NBC Learns An Important Lesson...

Oh, NBC. What were you thinking…

Before Sunday’s coverage of the U.S. Open, NBC aired a taped piece featuring schoolchildren reciting the Pledge of Allegiance over a backdrop of images from Washington D.C. It was meant to be patriotic and inspirational, but it turned into a major firestorm.

The piece cut the words “one nation under God” from the pledge.

After an immediate firestorm on Twitter and Facebook, NBC golf host Dan Hicks made an on-air apology during the coverage. NBC also sent letters to viewers who complained saying it was “a bad decision” made by “a small group of people.”

You can read the entire letter here.

Because it was a taped opening piece, NBC had all the time in the world, so it seems clear the move was motivated by some kind of concern about the use of the word “God.” No matter what stance you take on religion, I believe altering the words of the Pledge of Allegiance in any way is wrong and I applaud everyone who complained. I also applaud NBC for quickly apologizing, although I’m not so crazy about them throwing a group of editors under the bus when you know someone higher up signed off on the piece…