Posted on 10/16/2005 6:18:45 AM PDT by Salvation
|
|
| American Girl vs. American Girls |
|
 |
|
| 10/15/05 |
 |
 |
Every night, when I put my daughters to sleep, I snuggle next to them under the pink, rose-festooned canopy over their bed. We talk about all sorts of things and I stay until they drift off. |
They mut be tied to the "American Girl" magazine aimed at "tween" girls. My daughter subscribed for a few years. It seemed harmless but I'd read each new edition looking for subversive messages.
1-800-845-0005
It takes two minutes. Just do pick up the phone and do it.
Ping
I do as well - and looking at the list of corporate sponsors Komen has, it looks like some of us will be giving up our choice of athletic shoes, clothes, cars, and all sorts of other products and services.
American Girl stuff is seriously expensive and I can't imagine buying it for any child of mine in the first place. But for sure I wouldn't buy it now.
I never played with dolls as a kid -- I have a nice collection of Major Matt Mason space toys, collected because the nuns told me that girls could never be astronauts, only mommies, teachers, nurses and if they were too stupid to go to university, secretaries (all of this 'until you marry'). But my oldest boy had a "Ginny" doll until he was 4 or 5, a 'little girl' doll from the 1950s that he carried in his backpack and called 'my friend'.
My youngest sister taught her daughter that Barbie is 'a drain on society'. She actually said that once in FAO Schwartz, ("There's Barbie, she's a drain on society!") which considerably startled the women who heard her.
Thanks for that wonderful link!
**I was not going to spend my money in a place that openly supports a cause I find immoral**
Good for you!
Way to go!
American Girl dolls are geared towards the girl who has out-grown playing baby dolls. At first, the dolls were from specific historical periods. They were very interesting in that they could make a period of history come alive for a pre-teen girl. The doll could help delay(?) the start of the whole teen-age rush to boys and all that that entails.
It was a beautiful concept. I hope many mothers call. I know I will. Not because of my daughter, she has officially out-grown them, but for other girls who deserve a buffer between childhood and womanhood. Girls are forced to grow up too fast now-a-days...
Thanks for the ping, Salvation. I already did most of my Christmas shopping and I actually made a large AG purchase this year. We also love to visit the NYC American Girl Place store when we're up there. But no more, although it kills me. These dolls are accessorized like no other. They really bring the past alive for little girls. Why don't they just stick to selling dolls? Kind of like "shut up and sing" but "shut up and sell dolls!"
And although I normally welcome the opportunity to indoctrinate my children into all things conservative (taxes, morality, etc...) I am sickened that this company has forced my hand by making me explain to my seven year old that she will not be getting new American Girl products because they support killing babies!
I'll be calling in the morning. Perhaps if enough of us take action, we can get this policy changed!
I will definately be calling in the morning. Let's all do after-action reports on our calls. Wonder if we'll get real people?
I hear a rumor that SGK is collecting for the Katrina victims.
Madison, Wisconsin's own Pleasant Rowland started "The Pleasant Company" which invented The American Girl dolls.
She sold out to Mattel for untold millions.
Here's what our local socialist rag, with the help of the leftist AP, had to say about this yesterday:
Conservatives Diss American Girl
By David Crary - Associated Press
October 15, 2005
NEW YORK -- American Girl, manufacturer of a highly popular line of dolls and children's books, has become the target of conservative activists threatening a boycott unless the toy maker cuts off contributions to a youth organization that supports abortion rights and acceptance of lesbians.
The protest is directed at an ongoing American Girl campaign in which proceeds from sales of a special "I Can" wristband help support educational and empowerment programs of Girls Inc., a national nonprofit organization which describes its mission as "inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold."
American Girl, whose often patriotic products have long had a loyal following among conservatives, issued a statement Friday defending its support of Girls Inc. and assailing the protest campaign.
"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 said.
The Mississippi-based American Family Association, in a campaign launched Wednesday, is urging its members to demand that American Girl halt support for Girls Inc., which it called "a pro-abortion, pro-lesbian advocacy group."
"Let American Girl know they are making a terrible mistake," AFA chairman Don Wildmon said in a statement. The AFA says it has more than 2.2 million members.
The Pro-Life Action League, a Chicago-based anti-abortion group, also is asking supporters to contact American Girl to express dismay. The league's executive director, Ann Scheidler, said her organization might call for a boycott of American Girl's products and organize picketing at its stores in Chicago and New York if the company doesn't sever ties with Girls Inc.
"Parents need to know that this effort to promote self-esteem among girls is not as innocent as it seems," Scheidler said. "While Girls Inc. has some good programs, they also support abortion, oppose abstinence-only education for girls, and condone lesbianism."
American Girl, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc., said the "I Can" initiative supports three specific Girls Inc. programs -- building girls' skills in science and math, developing leadership skills, and encouraging athletic skills and team spirit.
"All of these aims are appropriate to our 7- to 12-year-old American Girl fans," the company said. "The American Girl brand exemplifies the values of wholesomeness and responsibility that we would expect any organization to commend."
Girls Inc., which traces its roots back to a center founded in Waterbury, Conn., in 1864, serves about 800,000 girls a year, many of them black or Hispanic and most from low-income families.
The "advocacy" page on its Web site lists some of the positions that roused conservative ire - for example, a clear endorsement of the 1973 Roe v. Wade court decision establishing a woman's right to abortion.
Girls Inc. also supports a girl's right to have access to contraception and pledges support for girls dealing with issues of sexual orientation.
Joyce Roche, the president of Girls Inc., said the New York-based organization had never before been targeted by a protest campaign.
"We were taken aback," she said in a telephone interview Friday. "Our programs are well respected. We're all about helping girls see possibilities and dream big dreams."
She said Girls Inc. takes positions on public policy issues if it believes women's rights and opportunities are at stake. "Our philosophy is that women should have the right to make decisions about themselves," Roche said.
One of the protest coordinators, American Family Association special projects director Randy Sharp, said the campaign was noteworthy because American Girl's products have long been favored by conservatives. Its dolls (full-sized models sell for more than $80) include a series from different eras of American history -- such as Felicity, from the Revolutionary War, or Addy, who escapes from slavery during the Civil War.
"American Girl has won the trust of millions of conservative families," Sharp said. "It's very popular among the home school movement because of the values the company followed."
"Now we find they're teaming up with Girls Inc., which supports the very things we oppose. It's very troubling."
Sharp said the AFA was not yet ready to call for a boycott, but he predicted that many conservative families, including his own, would be reluctant to keep buying American Girl products. "I think no question this will have a financial impact on American Girl," he said.
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories//index.php?ntid=57927&ntpid=2
Happy to help -- I figured there must be someone out there looking for alternative dolls of a similar kind.
Especially if they dream of scr#wing around, contracting STD's, and having abortions.
My wife and I have both called. Someone answers very quickly. She will deny American Girls has any position on abortion and state that the funds donated are merely for girls' sports and academic programs.
When I called today they requested my last name, zip code and phone number. Something they had not done with my wife on Friday.
I did not want to debate the lady so simply told her that as long as they continued to associate with Girls Inc, our family would not be buying any of its products.
No time was spent on hold. The complaint was registered and the whole thing took less then 5 minutes.
1-800-845-0005
From AFA:
Mattel Chairman Bob Eckert - Jules.Andres@mattel.com
American Girl President Ellen Brothers - ellen.brothers@americangirl.com
Public Relations Susan Jevens - susan.jevens@americangirl.com
Please tell American Girl (owned by Mattel) you are disappointed that they are now aligning themselves with Girls Inc., a pro-abortion, pro-lesbian advocacy group.
From AFA:
Mattel Chairman Bob Eckert - Jules.Andres@mattel.com
American Girl President Ellen Brothers - ellen.brothers@americangirl.com
Public Relations Susan Jevens - susan.jevens@americangirl.com
Please tell American Girl (owned by Mattel) you are disappointed that they are now aligning themselves with Girls Inc., a pro-abortion, pro-lesbian advocacy group.
do they play the right side, or do they play the north???
what?? they have a "welfare queen Barbie?" would have to include a toy dilapadated trailer and miniaturized EBT card....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.