Believe in yourself and each other.
Believe in your power.
Believe in your strength.
Apparently these are the very dangerous messages girls are getting from American Girl’s recent collaboration with Girls, Inc. At least, that’s what the folks at the American Family Association say.
American Girl, a super-popular doll company, joined forces with girls’ rights organization Girls, Inc. to launch an “I Can” campaign. American Girl is selling these cute bracelets (70 cents from each will go to programs at Girls, Inc.) and asking girls to take the “I Can” Promise:
I can be myself, follow my dreams, and always do my best. I can reach for the stars, lend a hand to others, and be a good friend. I can make a difference! I promise to try.
The AFA has started a petition to stop the campaign because Girls, Inc. is “a pro-abortion, pro-lesbian advocacy group.” Huh?
Here’s the “proof” that the AFA offers to prove that the org is just a bunch of baby-killing lesbians:
Girls Incorporated encourages all girls to develop positive sexual identities and to function comfortably as responsible sexual beings...Girls have a right to positive, supportive environments and linkages to community resources for dealing with issues of sexual orientation....We recognize the right of all women to choose whether, when, and under what circumstances to bear children. Reproductive freedom and responsibility are essential to other rights and opportunities, including pursuit of education, employment, financial security and a stable and fulfilling family life.
The horror!
Oh, and by the way--the money from the bracelets go to the following programs (hint: they’re not abortion field trips):
Girls Inc. Operation SMART®, which builds skills in science, math and technology;
Girls Inc. Discovery Leadership®, which develops leadership skills and community awareness; and
Girls Inc. Sporting Chance®, which encourages athletic skills, cooperative and competitive spirit, and an interest in sports participation.
So pretty please take action to counteract whatever damage the AFA may do--email Mattel Chairman Bob Eckery and American Girl President Ellen Brothers to thank them and let them know you support their efforts to empower girls.
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I clicked on the link you provided to the AFA website, and read the updated version. Apparently American Girl is rejecting all e-mail that comes through the link on the AFA website, so they are telling their readers how to copy and paste the addresses into their e-mail.
Poor, pathetic little AFA. Their little publicity campaigns always go against them. I remember a couple of years ago they had a gay marriage poll on their website, and they said that they would take the poll results to Washington to prove that Americans were against same sex marriage. Word got out in the gay-friendly community, and by the time their poll closed, the results were 97% in favor of extending marriage to same sex couples.
They never did send the results to DC, but they put up a big whining bit on their site about all the bad people who ruined their poll.
you know, i have a friend who used to work for girls, inc. and, well, she used to have a lesbian roommate, so, considering that homosexuality is an airborne disease, i would be worried, too...
and don't forget this little number on the girls, inc. site, "Girls Incorporated believes that for young people abstinence should be the first choice." dang... are they telling young women not to have sex? god forbid!
wow... on the real, girls, inc. is dope... i remember doing some capoeira classes through them and they create a dope space for girls to just be themselves and grow and mature... i think i might go buy a bracelet!
peace out.