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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: Oct 08 2005 at 8:22pm | IP Logged
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Have y'all heard about this?
http://store.americangirl.com/shop/ican.php
I chased down the web site to learn more about the organization they are affiliating with and encouraging girls to get involved with...
http://www.girlsinc.org/ic/
If you dig around in the "programs" section, you will find their "abstinence plus" programs, which encourage abstinence but give girls full information and access to contraceptive services, too.
I know there are a lot of AG fans here (we love their stuff too)...what do y'all think about this?
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momwise
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| Posted: Oct 09 2005 at 12:38pm | IP Logged
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Bookswithtea wrote:
| If you dig around in the "programs" section, you will find their "abstinence plus" programs, which encourage abstinence but give girls full information and access to contraceptive services, too. |
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It's actually worse than that  . Danielle Bean has a link to an advocacy statement with which an awful lot of families are going to have a serious problem.
Bookswithtea wrote:
| I know there are a lot of AG fans here (we love their stuff too)...what do y'all think about this? |
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I think American Girl doesn't really now their own market demographics. But I'm sure it's time for them to find out. Danielle's blog also has a link to email American Girl.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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MEBarrett
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I find this upsetting. Coupled with the commercials they allowed to be aired during the movie last year it makes it pretty clear what their agenda is.
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Mary Ellen
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Mary G
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| Posted: Oct 09 2005 at 1:18pm | IP Logged
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Is this all a result of Pleasant Company selling out to Mattel?
BTW< I ended up ordering a AG-like doll from Vision Forum for my Maggie -- Beautiful Girlhood -- Liberty looks just like my Maggie, so it's a great fit. They're a Christian company and from stuff I've read on their site and in their catalog, they don't seem blatantly anti-Catholic. Thought this was better than Mattel getting my funds 
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MaryG
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Mary G
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| Posted: Oct 09 2005 at 5:21pm | IP Logged
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Does anyone know if Girls, Inc is a Planned Parenthood initiative -- it "sniffs" so much of PP's way of spreading their truth.....
What a shame if they have even creeped into little girls' dolls!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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5athome
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While I am not able to find a true connection, at least with regards to California, they have co-sponsored many youth/girl events together.
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Bookswithtea
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Ugh...well, at least I'm not the only one uncomfortable with all of this.
Thanks also for the review of the Vision Forum doll. I was on their site last night looking at the dark haired one for my little girl who is turning 6 this month.
Sigh...why oh why did Pleasant have to sell out to Mattel?????
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kingvozzo
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This is disappointing. I had always heard such positive things about American Girl, but perhaps this was before they were sold? I will not be buying one for my daughter, and I have sent an email to the company telling them so.
The Girls Inc website is pretty unequivocable about their positions, and so misguided about ways to truly foster girls into healthy strong women.
How many people will be taken in by their evil message shrouded in positive self-fulfillment?
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Noreen
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momtomany
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I just sent them an email too! What a shame. My girls all loved their American Girl dolls.
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Mary Ann in PA
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Bridget
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I understand that AFA National is taking up this issue. Gary Glen, of AFA Michigan, dug deeper found out that they oppose abstenence education and gave their annual award to Hilary Clinton. I'm not clear if 'they' is Amercan Girl or Girls, Inc.
AFA has a wide base. If American Girl hears from enough customers, maybe they will change their ways.
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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Molly Smith
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Here's the response I received today from AG:
Dear Ms. Smith,
Thank you for your letter expressing your disappointment with American Girl?s affiliation with Girls Inc. We appreciate you allowing us the opportunity to address your concerns about this issue.
Our goal with the ?I CAN? program is to celebrate and encourage the individual qualities, talents, and dreams that every American girl possesses. In addition, we made it a cause-related effort to help reinforce the idea that helping others achieve is also an important part of life.
The donations from American Girl to Girls, Inc. are earmarked specifically to support their work in the areas of intellectual development, leadership, and sports programs, including:
? Girls Inc. Operation SMART., which builds girls? skills in science, math and technology ? Girls Inc. Discovery Leadership., which develops leadership skills and community awareness ? Girls Inc. Sporting Chance., which encourages athletic skills, cooperative and competitive spirit, and an interest in sports participation.
We chose Girls Inc. as our benefit partner because of their strong focus and commitment to help millions of girls realize their potential in these fields. American Girl believes that the girls we serve and support today will be the women who make a difference tomorrow. Our support of these three Girls Inc. programs allows us to have an even greater impact on today?s girls, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas.
Please also note that we do not offer a direct link to Girls Inc. from our website and that is intentional. We respect a parent's right to decide what is best for his/her child, and tried to make it less likely for a child to accidentally click on a link that a parent would want to check first. Please know that it is our goal and desire to provide a website that parents can trust for their children.
You mentioned a concern about the commercials that were aired during the Samantha movie last November. Unfortunately, American Girl had no control over what commercials the network or the local affiliate stations chose to air during the movie. As the presenting sponsor, Tide and Procter and Gamble purchased the majority of ad space during the movie but all other ad spots were determined by your local WB affiliate.
The inappropriate commercials that you viewed were not sponsored by American Girl, and have no bearing on our current affiliation with Girls Inc.
We hope this information is helpful. Please be assured that we have
noted your comments, and again, thank you for sharing your concerns.
Sincerely,
American Girl. Customer Service
Phone: 1-800-845-0005 or 608-831-5210
Fax: 608-828-4790
Available Monday - Sunday 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Central Time
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Molly Smith in VA
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: Oct 11 2005 at 2:54pm | IP Logged
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I got a response via email from AG today. Its almost identical to the one Molly got. I guess they have a generic response for the same type of email complaint...
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LLMom
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We use to be huge AG fans but sadly they have gotten worse with each passing year. I really hate the tone in the books that most of the girls were not satisfied doing "girl" work. That won't help girls desire motherhood and homemaking at all. So sad. And now this junk. Ugh.
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time4tea
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I sent an e-mail to AG and got a "canned" response very similar to the one a few posts above mine. I am really disappointed with this company. My two dd's were just starting to get interested in their dolls and books (Samantha was the first real chapter book my oldest dd could really sit through). I agreee - the commercials during the Samantha movie were really horrible! I have also noticed a subtle pushing of the feminist agenda in their books and catalog - now, this affiliation with Girls, Inc. confirms it. Really too bad.
God bless,
Jenny
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Bridget
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| Posted: Oct 12 2005 at 7:27am | IP Logged
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Here is what the AFA sent out today:
American Girl teams with pro-abortion, pro-lesbian group
Dear Bridget,
Possibly some of you have daughters who play with the American Girl dolls or read their books. You may even be thinking about buying a doll or books for Christmas. Well, it turns out American Girl (owned by Mattel) is partnering with a group called Girls Inc. to sell a bracelet, the "I Can" band, which financially supports Girls Inc. Seventy cents of every purchase goes to Girls Inc. The band is sold on the American Girl webpage with a large ad and a link to the Girls Inc. webpage. In addition, the webpage says American Girl is giving $50,000 to Girls, Inc.
The problem here is that Girls Inc. has on their webpage a statement saying they particularly support abortion and a girl's right to abort an unwanted baby. They were quite clear about their support for Roe, so there is no mistake or room for confusion on that count. Additionally, Girls Inc. supports contraceptives for girls.
They also support and offer resources encouraging lesbian and bi-sexual lifestyles, actually offering resources for girls. One of their publications states, "The emergence of a lesbian identity is an ongoing process, rather than an event."
Of course, American Girl itself is a separate company, unrelated to Girls, Inc. except now by webpage and the seventy cents on every bracelet. I checked out the Girls, Inc. website, and it is exactly as I have told you. Below are some direct links, so that you can see them for yourself.
• American Girl website offering "I Can" band to benefit Girls Inc.
http://store.americangirl.com/shop/ican.php
• Girls Inc. homepage
http://www.girlsinc.org/ic
• Girls Incorporated supports a woman's freedom of choice
http://www.girlsinc.org/ic/page.php?id=4.3.4
• Convenient access to safe, effective methods of contraception
http://www.girlsinc.org/ic/page.php?id=4.3.4
• Girls and Lesbian, Bisexual, and Questioning Identities
http://www.girlsinc.org/ic/content/lesbianbisexualgirls.pdf
• Free your mind: The book for gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth and their allies.
http://www.girlsinc.org/ic/content/sexualityresourcesgirls.p df
• Girls and Sexual Health (with sexual orientation on page 3)
http://www.girlsinc.org/ic/content/GirlsandSexualHealth.pdf
I hope you will take time to let American Girl know they are making a terrible mistake by supporting the pro-abortion, pro-lesbian organization, Girls Inc.
Please send them an email expressing your disappointment and let American Girl president Ellen Brothers know the company's decision casts a great shadow over their trustworthiness to put the welfare of girls and children first.
Click Here To Email American Girl Now!
Sincerely,
Don
Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association
P.S. Please forward this e-mail message to your family and friends!
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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Elizabeth
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I got the AFA message yesterday, along with a request to write a column on it. Honestly, I'm really sad and I'm having trouble expressing exactly what it is. Please pray I can find words
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Bridget
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The dolls are fun, beautiful, feminine. They were something from the culture we could embrace and have in common with others. Now many of us feel that has been taken away. Losing them is a small suffering for what we believe. Much harder than giving up starbucks.
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: Oct 12 2005 at 7:36pm | IP Logged
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***The dolls are fun, beautiful, feminine. They were something from the culture we could embrace and have in common with others. Now many of us feel that has been taken away. Losing them is a small suffering for what we believe. Much harder than giving up starbucks.***
You know, I hadn't considered this point before, but you are right. Its one of a few things that the culture produces that we could say a hearty "yes" to, and that felt good. I suppose for me, its just a desire to occasionally be "normal" rather than doing everything the 'alternative' (read: weird) way. Even telling mainstream relatives around Christmas that we don't want to patronize AG and to go check out Vision Forum instead...that will once again be 'weird' and involve explanations and such. I don't have any close Catholic relatives...they are either secular or anti Catholic and very Protestant.
Sigh...praying that you find the right words, Elizabeth.
~Books...aka 'weird' ;PPPPPPP
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kristina
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A tangent question for this thread:
Is the Vision Forum anti-catholic?
Blessings,
kristina
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Mary G
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| Posted: Oct 13 2005 at 6:52am | IP Logged
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Kristina:
Vision Forum, at least what I've looked at, doesn't SEEM anti-Catholic. One interesting thing is that one of the outfits they have for their dolls is a Maria VonTrapp outfit and fancy party dress -- the current VonTrapp generation has become evangelical and they promote that. They have a VonTrapp book on their site, but I'm not sure how it "paints" the Catholicity of the VonTrapps.
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
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Topic: Am. Girl/I Can bracelets...
