Posted by Angel Girl on January 27, 2005, at 12:53:12
In reply to Re: Protest insensitive Vermont Teddy Bear, posted by mair on January 26, 2005, at 17:25:43
mair
WOW!!! The response from the Vermont Teddy Bear company is shocking to me. I fail to comprehend how a bear in a straightjacket can be considered to have nothing to do with mental illness. I hope that the company continues to receive heat and the bear is either removed from the market and/or the public refuse to buy it.
AG <shaking head in disbelief>
> I live in Vermont where this bear has been in the news for a couple of weeks. Mental Health advocates here asked them to withdraw the bear, and they claimed they gave it some consideration before deciding not too. They claim the image of the straitjacket and the word nuts have nothing to do with the images or words of mental illness but simply say that the bear is totally consumed by his love (this is a valentines day bear). (I'm not phrasing this well - they phrased it better) My guess is that they had too much invested in this product to totally withdraw it.
>
> One of the statewide papers had an article today about how the Board of Directors of a major hospital is discussing the issue of this bear because the president of the Vermont Teddy Bear Company sits on this hospital board. I'm sure she is feeling the heat, as well she should be.
>
> Mair
poster:Angel Girl
thread:446195
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050123/msgs/448665.html