Reporter's Pledge-Of-Allegiance Quandary Sparks Twitter Debate On Romney Trail (NPR)

NPR ^ | September 11, 2012 | Ari Shapiro

[Drango]

Mitt Romney's rally in Mansfield, Ohio, on Monday began the way every political event begins. "Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and our country's national anthem."

This is always an uncomfortable moment for me. While I sat at my laptop, most of the reporters around me stood and put their hands over their hearts. This time instead of just sitting and working, I tweeted what I was feeling:

@Ari_Shapiro: As a reporter I'm torn about joining in the pledge of allegiance/national anthem at rallies. I'm a rally observer, not a participant.

And then:

"Yet most reporters around me stand for the anthem & pledge. I'm one of the few that doesn't. Setting myself up for accusations I guess."

I expected a flood of vitriol. Instead, a thoughtful Twitter dialogue unfolded about what it means to be a journalist, what it means to be American, and what role the Pledge of Allegiance plays in our society. Other reporters joined in, including some sitting around me at the rally.

There were strong disagreements, sometimes passionate ones. There were witty moments of irreverence. But not once did anyone accuse me of being an America-hating Communist. Here are some highlights from that dialogue:

@ChrisJohnson82: I feel the same way. I've made a compromise where I stand with my hand over my heart, but remain silent.

@CarolineZilk: But you're an American! ...I say, participate unless you're busy recording, taking a photo or writing something down.

@Monbud: As an American, of course, it's optional to join in no matter where you are.

@StevenPortnoy: I stand with my hand over my heart. Liberty and justice for all are American ideals worthy of objective endorsement.

@Ari_Shapiro: But aren't lots of ideas at rallies "American ideals worthy of objective endorsement?" I'm not disagreeing with the pledge.

@Tcmassie: As a former radio reporter, I had conversations with colleagues who did not register to vote, so as not to seem partisan.

@Ari_Shapiro: Yet I vote, as an independent.

@ScrollnKey: Pretty ridiculous thought. At a minimum u should participate just to celebrate that u have the freedom to choose.

@Snaggleswood: The whole concept has always struck me as a bit fascist, having to stand when demanded to affirm our allegiance.

@Shoshuga: Now if you were going to stand up and sing Hatikvah [Israel's national anthem], then I'd completely understand your concern.

@PatOBeirne: If you are there to report, you shouldn't participate. Just don't be disrespectful.

@TournezVous: Do what I did when my old job's shareholder meetings opened with prayer: bow your head & check your blackberry.

@Ari_Shapiro: Every political candidate has lines I agree with. But of course I don't applaud in the stump speech. So why draw a line at the pledge?

@McKayCoppins: I think the argument is that the pledge is supposed to be apart from politics—not being used to elect a candidate.

@GlobeSessions: I stand (so as not to disrupt by drawing attention to the sitting man) but do not recite. Blending w/o participating.

@Kimu: AS a qualitative researcher, I aim for respectful non-participation & try to blend into the background. #FlyOnTheWall

@Slichtor FWIW, I'd stand (same for any nat'l anthem) but history has shown that there's a fine line btwn blind patriotism & xenophobia.

@DjCiskey The pledge is a unifying, non-partisan statement of values. Reciting it w/ Ds or Rs does not imply support for their platform.

@TiChall If you were reporting from another country, would you stand when that country's anthem was played?

@MiraOberman As a Canadian reporter I stand out of respect for anthem, pledge or prayers but don't sing/pledge/pray along as disingenuous.

@BFreedInA2: Observe/participate line can be tough to draw. Humming along/tapping your foot to the music? The tunes they play can be catchy.

@Ari_Shapiro: Currently tapping my foot to "I Was Born Free..."

@Cakilpack: Not standing for the pledge is not neutral; it's a statement.

This debate has a postscript.

As Romney took the stage to deliver his speech, he used a rhetorical device he debuted over the weekend at a rally in Virginia. He talked about the Pledge of Allegiance and reminisced about reciting it in his fourth-grade class. Then he used each line to make a point — about unifying the country, or strengthening the military, or the role of God in public life.

Which prompted this tweet:

@Karinchu: @Ari_Shapiro so much for the pledge being apolitical.

[Fester Chugabrew]

BUMP

[a fool in paradise]

@Ari_Shapiro: Yet I vote, as an independent.

What is the Independent Pary? Communist Party USA? Worker's World Party? Socialist Party? Socialist Workers' Party? Internationale Green Party?

Come on, out with it.

[a fool in paradise]

@Slichtor FWIW, I'd stand (same for any nat'l anthem) but history has shown that there's a fine line btwn blind patriotism & xenophobia.

And some red diaper doper babies just have a total hatred of the homeland. The inverse of patriotism and xenophobia.

[a fool in paradise]

Seems an appropriate place to post this exchange between Mike Wallace and Peter Jennings about not bothering to warn US troops in advance if they knew of an impending attack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGg_dpGhlf0
Jennings & Wallace, reporters first, Americans second

[a fool in paradise]

"It's a trap", first they stand for the pledge, but don't speak or put their hand over their heart.

People will talk.

Then they start to recite the pledge, but omit "one nation under God".

People will talk.

Better to twit about boycotting the whole affair. < /sarc >

[Tzimisce]

THESE PEOPLE ARE RUNNING YOUR COUNTRY

Have a nice day. :)

[P.O.E.]

By choosing not to participate, he is also making a political statement.

But this pretentious ass is too dumb to notice that.

[Kickass Conservative]

Well, at least we know he and his “boyfriend - husband - wife” eat Kosher.

[paudio]

Apparently,his idea of ‘observer’ is still like anthropologist Margaret Mead observing the savage Samoan in mid 20th century.As one response said, if you want to be a good observer, blend. That way, the subject would be less self-conscious about being observed and wouldn’t adjust their behavior or speech for the benefit of the so-called observer.

[Abiotic]

Agree or disagree with NPR’s stances, NPR is not “tax-payer funded.

NPR itself receives no direct funding from the US government. It applies and competes for grants from public agencies such as the CPB. These grants make up only 1.5% of its budget.

Local community stations (not NPR) receive around 9% to 10% of their budget from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The rest of their funding comes from fundraising from their listeners, corporate funding, grants from private foundations, etc.

[arderkrag]

Considering that the pledge was developed by a socialist, you’d think these people woukd be all for it.

[Right Wing Assault]

they stand for the pledge, but don't speak or put their hand over their heart

If you watch the obama/flag video that first pic was from, someone is "singing" the national anthem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwog6E08CFU

Obama does not have his hand over his heart. I have seen a lot of people don't do that. But he DOES appear to be singing.

Watch the video and you can see his mouth/lips moving in sync with the words. You will also notice that MOST of the people on the stage are NOT singing the anthem.

Lest you think I am an obama lover, no, I totally despise the man, but I do like to get the facts right.

[raybbr]

@Ari_Shapiro: Yet I vote, as an independent.

LIAR!

[The Working Man]

Apparently,his idea of ‘observer’ is still like anthropologist Margaret Mead observing the savage Samoan in mid 20th century.

---

I remember reading many years later that the Samoans lied their heads off to her. She would make an erroneous deduction and they would just go right along and embellish it even more.

[Moose4]

Then defund the CPB. I don’t care whether they get taxpayer money directly or at one remove, they shouldn’t be getting one bloody cent of it. If the rich liberal professors want more smug “we’re better than the white trash” programming, they can buy 9-10% more damned coffee mugs and tote bags to support it.

}:-)4

[1010RD]

The taxpayer-funded NPR hates America. The problem isn’t their opinion, but my tax money going to pay for it.

[Third Person]

Hey NPR... send Ari Shapiro to muzzie-infested Libya to cover the Arab Fall. His gay tweets will be so amusing then.

[AppyPappy]

Not standing for the Pledge or the National Anthem is a political statement

[Loud Mime]

Honestly, NPR and its reporters hate America.

Actually, they feel above the rest of the fools who honor a piece of cloth. The reporters NPR duties trumped his patriotism.

Michelle Obama showed this lack of understanding just this year. Their patriotism has been replaced with self-promotion. They are taking their liberty for granted.

[Jonah Vark]

While our school children were reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the United States of America every morning in the years 1967 to 1971, Barack Hussein Obama was in Indonesia reciting the Islamic call to prayer in perfect Arabic. Patriotism was not instilled in his heart as a child like other American children.

Obama: Man of the World
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: March 6, 2007

Mr. Obama recalled the opening lines of the Arabic call to prayer, reciting them with a first-rate accent……. Mr. Obama described the call to prayer as “one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/06/opinion/06kristof.html?_r=1&oref=slogin#