Iran Prosecutor Sees Barbie Dolls as Destructive

Same As it Ever Was



Iran has seen the face of the enemy--and it's plastic.

No, we're not talking about Nancy Pelosi; Iran's top prosecutor said imports of Barbie dolls and and other decadent Western toys will have destructive cultural and social consequences for the Islamic Republic.

Iran's conservative clerical establishment often rails against the perceived dangers of U.S.-inspired culture and consumerism, branding it "Westoxication."

But young Iranians are often keen consumers of such music, films and other goods from the West. Iconic toy brands can be bought in children's shops in the capital Tehran and elsewhere.

"The appearance of personalities such as Barbie, Batman, Spiderman and Harry Potter and ... computer games and movies are all a danger warning to the officials in the cultural arena," said Prosecutor General Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi in a letter to Vice President Parviz Davoudi published in the Mardom Salari daily.

Najafabadi, a high-ranking cleric, said Iran was the world's third biggest importer of toys and suggested this posed a threat to the "personality and identity" of the new generation.

The cartoon at the beginning of this story is from October 2006: once again Cox and Forkum were ahead of the curve. The cartoon above chronicles the Saudi freak-out at the time over Barbie.

Maybe it's contagious.

by RidesAPaleHorse
image: cox and Forkum
Source: Official sees "Destructive" Barbie influence


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Mystery of the Delaware Dolls

[image:delawareonline]
by Mondoreb & Little Baby Ginn

What's up with the mysterious Delaware Dolls?

It's a story that makes one go "How nice!"--unless you've seen the movie, 'Chucky'.

From Delaware online:

It is a sight that is either cute or creepy, depending on your perspective.

Various residents on Dodd Avenue, just north of Dewey Beach, have woken up to find porcelain dolls on their property -- without explanation.

The street intersects with Del.1 and is part of the Ann Acres neighborhood.

Ellen Elliott is in possession of three of the dolls. "I think it started on Sept. 24 or 25," she said. "There were four of us who had dolls sitting on our front steps. There was one sitting on the hood of my car.

"My first thought was, 'Oh, how nice.' They're beautiful dolls. But when I found out my neighbors also had them I began to wonder what was going on."

Read into this what you will: the beginnings of an elaborate terrorist plot, a philanthropist using dolls as his medium, or just someone clearing out the attic?

Will Dodd Avenue become a sort of Elm Street?




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