| ‘I see the costumes and I also see what is going on in our society. When I was growing up and in elementary school (I’m 56 now) we had a book that was given to us called THINK AND DO. I’m sure there are many who remember this book. Maybe a book like this should be reintroduced into the schools. (Our note: This is not too likely since Governor Schwarzenegger recently banned any mention of “Mom and Dad” and “husband and wife” have been banned in California schools because it might be offensive to gays. Read more here.)
Many of the books we used in those days taught us not only academics but taught us the meaning of setting good examples for others. Good examples such as charity, modesty, cleanliness and being kind and considerate of others’ feelings. Children have lost their innocence. They have been brought up by their grandparents, or strangers. As a result there is no bonding taking place between the child and his or her parents. I don’t know what kind of bonding can take place between grandparents or care-givers with their grandchildren or another parent’s children? But I don’t believe that it can ever be the same as the closeness that there needs to be between children and their parents. A terrible thing happened here in Western New York earlier this year. A stay-at-home- mother had just dropped her young son off at a day care center and drove off to go jogging on a bike path in a remote area. Unfortunately she never returned to pick her son back up. She was killed by a notorious bike path rapist and killer while jogging that day. When her father was asked about the kind of person she was, he said that she cared a lot about her health and being fit. I can’t help but think about what she sacrificed and gave up that day for her health and fitness. I know that prayer helps. And I know how important it is to pray for our children. I have a son and daughter. I pray for them and I am always asking others to pray for them also. Maybe one day, due to what may result from the decay of the values and standards of society’s children, is that the parents of these children will with no other choice, resort to falling on their knees in prayer. We must pray for the parents of these children and we must pray for one another. May God bless us and may Mary keep us under Her Mantle – MLS |
DL writes: This the letter I wrote to Party City. Thanks for the reminder. I was stunned when I was in the store last week, but forgot once I got home.
Greetings: I took my 6yo daughter to your Alpharetta location last week to get her some angel wings for her Halloween costume. Since she is rarely in the store, she was naturally intrigued by all the pictures of children in costumes. “Mommy, why is that little girl dressed like that?” was directed at several outlandish costumes in the photos. In stead of being able to let her enjoy seeing the children dressed in cute and clever costumes, I wound up pulling her away from the huge display. When she spotted the “adult” costumes displayed high where you couldn’t NOT see them, I had to remove her from the department. I left the store with the feeling that I had just visited a sleazy “Spencer’s Gift Shop.” Is there really a market for costumes that help a little girl dress like a French Maid? A gangster with a gun? A toddler girl as a devil with a bare tummy? To have a pre-teen dress as a “Devil Bride?” Or did you feel it was your civic responsibility to create such morally bereft costumes? My visit to your store this “season” has definitely changed my view of your company. I hope you change your costume strategy for next year. Until then I will be purchasing my “party” goods elsewhere. She received an automated response: I am no longer with Party City Corporation. If you have any Seasonal questions, please contact Jennifer King @x 8757 or Nancy Petracca @ x 8845 |
