to ask for your help in writing an objection to Operation Christmas Child?

[autumnwinds]

Our local primary is supporting OCC and has published a piece in the village magazine explaining how wonderful it is and how much the local children enjoy it, what a difference it makes to needy children, and inviting local residents to donate too. The piece omits any reference to the evangelical christian literature that is distributed with the parcels and the way that the gifts are used as a tool to agressively convert recipients to christianity.

I would like to write a reply for publishing in next month's issue trying to give the full picture so that people can make an informed choice about whether to donate to this charity, and to suggest some alternatives that don't come with the religious baggage.

As I don't have a child at the primary yet I'm not sure about tackling the school itself about it (they are not a faith school, so not sure they should be supporting this). DC will be starting next year so I might save that fight for next xmas!

Anyway does anyone have any ideas about a few lines I could write, something succinct and unemotional? I feel quite cross about it but don't want to come across as an equally fundamentalist atheist. I've been looking for some evidence on the web for people who want to know more but most of it is not well referenced...

That's a good letter, OP.

Shame the thread had to go the scenic route because some people didn't understand or accept what you were actually asking in your OP, but you got there in the end!

Oh lord I didn't know that about the pledge and discipleship programme!I have filled my last shoebox and will stick to Mary's Meals in future.

thegreylady, do please click the links on previous posts.

The religious literature is given out by OCC "partners" once the shoeboxes have arrived at their destination. Removing any religious items already in the shoebox is a pointless exercise because the evangelising is done after the shoebox is filled.

With respect, I think you're being naive if you think anything goes, as long as the children get a shoebox and are happy with it.

X-post, thegreylady

I did not know the shoeboxes had religious connections! Thanks for keeping us informed Mumsnet, it's more than the schools could manage (and one IS non-denominational).

I had not thought about this Autumnwinds so I am really glad you started this thread and I hope you do well informing people so they can make a choice.
Personally I know in the past I have put together shoeboxes for one of my children to take to school.
However - I am an aithiest and I am usually thoughtful about what charities I support. I would not knowing support any charity that srongly promoted a religious message of any sort.
So again, thanks and good luck.

The letter is very good- it's not about boycotting Christian charities, it's about informing people about what they are spending money on and giving them choices and alternatives should they object to the practices of the charity, which they may not otherwise be aware of.

People who object to giving donors more information about the cause are essentially saying that ignorance is bliss and that they don't want people to discover the true nature of the charity, in case it gets in the way of the evangelism. If you were so confident and assured of the charity's motives, then you would have no problem with putting that information out there, iyswim.

YABU. They don't put Christion literature in every box. There is not just plastic tat in the boxes, They ask for things like gloves,hats,scarves and other stuff aswell as toys. If you don't want to support them then don't. There are some charities I don't support but I don't tell others not to.

mumee, you haven't read the thread either, have you?

YANBU OP and I had no idea that the charity was this pushy and I feel very icky knowing I've sent shoeboxes in the past. Hugely unethical and abusive.

No more OCC for us.

my school is supporting this. I Imagine most parents have no idea about this organisation. Some seem to think it is the Samaritans. I do have a problem with it, I have a problem with Franklyn Graham and what his style of evangelism entails. They are missionaries, they aim to convert and not to just any old christianity but to their brand. I have a problem with them using these boxes to reach children to get their message across. Have a problem that they seem to be political, anti Islam, right wing, homophobic and if they had their way would ban abortions. Imagine most British folk find their brand of Christianity unpalatable, so why would you support them exporting it to other more vulnerable countries.

Oh good God, it gets worse...SP is run by Billy Graham's son...yuck, yuck, yuck.

I think you're right, bling.

It's also the fact that SP and OCC are so untruthful about the full extent of their evangelising through the shoebox scheme.

Everyone bleating on upthread about people being able to make their own mind up is ignoring the fact that you cannot properly decide whether to support a charity if that charity isn't open and honest about their activities.

And the poster who suggested vulnerable children can just throw away the toys if they don't want them left me

Excellent letter OP, and I totally agree with you. Any organisation that peddles such shit/includes a fucking pledge to god signed in return for a box is pretty low IMO. Give charity or don't, but don't fucking preach as a condition to receive.

pink, what is worse is that Franklin Graham's brand of evangelical Christianity makes Billy Graham look like the Dalai Lama.

ODFOD.

You don't have to give, its your right. Choose another charity and stop pissing on other peoples chips.

This seems to come up often on mumsnet with people asking how they can get the truth known about OCC collections from their schools. I found this very interesting thread where an OCC employee came on and tried to defend their actions.... pretty much completely unsuccessfully www.mumsnet.com/Talk/charities_noticeboard/1862903-Operation-Christmas-Child?pg=1

wow such a nice response :) interesting that it's the pro OCC posters that seem so very rude and un Christian

YANBU. I had to quickly tell the Head at the school where I work about OCC after it was announced in assembly we'd be sending boxes. We will now be sending them to link to hope instead. Phew! I loved the story I found about when Franklyn Graham booked a stadium in Iceland to preach his hateful shite. It sold out. Basically the citizens of Iceland decided to piss him off by buying up the tickets then not turning up.

morethan, you have completely missed the point of this thread.

OP wanted help to get the truth about OCC out there so that people can make an informed decision about whether to support the charity, based on an understanding of its evangelical activities.

On this thread, only those people with similar views to your seem to have any difficulty understanding the OP.

morethanpotatoprints Pissing on other peoples chips? So it's all about how the giver feels, in their cosy little ignorant bubble, rather than the reality of the charities practises? I for one am grateful that someone 'pissed on my chips' as I know the truth and am not handing over gifts, only for them to be used as a tool.

X-post, gordy

Wtf!!

You don't even have a child at the school?

Butt out!!

natwebb

madame, the first line of the OP states that the school invited local residents also to donate. Hence how she knew about it.

I wish there was an "exasperated" emoticon!