Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgrounds (1 Viewer)

[KidRocks]

Makes sense to me, I mean, would you approve of 4000 talking dolls of the Prophet Mohammad, espousing, "God is Great", being distributed to children by Toys for Tots?

BTW... I, personally, have never seen a toy 'Jesus talking doll' before, have you?

What's up with that?










http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-11-14-jesus-dolls_x.htm

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A company that sells Bible-quoting Jesus dolls said it was surprised and disappointed that the Marine Reserves' Toys for Tots program turned down its offer to donate 4,000 of the talking dolls.
"I believe as a churchgoing person, anyone can benefit from hearing the words of the Bible," said Michael La Roe, director of business development for Valencia-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co. and its one2believe division, which makes the line of Bible character dolls.

Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Va., said the offer was turned down because Toys for Tots doesn't know anything about the religious affiliations of the children who receive its gifts.

"We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family," Grein said Tuesday. "Kids want a gift for the holiday season that is fun."

According to one2believe's website, the button-activated, bearded Jesus doll recites Scripture such as "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" and "Love your neighbor as yourself."...

 

[ALiberalModerate]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Makes sense to me, I mean, would you approve of 4000 talking dolls of the Prophet Mohammad, espousing, "God is Great", being distributed to children by Toys for Tots?

BTW... I, personally, have never seen a toy 'Jesus talking doll' before, have you?

What's up with that?

Oh, I have seen them. The Fundies have all kinds of crazy toys...virtually every kind of Biblical Action figure available. Its probably why some of those Religious Right nut jobs grow up to be so crazy. I mean can you imagine at the age of 5 being given a set of talking Biblical Action figures and waking up at 2:00 AM in a pitch black bedroom to the sound of a very European looking action figure of John the Apostle thundering out something like:

"The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil,
or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."

You would be scared to death, it would ruin you for life. How would a 5 year old know that it was just the dog chewing on his action figures?

Seriously though, the things are kind of sacreligious anyway.

 

[cherokee]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

I stand behind them 100% for deciding not to accept the dolls.

Toys For Tots is about giving kids who may not get anything a little joy at Christmas NOT pushing anyone’s beliefs.

 

[KidRocks]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Oh, I have seen them. The Fundies have all kinds of crazy toys...virtually every kind of Biblical Action figure available. Its probably why some of those Religious Right nut jobs grow up to be so crazy. I mean can you imagine at the age of 5 being given a set of talking Biblical Action figures and waking up at 2:00 AM in a pitch black bedroom to the sound of a very European looking action figure of John the Apostle thundering out something like:

"The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil,
or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."

You would be scared to death, it would ruin you for life. How would a 5 year old know that it was just the dog chewing on his action figures?

Seriously though, the things are kind of sacreligious anyway.

That's what i thought also.

 

[danarhea]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Makes sense to me, I mean, would you approve of 4000 talking dolls of the Prophet Mohammad, espousing, "God is Great", being distributed to children by Toys for Tots?

BTW... I, personally, have never seen a toy 'Jesus talking doll' before, have you?

What's up with that?










http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-11-14-jesus-dolls_x.htm

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A company that sells Bible-quoting Jesus dolls said it was surprised and disappointed that the Marine Reserves' Toys for Tots program turned down its offer to donate 4,000 of the talking dolls.
"I believe as a churchgoing person, anyone can benefit from hearing the words of the Bible," said Michael La Roe, director of business development for Valencia-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co. and its one2believe division, which makes the line of Bible character dolls.

Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Va., said the offer was turned down because Toys for Tots doesn't know anything about the religious affiliations of the children who receive its gifts.

"We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family," Grein said Tuesday. "Kids want a gift for the holiday season that is fun."

According to one2believe's website, the button-activated, bearded Jesus doll recites Scripture such as "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" and "Love your neighbor as yourself."...

Umm.... Wouldn't the little Mohammad dolls all be carrying little bombs, thus making them a little dangerous for kids?

And an authentic talking Jesus makes no sense either, unless you give the kids a 2 year course in Aramaic before giving them the doll. And dolls that beat the crap out of money changers does not set a good example for kids to grow up and be successful businessmen either. And the Jesus doll would not have any hypocrisy, and wouldn't be gay either, so kids would not have any incentive to become televangelists and priests. Finally, the Jesus doll would never lie, so kids could never learn what it takes to be a politician. Damn, that Jesus doll is a one way ticket to a homeless shelter.

 

[Willow]

And an authentic talking Jesus makes no sense either, unless you give the kids a 2 year course in Aramaic before giving them the doll.

:rofl Good point!

 

[KidRocks]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Umm.... Wouldn't the little Mohammad dolls all be carrying little bombs, thus making them a little dangerous for kids?

And an authentic talking Jesus makes no sense either, unless you give the kids a 2 year course in Aramaic before giving them the doll. And dolls that beat the crap out of money changers does not set a good example for kids to grow up and be successful businessmen either. And the Jesus doll would not have any hypocrisy, and wouldn't be gay either, so kids would not have any incentive to become televangelists and priests. Finally, the Jesus doll would never lie, so kids could never learn what it takes to be a politician. Damn, that Jesus doll is a one way ticket to a homeless shelter.

Good thinking Danarhea, and this thought just came to me...

Why in the world would a Jewish or Muslim family be celebrating Christmas anyway?

 

[danarhea]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Good thinking Danarhea, and this thought just came to me...

Why in the world would a Jewish or Muslim family be celebrating Christmas anyway?

It certainly wouldnt be for the ham.

 

[shuamort]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Aren't these dolls against what the Bible directs?
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. -Exodus 20:4

 

[danarhea]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Aren't these dolls against what the Bible directs?
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. -Exodus 20:4

Who said those wanting to distribute the dolls were real Christians?

 

[Hatuey]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Aren't these dolls against what the Bible directs?
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. -Exodus 20:4

Yeah but christians forget that. Thats why Jesus looks like Brad Pitt with blue eyes and long blond hair.

 

[KidRocks]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Yeah but christians forget that. Thats why Jesus looks like Brad Pitt with blue eyes and long blond hair.

Have you ever seen the Mormons view of Jesus? Their picture of Jesus suspicously resembles Brad Pitt, a very handsome blue-eyed, ash-blond haired man.

 

[Kelzie]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Have you ever seen the Mormons view of Jesus? Their picture of Jesus suspicously resembles Brad Pitt, a very handsome blue-eyed, ash-blond haired man.

That's cause everyone loves Brad Pitt. Even Christians. :mrgreen:

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Their call, but I don't see anything wrong with talking Jesus dolls. Plenty of moments where Jesus could come across either suitably heroic or suitably nurturing, depending on your taste in kids' toys.

After all, Toys for Tots has never had a problem with handing out Marvel-licensed Thor action figures-- talking or not.

 

[shuamort]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Their call, but I don't see anything wrong with talking Jesus dolls. Plenty of moments where Jesus could come across either suitably heroic or suitably nurturing, depending on your taste in kids' toys.

The doll says: "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" I guess one could consider that heroic in a very proselytizing, "OMG-they're-going-to-burn-in-a-pit-of-fire-if-they're-not-saved" way. Not me however.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

The doll says: "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" I guess one could consider that heroic...

Probably not the best quote. There are far better ones available, to make either a proper action figure or to make a proper doll.

I do take your point. I was merely suggesting that giving these out as toys-- if Toys for Tots had made a different decision-- would not have been indefensible.

 

[shuamort]

True, I've always seen TfT to be pretty much for Christmas since the collection dates are set up to accomodate that holiday more than they are to for Hannukah or Ramadan. The whole thing seems like taking more than your share of the sheets from your bedfellow.

 

[Zyphlin]

I can't remember exactly what Toys for Tots does.

If it goal is to give toys to kids for CHRISTMAS, then I don't see why not. A jewish person or muslim person celebrating christmas shouldn't be offended by receiving a Jesus Doll any more than a Christian celebrating Chanukah shouldn't be offended recieving a dreidel. Not EXACTLY the same, but you get my point.

If the goal is to give toys to kids during the "Holiday Seasons", then I understand this reasoning completely.

 

[jamesrage]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Aren't these dolls against what the Bible directs?
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. -Exodus 20:4

I agree,that toy is sacrilegious.Most likely some cafeteria christian or some greedy business man thought he could cater to christians by making a toy of Jesus.

 

[jamesrage]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Yeah but christians forget that. Thats why Jesus looks like Brad Pitt with blue eyes and long blond hair.

I always thought it was dirty hippies trying to making Jesus look like a ***** with the hippy image of Christ.

 

[KidRocks]

Whoops, it looks like the politically-correct police caught up with Toys for Tots!





http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061116/ap_on_re_us/jesus_doll_charity

Toys for Tots agrees to take Jesus doll

LOS ANGELES - The Marine Reserves' Toys for Tots program has decided to accept a donation of Bible-quoting Jesus dolls, reversing course after saying earlier this week that it couldn't take them.

"The talking Jesus doll issue has been resolved," the organization announced on its Web site Wednesday. "Toys for Tots has found appropriate places for these items. We have notified the donor of our willingness to handle this transaction."

The short note on the Web site did not explain what it would do with the dolls.

Earlier this week, the program declined a suburban Los Angeles company's offer to donate 4,000 of the foot-tall talking dolls. The battery-powered Jesus is one of several Bible-based dolls manufactured by one2believe, a division of the Valencia-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co.

In explaining the initial decision, Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Va., had said the program didn't want to take the risk of offending a Jewish or Muslim family if they received a Jesus doll.

Toys for Tots distributed 18 million stuffed animals, games, toy trucks and other gifts to children based on financial need in 2005.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Or, maybe, you could take them at their word and they figured out a way to take those dolls and give them to children without causing a problem.

 

[danarhea]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

I always thought it was dirty hippies trying to making Jesus look like a ***** with the hippy image of Christ.

Ahhh. So its the hippies that created Southpark. LOL.

 

[jamesrage]

Re: Toys for Tots declines talking Jesus dolls; says recipients come from all backgro

Ahhh. So its the hippies that created Southpark. LOL.

The creators of southpark do look like a couple of burnouts.

 

[shuamort]

I was at the gym this morning and they had a pick-up sign for TfT. It had the Marine's emblem at the top of a pine tree as the star with a man in a red suit next to a reindeer on it. It seems rather silly to ignore the components or the rationale that this is a Christmas event as I didn't see a menorah or a crescent moon anywhere listed on the poster (esp since my gym is in a predominantly jewish neighborhood).