Is Tolerance “Too Hot” for TV?

Outside a church stand two bouncers in black t-shirts, guarding the entrance. For straight, white people, the velvet ropes are lifted. When certain people approach, they are told “No way!” and shoved out of line.

That’s what you see when you watch this television ad, sponsored by the United Churches of Christ — followed by this message: “Jesus didn’t turn people away. Neither do we.”

You won’t however, see this ad on NBC or CBS. These networks, anticipating that “value voters” will chafe at seeing their bigotry so frankly portrayed, are refusing to show the ad.

I’m stunned. Every single day, these same networks air soap operas in which scantily-clad actors and actresses wrestle between silk sheets … and a vision of tolerance is too hot for television?

Let NBC and CBS know what you think. Copy (remember — they don’t care how original letters are … they just care how many letters they receive) or adapt the following letter and send it to:

NBC: nbcshows@nbc.com

CBS: (go to www.cbs.com and click the Feedback link at the bottom of the web page)

I am writing to protest your decision not to air the United Church of Christ’s advertisements promoting religious tolerance.

Given the content of advertisements aired during the previous election year — not to mention the content of soap operas and other shows that air daily on your network — the idea that a message of tolerance is “too controversial” for television is both hypocritical and ridiculous. You should be ashamed.

This message of tolerance and compassion is sorely needed in today’s America. Your efforts to squelch this message are prompting me to reconsider my own viewing habits … and to encourage friends and family to reconsider theirs, too.

Thank you for your time and attention.

[A tip of the hat to my friend, Barbara, for bringing this story to my attention via, of all places, the colorful and quirky knitting website Yarn-A-Go-Go.]