I just received word that a large French newspaper “le Figaro” (http://lefigaro.fr/) reported that my magnets were on sale at Toys-R-Us. I just finished a phone interview with Matthieu Bock, a reporter for French National Radio Europe (will air tomorrow), and apparently a Christian person called in the news to the paper.
From what I could gather from the reporter’s account, a call was actually made to Toys-R-Us and they responded “No. That is not us. It’s a boy in New York who did this. We do not carry the magnet.”
Of course the rumor stemmed from the visit I made 4 months ago to Toys-R-Us Times Square when I infiltrated their store and planted the toys on their shelves myself. Read the sidebar of hate mail page 382.
I told the reporter that I did indeed go and put them on the shelves myself because Toys-R-Us refused to stock them and I felt they should. I waited and watched people go up and take them to purchase, so I was right. The reporter asked if I was aware the story was in this very big paper in France and I said I was not, but am happy it is, and I’ll go put my magnets in Walmart next.
Here is the letter from a French fan explaining what he read, and the article translated from here:
“Hi Normal Bob
First of all thanks for the silly humor on your site which I enjoyed. I live in Paris France and only just discovered it because of the internet buzz about the Toy’R’us boycott mentioned in le Figaro, a conservative right wing daily newspaper, which once again has made a fool of itself. Bravo for taking on the fundies as you call them. Luckily here in France they are not so powerful as in the US (after all our forefathers and mothers did kick their butts in 1789 when we also chopped of our good king’s head, so they tend to keep a lower profile here). But there are a few left and they’re as stupid as everywhere else. Also many kudos for taking the time to answer the mounds of appalling hate mail you receive! It’s nice to hear someone tell’em like it is. You mention the Figaro article on your site saying you’d like to know more about it , I found it and translated it for you. It was a short piece but is being relayed a lot on other webmedias and blogs so you’re probably getting a lot of hits from France these days. Here’s the figaro piece, in case you haven’t found it already:
A Toy Upsets Christians
Mobilization of christian groups: a few weeks before christmas, the toy store Toys’R’Us is selling an untasteful game, to say the least..
Ha! Awesome. Nice work, Bob. Wish I could do more like that down here (Fla.). I do however, distribute your pamphlets where I can.
heavens no!!!
bravo my lord bravo
And thats why your my hero