Posted on 11/14/2006 11:13:58 AM PST by Tulsa Ramjet
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A talking Jesus doll has been turned down by the Marine Reserves' Toys for Tots program.
A Los Angeles company offered to donate 4,000 of the 1 foot-tall dolls, which quote Bible verses, for distribution to needy children this holiday season. The battery-powered Jesus is one of several dolls manufactured by one2believe, a division of the Valencia-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co., based on biblical figures.
But the charity balked because of the dolls' religious nature.
Toys are donated to kids based on financial need and "we don't know anything about their background, their religious affiliations," said Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Virginia.
As a government entity, Marines "don't profess one religion over another," Grein said Tuesday. "We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family."
Michael La Roe, director of business development for both companies, said the charity's decision left him "surprised and disappointed."
"The idea was for them to be three-dimensional teaching tools for kids," La Roe said. "I believe as a churchgoing person, anyone can benefit from hearing the words of the Bible."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Afraid so, judging from the number of panties in a twist over it.
As a post early in the thread said, the Marines didn't go telling the press they declined a donation, so who did? and for what reason?
Why would you think I'm at odds with it? Christmas is already a secular holiday in all but name for for millions of people.
I also get piss drunk on St. Patrick's day (without a trace of celtic heritage), and I make sure my wife has a present on Valentine's Day.
What I meant was, being that I'm Christian, it would be wrong for me to celebrate Hanukkah to get Hanukkah presents (or for my kids to for that matter).
I would be to humiliated to do something like that.4,000 girls will all be short a doll for Christmas.Sounds like child abuse to me.The Marines and the Army always had bad vibes against one another.A healthy rivalry as some may put it.But,I always had respect for them and still do.The order had to come from someone higher in the chain of command.The Marines were following orders,as they should.I'm sure they did not like doing it,and my guess is, many Marines did not sleep well that night.Find out who gave the order.plaster his picture around.
I'm going to assume that was rhetorical.
Christmas is already a secular holiday in all but name for for millions of people.
And for millions more it isn't.
How foolish of Toys for Tots. They've just destroyed their corporate image and goodwill.
The only one's impacted by this stupid decision is "the children".
Expect a retraction/mia culpa before the end of the week.
I don't see the problem here. I wouldn't want a charity pushing any specific religion period. What's wrong with keeping religion out of it. Not everyone is a Christian, or a Jew, or a Muslim, etc...
Exactly. There are plenty of religious charities out there---it seems the dollmaker was trying to stir up a little publicity here.
"What's wrong with keeping religion out of it. Not everyone is a Christian, or a Jew, or a Muslim, etc..."
Its history, its culture, its a way of life for some. Nobody is asking to convert to anything. Believe it or not, Jesus is a historical figure, along with other jewish prophets that figure prominently in the history of law, governing, and personal conduct. Time to take the prism of "soul-fear" off and let your kid play with a toy. I guess next, little black girls won't be able to play with blonde barbies due to fear of inferiority (i.e. straight hair) Puhleez.
As such, they were a safety hazard.
I can just see a sequel to that old SNL skit with Aykroyd describing Mainway Toys' newest offerings. A Mohammed doll would be a great follow-up to "Johnny Switchblade: Action Punk" and "Big Bag 'O Glass".
I've got mine!
Maybe telling anyone about the 10 Commandments is rude. Don't tell me I can't lie or steal or murder or commit adultery... (Sheesh!)
You forgot the Second Commandment: Ex 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above or that [is] in the earth beneath or that [is] in the water under the earth.
A "Jesus Doll" is definitely not a toy, and to some may actually be sacrilegious, as well.
Expect a retraction/mia culpa before the end of the week.
I hope so. I put their e-mail on one of my posts.
Funny. That is not how He looked at it.
Guys, while I appreciate what this company was trying to do, and spreading the Gospel is worthy, would you like it if you were a Jewish kid and instead of getting a cool toy, you get a Jesus doll?
Or even if you were a Christian kid...I don't think these kids want a Jesus doll.
They want a fire truck or something cool.
Personally, I'm rather put off by the idea of making a toy Jesus. No matter how well intentioned, the way most children treat toys would does not conform with the respect we should show to the Word.
I think a Jesus doll is rather hokey or perhaps even slightly blasphemous as well. I would not want one.
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