Salvation Army Rejects Toy Donation

[Isaac]

Okay, this is by far, one of the most ridiculous things I have heard in a long time. I was watching the news on channel 2 and this story pops up about the Salvation Army rejecting a toy donation. The toys were talking dolls of historic biblical figures such as Jesus, Esther, Moses, and such. So why were these dolls rejected ? The Salvation Army claims they couldn't accept the dolls because they may offend some families that are not Christian or Catholic.

WTF !? Christmas is a ****ing CHRISTIAN holiday ! Keeping religion out of religious holidays ?!
That's outrageous!

Grrrrrr!!!!!!!

[Moonliner]

Did they say things like:

"Abortion kills a child"

"Gay men have the devil in them"

Jesus says, "Send your piggy bank to Paster Warbucks at P.O. Box...."

??

[Alex]

Were the toys intended for open distribution or for some kind of an "adopt a family" program where they give wrapped gifts to families and it would be difficult to filter the gifts by religion?

The Salvation Army hasn't exactly been shy about defending their Christian/religious foundations so it seems weird unless there was some other factor such as they are planning to give them to people of unknown religious affiliation.

[BarTopDancer]

Toys for Tots rejected them because the toys go to all children, regardless of their faith. They are also not a religious organization and have no affiliation other than the USMC. Are you sure they were mentioning the Salvation Army and not Toys for Tots?

[€uroMeinke]

How do they feel about sex toys?

[RStar]

How do they feel about sex toys?
Probably the same as you do, but what's that got to do with the price of eggs? ;) :D

They could process hundreds of thousands of toys a year, so I could see rejecting a shipment of Christian toys that would cause them to make sure they went to Christian kids who would enjoy them. At this point they need to sort by sex and age groups in the least.

In fact, they would need to make sure any talking toy went to the like speeking child, and therefore would be that much harder to process and could need to be rejected. When you are dealing with donated help, you also need to be mindfull of your time.

I think I heard that they also rejected a shipment of Rosanne Barr blow-up dolls, though I can't imagine why! ;)

[Prudence]

A significant part of me is sad that Christmas is so commercialized now that you can't give away Christian toys.

[lashbear]

I think Pagans should be the only ones to get candy on Halloween from now on. :rolleyes:

[Jughead P. Jones]

I'm conflicted on this issue, I really am. Part of me is angry because no organization should reject any kind of donation...but, at the same time, I also believe that you should stand by your beliefs too, without going too overboard. I really don't know.

Though, one thing that does bug me...traditionally, the people who use the Salvation Army are those who are either one step away from homelessness, or are in between jobs, or have some hard luck story where they can't afford a Christmas for their families (well, unless they are milking the system, but that's another story). If they're really that desperate for toys or food or anything, you'd think that the least of their concerns would be being offended by a Jesus and Mary doll.

At least, that's my thought, anyway.

[MouseWife]

They could process hundreds of thousands of toys a year, so I could see rejecting a shipment of Christian toys that would cause them to make sure they went to Christian kids who would enjoy them. At this point they need to sort by sex and age groups in the least.



This is true, the process. I understand there is a warehouse type place and either the parents are allowed to go in and choose gifts for the children from tables set up by age/gender. So, I would guess then they would need a table just for religious items?

Maybe they are trying to prevent someone from making a federal case out of it and winning a lawsuit $$.

And, That Guy, so nice of you to offer but you can take your toys home. :D

[Gemini Cricket]

I don't think the SA would reject a donation like this. TfT may...

I can't think of a more uncool doll than one that tries to teach you history and preach about the bible. Bleh.
:D

[MouseWife]

No kidding. What age would be appropriate for this type of 'toy'?

I wonder who donated them?? Why? Were they not selling? {tax write-off}

Or was it a group that wants to make sure kids have these to play and learn with? I know the kids grandpa gave them a religious book/tape for Christmas one year. Not only was it inappropriately age related but we have different religious beliefs.

I would guess that would be a big reason to not give them out, so many beliefs, how can you pinpoint the right people to receive them? Just put them out and let people take what they want?

[katiesue]

It was Toys for Tots not the Salvation Army Link (http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/14/toy.jesus.ap/index.html)

[Prudence]

Frankly I wouldn't give to Toys for Tots anyhow. Don't get me wrong - I think the dolls are lame. But around here the Toys for Tots acceptible/not acceptible lists are so restrictive - they basically only want *the* coolest, most expensive toys. And I know that no kid wants a dorky talking Jesus doll, but I can't afford to buy *myself* an xbox - much less give one away. Plus, with the expensive toys, I always worry about the parents selling them. And not just for drugs, although I confess I worry about that, too. But heck, an xbox = gobs and gobs of ramen, a warm coat, etc... I prefer to do the adopt-a-family stuff where there's a need and a want item for everyone, and the requests are specific.

[Disneyphile]

Frankly I wouldn't give to Toys for Tots anyhow. Same here. I used to, until I worked more closely with them while doing a toy drive during our nightly newscasts at the TV station where I used to work. It turns out that they sort the toys, then put 3-4 in a black garbage bag, label it with the age range and gender, and just hand it to the kid. No gift wrap, no choice, nothing. :( I just think they need to add an element of "care" to it, rather than "here's some stuff, now run along". So, I usually support SA's adopt-a-family or Angel Tree programs. I can wrap the stuff, and also attempt to fill the child's wish list.

[CoasterMatt]

The only reason I give to Toys For Tots is free tickets to Knott's/Six Flags...

The last few times, I gave the toys, then gave the tickets to somebody else.

[Capt Jack]

Maybe they are trying to prevent someone from making a federal case out of it and winning a lawsuit $$.



very likey the main cause of rejecting these items. people are so overly sensitive anymore...especially if they figure they can make a buck from it, that no one is willing to take such a risk. even if it means not accepting that which in all other ways is perfectly appropriate

[Snowflake]

Adopting families is good. I use this (http://www.mytwofrontteeth.org/) for toy donations. More often than not, the requests are of a nominal cost based on what my2frontteeth can do, so that means I can give more gifts (meaning more than one kid) and the wishes come from the kids themselves.

[Drince88]

I'm kind of glad it was TfT and not SA that rejected the toys. SA has never been shy about their affliliations.

I agree, with Prudence:
A significant part of me is sad that Christmas is so commercialized now that you can't give away Christian toys

[Kevy Baby]

Christmas is a ****ing CHRISTIAN holiday!Hijacked from the Pagan Sabbat of Yule (the Winter Solstice). Actually has no basis for timing in Christianity other than to make converting the filthy Pagans to Christianity during the Crusades a little easier. Most Christian holidays are based on the timing of Pagan Sabbats.

But I digress.

[Alex]

The date of Christmas was set 600 years before the crusades began.

Several pagan winter festivals contributed aspects to the nature of the celebration but the use of December 25th (which was in use by the mid 5th century) was probably to aid the forced conversion of Mithraists (a popular pagan religion with a mythology very similar to Christianity that had laid claim to the 25th well somewhat before Christians) by Constantine.

Of course, the establishment of a day celebrating Christ's birth was a political maneuver by the school of early theologians promoting the idea that Jesus was devine from birth as opposed to those who believed it wasn't until his baptism.

The incorporation of Yule traditions into Christmas didn't happen until about a century after Christmas had been established as a feast day. And then for more than a milennium they were only a part of Northern European Christmas celebrations. It wasn't until England became the major economic power that the traditions began to spread.

...since we were digressed anyway.

[FEJ]

It's not your Walt's TfT anymore

http://disney.go.com/disneyhand/voluntears/images/walt_slide1.jpg

And Disney Studios Designed the logo :)

[Snowflake]

The Chatty-Jesus Doll is now welcome

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

[Disneyphile]

The short note on the Web site did not explain what it would do with the dolls.
Time to donate a bunch of little "Dream Crucifixion Playsets"! :evil:

(Yeah, that was bad. I know. But, I just find any type of toy made in the image of a deity/Holy person to be a horrible concept. It just seems disrespectful to me.)

[innerSpaceman]

Time But, I just find any type of toy made in the image of a deity/Holy person to be a horrible concept. It just seems disrespectful to me.
Which is why I don't see the rejection as a move to appease non-Christians on the Christian/Pagan combo holiday ... but precisely to avoid offending Christians on Christmas with toys that might seem insulting to some.



.

[BarTopDancer]

I know it's not my thread but can we change the subject to Toys for Tots since it was never the SA that rejected them?

[innerSpaceman]

No.


I have to stay in good with my ex.



He has too many really bad pictures of me that might wind up as his avatar. :p




.

[FEJ]

Time to donate a bunch of little "Dream Crucifixion Playsets"! :evil:

(Yeah, that was bad. I know. But, I just find any type of toy made in the image of a deity/Holy person to be a horrible concept. It just seems disrespectful to me.)



How about some things from Divine Interventions? (http://www.divine-interventions.com/) Definitely not safe for work or around kids.