How Freeper Nutso is Clear Channel?

[L4d]

Very.

EVERY DAMN DAY, at 7 and at 8 a.m., Clear Channel's KONO 101.1, an oldies station in San Antonio, TX--home of the Evil Radio Empire, has various citizen groups (usually schoolkids) reading the Pledge of Allegiance to both the American AND the Texas flags (the latter is the most hideous pledge in existence). At noon, EVERY DAMN DAY, this station plays the National Anthem.

I'm at work with about 50 other people when these things happen. Remember what we're supposed to do when we hear the National Anthem? Face the flag, stand at attention and put a hand over your heart. Nobody does that. They just keep working and talking. Nobody pays attention to the Pledge of Allegiance being read, either. I'm sure my workplace isn't any different from others, or from what happens at other places where this station is playing.

Clear Channel is cheapening everything that the Anthem and Pledge are meant to inspire. This isn't patriotism. It's ersatz patriotism rammed down people's throats. As a veteran, I believe that the Anthem and Pledge must be used judiciously but reverently. There is a time and a place for either or both, and wedged between commercials and stupid kiddie jokes on a stupid radio station is not that time.

I don't listen to this station by choice--oldies programmers seem to have a preference for every bad pop song of the 60s. If I had a choice, I'd definitely pick something different (like 99.5 KISS--the rock station). The station is set, and I can't do anything about that. I can live with that, but this Pledge thing infuriates me, every single day. The sad thing is that my workplace is a US Postal facility, with numerous veterans working there, and these federal workers are getting desensitized to the Pledge and the National Anthem. A sorry, sorry state of affairs.

Thus far, no amount of letters or phone calls sways these idiots. Maybe if I write to them often enough, they'll report me to Ashcroft. Then the real fun can begin.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

1. Does Clear Channel do this on other stations?

I don't listen to much radio. Do Clear Channel stations of other formats and/or in other markets do this pledge thing (sans TX pledge outside that state, of course)?

I do recall their "do not play" list immediately after September 11th, 2001. They blacklisted inflamatory songs like Bridge Over Troubled Water and Imagine.

[AWD]

2. Some do

National Anthem played everyday at Noon on atleast 3 stations that i know of....I'm not permitted by my contract (with Clear Channel) to divulge which stations, however.

But one is in the Carolinas, another in Indiana, and a third in Texas.

[L4d]

4. You have my deepest sympathies. n/t

[L4d]

3. I'm not sure which stations Clear Channel owns

Here in San Antonio. I know they own a lot of them. If I'm right that they own 101.9 (sappy love songs) and/or 105.3 (sappy adult pop), possibly 104.5 (sappy classic rock) as well, then no, not all of the stations do this. Just this one. And I hate it!

On edit: Oh, and I don't listen to Clear Channel stations if I can avoid them, because they banned Rage Against the Machine immediately after 9/11. Disgusting.

[carpetbagger]

5. Remember the Concert for New York?

About half the songs in that concert (the one McCartney organized with the Who and Stones, Billy Joel, Elton John, Bon Jovi, etc.) were from the Clear Channel banned list. Seems the firemen didn't mind.

F*ck Clear Channel. In their attempt to celebrate 9/11 they spit on us New Yorkers (yeah, I live in San Antonio, but I and my children will always be Yankees).

There's always 90.1.