Saturday, October 15, 2005

Talibornagains New Target: American Girl Books

I don't know how many of you are familiar w/American Girls books and dolls, but when I worked at Borders Books while in college, I sold a ton of these historical books and the corresponding dolls that depict the main American Girl character in the book. Little girls seem to love them. My baby girl is too little for this series of books... but I guess I'll just have to buy them and put them back for her b/c this new Religious Fright campaign so angers me that want to give American Girls and Girls Inc my support and my money. AssocPress: American Girl, manufacturer of a highly popular line of dolls and children's books, has become the target of conservative activists threatening a boycott unless the toy maker cuts off contributions to a youth organization that they claim supports abortion rights and acceptance of lesbians. The protest is directed at an ongoing Amer Girl campaign in which proceeds from sales of a special "I Can" wristband help support educational and empowerment programs of Girls Inc, a national nonprofit organization which describes its mission as "inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold." The Mississippi-based American Family Assoc, is urging its members to demand that Amer Girl halt support for Girls Inc, which it called "a pro-abortion, pro-lesbian advocacy group." Really? Amer Girl, a subsidiary of Mattel, said the "I Can" initiative supports 3 specific Girls Inc programs — building girls' skills in science and math, developing leadership skills, and encouraging athletic skills and team spirit. Girls Inc, which traces its roots back to a center founded in Waterbury CT, in 1864, serves about 800,000 girls a year, many of them black or Hispanic and most from low-income families. They support a girl's right to have access to contraception & abortion, and pledges support for girls dealing w/ issues of sexual orientation. Heavens no! Empowering females to avoid pregnancy, to have access to a safe and legal abortion if they do become pregnant, and to accept themselves and others w/ tolerance not hatred... THAT is dangerous stuff indeed... sigh... Visit Girls Inc homepage, and contact them if you'd like. I did, and I let them know that I support what they are doing and to keep encouraging girls to be in control of their lives... including being in control of their educations, reproductive futures, and of their careers. Girls can be more than breeding machines, ya know?
Posted by Tina :: 12:12 AM :: 9 Comments:

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