Sandy Kent

I thought you may be interested
----- Original Message -----
From: <MOMof2N3@...>
To: <ru@...>
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 1999 4:19 AM
Subject: [ru] WWF toy and news article


> The following I received off another loop and thought everyone
here may be
> interested:
>
>
> Below you will find a copy of a letter I just emailed to
Corporate Offices
> at Toys R Us (I used their website). I will also be sending it
to Walmart
> and over time, any other store I learn of that is carrying this
so-called
> "toy."
>
> I learned of this product, (I refuse to call it a toy) from
yesterday's
> editorial section of the Atlanta paper, p. G5. Words simply
cannot express
> the turmoil I feel after reading it. The authors make a point
about the
> connections between the toy and abuse of women, but it really
doesn't
> matter "what kind" of head it is--it's violence against *people*
in the
> guise of a plaything. Playing with heads ripped off bodies just
isn't
> right. I could go on and on but at this point would rather keep
it short.
> Please read the article, carry copies with you to the stores
when you shop,
> speak to managers, email corporates, do what you feel led to do.
>
>
> Thanks for listening,
>
>
> To Corporate Officers of Toys R Us:
>
> I am writing in response to the article printed in the ATLANTA
> JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION of Oct. 31, 1999, p. G5 concerning the WWF
toy "Summer
> Slam 99." This is a product sold by your stores, and marketed
for children
> ages 4 and up. This "toy" includes, along with the two
wrestlers, a
> disembodied woman's head with the words "help me" written on her
forehead.
> Simply put, I am appalled and outraged that anyone would
distribute such
> a product in a children's toy store. I realize the toy is
designed to
> "follow along" with the "story line" of the TV show. But
pulling people's
> heads off is not children's play. As the authors so succintly
put it,
> "What meaning are they (the children) supposed to derive from
this toy?
> The most obvious conclusion is that the package contains a
female victim
> who did not survive her encounter with the muscled figures who
surround
> her." (I do not even care what kind of victim the head is; be
whatever
> sex, gender, race, it is wrong).
> I could say more, but words almost fail me. In the meantime,
I will no
> longer shop at Toys R Us until this toy is pulled from your
shelves. I
> will also be forwarding this letter to every friend and email
list. We
> cannot continue to abide by such irresponsible actions for the
sake of
> making a dollar. My children will never see such a toy (or such
a TV show)
> much less play with such, but they are harmed as well by having
to grow up
> in and live in a world that supports such. The dollars made
from such
> products are at the expense of all our children.
> I would appreciate a response.
>
>
>
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[email protected]

Sandy,
I am going to forward this to my lists. I will also go and check our stores
here in Port Huron, Michigan, and see what is here. I may even consider a
drop to the local paper. Thanks for the eye opening...

Blessings,
Stephanie
Teacher and Mommy of 4 homeschooling fanatics, wife to the best principal,
protector of many pets and wild ones, and unpublished writer.
I think that I will move closer to the gym, that way between sets,
I can run home and eat something sweet to keep up my energy! s.
Believe in others, and be a part; believe in yourself, and be the lead. s.
***Life's Learnings Academy - Protecting Our Children***
IT'S GREAT TO LEARN WHERE THE PRINCIPAL LOVES YOU
ICQ: 43428000 AOL IM: Lifeslearn

[email protected]

This came today in the Arcamax "Living Today" newsletter...

Linda in FL:)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WWF TOY
Wal-Mart says it'll stop selling an action figure based on a World
Wrestling Federation competitor...following complaints by two Georgia
woman that the package includes a woman's head with the words "help me"
written on it.
The toy is called "Summer Slam '99: Road Rage Al Snow." It's based
on WWF wrestler Al Snow...who sometimes carries a female mannequin's
head into the ring.
Kennesaw State University professor Sabrena Parton - one of the two
women who complained - says she "just couldn't believe that something
like this was being sold to children." In her words - "We are
normalizing violent treatment of women. We're teaching little boys this
is acceptable behavior. We need to stop the way that women have been
treated in this society for generations."