BETHESDA, Md. - NBC is under fire for removing "under God" from the pledge of allegiance during a golf broadcast over the weekend.
The U.S. Open was held outside of the capitol in Bethesda, Maryland.
In what was supposed to be a patriotic move, the network aired a video montage of children saying the pledge but edited out the words "...under God, indivisible..."
That has prompted a huge debate across the nation and in the Valley.
"Anytime you see God intentionally removed from someplace He belongs, you know it doesn't sit well with you," said Mark Olmos, a pastor at Palm Valley Church.
But atheists are applauding the move.
"Government shouldn't be taking the side of religion. Just because it says "under God" it doesn't specify Christian god, Muslim god, Jewish god, it doesn't matter it says "under God" and we are not all under God," said John Lynn, President of the Arizona Coalition of Reason.
Just a few hours after the segment aired, an NBC Sports host apologized on air. "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."
"Under God" was omitted two separate times, calling into questions whether it was really an accident. NBC Sports issued a written statement on Monday.
The pledge of allegiance was originally written in 1892 and then changed slightly a few times after that. "Under God" was added in 1954.
