The United Church of Christ has been
rejected by NBC and CBS in its attempt to run a 30 second ad welcoming people to its churches.
Apparently NBC and CBS thought the ad “too controversial”, because it shows a pair of bouncers in front of a church turning away (among others) a pair of men we are to presume are a gay couple while a voice-over says “The United Church of Christ. No matter who you are, or where you are in life’s journey, you’re welcome here”. Apparently, in these times, this is over the line:
In a written statement to the church, CBS, a unit of Viacom, said the fact that the Bush administration had proposed a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman made the advertisement “unacceptable for broadcast.”
NBC said the ad violated a long-standing policy of the network not to allow commercials that dealt with issues of public controversy. NBC is part of NBC Universal, which is 80 percent owned by General Electric Co., with the rest owned by Vivendi Universal.
Reading these quotes leaves one assuming that, in some bout of historic PR idocy, the UCoC had shown Mr. Garrison and Mr. Slave in flagrante delicto in a confessional. Hardly — watch the video! Watch it. Really. Just do it. It’s only barely on the offensive side of fuzzy kittens frolicing in a pile of fresh daisies.
This “controversial” ad implies that the church would welcome a pair of men, it’s true. It also implies that they would welcome people of color, the elderly, and someone in a wheelchair. It doesn’t say a thing about marraige, not that that would make the refusal any more palatable. It’s unbelieveable that one would argue that because the administration is attempting to enforce gender requirements on marraige, showing a gay couple on TV is “controversial”.
What’s the next controversy? Video footage of someone with health care? Talking about a balanced budget? Sorry – my rhetoric needle is pegged.
I’m nauseous.
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