Journalists’ reluctance to show American patriotism spans a long time

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Once I was a member of the White House press corps, it was simply observable that reporters felt they may not say the "Pledge of Allegiance" with different People on the White Home. That, someway, compromised their neutrality. This inaction advised that American reporters shouldn’t present appreciation for his or her nation enshrining freedom of the press. That’s a scarcity of gratitude, not only a lack of patriotism.

For the printed media, the sensation that they weren’t rooting for America was first underlined of their opposition to the Vietnam Conflict. This was crystallized with CBS anchor Walter Cronkite declaring from Saigon in 1968 that America was going to lose, "that the one rational approach out then will probably be to barter, not as victors." Cronkite had been over-praised because the essence of objectivity, however politicians feared his persuasive energy. Media energy to sway the nation was extra satisfying than patriotism.

Journalism is poised towards patriotism. Journalists disdain patriotism as "my nation proper or incorrect," they usually all the time wish to be proper. They affiliate patriotism with warmongers pushing for countless wars.

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In March 1989, the media’s controversial ingratitude towards America was spotlighted by a PBS present referred to as "Ethics In America." Professor Charles Ogletree created a state of affairs the place America was preventing a fictional nation referred to as North Kosan. The enemy was going to assault American troops. He requested: does a reporter have a "greater obligation as an American citizen" to warn the troops? With out hesitation, CBS journalist Mike Wallace stated no. "No, you do not have greater obligation ... you are a reporter." ABC anchor Peter Jennings first stated he would notify them, then modified his thoughts: "I believe he is proper too. I chickened out."

CBS anchor Walter Cronkite was feared by politicians. (Picture by Ben Martin/Getty Photos)

In an April 1990 primetime particular, Jennings clearly signaled America was not a benign pressure on the planet. "The US is deeply concerned in Cambodia once more. Cambodia is on the sting of hell once more."

September 11, 2001, could have united the nation for a number of weeks, however not on ABC. Six days after 1000's of People died, ABC "Politically Incorrect" host Invoice Maher argued that the terrorists who drove planes into buildings had been extra brave than American pilots: "We've got been the cowards. Lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away, that’s cowardly. Staying within the airplane when it hits the constructing, say what you need about it, not cowardly."

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Two weeks later, "CBS Night Information" producer Dick Meyer wrote a commentary on CBSNews.com on the discomfort with the American flag. "Our 10-year-old daughter requested her mom if we might put a flag on our automotive. My spouse reluctantly agreed, however hasn’t procured the flag but. ... My spouse primarily shares our daughter’s emotions. However for her, the image of the flag was appropriated in her youth by counter-protesters who used it to disclaim the patriotism of the battle’s opponents. Flag-waving feels aggressive to her." Burning the flag isn’t aggressive. Waving it's.

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Flag pins had been nonetheless offending PBS host Bill Moyers, who uncorked a pompous commentary on his program "Now" on the taxpayer-funded community. The flag’s been hijacked and became a emblem – the trademark of a monopoly on patriotism. ... Once I see flags sprouting on official lapels, I consider the time in China after I noticed Mao’s Little Crimson Guide on each official’s desk, omnipresent and unread."

4 years later, Moyers was nonetheless at it on his PBS present, now referred to as "Moyers & Firm." This time, he ripped the pledge: "The subsequent time you say the ‘Pledge of Allegiance.’ ... Keep in mind, it is a lie, a whopper of a lie. We coax it from the mouths of babes for a similar purpose our flesh pressers put on their flag pins on their lapels. It makes the hypocrisy go down simpler."

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Additionally in 2007, the ABC News program "The View" featured Rosie O’Donnell suggesting we had been the terrorists: "I simply wish to say one thing: 655,000 Iraqi civilians are lifeless. Who're the terrorists?...For those who had been in Iraq, and the opposite nation, the US, the richest on the planet, invaded your nation and killed 655,000 of your residents, what would you name us?"

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"The View" was nonetheless at this in 2021, when Olympian athlete Gwen Berry turned away and coated her head whereas they performed the national anthem on the delayed Olympic trials. Whoopi Goldberg got here to her protection: "Within the upcoming days, we’ll play you the American anthem and allow you to see what you consider it. As a result of there’s some stuff in there that makes it a bit of bit powerful to take."

America is a free nation, and journalists are free to denigrate it. Journalists are free to say that their treasured occupation locations them above putrid pledges of allegiance. However they shouldn’t be mystified when People determine they don’t belief networks that sound suspicious of the nationwide unity that patriotism can convey.