Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: mrblack on October 09, 2003, 01:40:26 AM
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This is getting silly!!
Are we still in America?
LIVONIA, Mich. - At first glance, this new girl on the block doesn't give Barbie much of a run for her money. After all, Barbie is everything Razanne is not — curvaceous, flashy and loaded with sex appeal.
AP Photo
Related Links
• Razanne Dolls (NoorArt)
But that's exactly why many Muslim Americans prefer Razanne, with her long-sleeved dresses, head scarf and, by her creator Ammar Saadeh's own admission, a not-so-buxom bustline.
For Saadeh, the doll not only fills a marketing void but also offers Muslim girls someone they can relate to.
"The main message we try to put forward through the doll is that what matters is what's inside you, not how you look," said Saadeh, who set up NoorArt Inc. with his wife and a few other investors.
The Livonia-based company, founded about seven years ago, sells the Razanne doll and a number of other toys geared toward Muslim children.
"It doesn't matter if you're tall or short, thin or fat, beautiful or not, the real beauty seen by God and fellow Muslims is what's in your soul," he said.
Razanne has the body of a preteen. The doll comes in three types: fair-skinned blonde, olive-skinned with black hair, or black skin and black hair.
Her aspirations are those of a modern Muslim woman. On the drawing board for future dolls are Dr. Razanne and possibly even Astronaut Razanne. There's also Muslim Girl Scout Razanne, complete with a cassette recording of the Muslim Scout's oath.
What sets Razanne apart from her few competitors is that she "holds a global appeal for Muslim girls," Saadeh said. That image encouraged Mimo Debryn, of West Bloomfield Township, to buy the doll for her daughter, Jenna, four years ago.
"Razanne looks like the majority of women around Jenna," said Debryn. "She loves that doll and always took care of her, giving Razanne a special place in her room, treating her with respect.
"Jenna never tried to take Razanne's hijab (head scarf) off, though Barbie was usually stripped naked," she said as her daughter, 11, curled up on the couch and smiled.
In the United States, Mattel, which makes Barbie, markets a Moroccan Barbie and sells a collector's doll named Leyla. Leyla's elaborate costume and tale of being taken as a slave in the court of a Turkish sultan are intended to convey the tribulations of one Muslim girl in the 1720s.
"It's no surprise that they'd try to portray a Middle Eastern Barbie either as a belly dancer or a concubine," said Saadeh, adding that countering such stereotypes was one of his main aims in developing Razanne.
Mattel didn't respond to repeated calls seeking comment.
Laila, the Arab League's answer to Barbie, offered girls of the league's 22-member states a culturally acceptable alternative to Barbie's flashy lifestyle. But she never made it to store shelves. Sara and Dara were launched a couple of years ago — Iran's version of Barbie and her beau, Ken. The two were offshoots of a children's cartoon in Iran.
But Saadeh said those dolls are more "cultural and don't have mass appeal in the Middle East."
Saadeh hopes to capture that market. Razanne will soon be marketed in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and make greater inroads in southeast Asia.
The doll is sold throughout the United States, Canada, Singapore and Germany. Saadeh would not reveal the doll's sales figures, but he said retail sales over the company's Web site account for a majority of the almost 30,000 dolls sold per year.
Prices range from $9.99 for a single doll to $24.99 for a set like Teacher Razanne that includes a briefcase and other accessories.
Saudi Arabia's religious police recently declared Barbie dolls a threat to morality, complaining that the revealing clothes are offensive to Islam.
Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries likely would be attracted to Praying Razanne, who comes complete with a long hijab and modest prayer gown.
Lest people think that she's all about praying, there's In-Out Razanne, whose wardrobe also includes a short, flowery dress she can wear inside the home, in view only of men in her family.
"Razanne represents to Muslim girls that they have options, goals and dreams and the ability to realize them," said Debryn.
Jenna, who recently donned the veil after much soul-searching, said Razanne makes her "feel more comfortable about being a Muslim girl."
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Originally posted by mrblack
This is getting silly!!
Are we still in America?
You're right! There should be no Muslim dolls in America! Religious freedom and capitalism do not apply to Muslims!
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Dam right !! tell that to the Jews:(
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Originally posted by mrblack
This is getting silly!!
Are we still in America?
Whats so silly about it? Its a fricken doll.
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Nothing I quess just the erossion of the American culture.
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Jews? Muslims? Christians? Naughty religion.
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Originally posted by mrblack
Nothing I quess just the erossion of the American culture.
I can see the barbie doll causing the whole american culture to crumble.. Damn evil i say .. EVIL!
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I wonder, is it an erosion of american culture because the people doing it are not white? Or because they are not christians?
I'd just like some clarification so I can figure out what type of bigotry is being demonstrated.
Best regards,
Chairboy
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My god.. .hes a threat to ameriika, this is obviously an attempt to brainwash the ameriikan children to towards muslim belifs, like for example create belly dancers...
..hey wait.. :confused: create belly dancers? bring 'em, give it to 'em and let's enjoy in 10-20 years about it!
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Do they have the Ken doll with dynamite vest?
What about Skipper with the Honor Killing action set, complete stones and a tube of fake blood?
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You mean I cant Keep my "Genie" Barbie doll anymore ...?
(http://home.att.net/~valtoy/genie7.jpg)
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Howdy Funked,
Is there an 'Abortion Doctor Killer' or 'Molester Priest' Ken out yet?
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You assume biggotry is going on here.
Simply stating that muslims are a violet religion
and are preaching hate in the mosk church whatever you call it.
They strap bombs on ther children to go blow themselves up fo alhla.
we are fighting a war agaist the terroist if we let them all move over here our streets will soon be coverd in the blood of americans.
Nothing like having you enemy in your back yard.
OUY boaders should be locked down by the military.
To keep the terroist out and the illegal drugs and the illegal workers.
Think about it this way we as a country cant take car of the people we have now.
So how in Gods name are we going to take care of all these new people coming in daily????
The melting pot is FULL.
We cant afford all of this we need to feed our kids we need to school our kids.
Our kids need medical care.
and I nice home with a mother and a father to love annd guide them .
so they will grow up to be somebody .
If not they will end up on crack living in the streets.
And there medical care when they do get it Tax payers will be handling that as well.
so in closing we cant take care of what we have now ..
where will the jobs come from hell there all going over seas
they gettin all the dam jobs why they comin over here?
People look long and hrd at the Soup we are in.
Good old America Is Hurting She is in deep chit.
what do we need to do? and ideas?
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Originally posted by mrblack
You assume biggotry is going on here.
Simply stating that muslims are a violet religion
and are preaching hate in the mosk church whatever you call it.
They strap bombs on ther children to go blow themselves up fo alhla.
we are fighting a war agaist the terroist if we let them all move over here our streets will soon be coverd in the blood of americans.
Nothing like having you enemy in your back yard.
OUY boaders should be locked down by the military.
To keep the terroist out and the illegal drugs and the illegal workers.
Think about it this way we as a country cant take car of the people we have now.
So how in Gods name are we going to take care of all these new people coming in daily????
The melting pot is FULL.
We cant afford all of this we need to feed our kids we need to school our kids.
Our kids need medical care.
and I nice home with a mother and a father to love annd guide them .
so they will grow up to be somebody .
If not they will end up on crack living in the streets.
And there medical care when they do get it Tax payers will be handling that as well.
so in closing we cant take care of what we have now ..
where will the jobs come from hell there all going over seas
they gettin all the dam jobs why they comin over here?
People look long and hrd at the Soup we are in.
Good old America Is Hurting She is in deep chit.
what do we need to do? and ideas?
First things first.... School really is a GOOD thing mrblack. Paying attention while your there is even better.
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Yeah So what School is where I learned to drink:eek:
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Is that sniper school you learnt to drink at?
I suggest you go take your l33t Sn1p3R skillz and go on the rampage in a toy shop in the name of keeping America, American. Those ragheads won't stand a chance!
Tool.
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Originally posted by mrblack
Yeah So what School is where I learned to drink:eek:
We'll keep an eye out for ya on Jerry :D
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Hey kids!
Razanne's boyfriend, Abdul, comes with an AK-47, a "Death to the Infidel" dynamite belt which includes the Martyr's headscarf!
Be the first one on YOUR block to have Abdul blow up the Pizza shop!
Be sure to get the optional "Ululating Razanne" add-on sound pack so that Razanne can properly praise Abdul's new martrydom!
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Simply stating that muslims are a violet religion
lucky those christians in northern ireland weren't
:rolleyes:
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just wondering, is there a Christian Barbie? ya know holding a Bible and Rosary?
How bout a Hindu or Buddhist one?
if there is, I can stomach a Muslim Barbie, if there isn't - just another PC move to whitewash today's problems to our youth
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There was no "Pheasant Hunting Ken" complete with SKB O/U 12 ga, yellow lab and LL Bean boots when my kids were young.
Poor basteegees.. they had to use me as a role model.
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Sounds like someone's gonna make a lot of money by identifying a previously ignored niche market and selling to it. What's more American than that?
-- Todd/Leviathn
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So every religion in the entire world has to have a barbie doll before a Muslim version can be brought out?
Hysterical.
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Originally posted by mrblack
You assume biggotry is going on here.
Simply stating that muslims are a violet religion
and are preaching hate in the mosk church whatever you call it.
They strap bombs on ther children to go blow themselves up fo alhla.
we are fighting a war agaist the terroist if we let them all move over here our streets will soon be coverd in the blood of americans.
Nothing like having you enemy in your back yard.
OUY boaders should be locked down by the military.
To keep the terroist out and the illegal drugs and the illegal workers.
Think about it this way we as a country cant take car of the people we have now.
So how in Gods name are we going to take care of all these new people coming in daily????
The melting pot is FULL.
We cant afford all of this we need to feed our kids we need to school our kids.
Our kids need medical care.
and I nice home with a mother and a father to love annd guide them .
so they will grow up to be somebody .
If not they will end up on crack living in the streets.
And there medical care when they do get it Tax payers will be handling that as well.
so in closing we cant take care of what we have now ..
where will the jobs come from hell there all going over seas
they gettin all the dam jobs why they comin over here?
People look long and hrd at the Soup we are in.
Good old America Is Hurting She is in deep chit.
what do we need to do? and ideas?
Man, it would take me an hour to address every misguided point you spew out in this mass of verbal vomit.
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updating my signature.
test
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Originally posted by Dowding
So every religion in the entire world has to have a barbie doll before a Muslim version can be brought out?
Hysterical.
why a muslim before a Christian or Jehovah Witness doll?
just wondering ... think there is a larger market for muslims dolls than the others? are we sure it isn't against their religion to even play with dolls?
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Nothing wrong with having toys for your children to match your values so long as they don't encourage anti-social behavior. The below quote is something we'd all do well to consider.
"It doesn't matter if you're tall or short, thin or fat, beautiful or not, the real beauty seen by God and fellow Muslims is what's in your soul," he said.
I do find it a bit amusing though how so many that jump to the defense of a Muslim will spit in the eye of a Christian.
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Originally posted by Eagler
why a muslim before a Christian or Jehovah Witness doll?
Probably because a Muslim man decided that he wanted to. Does there need to be any more reason than that in a free country like America?
Originally posted by Eagler
just wondering ... think there is a larger market for muslims dolls than the others?
Yes. 1 billion muslims worldwide, with the largest Muslim population in the US located nearby (Detroit area of Michigan, right next to Livonia).
Originally posted by Eagler
are we sure it isn't against their religion to even play with dolls?
I'd guess that Ammar did a bit of research to know if Muslims are allowed to play with dolls before he put his efforts into founding a Muslim doll company. Not to mention that he's probably (judging from his name) a Muslim himself.
From the article, it sounds like this doll was created by a Muslim (Ammar Saadeh), by a family run company (NoorArt), to be distributed to a sizeable (1 billion worldwide) consumer population. This sounds like a good, market-driven business to me.
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why a muslim before a Christian or Jehovah Witness doll?
Eh? Is there some unwritten law detailing the theological order of niche markets? Some enterprising individual has decided to exploit a particular market. Seems good sense to me.
just wondering ... think there is a larger market for muslims dolls than the others?
I'm not the people selling the dolls, so how should I know? Clearly they did their homework and believe they can make some money. Isn't that called 'Free Enterprise'?
are we sure it isn't against their religion to even play with dolls?
I think you should re-phrase that, replacing ' are we' with 'am I'.
I do find it a bit amusing though how so many that jump to the defense of a Muslim will spit in the eye of a Christian.
Equally, it is funny that those who wish to preserve Christian values from the inhuman Islamic onslaught seek to make something out of a bunch of dolls been sold to a bunch of people who want to buy them.
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Originally posted by Eagler
why a muslim before a Christian or Jehovah Witness doll?
What would a Christian doll look like exactly?
And I doubt there's enough of a market for Jehovah's Witness dolls to justify the expense of production.
-- Todd/Leviathn
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(http://www.noorart.com/media/PrayingRazanne-b-new.jpg)
nevermind
thought the barbie ppl were putting out a muslim doll - diff distributor altogether - more power to him
dowding - how many did you order ? :)
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None. I'm broke after being caught speeding for the second time in 3 months - never been caught previously. £60 fine, another 3 points on my license (that's 6 altogether - another 6 and I'm banned).
When it rains it pours.
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Originally posted by mrblack
You assume biggotry is going on here.
Simply stating that muslims are a violet religion blah blah blah blah.....
"Moron" thats all i can say.
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Let them have the doll.
I cant see it selling well, however... I cant help to think it would be any more appealing to a Muslim child than Nun Barbie or Rabbi Ken would be to a Christian or Jewish Child.
Dress up Nun Barbie in her single outfit! Nun Barbie's knees bend so she can pray - Yeah! "I dont wanna grow up, cause if I did...!"
New Rabbi Ken! Comes complete with dradle and circumscision kit! Spin your way into new money as a foreskin removal tycoon - this is fun, Mom! "OW!" "... I wouldnt be a Toys R Us kid!"
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Originally posted by mrblack
Nothing I quess just the erossion of the American culture.
LOL! that's priceless. I don't believe you really understand how the American culture was/is developed. I'll give you a hint: 511 years ago, the indians were the only American culture. That changed because of what? And what has continually happened since then?
Erossion of the American culture... LOL!
MiniD
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What? No Ak-47? Or string to pull to get that YADA YADA YADA scream of theirs?
Bah...Im going to RealDoll.Com :o
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Originally posted by mrblack
This is getting silly!!
Are we still in America?...
Hello pugsly, I thought Skuzzy gave you the boot.
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Originally posted by LePaul
What? No Ak-47? Or string to pull to get that YADA YADA YADA scream of theirs?
Its under the robe with a few sticks o dynamite.
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can we have a JAP (Jewish-American Princess) doll?
with the funny voice too.!