“I Can” Sounds Praiseworthy, But Is It?
What a shame it is that in today’s culture, something as wholesome and innocent as an “American Girl Doll” becomes shrouded in controversy. I stand with the Pro-lifers. There are far too many worthwhile organizations that help young women, without supporting those who advocate against the sanctity of life. It is especially important, for these young girls to be protected as much as possible from the anti-woman and anti-life culture that is so pervasive in these times. (The American Doll Controversy, More on The American Doll Controversy, American Girl Company Teams up With Pro-Abortion Group)
From the front page of the “Girls Inc” website comes this message. “Girls Inc. has been at the forefront of the girls’ rights movement. Your donation is an investment in the future of girls everywhere.” Question - What is the “Girls’ Rights Movement”? It probably has to do with “The Girls’ Bill of Rights” that is posted at their site. Girl’s Inc claims that it was formerly known as The Girls Club.
I have already purchased dolls from the American Girl Doll company for two of my granddaughters. I was looking forward to more purchases for my younger grandchildren. Now I am rethinking those plans. This is the response that “ProLifeBlogs” has received from American Girl, Inc.
We chose Girls Inc. as our benefit partner because of their strong focus and commitment to help millions of girls realize their potential in these fields. American Girl believes that the girls we serve and support today will be the women who make a difference tomorrow. Our support of these three Girls Inc. programs allows us to have an even greater impact on today’s girls, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas.
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It saddens me, too, to hear of this controversy. Have you, or any other visitor here actually read all the text defining the American Girl and Girls Inc. advocacy agendae?
Once you do I think you’ll find your concerns fall way.
They express themselves powerfully on behalf of fairness, equity, respect and opportunity for girls - who have been subjected to societal frames that have damaged all of civilization, IMHO, through generations of:
- sexual oppression & subjugation,
- disrespect of a girl’s learning skills in science or math,
- underpaid with salaries at a fraction of those for males in the same positions,
etc.
Please accept my opinion as a forgiving rather than judgmental comment. Please accept it as one that sees the long-term benefits to civilization of tolerance, respect, sharing, trust and equality. Let’s turn this conversation towards qualities such as those rather than talk of fear or conformity. Social structures such as family and faith will protect people’s worldviews as tolerances strengthens human civilization. Just so long as we don’t fall into the trap of teaching fear, instead.
Be peace and love in all ways.
anonymous
Comment by WMJM — October 19, 2005 @ 11:59 pm
The young American girls who are fans of the American Girl dolls are ages 7-12 year-old. The American Girl brand has exemplified values that families find compatible with their goals for their young girls. Girl’s Inc. has some laudatory goals, but its avocation of abortion and its emphasis on sexual freedom as a right, rather than a responsibility, is not proper for girls of these ages. The web site of Girls Inc specifically supports the right of teens to have abortions.
I am quite amazed from a marketing perspective alone that the American Girl corporation has allowed their brand name to be sullied in this way. They have been known as a company with a stated mission to ‘educate and entertain girls with high-quality products and experiences that reinforce positive social and moral values’.
Tolerance of evil is very dangerous when it comes to instilling values in the young. Children need to be shielded from the cultural evils that abound. They need to have their interests channeled into appropriate activities. Girls of ages 7 to 12 should not be bombarded with messages about abortions for teens or determining what is their sexuality. These ages should remain (or return to) the ages of innocence.
Comment by Neddy — October 26, 2005 @ 11:06 pm