(anti) Family Friendly MSNBC programming

After spending the morning working to bring marriages together (see below post or our website), my wife and I come home and turn on MSNBC. After a few minutes we are shocked when the next story to come across our television screen is a message geared toward helping cheating spouses! Yes. The entire MSNBC segment was devoted to "The 50 mile rule" author Judith E. Brandt. Apparently Ms. Bradt is herself a divorced woman who was the "other woman" as she ruined someone else's marriage. Not content with destroying two families she feels (as well as MSNBC) that she should make a little cash on destroying the lives of potentially thousands through the sale of her "book".

I have participated in nearly no writing campaigns as a Pastor or private citizen however this topic was too much of an assult on my family, my church, the sancticy of marriage and my respect as a consumer that I was forced to write MSNBC with my concerns. Below is the letter I sent moments ago:

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From: Tally Wilgis [mailto:Tally@FocalPointChurch.com]
Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2005 2:29 PM
To: viewerservices@msnbc.com
Subject: Concerned Viewer

To Whom it May Concern:

My wife and I are viewers of MSNBC. We've come to enjoy the various programs you offer during the evening and weekends when we are most able to enjoy programming. Most weekends we watch some form of MSNBC programming because we've felt comfortable with the professionalism and range of opinions on your airwaves.

Today however you let our family down and have caused us to reconsider the professionalism of your organization. By providing the author of "The 50 mile rule" an encouraging opportunity to pander her book to the men and women (particularly men) at home on a Sunday afternoon, your producers have caused us to lose respect for your organization. All it takes is a simple glance at family statistics to understand that families (yes children are included) are already facing a 50% divorce rate. Children are raised without mothers and fathers or are forced to shuttle between two homes every week where they mainly live out of a backpack or small suitcase due to divorce or separation. Many families have financial obligations based on a two-income household and are forced to fall near the poverty line after a divorce.

The title of the segment "Tips for Cheaters" and the serious tone of your interviewer sent the clear signal that MSNBC (and it's parent companies) support cheating, lying, divorce, children being pawns in the game of infidelity, not to mention the de-valuing of women within the home. From a 'news' organization I expect to be given 'news'. It is not news to use valuable air time to condone the practice of something so devastating to so many families. Your producers have shown your organization to be inconsiderate to your viewers and indifferent to the consequences of your promotional episodes. Certainly you could and should have done better.

One of several remedies are in order for this situation.

1. Apologize publicly. Explain that someone on your staff made a mistake.

2. Invite the Author of "The 50 mile rule" on with a family counselor and someone representing the faith community.

3. Invite a guest in to discuss ways to improve your marriage if you are considering leaving. (Gary Chapman, Tommy Nelson or a fellow Pastor)

In a world with so many negatives and so many broken homes we families rely on news organizations to provide us with news. We do not expect or respect MSNBC or it's parent companies to support programming directly aimed at destroying our families. Please consider appropriate action.

Sincerely,

Pastor Tally and Kristy Wilgis