Hey Miss American Girl

It's funny how four screwdrivers can make a cold seem much better. If I'd known the solution was in vodka and OJ I would have instituted this plan on Monday. It's way more fun than inhalers and cough syrup.

Behold the corruption of America's girls!

I woke up this morning and turned on NPR. They did a piece on the American Girls company and their charitable support of Girls Inc., a group that encourages girls to be "smart, strong, and bold." Sounds pretty good, right? Something that American Girls, a company that got its start by producing dolls and books based on fictional characters from different times in American history would want to support.
But, as you may suppose, Girls Inc. supports a woman's right to choose, accepts girls of lesbian and bi-sexual persuasions, and offers girls and parents support in dealing with these issues. Because American Girls is selling a bracelet that benefits Girls Inc., many of the conservative groups are up in arms, saying that American Girls is using dolls and positive images of strong young women to advocate baby-killing and lesbianism. Check out this web site from the American Family Association as an example of the crazy. Another scary quote from the NPR piece is a young girl, picketing the American Girls store in New York, who says that "If American Girls supports abortion, it's bad for their business, since less babies means less dolls sold." Yes, I'm sure that all the unwanted babies that are aborted would have parents who are rolling in enough money to afford a doll that costs $87, plus all the accessories that cost extra. Of course, the girl haltingly admits that "[her] mother thinks abortion is wrong" as being the reason she's there.
There is also the issue of whether or not these funds are even going to support the birth control, abortion and gay rights activities of Girls Inc. American Girls maintains that it's only supporting the educational programs, but the AFA has a statement from Girls Inc.'s spokesperson saying that any money that goes to Girls Inc. can be used in any program they support. In either case, can't these people look past the abortion issue and see that Girls Inc. does a lot more than educate girls about abortion, birth control and homosexuality? It's not like Girls Inc. encourages the behavior. They're just educating girls in what's going on in the world.
In this culture that rewards thinness, nice hair, and girls who put out, any organization that encourages girls to go their own way should be supported, especially by a company that encourages girls to be smart and self-assured as well. I looked over a book that the American Girls company sells, and it encourages girls to eat healthfully because it's good for them, and that thinness doesn't automatically mean good health. There was also a section on how to pick out a bra, and what happens during puberty. These are all scary and intimidating things for a girl to go through, and I think it's great that American Girls supports educating girls through its products and through it's charitable contributions. Despite the efforts of some groups, girls need to know about all the options that are out there for them, not just the antiquated ideas of a woman being barefoot and pregnant if she chooses to indulge in sexual behavior.
I think I am going to take a page from the AFA's playbook, and write the American Girl President Ellen Brothers to thank her for supporting Girls Inc. If you feel the same, I hope that you'll drop her a quick note as well to thank her for her good works. If we complain as much as the hypocrites do, they'll have less sway.