03-12-2010 SUPREME COURT RULING UPHOLDS GOD; STAR'S ABOUHALKAH NOT PLEASED Over the years the "mainstream" media has been frequently criticized for its perceived liberal leanings. Some of the criticism has been warranted; some of it has not. However, the Kansas City Star's Yael Abouhalkah, the newspaper's most important editorial page columnist, can be held up as an example of an uber-liberal who provides ammunition to conservatives for their claim that the newspaper is completely out of touch with their views. The Supreme Court recetly ruled that it is okay to mention "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. This decision clearly did not go over well with Abouhalkah, who penned a column expressing his views on the subject. "...The phrase at the ending of the pledge -- "Under God" -- was added only 56 years ago by Congress," pointed out Abouhalkah."So it has nothing to do with the founding of the country. "If the founders -- while Christian oriented -- would have wanted to put God in any kind of pledge to the new nation, they could have done so. They didn't." It is obvious that Abouhalkah was not pleased with the court's ruling. "Thursday's decision is seen as being the last word on the matter, unless the U.S. Supreme Court takes up the case. Any bet on what the conservative-dominated court would rule if the case makes it that far? "Right, atheists would lose. Again."
And the Star wonders why it is bleeding customers by the thousands...
PLEDGE CREATED BY SOCIALIST "One thing for you and Yael both to consider is that "the pledge of allegiance" was dreamed up by some socialist fellow in 1892. It wasn't handed down by the Founding Fathers or divinely inspired. And while I like the fact that kids still say the pledge in school, a Pledge of Allegiance in some ways goes against the whole notion of American freedom. At least according to my view of what the constitution promises. "Just like Groucho famously said that he wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have him as a member, I'm not too keen on being part of any country that would require me to pledge allegiance. Luckily, this one doesn't -- yet."
DISAGREEING WITH ATHEIST "As I think is sometimes the case when you write about the KC Star, your article is more about your own political bias than it really is in regards to the editorial/business functions of the Star.This is especially the case when you routinely highlight Abouhalkah’s writings solely because you disagree with his specific take. "As this is a primary forum for examining the media in Kansas City, I think you have far more to contribute in scrutinizing the Star’s commitment to comprehensive news coverage in an age of shrinking newsrooms.As is evidenced by circulation declines at editorially conservative newspapers such as The New York Post and The Boston Herald (and we can also throw in the demise of the Rocky Mountain News), the entire newspaper industry is suffering regardless of what appears on their internet opinion blogs and increasingly shrinking printed editorial sections." ---Matt Elder
Copyright 2010 Bottom Line Communications. BLC is a Media News Web site that analyzes media and marketing issues. Please give credit or link to http://www.bottomlinecom.com when using any materials. Click on the FEEDBACK tab to send any media tips/comments/thoughts to us. We honor all off-the-record requests and will correct/clarify any information found not to be 100% accurate.
