Woman wants to send Beanie Babies to Iraq...

[Mari333]

STEVENSVILLE -- More than 1,500 Beanie Babies will start their long journey to Iraq next week because of the efforts of a Stevensville woman.

Barb Dumke started the project after reading an Associated Press article in The Herald-Palladium Oct. 28 about some Ironwood, Mich., women who started collecting the small stuffed animals after one of the women, Tricia Doan, received a letter from her son, Anthony, who is serving in Iraq.
"When we search houses, the young children are usually scared," said Anthony Doan, an Army first lieutenant.

Doan wanted his mother to spend his income tax refund to buy Beanie Babies, which he and other soldiers could give to children to try to calm them.









http://www.heraldpalladium.com/articles/2004/12/18/news/news4.txt


I mean, if we werent there in the first place, the kids in Iraq wouldnt be scared. I would think these people could put their energies into something a BIT more enlightening..perhaps demanding the troops come home? Sending monies for food or medical supplies???? Beanie Babies? "Here honey, I know your arms and legs have been blown off and your mommy is lying dead in a ditch..have a BEANIE BABY!"

[acmavm]

1. It is dumb. I don't think some stupid little stuffed whatever is going to

override the fear and loathing that comes from a bunch of guys standing over you and your family while they're pointing guns and trashing their house (country).

This is really kind of weird.

[Mari333]

4. reminds me of those brain dead women

who make flag cakes . Bet you a dollar this broad has a smarmy yellow ribbon on her car. Wish I could send her some pics of whats really happening in Iraq. Might wake her up.

www.fallujahinpictures.com

[UTDemocrat8204]

24. Are they going to

send the USA beanie babies? Get them patriotic?

[nostamj]

2. really, "Sorry we blew up your ENTIRE FAMILY"

but, here's a toy.....

[dkofos]

3. WTF

Don't cry little Iraqi child.
Have this beenie baby.

But you just killed my father and are arresting my mother.

I give up

[Ian David]

5. How about leaving the guns outside?

[Mist]

6. The disconnect is surreal

[auntAgonist]

7. Well meaning people who JUST DON'T get it ....

and never will. A beanie baby is nothing to a child who has lost everything ... it only calms the giver in some way.

I guess the gift truly IS for the giver ...

[UTDemocrat8204]

25. I bet it

helps her sleep at night knowing she's supporting Bush's war so let's send a stuffed animal instead that could get blown up! A beanie baby won't make things right or bring back lost family and/or friends.

[uncle ray]

8. probably a tax write off or something

the people donating them are probably the insane freeper type beanie baby collectors from a few years ago, probably donating their "thousand dollar" toys for a easy tax write off now that it has FINALLY sunk in that they are worthless crap.

[Mari333]

10. LOL @ worthless crap INDEED

I knew a woman who bought them by the thousands and believed the hype they might be worth something someday...as I said..brain dead..she has a basement full of crapola now..

[Straight Shooter]

9. Exporting cheap consumerism values to replace the value of human life

U.S.A. = United States of Absurbity

[Rush1184]

15. You hit the nail on the head!!!!

That is EXACTLY how the muslim world will see it too!!!

[Stinky The Clown]

11. I see this in a different way ... call me Polly Anthony if you wish

I am in complete agreement with the general sentiments of all those who posted to this thread before me. But I see this a little differently. This is a story of one person (the soldier) writing to his mother with a wish. We have no idea what his motivation was. I'd like to think it is his way of making the best of a situation not of his own making. It could well be that he is very much like the public school teacher who uses her own money to buy supplies for use in class.

Is the war wrong? Of course it is.

But these people have no more power to stop it than you or I. So instead they do their small acts of human kindness. Yes, it would be farcical were it not so tragic. But there it is. I prefer to see it as the best of man in a place that is the worst doings of mankind.

Call me Polly Anthony ..... but this kind of thinking gives me hope and helps me keep my faith in all of us.

And I weep as I smile.

[Mari333]

12. I know the woman means well

but she has no clue as to what is going on in Iraq..most people dont thanks to our media blackout. She may even think its all hearts and flowers over there..in her own mind...it shows me how little the US public is paying attention to whats happening over there, and the cognitive dissonance they are all in...

[auntAgonist]

13. That was my thought too Mari333

So many jump on the 'good deeds' bandwagon and just cannot see the forest for the trees.

Good wishes to you Mari333 for this holiday season. I've been following your posts.

hope you don't mind a lil cyber hug :)

:hug:

[Skittles]

17. I sent 150 beenie babies to Iraq last year

they were inherited by a coworker who did not want them - soldiers gave them out at schools they were cleaning up and the kids loved them. Yes, I sent clothes and blankets too.

Yes, I am against this f***ing war.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

14. stupid as shit

.

[radwriter0555]

16. Ahhhh! To give them a toy BEFORE they blow their lil heads off!!

How WONDERFUL and spiritual of the New Uhmurrikkkan Nazis!

[Solly Mack]

18. My husband brought me back a "Jamal the Camel" from Iraq

It is (was) a popular children's TV program in Iraq. He bought it from a vendor - new.

I keep Jamal on my bed stand.

Jamal is an adorable stuffed toy with a very happy face.

I can't look at Jamal without crying.

So much innocence tied up in that little stuffed camel.

Happiness. Joy. Smiles.

So much death and destruction that a hundred Jamals will never cure.

There really are no words to explain the depth of my bitterness (pain and anger) when I look at Jamal.

For me, Jamal is every single child killed in this mess.

He's my reminder of that secret wish and promise of a smile that existed in the hearts of Iraqi children. Of children everywhere, really.

What do their little hearts wish for now?

[Clark2008]

20. I would love to have one of those for my son

He's half Arabic.

I think it would be very meaningful to him (his father's pretty much worthless, but my ex's family is sweet as pie. I want him to know their culture.)

I doubt you can get one of those online.

You take care of that toy, will ya? It probably means a lot. :)

[UTDemocrat8204]

26. So sad

They probably wish for their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, cousin's, best friends back....fiances, boyfriends girlfriends. :( Their lives. :(

[Clark2008]

19. And they say we're dumb in the red states

Geez... couldn't she send some money, some food - or, if they're for the kids who have been traumatized by this war - some stuffed animal that's actually SOFT to cuddle with?

[anarchy1999]

21. Oh Mari- have missed you so much.

This one tops it again on the list of just when you think you've heard it all. Yes, this woman means well, but "Beanie Babies". JHFC!

How in the name of all that is good can a POS stuffed tyco toy help to really alleviate the pain a child feels on the loss of said child's home, of a mom, dad or both? Family members as well? BEANIE BABIES? Just shoot me. This is for me the worst holiday season in my lifetime. I can't get Fallujah out of my head and I live in between two major malls in North Dallas. CHRISTMAS? HAPPY HOLIDAYS? BUY MORE, SPEND MORE? SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP, especially at the "GALLERIA". Nordstrum, Macy's, Saks and all the rest of the BEST!

I'm sorry, so sorry for the hell this country and other complicit countries and their military/industrial complex have wrecked upon this world. GOD SAVE THE ELITES AND THEIR MONEY, THEIR SUV's, THEIR MCMANSIONS and everything else THEY enjoy.

Rest in peace knowing there really is karma and justice in this world and "they" will someday face it.

[UTDemocrat8204]

27. Yes it is

a horrible holiday season. How can people celebrate it and be happy? I know I'm hving a hard time.

[mmonk]

22. Poor thing

Well meaning though.

[Bouncy Ball]

23. Sorry we destroyed your home

and accidentally killed your dad and two brothers. Sorry your mom can't find a job to save her life. Sorry you don't have consistent access to clean water and have dehydrating diarrhea and sorry your electricity is only on 8 hours a day. But here's a beanie baby, cheer up!

[SoCalDem]

28. The children might "calm down" if their parents would quit being KILLED

Perhaps the beanie babies were no longer selliing on e0bay, and this is a tax write off :cynical me:

[NuttyFluffers]

29. the path to hell is paved with good intentions....

oh how that rings so true.

i mean, it's sweet, but rather misguided. our troops are being mistreated with lack of food, armor, etc. and given a ridiculous war with incompetent leadership from criminal bastards. and from the freaking out (which should be expected) and amoral commands, such irreparable violence tears apart iraqi lives. in turn iraqis try to tear apart american lives... but let's send beanie babies! the troops can give them away and all will be well.

:freak: :eyes: i'd say this is 'a bandaid on a bullet wound' but the hyperbole the reality presents... we are through the looking glass full throttle, if not two or three.