Posted on 10/30/2005 8:48:07 AM PST by UB355
American Girl's gifts to agency lead school to scrap show Backing of lesbianism, abortion sets off storm By TOM HEINEN theinen@journalsentinel.com Posted: Oct. 29, 2005
A Catholic school in Waukesha County is the first non-profit group in the nation to cancel a coveted American Girl Fashion Show amid concerns that the Wisconsin-based doll company behind the show gives money to a national girls organization that presents abortion, contraception and a lesbian sexual orientation as acceptable.
News of the decision by parent volunteers and the pastor at St. Luke School in Brookfield is being reported in bulletins at Masses this weekend.
"It seemed like a match made in heaven; a motivated Catholic school and an all-American icon," Father Frank Malloy, the pastor, says in his printed explanation. "We seemed poised to raise enough funds for a new playground and a remake of the school library."
But, he concludes, "As for us, it's a bargain we'll just have to pass up. The cost is too high. Our integrity isn't for sale."
Only 60 to 65 American Girl Fashion Shows are held nationwide each year, and no other groups have canceled because of this issue, according to Julie Parks, spokeswoman of the Middleton-based company.
The fashion shows include the firm's popular historic dolls being carried by girls who resemble the dolls and dress in the same outfits.
The parish had scheduled five showings May 19 to 21 at the Country Springs Hotel in Waukesha.
Organizers had planned to mail invitations to more than 20,000 American Girl doll owners in a wide region. They had hoped to raise at least $10,000 - and perhaps $30,000 or more - through ticket and raffle sales, business sponsorships, and a percentage of sales of American Girl's dolls, books, clothes and other products, said the event's co-chairwomen, Marisa Beffel of Brookfield and Catherine Valentyn of the town of Brookfield.
Beffel, who had originally proposed the fashion show, searched the Internet for details last weekend after word of the company's donations spread. Valentyn, who did the same, said it was a clear, but not easy, decision.
"It wasn't just the money," said Valentyn, president of the home and school association. "It was hard to give up the thought of a really great day for mothers, daughters, grandmothers, and the really great products that American Girl has, these dolls with the historic texts that come with them. But it just felt wrong. We know what the Catholic Church stands for, and we, in essence, represent them."
The parish decision to forgo that and to put a $1,000 deposit with American Girl at risk is one of the latest results of a protest that two national groups - the Pro-Life Action League in Chicago and the American Family Association in Tupelo, Miss. - mounted this month against American Girl and its parent company, Mattel Inc. The league is threatening to call for a boycott of American Girl products if it does not halt the donations by Tuesday.
The spark that set them off was an "I Can" program the doll and clothing company launched Sept. 19 to encourage girls to follow their dreams and to raise money for Girls Inc.
Formerly known for decades as the Girls Clubs of America, Girls Inc. has more than 1,500 centers across the country. Most serve minorities in low-income neighborhoods.
On its Web site and at the centers, it offers a wide range of programs, resources and advocacy positions to help educate and encourage girls in everything from science and athletics to health and sexuality. That includes support of abortion and contraception along with sexual abstinence as acceptable choices for girls. It also includes affirmation of lesbian sexual orientations.
Joyce M. Roché, president and chief executive officer of Girls Inc., was traveling and not available for comment.
American Girl is encouraging girls to sign an "I Can" pledge and to spend $1 for a band that features the firm's signature, berry-colored star and can be used as a wristband, a ponytail holder, a zipper pull, or for other purposes. The pledge is a promise to "be myself," "always do my best," "reach for the stars," "lend a hand to others" and "to try."
Saying Girls Inc. "has helped millions of girls realize their potential," American Girl is donating $50,000, plus 70 cents from each band sale to support Girls Inc. educational programs.
American Girl is holding to its statement that Girls Inc. is one of hundreds of non-profit organizations the firm supports, and that the Girls Inc. donations support three programs that have not been criticized.
"We are profoundly disappointed that certain groups have chosen to misconstrue American Girl's purely altruistic efforts and turn them into a broader political statement on issues that we, as a corporation, have no position," the statement says. "The American Girl brand exemplifies the values of wholesomeness and responsibility that we would expect any organization to commend."
That did not appease Valentyn and Beffel, who thought that some of the content on the Girls Inc. Web site was politicized, inappropriate for girls 12 and younger, and contrary to Catholic teachings.
"I think a lot of moms feel betrayed by the company," Beffel said.
From the Oct. 30, 2005, editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Have an opinion on this story? Write a letter to the editor or start an online forum.
My grandmother was a big believer in the girls and boys clubs of America. She supported them for many years.
She would be so disappointed in them now.
Hear, hear.
I wonder if this will cause AG to tone down their response to customers. You can read one of their responses on this thread.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1510567/posts
I think that this whole thing may be a big overreaction; it seems like the specific programs that are being supported (math and science tutoring and girls' athletics) are the type of stuff that everyone can get behind. I was one of the original American Girls and think it's so sad that some little girls won't be able to play with the dolls anymore because of a political dispute.
A Catholic school in Waukesha County is the first non-profit group in the nation to cancel a coveted American Girl Fashion Show amid concerns that the Wisconsin-based doll company behind the show gives money to a national girls organization that presents abortion, contraception and a lesbian sexual orientation as acceptable.
I have always thought that AG prices were a rip-off!
There are alternatives:
The school had hoped to raise $10,000 to $30,000. An internet campaign to donate a few bucks seems to be in order:
"Organizers had planned to mail invitations to more than 20,000 American Girl doll owners in a wide region. They had hoped to raise at least $10,000 - and perhaps $30,000 or more - through ticket and raffle sales, business sponsorships, and a percentage of sales of American Girl's dolls, books, clothes and other products, said the event's co-chairwomen, Marisa Beffel of Brookfield and Catherine Valentyn of the town of Brookfield."
http://www.stlukebrookfield.org/
Father Frank Malloy
St. Luke
Catholic Church
18000 W. Greenfield Ave.
Brookfield, WI 53045-6615
The text of Father Malloy's message in the parish bulletin. Its PDF:
http://www.stlukebrookfield.org/parish/103005.pdf
American Girl chose to get involved with, and support, an organization that is not only way left of traditional family values but political as well. Rather than acknowledge the validity of their customers' concerns, AG turns defiant and tries to marginalize those who criticize their decision. In fact, it is the view of GirlsInc that is way, way out of the mainstream. A company cannot give financial support to an organization and then try to keep themselves separate from what that group stands for.
The only language AG understands, apparently, is the dollar, which we are quite happy to keep from them. I think if their response had been milder and conciliatory, I would have gone ahead and done my Christmas shopping with them. But I refuse to give a penny to a company that tries to equate my moral beliefs with politics. That's arrogant and condescending. And you know what? Giving up AG is turning out to be no big deal at all.
About time. More and more people need to stand up for what they believe instead of being steamrolled by someone else's beliefs. Tired of all of this. Everyone has rights and not only the special interest groups. I'm not a smoker but...I firmly believe becuase I don't smoke and don't believe in it nor like it that I have that right to stop others from smoking. it's NOT the American way!!!
I dont' believe in Porn and I don't watch the videos that are filled with nothing but sex but... I exercise my right to shut something off or not buy magazines that promote porn, etc.
I'm tired of other people shoving their way of life down other people's throats. Live and let live but don't tell me what I can and cannot say or do while we have to listen to what they have to say or don't say.
What toys aren't these days? It's ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!!!
Yes they are! Now hopefully some other organization that actually supports the delivery of living, breathing babies and doesn't enocourage lesbian activity can get in there and support math and science tutoring and girls' athletics.
Dittos!
Well--everyone is in business to make money, of course. It just seems that some want to make it faster than others-LOL!
Freepers could get behind something like this and see that the school's wildest goals are met...
bttt
This isn't about politics so much as it is morality. If AG wants to agree with an entity that oks abortion and lesbianism, parents have a right to know and to withold their money. Parents have a right to say what is taught to their children.
How about a "I Can't" program for the 20,000,000 girls who can't "follow their dreams" because they were killed by abortions?
I don't think it is a political dispute at all. This school is standing up for their own principles. The company is giving money to activities the church doesn't support so how could the church, in good conscience profit off of the company?
All of these aims are appropriate to our 7- to 12-year-old audience
If you examine the Girls Inc. site you'll find it's pro-abortion, pro-lesbian, and against abstinence only education. They even have an article about infant sexuality, teaching girls about sexual desire, and advocating reproductive rights for adolescents (which the article states starts as young as 8). Why in heaven's name do they think 7-12 year olds need to know this?
Girls Inc has apparently been taken over by the feminazi, planned barrenhood and homosexual agenda crowd.
American Girls can say it's cash donation is intended for math/science tutoring, but in reality the money ear marked for those programs often just frees up an equal amount of money that Girls Inc was planning to spend on those programs and allows Girls Inc to use those dollars any way it chooses.
http://www.capwiz.com/girls/issues/votes/?votenum=379&chamber=H&congress=1071
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Some more options from a poster at another forum:
Peace:
I agree with you 100%. Thank God this news came out before Christmas shopping went into full swing.Check out the French dollmaker called Corolle. Here's a link:
http://www.corolledolls.com/corolle...=100/index.html
I was so disappointed with the facial sculpt and coloring (the doll sort of has a fronwn) of the Bitty Baby dolls that I returned the one I had purchased for my oldest daughter (and with it a diaper bag, several outfits {and I must say that what is fabulous about Bitty Baby is the clothing line, the Baptismal Gown was beautiful} and other accessories. AG refunded all of it with no questions asked). Now I have 15 inch Corolle dolls (and I have four of them, one for each daughter). Not only are the facial sculpts perfect, the dolls has a faint smile on her face, but the skin tones are lovely and the doll (at least at the time I bought my four daughters their dolls) had a soft vanilla scent to it. Lastly the doll's clothe body was filled with beanie type filling, so it was a very huggable doll and sort of floppy like a real baby. And I have the 8" Corolle dolls too, and that's where I get the accessories (stroller, bed, etc). When everything is small, it doesn't take up so much room and it doesn't cost as much. Click on the awards link on the side bar to see how well respected these dolls in the toy community.
And we traded our American Girl dolls for a German type of doll called a Waldorf doll. (Actually, we gave our AG dolls away last summer before any of this came to light, because I just felt that it was too expensive of a line of dolls, in the long run). Here's a link. I do hope the Magic Cabin company is morally good. In any case, here's the link:
http://www.magiccabin.com/magiccabin/product.do?
I purchased five of these dolls through another catalog company called Hearthsong, when they were only $59 each a while back. I think it was an introductory-type price. Hearthsong was selling the Waldorf dolls cheaper than Magic Cabin (a sister company) but now they're only available through Magic Cabin at a higher price. These are really lovely dolls, the type of doll that you might imagine Laura Ingles Wilder would pay with. The construction and materials (all wool and cotton) are excellent. The faces are as sweet as you would want a handmade doll to look like. I would pay $129 for one today, if I needed to. We have not missed our AG dolls in the least. When you see what finer dolls look like, you realize that AG has settled for poor quality materials and designs (although the clothing is wonderful). But the Waldorf philosophy is that the simpler a toy is, the better for the child's mind/imagination as the toy doesn't dictate to the child how to play with it. But that's the stuff of another thread. My point here is to suggest alternatives that I have found to AG products, other brands of dolls that have become beloved toys to my four daughters.
True but thank God we have choices of who to buy from and who not to buy from. :)
The dolls in the links are just baby dolls/ plain old dolls, and by the time most girls turn nine, they aren't really interested in baby dolls. (I hated them longer than that). The reason why the AG dolls are so neat is that they have a historical basis behind them. It's neat to learn a nine-year-old girl living during WWII might spend her summer vacation or what Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg might be like.
The dolls in the links are just baby dolls/ plain old dolls, and by the time most girls turn nine, they aren't really interested in baby dolls. (I hated them longer than that). The reason why the AG dolls are so neat is that they have a historical basis behind them. It's neat to learn a nine-year-old girl living during WWII might spend her summer vacation or what Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg might be like.
Sorry about the double post. Comcast/ Wi Fi issues.
Being against abortion is not a 'political' agenda, it is a moral and/or religious belief. The same thing goes for Harry Potter books. There are all kinds of interesting, enjoyable books out there, just like there are other dolls out there. It's not like the girls are going to be without dolls or kids are going to be without books to read.
Let's say you don't believe in religious stories. Does that mean you have a political agenda because you stop buying from a company that begins supporting a group that has as one of it's defining platforms the introduction of religious stories to kids 7-12? No, it means you don't believe in them and you don't want your kids reading them.
Personally, I've never bought these dolls because I really like my arm and leg. They are OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive. But when I told my daughter (7) that AG was helping a company that teaches girls that abortion is okay, she did not want to buy the books. Of all the issues Girls.Inc deals with, this is the only one she knows about (and only because she asked what it was). I'm really disappointed because I was ready to buy a boatload of these books for my girls. The stories are so wholesome, but I refuse to give money to a company that helps Girls.Inc. What's really sad is that Girls.Inc didn't used to be this way.
Oh, and by the way, when I wrote to ask AG if they were affiliated with the group, I got an answer back the next day. When my seven year old wrote to tell them she was disappointed in their support of a group that is pro abortion (http://ramblinggopsoccermom.blogspot.com/2005/10/letter-to-american-girls.html), she got no reply. It's been more than a week now, and nothing. Not even a form letter, folks.
There are other wholesome stories out there, and I'll seek them out. There are other toys, and I'll buy those.
Besides, I'm not into the whole "Girl Power" thing, anyway. Seems a way to get little girls to beat up on boys so they are ripe for NOW, anyway.
Taking a stand on moral beliefs is not a political agenda, that's my point. You and anyone who wants can buy as many as you like. Others can stop buying them. No political agenda, taking a stand based on one's moral beliefs.
When you're nine it is devestating. It's a pretty big deal, especially since most nine year olds don't really understand about sex, abortion, etc. I'd feel like I'd been held hostage in the middle of an adult dispute, especially if my mom decided to take away my Molly doll from me. And don't even get me started on Harry Potter; there were so few really well written children's books when I was nine (the Baby Sitters' Club Series was cool when I was nine... talk about crappy writing and plotlines) that I'd be in heaven if J.K. Rowlings wrote books that interesting geared to me.
As for reading CS Lewis/ Tolkein, I only really liked the Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe from the Narnia series, and I hated The Lord of the Rings books. (That's the only time I know of that the movies were better than the books).
"since most nine year olds don't really understand about sex, abortion, etc"
Most nine year olds go to public schools. You are truly naive if you think they aren't being steadily primed at every opportunity to become lucrative customers of the local "family planning" and abortion shops. Indeed, in many places, such "services" are being brought into the schools and pushed as hard in the classrooms and counselor's offices as "recreational subtances" being peddled on the streets.
A few pertinent threads:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1516660/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1507996/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1514385/posts
I very much hope that a nine year old from a good Christian home is not that well schooled in sex. Therefore, if they really don't understand Girls Inc. supposed advocacy positions, how can good Christian girls be corrupted by American Girl dolls?
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