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Sylvester Brown Jr.: "Disputed TV ad on religion hits several hot buttons"

St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Sylvester Brown Jr. wrote today about the controversy concerning the decision by NBC and CBS to ban the commercial promoting the United Church of Christ. Here are few excerpts:

A local television commercial features a gentleman who reminds me of Eddie Haskell from the classic sitcom "Leave it to Beaver." After pitching furniture, electronics and appliances, "Eddie," the store owner, informs viewers that his store is always closed on Sunday . . . the "Lord's Day."

I don't have a problem with people talking about their churchgoing habits. Tell me a couple of times, it's part of a friendly conversation. Tell me everyday and I figure you're either trying to sell me salvation or, in the furniture guy's case, a sofa…..

Where's the controversy (with the UCC ad)? In this era of racial, sexual and religious intolerance, I can think of no better time to remind people that Jesus opened his arms to all….

The marketing tool employed by the local superstore uses the Lord's Day as a hook. That irritates me. But so what? My feelings don't amount to a thimble of gnat sweat. As long as there's no obvious offensive language or images, the store owner has a right to attract customers his way. It's his money.

The same criteria should apply to the UCC. After all, they're trying to attract new members with a timely message: "Jesus welcomes you."

Some may feel the message insults traditional values or religious institutions. Fine. Don't go to a UCC service. Still, others might respond positively. They might be gay, Muslim, tired of religious intolerance or, even, known to have bought a sofa on a Sunday.

Click here to read the full article.

One of the worst things about living in St. Louis might be having to watch that furniture commercial. How crass can you get? Selling furniture by exploiting your faith as a marketing tool has to be a new low.

But it never occurred to me either that the commercial should be banned just because I don’t agree with the message. Decisions like that only occur in closed and intolerant societies. Is that what America has become?

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