Google Logo Tweak Sends Critics Into Orbit

Los Angeles Times ^ | October 9, 2007 | Jim Puzzanghera

[kellynla]

WASHINGTON -- Should the world's most-used search engine be more of a Yankee Google Dandy?

Google Inc. occasionally features light-hearted doodles on its colorful home-page logo to commemorate special occasions. But now they are drawing criticism from conservatives for not being more patriotic.

The Mountain View, Calif., company bathes its logo in stars and stripes every Independence Day, but last week's decision to honor the 50th anniversary of the Sputnik launch -- the second "g" in Google was replaced with a drawing of the Soviet satellite -- is being blasted by some conservatives.

Not only did Google honor an achievement by a totalitarian regime that was our Cold War enemy, they griped, but it did so without having ever altered its logo to commemorate U.S. military personnel on Memorial Day or Veterans Day.

"It's a kick to your belly," said conservative blogger Giovanni Gallucci, 39, a social media consultant from Dallas. "I understand these guys are scientists and engineers and they have their quirks and want to make sure people are recognized who might not normally be recognized . . . but why not celebrate the struggles that we've come through as a people?"

[kellynla]

The Google clowns don't mind profiting from being in America but like the rest of the Lefties in the entertainment industry & media, they sure have a problem being patriots now don't they...

[kellynla]

ping

[fishtank]

Google again ignores 9/11 (Dogpile comes through YET again)

[SuziQ]

I don’t mind them showcasing different things, but they do tend to downplay or ignore expressly American holidays or achievements, which is annoying. But they’re a independent company, so they can do as they wish. I still like Google, and use it ALL the time!

[weegee]

Has Google been outed at the LATvia Times for censoring poltical content on Google.cn?

[Westlander]

Never have used gaggle. Try this instead-they do not access gaggle for searches.

http://livesearch.alltheweb.com/

[Hemingway's Ghost]

said conservative blogger Giovanni Gallucci, 39, a social media consultant from Dallas

Phony-sounding job alert!

[ChurtleDawg]

this a ridiculous non-controversy. I saw the logo. It didn’t bother me at all

[weegee]

There was an FR thread the day they made the logo change and a number of posters said “lighten up”. It isn’t just the things that Google chooses to commemorate that irks conservatives, it is the things that they choose to ignore as well.

[Yo-Yo]

"Lighten up, Francis."

Sputnik did start the space race, and was the direct motivation that spurred the US to the Moon.

I don't have a problem recognizing history. Only totalitarian regimes attempt to rewrite history and make certain people and events "nonpersons."

[BenLurkin]

Jim Puzzanghera registered on FR the other day and sent me a FReepmail.

Jim, sorry but I usually delete Freepmails from newbies.

[lormand]

The tyranny that Google coddles would ordinarily give someone who espouses "progressive" ideas the creeps. However, "progressives", aka, stinkin' liberals, have no shame, morals, or ethics.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

There was an FR thread the day they made the logo change and a number of posters said “lighten up”. It isn’t just the things that Google chooses to commemorate that irks conservatives, it is the things that they choose to ignore as well.

If "conservatives," as a whole, are so thin-skinned as to be offended by something like this, then they deserve to be ridiculed as much as normal people ridicule perpetually-offended liberals.

[Westlander]

Check this out.

http://www.bruceclay.com/searchenginerelationshipchart.htm

[Alter Kaker]

Google again ignores 9/11 (Dogpile comes through YET again)

I take it you feel that the appropriate way to memorialize the 3000 dead is for a search engine to create a colorful cartoonish logo? Are you nuts? I'd be offended if they DID do that.

[fishtank]

Very respectful.

[BenLurkin]

"Google's decision to self-censor its search engine in China to comply with the Communist government's online rules also has drawn condemnation from Republicans."

Only Republicans?

[montag813]

This is silly. Of course the USSR was a hated enemy. But they were first into space. You cannot change that fact. Just as the Nazis were the first to launch a missile in warfare.

[Halgr]

“Jim Puzzanghera registered on FR the other day and sent me a FReepmail.”

I deleted mine too....why would I respond to a representative of the dark side.....

[wastedyears]

I’m right at the part when Winston is out of the chair. I’ve never read it before, and the things going on in the book are quite alarming.

[george76]

A Race to the Bottom - Privacy Ranking of Internet Service Companies

http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd%5B347%5D=x-347-553961

[BenLurkin]

Just as the Nazis were the first to launch a missile in warfare

Good point!

GOOGLE should be celebrating the first V-2 launch.

After all, what Sputnik meant was that the Soviets had developed ICBM technology. Sputnik had nothing to do with human exploration of space.

[Aquinasfan]

Not only did Google honor an achievement by a totalitarian regime that was our Cold War enemy, they griped, but it did so without having ever altered its logo to commemorate U.S. military personnel on Memorial Day or Veterans Day.

That's what ticked me off yesterday. Glad to hear I wasn't the only one.

[DryFly]

Private property. Or have we forgotten about that?

[kellynla]

“This is silly?”

This may be “silly” to you but the fact that the Google goons have deliberately omitted commemorating Veterans Day & Memorial Day is not at all silly to those of us who served especially those who paid the ultimate price for freedom...and their families. The Google goons commemorate the Commies but not America’s finest? The only thing that is “silly” is that you and others on this thread don’t get it!

[Aquinasfan]

I don't have a problem recognizing history. Only totalitarian regimes attempt to rewrite history and make certain people and events "nonpersons."

So why does Google ignore Columbus Day and Veterans Day? Do we really need to ask why?

[Dave thA]

Although beaten by the Chinese, some thousands of years before...

[zencat]

This is silly. Of course the USSR was a hated enemy. But they were first into space. You cannot change that fact.

Yes, and it was the 50th anniversary of space flight. It's not like they've done it every year. It was an extraordinary human accomplishment. Google also being a 'technological achievement' itself, it seems an appropriate acknowledgment.

[Tanniker Smith]

I heartily recommend the book/movie "October Sky" (aka "Rocket Boys", which, oddly enough is an anagram of "October Sky" or vice versa). It's the (true-ish*) story of four high school boys' desire to build rockets -- they went into aeronautics as adults.

The "October Sky" referenced in the title was watching Sputnik orbit overhead. (With no further mention in the film).

TS
(* true-ish -- it is Hollywood we're talking about, but they were real people)

[gracesdad]

“Not only did Google honor an achievement by a totalitarian regime that was our Cold War enemy, they griped, but it did so without having ever altered its logo to commemorate U.S. military personnel on Memorial Day or Veterans Day.
That’s what ticked me off yesterday. Glad to hear I wasn’t the only one.”

They HAVE recognized Memorial Day at least once (other threads about this have carried it; soldiers with their arms around each other) and they’ve also recognized the Moon landing. They recognize July 4 every year. It’s just silly and useless to get upset about this.

[BenLurkin]

Ping to post #17

[gracesdad]

Google has recognized the Moon landing, Memorial Day at least once, and recognizes July 4 every year. Stupid commies.

[B-Chan]

Oh, come on. This is crazy. Sputnik was a great achievement for all mankind, not just the USSR. I can’t believe anyone with sense is really upset by the logo thing.

[george76]

[gracesdad]

“The Google goons commemorate the Commies but not America’s finest?”

So it means nothing that they commemorated the Moon landing long before Sputnik?

If Google were commemorating the commies they would have changed the logo on May Day or Lenin’s birthday, not on the date Sputnik launched.

[dfwgator]

Why doesn’t Google just go ahead and commemorate the V2 Rocket as well?

[montag813]

This may be “silly” to you but the fact that the Google goons have deliberately omitted commemorating Veterans Day & Memorial Day is not at all silly to those of us who served especially those who paid the ultimate price for freedom...and their families.

I agree, and have pointed out when Google is wrong, such as failing to commemorate 9/11, even with a simple ribbon. But they are not wrong here.

[lormand]

"Private property. Or have we forgotten about that?"

Hypocrisy and the ability to object to it, have we forgotten about that?

[bmwcyle]

Good point!

[cynwoody]

They HAVE recognized Memorial Day at least once (other threads about this have carried it; soldiers with their arms around each other)

False. Google remains Memorial-Day challenged. But not for want of help:

Google Memorial Day Logo Design Contest

[Yo-Yo]

Gee, I have to work on Columbus Day and Veteran’s Day.

They do recognize Christmas and Easter. Do we really need to ask why?

[Mr. Jeeves]

Sputnik directly led to the invention of the Internet.

Google is the world's pre-eminent Internet company.

Celebrating Sputnik is a way of honoring their own heritage.

And conservatives are once again going out of their way to find something irrelevant to take offense at. We should save our outrage for the big spenders in Congress.

[kellynla]

is English your second language
again the Google goons have deliberately omitted commemorating Veterans Day & Memorial Day...let us all know when you get the picture.

[RS]

“It didn’t bother me at all”

Same here -

Without the Russian launch of Sputnik, we may never have had the reason to make the effort to get to the moon.

It reminds us that the rest of the world is not standing still in their research, and if we want to be on top we have to keep moving.

[montag813]

GOOGLE should be celebrating the first V-2 launch. After all, what Sputnik meant was that the Soviets had developed ICBM technology. Sputnik had nothing to do with human exploration of space.

That is silly. Sputnik had everything to do with exploration of space. It was a satellite not a missile. Come on now. It doesn't matter what it indirectly "meant" in the historical context of the Cold War. They beat us fair and square into space, and the event should be recognized.

[Yo-Yo]

Why doesn’t Google just go ahead and commemorate the V2 Rocket as well?

Well, then maybe we shouldn't recognize Wherner von Braun, who designed the V-2 for Nazi Germany, and also designed most of the post WW II US Space program up to and including Apollo.

[gracesdad]

“False. Google remains Memorial-Day challenged. But not for want of help:”

Thanks.

I was going by earlier threads where Freepers posted the one with the soldiers with their arms around each other.

[dfwgator]

Our Germans were better than their Germans.

[ProfoundMan]

I agree, and have pointed out when Google is wrong, such as failing to commemorate 9/11, even with a simple ribbon. But they are not wrong here.

Which, of course, is why the story runs now. Running it to point out skipping 911 doesn't fit "the template".

MSM bas#%rds!

[Cold Heart]

Read the link in post 21. There is the real reason to avoid google. Google is the worst for privacy. If you use google, they have a file on you.

Lots of other search engines to use, including scroogle which uses google but claims to put a firewall between you & googles data base.