American Girl is in hot water

[Rollergirl2001]

Conservatives to possibly boycott American Girl

All I got to say is that this is total bullcrap. (Excuse my language.) Girls Inc. do not promote gay and lesbian and abortion rights. These conservatives don't know these girls. Girls Inc. is about shaping girls to be positive role models.

Now, with the I CAN bands, they are about doing things that they can achieve. Now what's wrong with that?

What's next, Girl Scouts?

[texas*princess]

why is it not OK for companies to make their own decisions on charities? It's not like they are contributiong to Al Queda or anything. Geez.

[moe.ron]

What's wrong with having a lesbian doll?

[hoosier]

To all friends of strong, smart, and bold girls:

Girls Inc. has empowered girls for over 141 years, first as Girls Clubs of America and since 1990 as Girls Incorporated. In centers across the country, generations of girls have learned their strengths, explored their worlds, prepared for productive, interesting lives, and offered each other the support necessary in dealing with the challenges of growing up.

Grounded in research and tested in the field, Girls Inc. programs address the whole girl. They build her athletic skills and competitive spirit, nurture her ability and interest in science, math and technology, equip her with critical health and sexuality information, provide her leadership experience, teach her media literacy and money management skills, and foster her self-respect and self-determination. Programs such as Girls Inc. Operation SMART®, Girls Inc. Discovery Leadership®, and Girls Inc. Sporting Chance® help girls understand who they are and acquire the skills and knowledge needed to make smart, informed decisions about their lives.

In addition, since 1992 Girls Inc. has provided over $1.8 million in college scholarships to girls who have become leaders in all walks of life and has played a crucial role in advancing girls' rights through supporting legislation such as Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act.

Recently, our mission to help girls develop their self-esteem and self-reliance has become the target of false, inflammatory statements from people who are pursuing a narrow political agenda.

Girls Incorporated stands on its long positive history. The millions of lives we have touched speak for who we are and our values. Thanks to all of you who believe in our mission of inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and bold®. Together, we will continue to work to help all girls realize their potential.

Cordially,

Joyce M. Roché
President and CEO
Girls Incorporated

[hoosier]

A boycott is about the last thing real conservatives would be interested in.

Conservatives believe in individuals and act as individuals.

Now, religious nuts with a website and FAX are another case. They get lots of publicity and coverage from the mass media (commonly known as the media wing of the Democratic Party), in an attempt to paint all conservatives as nut cases.

When the nut cases of the left make some charge (Louis Farakhan says "whities blew up the New Orleans levees so black homes would be destroyed"), the media wing of the Democratic Party pretty much ignores it and gives him a pass.

[RACooper]

Originally posted by hoosier
When the nut cases of the left make some charge (Louis Farakhan says "whities blew up the New Orleans levees so black homes would be destroyed"), the media wing of the Democratic Party pretty much ignores it and gives him a pass.

WTF planet do you live on?

Seriously you seem so deluded by partisan rhetoric that you seem to inhabit a bizzare alternate reality at times.

So Farakhan is a liberal? I always saw him as a independent nutter... espousing fringe poltical dogma borrowed from the left and the right. As for the media giving him a pass... umm from what I saw they briefly touched on it (even CBC & BBC), dismissed it as the ravings of a racist lunatic, and moved on to more important news...

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by moe.ron
What's wrong with having a lesbian doll?

What the heck constitutes a "lesbian doll"? Does it have a movable tongue or soemthing?

[twhrider13]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
What the heck constitutes a "lesbian doll"? Does it have a movable tongue or soemthing?

ROTFLMAO!

The mental image that line produced was unbelievable!

[rhochi2002]

haha...
people are definately smoking something.
The direct funding that American girl gives money to seems like a wonderful program. and usually when companies give money to nonprofits for specific programs, the money has to go that particular program.
Maybe its because I am pretty liberal but it seems like the "conservative" groups have a pretty skewed view. Also the article seems to be written from the conservative point of view, without much mention as to what Girl Inc. actually does.
Also wouldn't you think that we should educate children on sex and contreptives... regardless of wheather you are for or against them. Afterall kids will hear about it on the street... from their friends... on TV.... in magizines... or through expirance I'll never forget when the little kid I used to babysit asked me about sex...

[aurora_borealis]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
What the heck constitutes a "lesbian doll"? Does it have a movable tongue or soemthing?

Maybe the little doll had some lesbian stereotype they jumped on. Short hair, flannel shirt, K.D. Lang CDs, and a turkey baster courtesy of David Crosby?

[Rudey]

Originally posted by hoosier
A boycott is about the last thing real conservatives would be interested in.

Conservatives believe in individuals and act as individuals.

Now, religious nuts with a website and FAX are another case. They get lots of publicity and coverage from the mass media (commonly known as the media wing of the Democratic Party), in an attempt to paint all conservatives as nut cases.

When the nut cases of the left make some charge (Louis Farakhan says "whities blew up the New Orleans levees so black homes would be destroyed"), the media wing of the Democratic Party pretty much ignores it and gives him a pass.

You're right.

Other liberals love turning their heads when it comes to racism amongst their own.

-Rudey

[moe.ron]

Louis Farakhan a liberal?

Obviously nothing related to the original topic, but the President of American Girl, Ellen Janeway Brothers, is an Alpha Gam.

[phimusical]

Yes, the group in question will probably have a negligable impact if they do call for a boycott, but . . .how sad. The American Girl books and dolls are something I remember from when I was younger (there were fewer girls and less variations on the dolls back then) and I thought and still think they were great, historically accurate, and promoting education. Which is what should matter when selecting something to give to your daughter/neice/granddaughter, not whether the company supports another company that supports, as part of a much larger effort to raise strong women, a few controversial values. If the books are still as well-written and educational as I remember them being I would be proud to give them to my daughter/neice/granddaughter, and I feel sorry for any little girls that won't get to read them because of a silly boycott.

[CutiePie2000]

Silly people...there already ARE lesbian dolls out there: Selma from Scooby Doo (and let's not forget Peppermint Patty and Marcy from PEANUTS). If those come in a doll form, then those would be lesbian dolls.

Has Ellen Degeneres ever had a doll made of her? I am sure that there is a doll for Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
What the heck constitutes a "lesbian doll"? Does it have a movable tongue or soemthing?

The doll has boobs, combat boots, a tool-belt and a "butch" haircut.