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 ...
I'm truly sorry, but I have to agree with you.
OK. By now, I know I'm addressing this post to the wrong poster, but I'll figure that out later. I got two of the W in flight suit action figures, gave one to Toys for Tots and kept one, which is now sitting in a perfectly-scaled, metal, lawn chair, in a place of honor. Photo of W with the "Mission Accomplished" banner proudly there in the sunshine. The spark does live on.
I personally have a photograph of Ronald Reagan wearing his Class A Army uniform; although, looking at it and thinking about the current crop of politicians causes me to cry uncontrollably.
And we have a signed photo of Ronald Reagan, just looked at it again, standing in the oval office, with that smile that would melt your ass. And it's addressed to our way far liberal son. I just keep him and my wife, who is far more radical right than I am (which is not to say that I am not radical right), talking about things other than politics and religion.
Well, it was an infection smile. My dog is dying. I'm distraacted. The thread of the guy who got grinded with his dog, and the Corgi photo, floored me. Foxie's a Corgi. Almost 12. We have to go to the clinic.
What's up with this? Ping!
Wow, that's a large grove.
Taking-Jesus-out-of-Christmas ping
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