Beware the "teddy bear" boy story -

[dogtag]

If you've seen the 'tug at the heart strings' eleven year old junior Rove wannabee on the telly talking about sending teddy bears to the children of Beslan, Russia, be warned that he is backed by Move America Forward. Yes, the self same group that tried to shut down Michael Moore and has its finger in nearly every smeary right wing pie.

http://www.moveamericaforward.org/

Am I a grinch? I find the whole teddy bear concept smarmy and disgusting. Are we totally infantile as a culture? Makeshift shrines containing tons of fuzzy bears make me want to hurl.

[Bluebear]

1. 'Are we totally infantile as a culture?'

And then some.

[donco6]

2. Yeah, teddy bears - that's what they need.

:puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke:

[gratuitous]

3. Waitasecond

Whatever happened to that dollar my grandson sent to the kids in Afghanistan?

[baldguy]

6. It was put to good use.

Helped pay for the Swift Boat ads.

[noonwitch]

12. What, he didn't get the goat they sent him?

Or was it Stevie Nicks?

[liveoaktx]

4. That reminds me-remember a long time ago Bush had kids sending a buck

to the children of Afghanistan.

[AlCzervik]

5. Howard Kaloogian is a bitter, bitter man

he couldn't get any traction in the primaries for Boxer's seat. He shows his uglt mug in sacramento from time to time.

[chookie]

7. CREEPY!

I was monitoring CNN a few minutes ago and saw this widdle heart-womming story. Widdle patweeot just twying to help the widdle Wussian childwen.
We awe a compassion countwee under pwesdent Bush.

No mention about what moveamericaforward.org is all about.... How many sheeple would have picked up on that?

I hate the fucking teddy bear shit too. The fascists all haul out the teddy bears and yellow ribbons when THEIR shit blows up in OUR faces. It gives them something to do while ignoring the real issues.

You're absolutely right about the infantilization it implies.


They have to sentimentalize the slaughter to make it easier for people to swallow. We are supposed to feel and act, not think.

[dogtag]

10. OMG!!!!! Perfect combination -

what an illustration of our national martial/maudlin personality.
We are what we hug!!!!

[chookie]

15. It gets worse...

Bizarre.

[dogtag]

17. Never mind me, my dog just puked.

[Nay]

21. Jeezus. This stuff is repulsive in the extreme.

[Barney Rocks]

8. It is infantile,

but I have to say that having a teddy bear to hold is a big help to small children who have gone through something tramatic. I have volunteered with young abuse victims and cancer patients--it really helps to have something to hang onto. Even though it doesn't make lots of sense to us adults. So--while teddy bears are not a top priority to me, I do think that some little children would probably love them. If a small thing like this can be beneficial then why not? I do not support this particular organization, but I do support the concept of sending toys to the children.

[Stephanie]

11. Don't you think Russia is fully capable of providing this themselves?

It's so patronizing

[classof56]

18. No, it makes lots of sense to me and I support the idea

But as you noted, as for this particular "plea", it's the source and the blatant attempt at manipulation that galls me. I hope the Beslan kids who survived that horrible event get all the love and support and comfort available to them. I can't imagine my grandkids going through something like that. I still give stuffed toys to my 7-year-old grandson, and he still seems happy enough to get them. That won't last long, I'm sure--they grow up fast. But I'm encouraging his Mom to donate the teddy bears, etc. to the local police program that helps abused and traumatized kids. A worthy pursuit indeed. I commend you for your involvement. And welcome to DU!

DEFEAT BUSH!!

[Barney Rocks]

20. Thank you for the welcome.

I have to admit that I am prejudiced in the extreme--I would do ANYTHING to relieve the suffering of a child. I would stand on my head and let you tickle the soles of my feet if it would bring a smile to the face of a pediatric cancer patient.

Truly, we know that it makes them feel better to have something to hug and hold onto--something that they can talk to about their experience--it provides a lot of healing.

I read the above reply that it is patronizing to send them (as if the Russians cannot do it). I say it shows that we care about the children. I do NOT support this RW organization, but I would in a heartbeat support a democratic sponsored organization in doing this.

[ChrisK]

9. Move America Forward sees America in that way

Thinking that all we need is to ignore the real problems in the world and pretend their not there so they will go away...Like the Michael Moore 9/11 movie...don't see it so you wouldn't see the real mess were in and have to deal with it.

The bears are a nice idea but there are real problems in Russia...when is someone going to send Putin a bear asking "What are you doing to fix this mess?"

[sadiesworld]

13. What, no teddy bears for wounded Iraqi children?

[Parche]

14. move forward

It should be renamed move America backward

They care more about Iraq then America, then have the nerve
to say we dont support the troops,
We want the troops home, that is supporting them

I had a great answer to that so called soldier's letter
from Iraq, and what has been done in Iraq
If anyone wants to see it, just email me, or pm me

[BrotherBuzz]

16. And just the type of story that Paul Harvey delivers....

Smarmy and disgusting? Yep, and it sells soap.

[Bridget Burke]

19. This reminds me of the "dollars for Afghanistan"

Supposedly sent to DC just in time to be covered in anthrax powder.

Does anybody know what happened to that heartwarming project?