge itself, I can prewrite it for him: Throngs of voters who came to show support for Mitt Romney stood to recite the pledge and show respect for their country.
There's no wit, no irreverence. The twits "backing you up", Ari, are fueling the misconception you have about the Pledge.
As an American, you stand and take the Pledge wherever it is offered, precisely because it allows Romney and Obama to stand up and say, this is why you should vote for me.
I know why you don't like it, it's a spiritual invocation of the American experience. It is American Exceptionalism captured in one stanza. To participate in our unique social contract, Ari, well one can see why you'd have such grave doubts. Douchebag.
Without the Pledge, Ari, you'd be out of a job. As much as I believe that would be a good thing, the Pledge is far more important than any journolist.
For radicals, pledging allegience to the American-American ideology of our constitutional Republic as represented by our flag, has always been taboo.
Reference Bump! ;-(
If this were about journalistic objectivity and dispassion, why do ALL conservative reporters stand and recite at the DNC, but only liberal reporters agonize over it at the RNC?
NPR itself receives no direct funding from the US government. It applies and competes for grants from public agencies such as the CPB. These grants make up only 1.5% of its budget.
Local community stations (not NPR) receive around 9% to 10% of their budget from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The rest of their funding comes from fundraising from their listeners, corporate funding, grants from private foundations, etc."Yes, it is public-taxpayer funded. You rather purposely neglected to mention that 'the rest of their funding' often comes from local governments and ngo's, both funded with PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS.
The ridiculously overfed NPR branch here received 41% of its 2010 budget from city funds. Period.
And what’s their tax status? I would imagine that NPR is a “non-profit” organization, so it doesn’t pay any taxes like the commercial stations.
move to Russia, no chance Russia has balls and doesn;’t give in to the liberals and the homostapo, unlike us where we let in illegtals let turd pokers have parades and then see them say they’re proud of that
Uhm, sure.
And when others are praying you are typing?
Whatever. You can do whatever you want in America.
If I didn’t type posts while FReepers are praying on line, I’d never get any posting done
Yeah, but you are a great American...
“But not once did anyone accuse me of being an America-hating Communist.”
No need to state the obvious.
Soon as I saw what his name was..and NPR..I didnt even have to do any research about the guy...Knew what he was all about..a pure Kenite.
This is a lie by omission. While technically correct that the brand NPR only gets directly 1-2% funding DIRECTLY from the government, the indirect funding is significant.
Money is fungible. After the government lifts it out of my wallet, gives it to CPB, who gives it to a local station, who then gives it to NPR, my wallet doesn't care about the semantics. It's the same as giving it to NPR directly.
Finally, other state taxes for "public radio" to community colleges and directly to the stations makes the real tax burden to citizens around 30%.
Well, well it seems that our favorite un-patriotic NPR poofter, Ari Shapiro, was one of the Hitler Youth reporters who were scheming against Gov. Romney at this mornings presser! What a surprise!
What a tool.
Cant figure out if he should be patriotic or not?
Just remember if you are in an accident and bleeding to death on the side of the highway, pray the guy who next comes along isnt a journalist. “I cant help. Im an observer, not a participant.”
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