Don't enable the bully

There is a web campaign of sorts afoot, miscongenitated by the illustrious (sic) and venerable (another sic) Pro-Life Action League (triple sic) group to damage the credibility and commerce of the American Girl Doll company.

(I saw this story first at this homeschooling blog, kudos to her!)

Why, say you?

Seems that the American Girl is too leftist, down right "un-Christian" in fact, if you would believe the PLAL propanganda.

Facts: American Girl has launched a Girl-Positive campaign, with Girls, Inc., to help build positive self image in all girls. From the Girls, Inc. site we have:

Girl's Inc. site has this about the "I Can" initiative: American Girl "I CAN" Bands to Benefit Girls Inc. I can be myself, follow my dreams, and always do my best. I can reach for the stars, lend a hand to others, and be a good friend. I can make a difference! I promise to try. By wearing the American Girl "I CAN" band and signing the "I CAN" promise, girls are reminded to believe in themselves and each other. The American Girl "I CAN" bands are available for $1.00 at all Bath & Body Works-tm stores and at American Girl Place-tm Chicago and New York. Customers can also order the bands online or by calling American Girl's toll-free number, 1-800-845-0005. Net proceeds benefit Girls Inc.

(Sounds deeply subversive huh? Nope, didn't think so)

The doll-buying fundies seem to have gotten the idea that, like their other off-the-shelf Christian indoctrination homeschooling curricula that they buy from the likes of Bob Jones, American Girl products were the Go-To resource for raising compliant, quiet, pious, and good little girls who will fit seamlessly into a top-down patriarchy.

I guess that American Girl forgot to tell them that they are more interested in supporting REAL LIFE world views for girls, a world view that empowers them to actually be viable and competitive citizens instead of invisible ghosts in the god-machine.

Call American Girl and tell them you support their Girl-Positive ethic and that you will be buying their dolls for the girls in your life this holiday season!

Ellen L. Brothers, President
American Girl
8400 Fairway Place
Middleton, WI 53562
Tel: 1-800-845-0005
Fax: 608-828-4790
E-Mail: ellen.brothers@americangirl.com

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Below are lamentable web-droppings of these right wingers working against American Girl. Are there no more important things in this world than this campaign? One would think not according to the vitriolic outrage "generated" by the fundies.

What follows is a representative example of the anti-choice Christian fundamentalist "activists" who are getting their panties in a bunge over the recent collaboration between American Girl and Girl, Inc.

A pitiful freeper from FreeRepublic website wrote this:

"Posted on 10/15/2005 4:57:42 PM PDT by ermmt
Dear sirs and madams -
As I look at my daughters' collections of a total of 4 AG dolls, Bitty Baby, Coconut, Licorice and many, many clothes and accessories, I now feel sorrow instead of joy.
Toys that were meant to enhance their femininity and girlhood are now shrouded with the despicable choice of an organization American Girl has aligned itself with.
My daughters monthly have gone to AG Club meetings at a Christian book store. Lots of her homeschooled friends begin studying periods of history through the AG books.
I never expected nor found all that the company does to meet up with all of my personal convictions or beliefs. Yet, it seems that you should realize that much of your consumer base is at least moderately conservative and would be absolutely offended with your support of an organization that promotes abortion and lesbianism as wonderfully normal life choices. I am quite positive that there are many organizations that provide help and support to girls without beliefs that are truly deviant from mainstream America.
You owe an apology to your customers and a change in your charity. Along with that, you may wish to eliminate the poor marketing folks who thought that supporting Girls Inc. was a good idea and get some people in that will continue the honorable ideals previously promoted.
Kristen XXXXXX Mom to three real American girls - Aleesha, Amanda and Anneliese
Let's keep up the pressure."

I have found other examples where "concerned parents" write about how they should protect their girls from "non-christian" American Girl dolls.

"Meet Molly is the first book in a series about a nine-year-old American girl living in the 1940's. The series is presented as a wholesome alternative to some of the more controversial books written for young girls today. However, we might want to take a closer look and just see how wholesome it is. After all, being better than "definitely bad" is not necessarily acceptable in reading material for children, especially children in a Christian home.

Molly is not a Christian girl. This is a concept that, in and of itself, might not, under certain conditions, constitute reason for concern on the part of parents, if they have read the material and found everything contained therein to be morally forthright and acceptable. Yet, knowing this fact in the beginning, we think, raises warning flags to the Christian parent in evaluating food for the mental, and consequently, spiritual appetites of the child."

link

"Christian Wire Service" article

American Girl Dolls Linked to Abortion, Pro-Life Group Warns Parents
By Christian Wire Service
Oct 12, 2005, 13:03

CHICAGO, IL -- The Pro-Life Action League is warning parents of ties between the popular American Girl doll company and Girls Inc., a group that promotes abortion, lesbianism and easy access to birth control for teens.
In August, the American Girl company, a subsidiary of Mattel Toys, Inc., launched the "I Can" campaign, which involves taking a pledge and purchasing a special bracelet. Seventy cents of each one-dollar bracelet sold will be donated to Girls Inc. American Girl is also donating an additional $50,000 to Girls Inc.
"Parents need to know that this effort to promote self-esteem among girls is not as innocent as it seems," commented League Executive Director Ann Scheidler. "While Girls Inc. has some good programs, they also support abortion, oppose abstinence-only education for girls, and condone lesbianism."
Scheidler points to the Girls Inc. web site, which declares that "girls need and have a right to . . . convenient access to safe, effective methods of contraception," and that "Girls Incorporated supports a woman's freedom of choice, a constitutional right established by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 in Roe vs. Wade" (Source: www.girlsinc.com/ic/page.php?id=4.3.4)
"Parents associate American Girl dolls with wholesome American family values, yet Girls Inc. contradicts parents' most basic moral beliefs," Scheidler said. "We're encouraging parents, grandparents and other family members to write and call American Girl President Ellen L. Brothers to object to the company's support for Girls Inc."
Scheidler hopes American Girl will sever ties with Girls Inc. before the League calls for a boycott of American Girl products and launches a picketing campaign at the American Girl Place retail stores in Chicago and New York."

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