American Girl boycotted: Accused of luring youth into radical feminist ideology

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | November 2, 2005 | WorldNetDaily.com

[Diago]

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

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American Girl boycotted
Accused of luring youth into radical feminist ideology

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Posted: November 2, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern

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© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

After repeated unheeded warnings, a pro-life group launched a boycott yesterday against the popular doll maker American Girl for its association with a group that promotes abortion rights and lesbianism.

"American Girl has refused to sever ties with pro-abortion Girls Incorporated," said Ann Scheidler, executive director of the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League, "This leaves us no choice but to call for a boycott of American Girl dolls and accessories for the duration of the 2005 Christmas shopping season."

In August, as WorldNetDaily reported, American Girl launched the "I Can" campaign with Girls Inc., urging girls to take a pledge and purchase a special bracelet.

Scheidler said young girls are being "lured into contact with their radical feminist ideology" through the bracelet offer.

"We are asking people who care about little girls and about the value of human life to refrain from purchasing products and visiting American Girl Place during the entire Christmas shopping season," she said.

"As consumers, we have both the freedom and the responsibility to spending our gift dollars in a manner consistent with our values," Scheidler continued. "There are excellent alternatives to American Girl dolls. We expect that many families will choose to reject American Girl this Christmas."

The American Family Association also has initiated a campaign to warn parents.

After launching its protest last month, Scheidler's group claimed American Girl had begun to de-emphasize its partnership with Girls Inc.

Officially, however, American Girl maintained it had no plans to discontinue its affiliation, and Scheidler said if there was no announcement to sever the relationship by the end of October, her group would call for a national boycott and organize demonstrations at the American Girl Place in Chicago and New York City.

On its website, Girls Inc. says it supports a girl's right to abort an unwanted baby and promotion of contraceptives for girls. The group also offers resources encouraging lesbian and bisexual lifestyles. One publication, "Free your mind: The book for gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth and their allies," states, "The emergence of a lesbian identity is an ongoing process, rather than an event."

With every purchase of the "I Can" band, 70 cents is given to Girls Inc. in addition to American Girl's contribution of $50,000.

Scheidler called the endorsement of abortion, lesbianism and contraception for young girls a betrayal of the trust American families have place in American Girl."

"It is insidious for American Girl to manipulate girls into supporting Girls, Inc. through the 'I Can' bracelet and its promise," said Scheidler. "Most of the girls buying the bracelets have no idea what Girls, Inc. stands for."

American Girl says its contributions are earmarked for specific academic and athletic programs, but Scheidler calls that "deceptive," because it "simply frees up revenue for their reprehensible programs, such as promoting abortion."

She says, however, the "earmarking ploy does imply there are programs that American Girl is not comfortable with."

Scheidler has encouraged parents, grandparents and other family members to write and call American Girl President Ellen L. Brothers to protest the company's support for Girls Inc.

Previous stories:

American Girl feels heat of protest

American Girl teams with pro-abortion, pro-lesbian group

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[Antoninus]

I personally don't like abortion, and don't agree with it. But do I want the right to have one taken away? No.

You don't have the right to dismember your unborn child. No matter how many times you say it or how convoluted you make the logic, NO ONE has that right. Just as your own mother didn't have the right to kill you, you don't have the right to kill your child.

[Future Snake Eater]

I also know from watching her grow up that there was nothing that any of us could have done to make her be anything but what and who she is.

So that makes "who she is" perfectly fine, then? I'm sure you'd think the same way if your daughters turned out like your niece...

And get the gov't out of my doctors office, please?

You're a conservative? That is such a bedrock liberal, pro-abortion line. I think you need to reevaluate your ideological beliefs.

[Antoninus]

Oh, btw. Thanks for bumping this thread so many times. If you hadn't, I may not have seen it.

[twinzmommy]

How am I leading anyone into a life of sin and misery?

I teach my own children that legally abortion is a right. And right now, it is. Do I like it, no? But you know what -- my children can THINK! One of them said to me, "momma that's killing a baby." Sometimes kids can figure things out on their own when you present the information to them.

I trust my children. We have raised them to think and be aware of the world around them. They are wonderful, sweet amazing little girls who rescue animals, friends, each other. They have been around newborns all their lives due to my volunteer work.

Read what I said -- I personally dislike abortion -- but what about going to the clinics and counseling? Don't take away the right, but help the girls in the situations. I have donated more money and resources to crisis pregnancy centers here over the years than I can count. But I don't think that legislation is the way to go.

I'm beginning to think that an opinion that differs, only gets the first few sentences of their post read. lol

[twinzmommy]

If my daughters turned out like my niece I would still love them. And yes I am a conservative. Just not a Fundamentalist Christian.

How is not wanting the Gov't in my medical decisions liberal? I don't want socialized medicine. That's where we're heading if we go that route. Can't you see that?

[Politicalmom]

How is thinking that MURDER is a "medical decision" a conservative view?

[Andy'smom]

Some of us feel that it's just not appropriate for a toy company to involve itself in these controversial issues when their target customers are 7-10 year old girls. That's certainly the way that I see it.

Over the years, I have purchased 5 of these dolls, many outfits and accessories plus books and I was under the impression that this line of dolls represented what American girls have in common with each other, today and in past times.

[Theophilus]

There is way too much hate in the world right now.

There's way too much accomodation of evil in the world right now. You must have a very gracious homeschool group. I would have a very hard time letting my kids associate with yours what with your "normal" kids "questioning their sexual identity" etc... For me, it's not about "agree with your lifestyle" or finding acceptance for mine. There are plenty of people in the world for us to associate without each other having to countenance abominations we euphemistically call "rights" which either of us might hold.

[twinzmommy]

So, this is my last post for now on this thread. I need to get my own children's school day started and do my own stats homework.

What I do want to say though before I go . .

Yes, I'm a conservative. Never voted anything but Republican in my life.

Yes, I'm a married woman. 14 years. Same man. Two children. Happy life.

Yes, I'm anti-socialized medicine. That is in fact what I was saying about keeping the gov't out of my doctor's office.

Yes, I'm pro-life. But how to explain -- Women will continue to get abortions. They did pre- Roe v. Wade and will do so after the fact. The answer isn't in the legislation, it's in EDUCATION. And counseling. And things along those lines. I admire the Crisis Pregnancy Centers -- I may not always agree with their methods but they are doing something and saving lives. But spending all this energy worrying about the law isn't going to change anything. Counsel the girls and woman, and leave the laws alone. The money and time and other resources can be better spent.

Yes, I love my children. If they came out as lesbians, I would still love them. Don't open this can of worms -- think Dick Cheney.

No, who my niece is, isn't always perfectly fine. But it has nothing to do with her sexuality. She's a royal pain in the arse most days, but that is just her.

Yes, I support the right to keep and bear arms.

No, I wouldn't have owned slaves.

Yes, I know the Holocaust happened.

Yes, I know that Judaism doesn't like homosexuality, but the act that is specifically forbidden is anal sex. That is what I was referring to. Each branch of Judaism has a slightly different view on this. Producing children is one mitzvah. It's one that a gay couple theoretically can't fulfill. There are lots of others they can and do fulfill.

So my last question, what happens to the Republican party if all the conservatives like me stop supporting it? By the private messages I've received (and wow I wish ALL of you would post here too), the really far right side would be standing in the cold, alone. This party is made up of a spectrum of beliefs. Please don't forget that. Sometimes compromise is necessary is it not?

Respect to all of you, and thank you for this morning's debate. This is my last bump for now (because as it was pointed out I've bumped this thread a lot LOL).

~twinzmommy

[Seamoth]

Nut.

[Post-Neolithic]

Please explain? Assuming this was directed at me.

[Antoninus]

In the face of grotesque crimes against nature--which is what abortion really is--your stand is not terribly inspiring and your argument has a direct counter-point in American history:

I teach my own children that legally owning slaves is a right....Read what I said -- I personally dislike slavery. Don't take away the right, but help the slaves who try to escape. I have donated more money and resources to the underground railroad over the years than I can count. But I don't think that legislation is the way to go.

Way to go.

[Antoninus]

Yes, I'm pro-life. But how to explain

If you have to explain, you're probably not pro-life.

Yes, I love my children. If they came out as lesbians, I would still love them. Don't open this can of worms -- think Dick Cheney. No, who my niece is, isn't always perfectly fine. But it has nothing to do with her sexuality. She's a royal pain in the arse most days, but that is just her.

Your niece has a psychological problem which, in most cases, is brought about by sexual abuse by a man at a young age or physical abuse by a spouse or boyfriend. Instead of taking the easy road of false compassion--which will ultimately affirm her in her hideous lifestyle choice--why not attempt to lead her out of it? After all, that's really what adult family members are for--helping the younger ones get on the right track. If you had a daughter or a niece who was a drug addict, I don't assume you'd affirm them in that particular lifestyle, would you? Or an alcoholic? Or a prostitute?

[hilaryrhymeswithrich]

I guess part of the confusion (?) is the very nature of abortion itself. To see it as a right that could potentially be taken away is, in and of itself, an indication of how you feel about it. You either consider it the ending of a human life or you don't.

To me, an abortion is an abortion regardless of the reason for it be mistake in timing, rape or problem with the baby.

Since slavery came up, I suppose it is a similar idea. You either think it is acceptable or not, regardless of what the laws of the day may be. Thank God there are those who stood up to that heinous institution without worrying about whether the government was over stepping its boundries and taking away the right to own slaves.

My disappointment with AG in this situation and it's allignment with Girls Inc. is that neither AG nore GI offers an alternative. I too am all for a variety of information to have to discuss things with my kids but let's be honest, that is not where GI stands...they have a specific agenda and set of views...that they are entitled to have...but it is not a resource for balanced information.

Hell, I had to cross 5th ave in the middle of the gay pride parade to get to the AG store with my 12 year old and that provided lots of fodder for conversation an opportunity for an interesting lesson.

AG could have done a much better job choosing a non-agendized organization to partner with, or they could provide additional options.

To want to keep abortion legal, for whatever the reason, is to be pro-choice and you are entitled to that conclusion, you will find others on FR who agree....but that is what someone is who wants to keep the laws in place as they stand.

Could we get all nuanced about it? Sure....okay in cases of rape of danger to mom, but not if you are just sloppy, lazy or had bad luck. Okay up to 12 weeks but not after. There are lots of variations...the end result is always the same however, regardless of the motivation going in.

[Cathryn Crawford]

And they all ran away screaming at the thought that their children might be corrupted by something other than Christianity...

[dmz]

Your meaning was rather transparent, wasn't a real deep point.

Wrongheaded IMHO, lousy logic, but, your opinions are yours and you are of course entitled to hold them.

But of course, so are those who disagree with you.

[tom h]

Twinz,

Well, bravo for getting a spirited discussion up. See the second email I wrote to American Girl, below. I think that what I expressed is what a lot of people feel but are poorly articulating.

Many of us want to raise our girls traditionally, without the politics that infuses groups like the Girl Scouts. Some of us, including me, really detest the "jive" and "cool" attitudes that groups like the Girl Scouts, and Girls, Inc., embrace and promote. Another perspective is the notion of motherhood. Check out the Girls Inc website and you will not find one single mention of motherhood or marriage, but you will find the usual mention of empowerment, rights, etc. For us conservatives this is a liberal, leftist message.

I'll apologize for the rude and nasty comments you've received. Freepers deserve better.

****** Letter to American Girl

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Date: Friday, November 4, 2005 11:27 AM
From: tlhernandez@adelphia.net

To: Jules.Andres@mattel.com, ellen.brothers@americangirl.com, susan.jevens@americangirl.com

cc: tlhernandez@adelphia.net

Subject: Girls Inc.
Bob Eckert
Chairman, Mattel Corporation

Ellen Brothers
President, American Girl

Susan Jevens
Public Relations, American Girl

We have long been devotees of American Girl. My older daughter has 5 or 6 dolls
(with clothing), owns many American Girl books, and receives your magazine.
Our younger daughter received her first doll last year. Our older daughter and
my wife traveled from Southern California to Chicago to visit the American Girl
Place several years ago, a trip that was not inexpensive for our family. My
wife planned to do the same with our 5-year old in a couple years.

We have purchased your products, and subscribed to your magazine, because your
image has been one of traditional girls with traditional morality, without
political content. I never felt a single reason to pre-review your magazines or
books, and my wife and I gave them directly to our daughter. I also never
forbade our older daughter (now 12) to look at your website.

But your affiliation and connection with Girls Inc. abridges that implicit trust
we had in your organization. There will be no more doll purchases, no more
clothing purchases, no more book purchase, and cancellation of our subscription
to American Girl Magazine, until you renounce your decision and donate MORE
money to an organization that aligns with the beliefs of those other normal,
traditional Americans who are devotees of your products yet are protesting your
decision.

Quite frankly, I am shocked at how American Girl could have blundered into this
decision to affiliate with Girls, Inc. The person who made the decision should
be fired. I can’t imagine another single decision that could have had a larger
impact on your public perception and your revenue.

Sincerely,

Tom Hernandez
Encinitas, California

P.S.: Santa Claus has been copied on this email. It might be a bleak Christmas
for American Girl.

[Diago]

Great letter.

[little jeremiah]

later pingout.

[RJL]

I'm beginning to wonder about some of the groups out there -- is everyone so afraid of information that they would rather keep their children ignorant?

How simple can it be!

There is a time and a place for everything. Most of us buy American Girl products for our young girls.

I don't want anyone advocating abortion and lesbianism to my young daughter.

If American Girl products were aimed at older girls, this might be appropriate, but not for young girls.