Toys For Tots Turns Away Jesus
In a story just loaded with old fashioned religious controversy, it’s reported that the Toys For Tots Program turned down an offer of 4,000 dolls. Why? Well, they were all talking copies of Jesus.
This is the exact kind of holiday time story that is guaranteed to get super uppity religious types and conservative talk show hosts in an uproar. “How can they turn away the message of spreading God’s word on Christmas? The left and their San Francisco Pinko Values want to destroy us all!”
I don’t care what you believe in. There are two points that such quick to react types are ignoring. The first is that Toys for Tots gives out toys to kids of all religions. Yes, there are other religions that celebrate during what we Christians (and I include myself here) consider Christmas time. Believe it or not, there are Jews in this world.
The most important issue that no one has hit upon thus far is simple. What kid wants a talking toy Jesus? No kid! A talking toy Jesus doll would have to be the lamest Christmas gift of all time. Imagine the delight a poor child who doesn’t get three meals a day has when they get their donated present. Then imagine their complete sadness and disappointment when they realized they’ve been screwed over by a Christian group that doesn’t care about making kids feel good, they just care about trying to spread a message the wrong way.
The only two kids in the entire world that would love it would be these guys:
And that’s just sad.
Update: Well, it looks like Toys For Tots caved in. Looks like some kids are going to get a crappy Christmas after all! By the way, no one would care if they got a talking prophet Muhammad doll would they?
toys, Toys For Tots, Jesus, Christmas
November 14th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
You bring up a good point…I don’t know of many kids who would want that…regardless of political or religious persuasions.
November 14th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
I figure what’s the use of trying to spread the word when the kid doesn’t want or care about the way they are getting it. If they are mad they didn’t get a transformer, they aren’t going to be open to what Jesus is saying.
November 14th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
I am really bothered by the comments of Michael LaRoe, business development manager for one2believe and Teddy Bear Corp. He couldn’t see why Biblical quotes wouldn’t be of universal use to everyone. The real problem a lot of Christian evangelical groups have is assuming that Christian faith-based truths are universal truths for all. It’s fine to want to prosyletize or evangelize, provided you are humble enough to understand that there are many Jews and Muslims who do not find Christian truths to be any kind of truths at all. I’m afraid too many evangelical organizations just can’t grasp that “simple truth” of truths.
November 14th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
Thanks for stopping by Loring. Well said. I feel dumber now here on my toy collecting, joke making site. hehe
November 14th, 2006 at 8:57 pm
This has me laughing SO hard! Thanks for sharing it. Talk about an interesting situation. Hehehe.
November 15th, 2006 at 8:21 pm
Marines reconsidered. Blah!
November 15th, 2006 at 11:48 pm
Double triple blah. I hadn’t heard that. Thanks for the update Toyrant.