Would you be offended if your child opened a kids meal at Long John Silver’s and found a religious themed gift inside? I would be, snd so was a Muslim family at the Mall of America. They were recently offered a Christian themed notebook with the title Build with Jesus (pdf). When they asked for a non-religious toy, they found there was no alternative. It was Christian evangelism, or nothing.
The official response would not have satisfied me. The store simple offered to have alternative toys available. I would have pushed for providing non-religious toys.
In a letter to CAIR-MN, the Long John Silver's franchisee owner Steve Oborn wrote: "In an attempt to support and respect a multitude of diverse needs and preferences, it is our policy to have an optional toy(s) available per request.
I’d like to see the Building with Mohammad version. I’ll hold my breath. The only religious message tolerated will be a Christian message. I’m sure the alternative toy will be a piece of paper and a lump of coal.
I found some hate filled responses to this situation on a Christian blog. The comments are just crazy.
Offending is good! I say our government should subsidize Klezmer Artists. And Carolers! And People pushing Baroque Christian music! And Traditional Judeo/Christian music in all it's forms! Screw them!!!
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Nora, I agree with you. I think Christmas is a beautiful holiday.
I'm offended that Muslims were offended by a notepad. Notice the pattern here? Danish cartoons, teddy bear names, and children's meal toys. Only stupid people are offended by such stupid things.
I don’t get Christian hate.
Diego · 846 weeks ago
deleted5855019 44p · 846 weeks ago
Nietzsche · 846 weeks ago
zooage · 846 weeks ago
The very idea of the "Christmas" season was co opted by the Pope when. Pagans in Rome celebrated a holiday in late December that was stolen by the christians in order to convert Rome to christianity. Over the years it has been renamed "Christmas".The pagans even gave gifts, decorated trees, and danced around camp fires during their ritual. I guess christians didn't want to go out in the cold and dance or we would still be doing that as well.
So the christians need to re-group and learn the facts about "christs birthday". They have been lied to by their churches, and their own monkey dumb ideals that their version of history should trump historical fact. Christmas is not their holiday, they stole it.
Jack 119p · 846 weeks ago
Karen 43p · 846 weeks ago
So, does that make Bill Donohue the King of Stupidland?
Mojoey 107p · 846 weeks ago
Darwin's Dagger · 846 weeks ago
Mojoey 107p · 846 weeks ago
Volly · 846 weeks ago
Jack 119p · 846 weeks ago
Mojoey 107p · 846 weeks ago
Kat · 846 weeks ago
Darwin's Dagger was right. There is no separation between church and private companies. It shouldn't surprise anyone that an LJS franchise would distribute Christian-themed toys. A large portion of the company's revenue no doubt comes in during the season of Lent when Catholics and various other Christians abstain from red meat.
I don't like Batman, but I'm not going to protest when a Riddler toy shows up in my kid's Happy Meal because McD's has a promotional contract with the film. This is a mountain made from a mole hill.
Why waste so much time and energy being angry over people practicing their rights as Americans? Please do not assume that all Christians are hateful and ignorant. The true Christians out here only want to be understood.
I wish you peace. Have a great day!
Mojoey 107p · 845 weeks ago
You cannot compare a commercial toy to a religious toy. The commercial toy does not deal with matters of the soul. it does not carry the same kind of emotional impact. That fact that you cannot see this is troubling, but not unexpected. it comes with territory.
kat · 845 weeks ago
Not everyone is supposed to believe in God, and I'm not going to proselytize to you so that you follow my beliefs. I do, however, hope you based your choice to be a non-believer on what YOUR heart is telling you and not because you're offended by piss-poor example of faith some external forces have put forth. Letting another fallible human make your choices for you would be a disservice and an act of irresponsbility to yourself.
kat · 845 weeks ago
kat · 845 weeks ago
Yum! Brands had not yet responded with any action to the complaint made by CAIR. My guess is if Oborn's MOA franchise continues to make Yum! Brands money, they probably won't slap his wrists too hard for his "inappropriate distribution of religious materials" because it IS the almighty dollar that rules commercialism in the United States. Yum! Brands will kowtow to the demands of its stockholders.
kat · 845 weeks ago
This issue should have first been highlighted through an open dialogue between the child's parent and the franchise owner so they could grasp a solid understanding of where each person came from. That's how a solid foundation of tolerance and cultural sensitivity happens -- through personal understanding and relationships. It's a slow process and requires effort of recognition and tolerance on both sides.