Thursday, January 13, 2005
Order Yours Now
What is wrong with people? In a nation run amok with actual examples of intolerance, prejudice and outright hatred who has time to vilify a teddy bear? Apparently a certain Jerry Goessel does. Whether Mr. Goessel's position as the executive director of the Vermont chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill denotes his status as a mental health care professional or as professionally under mental health care I cannot say, but he is threatened by teddy bears.
"Crazy for You" joins a cast of quirky characters including "Gangster of Love", "Love Handle Bear" and "Playbear Playmate" among others who within the scope of their diverse ranks cover most concepts of what is cute, playful or tasteful your likely to in counter in a 21st century romance. But unlike bears in flaming boxer shorts, push-up bras, and any number of outfits suitable for a Village People concert or after hours at a Shriners convention "Crazy for You" is offensive not because he looks like a furry version of Patsy Cline (which he doesn't) , but because he is wearing a straightjacket. Apparently the modeling of this one garment/device by a wee plushy bear is enough to invoke outrage among certain healers of the psycho-emotional human condition because Mr. Goessel has, with full colleague backing so he claims, demanded that the poor love-addled bear be removed from the market immediately. This is where I am inclined to doubt the complaintants's interest in "sensitivity" as such an action on the part of The Vermont Teddy Bear Company would obviously leave the furry little fellow with severely undermined self-esteem and potentially catastrophic abandonment issues.
Speaking as a person whose sanity has been publicly called into question on any number of occasions let me go on record as stating that, I don't know about you, but Romeo would have a much better shot with me come February 14th if he showed up toting this adorable little straightjacketed ursine nutter in lieu of some tacky dreadful from Macy's, International Male or Chevrolet.
So in closing, physician, or whatever you are, heal thyself and leave the little bear be.
"Crazy for You" joins a cast of quirky characters including "Gangster of Love", "Love Handle Bear" and "Playbear Playmate" among others who within the scope of their diverse ranks cover most concepts of what is cute, playful or tasteful your likely to in counter in a 21st century romance. But unlike bears in flaming boxer shorts, push-up bras, and any number of outfits suitable for a Village People concert or after hours at a Shriners convention "Crazy for You" is offensive not because he looks like a furry version of Patsy Cline (which he doesn't) , but because he is wearing a straightjacket. Apparently the modeling of this one garment/device by a wee plushy bear is enough to invoke outrage among certain healers of the psycho-emotional human condition because Mr. Goessel has, with full colleague backing so he claims, demanded that the poor love-addled bear be removed from the market immediately. This is where I am inclined to doubt the complaintants's interest in "sensitivity" as such an action on the part of The Vermont Teddy Bear Company would obviously leave the furry little fellow with severely undermined self-esteem and potentially catastrophic abandonment issues.
Speaking as a person whose sanity has been publicly called into question on any number of occasions let me go on record as stating that, I don't know about you, but Romeo would have a much better shot with me come February 14th if he showed up toting this adorable little straightjacketed ursine nutter in lieu of some tacky dreadful from Macy's, International Male or Chevrolet.
So in closing, physician, or whatever you are, heal thyself and leave the little bear be.
