DUers! Fight the righties who have targeted American Girl dolls

[CTyankee]

and Girls, Inc. This article in this past week's Newsweek at
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9937614/site/newsweek tells how the right is gearing up against the partnership of the American Girl company and the nonprofit Girls, Inc. because Girls, Inc. endorses Roe v. Wade and works to help girls deal with their sexuality in a healthful way.

For those who don't know, American Girl dolls are American girl figures in various points in American history. The message they send empowers girls. My granddaughters love them and our family loves them. We went to American Girl Place in New York last Christmas and had a great, albeit crowded, time.

I'm so pissed off that I am sending a contribution to Girls, Inc. For now, at least American Girl has not given into the right wing and stands by its commitment.

[Epiphany4z]

1. Now is a great time of year

to buy one for your favorite toys for tots type charity over the holidays. Makes it a double gift of sorts.

[tuvor]

2. Made in the USA? I sure would hope so. Anyone know?

It's put out by Mattel. Where are Mattel's Barbies manufactured?

[Skinner]

3. I'm hoping that one of my nieces will ask for American Girl stuff for Xmas

I would like the opportunity to help them out in the face of this boycott.

(Damn... Their stuff is expensive though.)

[CTyankee]

5. Yes, they are expensive but I feel that

they are worth it. They send such a strong, healthy message to young girls, exactly what I want for my granddaughters. I tell you that anything I can do, even commerce-wise, for them I will do! I am furious and heartbroken at the prospect that they will have to lose their constitutional right to choose and who knows what else.

I can't let the RWers win this one.

[momster]

11. American Girls

Yes, the dolls and the big items are expensive but many of the accessories are not. The quality of the items is very high -- real china and wood instead of plastic bendy-breaky things. Their publishing line has some very helpful books on how to navigate the rocks and shoals of middle school which have helped my daughter as she grows up, not to mention they have some fun craft stuff. So if you can't afford the whole magilla, there are other ways to support the company.

[Midlodemocrat]

4. Going to the American GIrl Cafe Nov. 23rd for my niece's birthday

and each one of the girls will get a new doll. Merry Christmas.

[CTyankee]

7. Be sure to see the show

The one I saw at American Girl Place in Manhattan was terrific. Great talent. The tea was wonderful, too. The food and drink were nice, adults could get wine, and they even had a harpist! But, man, was it crowded. Not only was there a line to get in, there was a line just to get out of the store! But of course we went the weekend before Xmas last year. What were we thinking??

[erpowers]

6. Talk About American Girl Dolls and Girls Inc.

Democrats need to talk about the things American Girl Dolls and Girls Inc. does for girls. Girls Inc. is a group that encourages girls to get involved and major in math and science. In addition, Girls Inc. had provided about 1.8 million dollars in scholarships for girls to spend two weeks on college campuses in order to learn about math and science. Furthermore, Girl Inc. has allowed many girls to go to Washington, D.C. and other places in order to meet with member of Congress. I contend that when people find out how much Girls Inc. does girls they will not only not want to support the right in their boycott of American Girls Dolls they will also do as you did and give a donation.

[BanzaiBonnie]

13. Math and science, oh my

Subversive subjects. What good are fantasy subjects in the REAL world!

Snarky, snark, snark O8)

[LTR]

8. I don't understand the whole RW fuss about this

Personally, I think the American Girl doll is a wonderful idea. I like the idea of a toy that can help build a positive self-image. After all, do the wingnuts really think Barbie is going to help do that? Or a Bratz doll? Come on! If you were a wingnut, what toy do you think would be more beneficial to YOUR daughter? A ridiculously proportioned materialistic blonde bimbo (Barbie), a doll that looks like an adolescent hooker (Bratz) or something that is both educational and empowering (American Girl)?

If these lunatics would rather buy a Barbie for their kids, then they obviously don't know the first damned thing about 'family values'. 'Family values' is about raising your children to be the best they possibly can. It's all about building strong self-images an high self-esteem an confidence. 'Family values' to the wingnuts is basically posing for campaign photos with your wife and kids. It's all a bunch of lipservice and ego-feeding bullshit. But we knew that a long time ago.

What's the website for American Girl again?

[China_cat]

9. The right wing fuss about this

is that American Girl will teach females that they don't have to be the possessions of men...that they can use the brain they have to do more than compute how long it'll be before the next kid pops out.

Couple this with their insistence that NO girl should have the vaccine that prevents cervical cancer and you can see what their agenda is.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

10. Dolls for wingers

Don't forget that there's a *totally* fetching Ann(thrax) Coulter doll out there. Not sure if it has the adam's apple and johnny bench-style man hands, but it's definitely avaliable.

[Bridget Burke]

12. There are mini-American Girl dolls....

Of course, the whole set costs $145, but you can buy one at a time:

Gosh, they aren't all white, either! Could that be part of the problem?

[formernaderite]

14. Aren't those dolls for elitist rich snobs anyway?

Obviously the average American child could not afford one of these.

[CTyankee]

15. Yes, I do think their demographic is upmarket

Families where both spouses have college degrees and well paying jobs. But I think it has more to do with intelligence than money. There are rich clods out there who spend their money on crap toys for their kids. And many well educated but moderately paid parents DO buy the AG dolls, or have the grandparents supplement. My nieces are in that situation. We all pitch in with AG stuff at Xmas! I love doing it (and I am not rich at all).

[peaches2003]

16. Snobs????

I am more upset about the commments that AG dolls are for rich snobs than I am about what the RW wackos think. I expect it of them and ignore their ignorance and prejudice, but am stunned by some of the posts here.

AG dolls are wonderful educational tools and direct young girls in the right direction and away from the Barbie crapola and lifestyle. If they are a little high in price, they are well worth it and can be a combo birthday/holiday gift or several relatives can go in together to purchase the initial doll. Then there are always the accessories on succeeding birthdays and holidays, including books and other educational items. They are terrific and I wouldn't wait to have the young girl ask for one- get her started with her first doll and she will be thrilled.

[Arkana]

17. My sister has four dolls, all their accessories, and the books

but she's almost 16, so I may have to ask her to just put them on display in a kind of ceremonial defiance.