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To the Editor:
Katelyn Walls Shelton says the Barbie movie wants you to believe being pregnant is weird. Midge, a pregnant Barbie doll that serves as the butt of lots of jokes, was discontinued “because a pregnant doll is just weird.” Barbie wants to empower women to be anything they are or choose to be and in the movie Barbie comes in every career, country, shade, size and even sex or gender except the one thing most women have in common which is becoming a mother. Some say the original Barbie doll was a symbol of unattainable beauty standards, while the new Barbie movie is a symbol of incoherent angry feminist standards. Shelton says “any feminism that denies our bodies is just Gnosticism painted pink.” Shelton says having a baby is normal and incredible. There’s nothing weird about it despite what the Barbie movie says. The Barbie movie underscores our society’s modern obsession with individualism, a philosophy that would pit our own bodies against their biological purposes.
Christian movie critic Dr. Ted Baehr warns parents not to take their children to see the new movie “Barbie.” Baehr said the movie opens with a scene featuring girls playing with baby dolls and the children “bash them and slap them” and proclaim something along the lines of, “We don’t have to be mothers anymore.” The thought of little girls bashing baby dolls is just deplorable and symbolizes abortion or child abuse. Baehr said “Barbie” is a “hardcore feminist” and paints men as the “problem” in society. Barbie is materialistic. “She’s everything he is, just not Ken.” Barbie appears to hate Ken. “Men are the villains and … there are a couple of transgender people playing characters.” It is an attack on women and men alike. Baehr said, “You’re saying to those little girls who go to see this movie that some boy can be a better little girl.” The movie says, “You don’t have to be women to be women.” There are sexual jokes and innuendos. One actor said it has candy with a little poison. It is clearly inappropriate for children under 13. The fact the rating is PG13 should be a red flag that the movie isn’t for children. Sadly, many parents will take their young children to the Barbie movie that is inappropriate for those under 13 just like millions allow their young children on Facebook that is inappropriate for young children. Millions of parents also allow their children to have inappropriate sexual and or very violent video games. Newer studies show exposure to virtual violence can trigger mental heath struggles including depression and anxiety in children. Parents who allow their children to see and hear inappropriate things shouldn’t be surprised when their children do inappropriate things. The Barbie movie like most entertainment is inappropriate for children. The Chosen series is good entertainment for children. Reading Bible stories to children and taking them to church is the best entertainment for children. The goal for parents isn’t entertainment but to bring their children to trust in and for love Jesus.
Americans have become obsessed with ourselves. Americans are obsessed with our looks, ethnicity, skin color, wealth, gender, physical status, weight, our adornment (jewelry, tattoos, hair styles etc.) and our clothing. Many Americans are willing to pay any price to “make themselves” just right. That payment comes in the form of money, habits, pain, surgeries and some may even cost their life or the future lives of their children. A permission slip from the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) named “Puberty Blockers for Young Teens” says, “If your child starts puberty blockers in the earliest stages of puberty and then goes on gender-affirming hormones they will not develop sperm or eggs. This means they will not be able to have children.” The problem is our focus is on ourselves and our body and on worldly things and not the eternal godly things. Our purpose is to entertain, serve and honor ourselves and not to serve and honor Jesus. We refer to ourselves as black, white, Asian, Hispanic, straight, gay, transgender, religious, atheist, etc. The reality is we are all just people who are fallen, broken, confused, sinful and in need of Jesus the only Savior. The Bible says, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God’s sight.” The truth is none of us need certain clothes, jewelry, surgeries, tattoos, hair styles, weight, wealth, etc., or any other false identity factor to be happy and fulfilled. We all need the saving grace of Jesus!

D.D Nave
Elizabethton