Toys For Tots Rejects Dolls That Say Bible Quotes

Diamond Cross · 11-17-2006, 09:57 AM

According to this article here:

Toys for Tots rejects talking Jesus dolls - CNN.com

Toys for Tots rejected 4,000 dolls crafted by one2believe, a division of the Valencia-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co that speak out Bible verses. They rejected the toys because they give out toys based on financial need and don't want risk sending a Christian doll to say a Muslim family or Buddhist family.

Personally I agree with their reasoning and don't feel this is such a big deal that some would make out to be. I fel religion is a personal subject and should be left to the individual family to choose whether or not they want it in their home.

ballz2wallz · 11-17-2006, 10:01 AM

1) I don't hear anybody making a big deal out of it

2) I really don't see a problem with sending dolls to someone who doesn't want a Jesus doll; they can have a return policy or throw the damn toy away if they don't like it. Beggars can't be choosers.

3) I wonder if they'll accept Islamic toys?

hsmith · 11-17-2006, 10:03 AM

Stupid

toys are toys. if a family didn't want one they didn't have to accept it.

lew · 11-17-2006, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by hsmith

Stupid

toys are toys. if a family didn't want one they didn't have to accept it.

.

6SpeedTA95 · 11-17-2006, 10:20 AM

This is ridiculous, I will be sending my donations to other charities this year. If the family doesn't want it they dont have to accept it. Toys for tots said they do not "favor" any religion, but evidently they do because their actions say they dislike christianity.

ballz2wallz · 11-17-2006, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

Toys for tots said they do not "favor" any religion, but evidently they do because their actions say they dislike christianity.

.

7960 · 11-17-2006, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

This is ridiculous, I will be sending my donations to other charities this year. If the family doesn't want it they dont have to accept it. Toys for tots said they do not "favor" any religion, but evidently they do because their actions say they dislike christianity.

let's see if they accept my "SATAN IS YOUR SAVIOR" dolls next year

6SpeedTA95 · 11-17-2006, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by 7960

let's see if they accept my "SATAN IS YOUR SAVIOR" dolls next year

Thomas Crown · 11-17-2006, 11:10 AM

I don't see this as such a big deal but I also think it is dumb for a charity to turn anything away based on such a flimsy reason.

I don't particularly see it as TfT descriminating against christians either.

It is just a dumb thing in general.

Diamond Cross · 11-17-2006, 12:04 PM

I seriously doubt they dislike Christianity. The way to tell ishow they treat other religious based dolls.

DosEquis · 11-17-2006, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

This is ridiculous, I will be sending my donations to other charities this year. If the family doesn't want it they dont have to accept it. Toys for tots said they do not "favor" any religion, but evidently they do because their actions say they dislike christianity.

I am not so sure that getting rid of bible dolls indicates a dislike for christianity. If they stocked islam dolls but not christian dolls, then maybe.

I think they just want to stock a 'universal' toy that can go to a jewish, islamic, or other, type family without the family throwing it away or sending it back.

lew · 11-17-2006, 02:46 PM

I'm Christian but if I was poor, I'd take Muslim, Jewish, satanist, etc toys.

(well maybe not satanist..

)

ballz2wallz · 11-17-2006, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by lew

I'm Christian but if I was poor, I'd take Muslim, Jewish, satanist, etc toys.

(well maybe not satanist.. )

After all, your toys need enemies to fight with, right?

They're like GI Joes, only religious dolls.

JaJae · 11-17-2006, 02:55 PM

I agree. This could possibly hurt their organization as well. Many people who donate to them are religious and could be put off by this. I take it as them just trying to be PC and not get involved in a scandal, but the religious right tends to blow these things out of proportion. I'd hate to be the PR person for that charity right now. I can't imagine the number of phone calls and letters they must be getting.

motivez · 11-17-2006, 02:55 PM

Toys for tots said they do not "favor" any religion, but evidently they do because their actions say they dislike christianity.

Uhhh....

"I believe as a churchgoing person, anyone can benefit from hearing the words of the Bible."

Looks like they're saying, "No toys that prostelyze, please."

I'm not sure where the whole "dislike Christianity" thing was pulled from. I see nothing in the article or their actions that have anything to do with Christianity specifically, but maybe someone can expand on where they see something to back up that idea.

JaJae · 11-17-2006, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

Uhhh....

Looks like they're saying, "No toys that prostelyze, please."

I'm not sure where the whole "dislike Christianity" thing was pulled from. I see nothing in the article or their actions that have anything to do with Christianity specifically, but maybe someone can expand on where they see something to back up that idea.

Toys for tots doesn't dislike Christianity. That's absurd. They're a military organization and most of the people who work for the foundation are Christian themselves.

JaJae · 11-17-2006, 03:11 PM

Just found this:

Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Va., said 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.”

Sounds reasonable.

People really need to step back and realize, this is an organization that collects CHRISTMAS gifts to give out to needy children. Not Hannukka, etc. It has a religious leaning and they wouldn't be and anti-Christian organization giving out Christmas gifts to children.

ballz2wallz · 11-17-2006, 03:14 PM

'We can't take the risk that the poor kids will dislike their toys'

Sounds like PC absurdity to me.

motivez · 11-17-2006, 03:17 PM

I don't know if it's PC so much as it is considerate of the beliefs of people who will be receiving the toys.. the toys try to convert people.

JaJae · 11-17-2006, 03:17 PM

It is. But what happens if you give a Muslim kid a Buddy Christ doll and the parents are offended? I guess you can tell them to give it back or throw it away. But they have no way of knowing who gets what.

EDIT:
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

The Talking Jesus doll issue has been resolved. Toys for Tots has found appropriate places for these items. We have notified the donor of our willingness to handle this transaction.