The Marines Hate Jesus?
No.
No, no, no.
However, that's what a "surprised and disappointed" Michael LaRoe of the toy manufacturer one2believe would, ironically, have you believe.
In reality, they just like kids. All kinds of kids.
Here's what happened: The toy manufacturer tried to donate 4,000 talking Jesus dolls to the Charity Navigator 4-star charity, Marine Toys for Tots, and the Marines, like the grown-ups they are, turned them down. According to the group, they donate toys to kids "based on financial need and don't know anything about their background, their religious affiliations."
As a government entity, Marines "don't profess one religion over another," said the group's VP, Bill Grein. "We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family."
Mr. LaRoe of the toy manufacturer continued to express shock that there were kids out there that might not want this doll. Here's hoping, as misguided and myopic as he may be, that he follows through on his donation and sends these dolls to a more specific target, and finds some sympathetic and accepting Christian groups. It is a nice holiday gesture. Of course, they are just kids, and it is Christmas, so even those kids might prefer a truck or a ball, or something actually fun.
(Update, 11/17: the Marines apparently found someone who would take the dolls, and accepted them. All's well that ends well--Talking Jesus Dolls for everyone!)
No, no, no.
However, that's what a "surprised and disappointed" Michael LaRoe of the toy manufacturer one2believe would, ironically, have you believe.
In reality, they just like kids. All kinds of kids.
Here's what happened: The toy manufacturer tried to donate 4,000 talking Jesus dolls to the Charity Navigator 4-star charity, Marine Toys for Tots, and the Marines, like the grown-ups they are, turned them down. According to the group, they donate toys to kids "based on financial need and don't know anything about their background, their religious affiliations."
As a government entity, Marines "don't profess one religion over another," said the group's VP, Bill Grein. "We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family."
Mr. LaRoe of the toy manufacturer continued to express shock that there were kids out there that might not want this doll. Here's hoping, as misguided and myopic as he may be, that he follows through on his donation and sends these dolls to a more specific target, and finds some sympathetic and accepting Christian groups. It is a nice holiday gesture. Of course, they are just kids, and it is Christmas, so even those kids might prefer a truck or a ball, or something actually fun.
(Update, 11/17: the Marines apparently found someone who would take the dolls, and accepted them. All's well that ends well--Talking Jesus Dolls for everyone!)
posted by Trent Stamp at 3:19 PM
7 Comments:
There are some organizations which let the kids select the toy they want. Some kids
would actually like the talking Jesus. Every year, I go on a "toy" drive for the local branch
of "Friends Outside", which helps inmates and their families. I try to buy useful gifts
(blankets, clothes, watches, etc), but also buy books and toys. The game "Hangman" would be
a no-no, but some of the books may tread on people's toes. BUT, the kids / teenagers get to pick
their gift. Ethnic books / religious books / books which deal with controversial subjects are fine,
because somebody would want them.
- larry
Under the program, new toys are collected and distributed to children in the
community. Originally begun after World War II, the children receiving toys
were often the ones who lost their fathers in war. This program over the
years has expanded to many different children in all walks of life and not
necessarily veterans children. The fact is very little, if any toys
collected are ear marked for deceased Marines children. They have gone to
those children who are found to be in homes where there is little income
(needs tested and assured,) with a slim chance of being able to "enjoy a
Merry Christmas."
There are many imposters but the first and original "Marine Corps Toys for
Tots" program is now underway and hopes are for a good collection and
distribution to those in the community who are of the "most needed." Please
when you see collection sites make sure it is the one and only "Marine
Corps" collection site and not an imposter.
We all had special stories to tell of the Toys for Tots program, but this
one seems to come back year after year. It reminds us of one brave Marine in
1947, when he was taking toys to a special house that had "Quarantine"
posted dramatically on the front door. Being the kind of big tough Marine he
was, he ignored that sign and proceeded in. Two weeks later he wound up with
a very bad case of Chicken Pox that almost cost him his life.
Thank God, we have brave men and women of the US Marines who not only
support and defend us against all foreign enemies, but have found time in
their busy schedule to help out with the Toys for Tots program. They do all
the heavy lifting, what we have to do as citizens is the easy work. Please
purchase new toys and deposit them unwrapped into the official US Marine
Toys for Tots collection center near you. And "Tell it to the Marines," how
much you care.
The idea that some how this amazing program is bad mouthed because they did not accept a "Jesus Doll" is obsurd. These rules are "common sense" and also apply to those GI Joe Dolls as well, they are not accepted.
Kevin G. Wittbrodt S/sgt-USMC Ret.
12337 Conservation Tr.
Shelby Township, Michigan 48315
Unfortunately, they agreed to accept the Jesus dolls -- I think they feared the negative publicity would cause regular toy donations to plummet. I understand what they were thinking, but it's sad.
As a christian, I find the idea of a "Jesus doll" inherently sacrilegious, but then, I think religion is a private matter and shouldn't be wielded as a political cudgel.
To characterize these dolls as something less fun than a ball, etc., and to villify the Corps for their actions shows a narrow world view no matter how you put it. Are there poor children out there who might benefit greatly from such a gift as a talking Jesus? Only a bigot would dare believe otherwise.
The Corps did exactly the right thing by taking the gifts and doing their best to get them into the right hands! There are non-religious gifts such as Hush Puppies that need to be put in the right hands(somewhere devout Moselms will receve them as gifts). The the Corps was eminently even handed and maybe even truly wise.
Give The MArines and Toys for Tots a break. They deserve our thanks, not comments from from bloggers who would probably call the police if one of these kids wandered into their neighborhood!
OOPS. TYPO ERROR. Before anyone misconstrues my last post, the comment about Hush Puppies should read where Devout Moslems would NOT, I REPEAT, NOT get them as gifts.
R. Wallace-
Did you actually read my blog? I did indeed celebrate the Marines, both in my words and in our 4-star rating. I guess you read someone else's blog and then came over here and decided to leave comments for that person here, since all us bloggers hang out together in one big room, trying to destroy the fabric of America.
Trent,
R. Wallace's somewhat overreactive comments were evidently in response to your statement: "Of course, they are just kids, and it is Christmas, so even those kids might prefer a truck or a ball, or something actually fun. In fairness to Mr/Ms Wallace, your description of something other than a talking Jesus doll as actually fun was clearly disparaging. (A talking Jesus doll cannot be "actually fun" to a Christian child? It would have been to me when I was a child.) This is, I think, what caused Mr/Ms Wallace to misread the rest of your post. Perhaps you could have been a bit less condescending in your choice of words.
In any case, thank you so very much for Charity Navigator. It has been invaluable to me in selecting the dozen or so charities that I support regularly.
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