Monday's Odds and Ends

NBC Deletes "Under God" and Twitterverse Goes Nutty - The United States Golf Association held it's annual US Open Golf Championship no more than a pitching wedge away from the Nation's Capital this past weekend. Sunday's final round was broadcast by NBC.



During NBCs opening video montage that included children reciting the pledge the network decided to edit out the words "under God" and indivisible.

3 hours into the broadcast NBC issued a meek apology:

"We began our coverage of this final round just about three hours ago, and when we did it was our intent to begin the coverage of this U.S. Open championship with a feature that captured the patriotism of our national championship being held in our nation's capital for the third time," announcer Dan Hicks told viewers. "Regrettably, a portion of the Pledge of Allegiance that was in that feature was edited out. It was not done to upset anyone, and we'd like to apologize to those of you who were offended by it."

It seems clear that NBC deliberately removed the words "under God" and considers those offended to be nothing more than a very small minority.

The pledge in the current form is simple and straight forward:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America,
and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty
and justice for all."

But before you get all upset with NBC consider that the original pledge was this:

"I pledge allegiance
to my flag
and the republic for which it stands:
one nation indivisible with liberty
and justice for all."

Cedar Posts was raised back in the day when the pledge was a daily routine in grades K-5, so I have come to expect the words "under God" which were added in 1954.

But the pledge has changed often since it was first introduced more than 100 years ago. And good thing because I suppose this photo of children reciting the pledge and saluting the flag in 1941 might be a little disturbing.



Back in 1941 reciting the pledge without "under God" while holding your arm straight out and elevated was considered a very patriotic way to show your love of our country. Of course now it would be considered an insult to just about everyone. Thank you Italy and Nazi Germany.

So maybe its time to remove the "Under God" from the pledge? Change it up a little, I'm thinking a "rap version" ..... maybe recognizing beer and pizza how about you? You can find more about the Bellamy Salute here and the history of the pledge here.

More about CMPD Lieutenants - Word is that Chief Monroe plans on add the re-created position next month. Seems all RACs will become Lieutenants. There may be others that get the automatic change. Also noted is that sergeants going through the captain's selection process may find themselves instead as Lieutenants.

In case you missed it - An off-duty Chicago Police officer was dressed as a clown and leaving a community event for toddlers when he fatally shot a man trying to rob him on the South Side Friday night. The officer described is "very active" in the community and was in the costume because he was entertaining toddlers attending a sleepover at a daycare center prior to the shooting, according to police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli.

The officer was leaving the fundraising event when the incident occurred, and no children were nearby, according to Mirabelli.

The suspect approached the off-duty Chicago Police officer about 10:10 p.m. in the 1900 block of West 87th Street, produced a gun and tried to rob the officer, according to a statement from police News Affairs.

The officer and the robber struggled, and the gun discharged and struck the robber, the statement said. The weapon was recovered at the scene.

The man, believed to be in his 20s, was dead on the scene, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.