Sunday, November 19, 2006

7 PM

St. Andrew Lutheran Church

304 Morewood Street  Shadyside

From the organizers:  

The Transgender Day of Remembrance began in San Francisco in 1999 and has grown to be an event held in many locations around the world. The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Its purpose is to educate others about trans people and to provide support and to the trans people living and working in the area. The ceremony will allow those to come together to remember those who have died, to provide support to each other, and to state that trans related violence and discrimination is unacceptable and must stop. 

Yes, you read that correctly.  A dollmaker donated 4,000 scripture quoting Jesus dolls to the national Toys for Tots program.  Originally, T4T declined the donation out of deference the religious diversity among the families who utilize this program each year.

Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Va., said Toys for Tots doesn't know anything about the religious affiliations of the children who receive its gifts.

"We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family," Grein said Tuesday. "Kids want a gift for the holiday season that is fun."

But the fundies screamed bloody murder or whatever the quasi-Christian equivalent would be and now those dolls are destined for 4,000 Toys for Tots children everywhere. 

According to the company's Web site, the button-activated, bearded Jesus doll recites Scripture such as "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" and "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Take a look at what the dolls says in 63 second increments:

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but
have eternal life.
Mark 12:30 - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your
strength.
Mark 12:31 - Love your neighbor as yourself.
John 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me
you can do nothing.
John 20:29 - Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
John 3:3 - I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

Check out the company's website (with pictures).   In what realm is this something most children would even WANT to play with?  Is the fact that he has "realistic" eyes supposed to be a selling point for people who are of other faith traditions than Christianity?  I think he's a creepy little doll and I *like* Jesus. 

I'm working with Toys for Tots in my daytime guise of social worker so I cannot WAIT to see if we get a Jesus doll come in ...

h/t House Blend