The Calgary Sun reports the Salvation Army is not distributing any Harry Potter and Twilight toys that have been donated. From the Sun:
The Salvation Army is refusing to distribute Harry Potter and Twilight toys collected for needy children, saying they’re incompatible with the charity’s Christian beliefs.
That’s alarmed a Calgarian who volunteered to sift through a southeast warehouse full of unused, donated items and said he was told by Salvation Army officials that the two genres of toys are “disposed of” and not given to other charities.
“I asked if these toys went to another charitable organizations but was told ‘no’ that by passing these toys on to another agency for distribution would be supporting these toys,” said the man, who wouldn’t give his name due to his occupation.
You might at some point during my Dog Blog career hear me squawk obnoxiously about religious charities.* This is one example of why they make me uneasy — their potential for brainless cultural censorship. Most people — sane people — know the Harry Potter books and films are make-believe fun**, not some kind of obtuse satanic (sorry, Satanic) deception. Whoever made this decision at Sally-Ann HQ is out of step with both reality and society.
That’s a problem. A big problem.
* There are of course some great religious charities and I’m not suggesting religious charities should be shut down or anything insane like that. I’m big a fan of MCC’s work (Mennonite Central Committee), for example.
**Some might say they’re make-believe crap. I haven’t read ’em. Liked the third movie, though.
