The newest social insanity has to do with a breast cancer awareness rubber bracelet that says “I (heart) boobies.” This bracelet was being worn in schools in California, and they have banned them. The bracelets were made available to school kids for four dollars by The Keep A Breast Foundation, which is a non-profit organization.
Associated Press Writer Bob Moen has posted an article titled “Cancer bracelets raise debate over school codes.”
The American Civil Liberties Union got involved, saying that not allowing students to wear the bracelets was a violation of free speech.
The name of the foundation, “Keep A Breast Foundation,” to me is crude and insensitive. Perhaps it doesn’t bother most people, but I think it shows little respect to women.
Let’s examine the “I (heart) boobies.” According to the Foundation, based on Moen’s report, they say the bracelets will “teach them [kids] more about breast cancer (and) encourage dialogue with parents.”
Let’s take a magic carpet ride back to junior high school. You see your friend in the eighth or ninth grade come into home room wearing a bracelet that says “I (heart) boobies.”
I can almost see kids rocking an imaginary cradle with their arms or giggling or the girls faking false modesty but looking down and laughing, and those who are embarrassed turning red — I can feel the unrest in the room. C’mon, man.
Ultimately, the student around whom this controversy started was allowed to wear the bracelet, except in the presence of two teachers. One teacher has breast cancer and another lost a relative. Isn’t it odd that those who have had an encounter with the illness don’t find the slogan “I (heart) boobies” at all comforting?
The marketing manager for The Keep A Breast Foundation, Kimmy (I want to comment on this name but won’t) McAtee, thinks that it is good they have gotten a lot of publicity. As you read on in Moen’s report, you see that McAtee also feels that the bracelets are a great conversation-starter.
One of the fields I was intimately involved with during my 27-year career in insurance when I was an Executive Vice President was marketing.
This bracelet was designed to promote sales and get free promotion. Why would a non-profit organization still be interested in profit? Within the confines of a non-profit organization are salaries of key players and the existence of funds allows for salary increases.
Simply put, in my opinion, this program is disrespectful to women both with and without cancer, and further is “using” young people who trust an organization to be on the up-and-up with their intent toward the students. This is another example of what sad state of affairs our country is in when it comes to exhibiting class.
I am angered and ashamed with respect to what this “Foundation” has done.
References:
Yahoo News Website, Bob Moen, “Cancer bracelets raise debate over school codes”
