CPTnet
4 January 2007

CHICAGO, IL: Celestial choir sings out against violent toys

On New Year's Day, 2007, fifteen members of CPT's winter training group
presented a dramatic retelling of the Nativity, complete with a Christmas
choir, inside a Chicago Toys R Us store.

 This year's witness, part of an ongoing campaign against violent toys,
accompanied the grim news of the 3000th U.S. casualty in Iraq. Leaflets
quoting video game packages that promote "killing without mercy" and promise
valuable military training made the connection to the U.S. war in Iraq.

The scene inside the store began with traditional Magi presenting the Holy
Family with life-giving, nonviolent gifts. But soon, military recruiters
and vengeful video game characters intruded, offering blood, gore and
violence to the newborn babe. Joseph, in his wisdom, replied with a quiet
gesture of refusal as the choir sang out "Hear our message from on high/who
will pay the consequence?/ Parents, think before you buy/violent toys teach
violence." (adapted from "Angels We Have Heard on High.") The group then
spent ten minutes singing adapted Christmas carols to the shoppers and
clerks before processing out to the tune of "The Little Drummer Boy."

Outside the store, CPTers and supporters gathered with the assembled media
while waiting for the choir and nativity characters to come outside. They
held signs that read "At Toys R Us' 'leave a trail of destruction'"; "At
Toys R Us, 'every bullet is your baby''" and "At Toys R Us, 'guns are the
stars'"--all quotations from video games available inside the store.

In media interviews, members of the training group questioned the wisdom of
giving violent toys and games to children as entertainment. "Do we really
want to have children master the roles of sniper and machine gunner," asked
Rev. Garland Robertson. "Politicians and health officials have known for
years that violent toys teach aggressive and violent behavior to children,"
he added. "On this day when the 3000th U.S. soldier died in Iraq, we must
look to alternative ways of solving conflict. We must look to the Prince of
Peace and God's Way of Love."

 Store managers called the police, who threatened arrest, saying that the
group did not have permission to gather in the parking lot. However, no
arrests were made, and the group was able to finish singing and speaking
with the media before leaving.

Members of the training group were Renee Borsberry (El Paso, TX), Laura
Ciaghi (Trento, Italy), Joy Ellison (Vancouver, WA), Jill Granberg (Olympia
WA), Eileen Hanson (Winona, MN), John Harris (Pasadena, CA), John Heid
(Luck, WI), Steve Heinrichs (Vancouver, BC), Michael McMurray (Cleveland
Heights, OH), Ilse Mueshlsteph (Bielefeld, Germany), Joe Mueller (Cleveland,
OH), Sean O'Neill (Springfield, OH), Garland Robertson (Austin, TX), Sarah
Shirk (Chicago, IL), and Mary Wendeln (Washington, DC).