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Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel Kennebec Journal Morning Sentinel
Store takes heat for selling 'Problem Solved' T-shirt
By BETTY ADAMS
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Saturday, December 16, 2006

AUGUSTA -- A children's T-shirt has aroused the ire of a local shopper.

The T-shirt depicts two panels of stick figures, with a male figure pushing a female figure out of a box. Captioned "Problem Solved," the shirt has appalled people engaged in deterring domestic violence.

"I thought that shirt was very offensive, and I'm sure people who made that shirt thought it was cute," District Attorney Evert Fowle said Friday. "But when you prosecute 728 domestic violence cases a year, it's not cute."

The shirt was removed briefly after a customer protested -- but later returned to the shelves of the Augusta Kmart.

Earlier this week, Kristin Aiello of Hallowell told Kmart store manager Joyce Beane the message on the shirt was offensive.

"I see so much domestic abuse in our community," said Aiello, a lawyer who frequently represents children involved in the court system. "I see children in jeopardy."

Aiello said the shirt sends the wrong message to the young wearers.

"It affirms that this sort of a solution is OK," she said. "A child can't filter it the way adults can."

Beane pulled the shirts Tuesday. On Friday, she referred all questions to corporate headquarters.

By late Friday, Kimberly Freely, manager of corporate relations for Sears Holdings Corp., Kmart's parent company, said the Augusta Kmart will continue to sell the shirts, manufactured by Route 66 clothing company.

"We respect the opinions of our customers," Freely said in a statement issued from corporate headquarters. "However, we believe these attitude Ts are meant to be light-hearted in nature.

"Kmart serves a diverse customer base and is committed to providing quality services, products and solutions that earn our customers' trust and build lifetime relationships," Freely's statement said.

Donna Shepherd, executive director of the Family Violence Project, a group that works to halt domestic abuse in Kennebec and Somerset counties, said the shirt sends the wrong signal.

"Obviously, the shirt sends children a message that violence is OK and reinforces messages they're already getting from the media and elsewhere," she said.

She said the Family Violence Project offers younger children a "Hands are Not for Hitting" program that teaches children alternatives to violence.

"Part of the premise is that it's OK to get angry, but it's not OK to hurt other people," Shepherd said.

"There are things they can do with their hands other than pushing or shoving. They can play with clay or play with puppets. And things they can do with their anger: go for a run and climb a tree."

The same logo appears on a T-shirt sold on the Internet by Goody's Family Clothing, but it appears to be aimed at older wearers.

"I'm concerned with how they got designed, printed and put in Kmarts across the country," Aiello said.

"How did this happen? It's the height of corporate irresponsibility marketing shirts for children with messages affirming domestic violence."

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com


Reader comments

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Al Toons of Augusta, ME
Oct 7, 2007 11:29 PM
Mungo, thanks for an awesome idea! Mind if I use it? I'll sell them next to the KMart! After that, I'm going use Bush. report abuse
rolonda nunnelley of destin, FL
Mar 7, 2007 2:14 AM
This is just stupid. If people were more concerned about what values their kids were learning at home than what they might see on a shirt, this nation would not be facing 3/4 of the problems it is facing today. Teach your children to respect every person's individuality and rights as human beings, and we will all find a better world to live in.report abuse
Don,the14%er of Sherman, TX
Jan 13, 2007 5:26 PM
Do you remember the "Boys are stupid, Throw rocks at them" t-shirt http://www.boysarestupid.co.uk/ ?
I don't recall Donna Shepherd, executive director of the Family Violence Project, complaining about that. I don't remember District Attorney Evert Fowle making an issue about violence to boys. I don't recall
Kristin Aiello of Hallowell, a lawyer who frequently represents children involved in the court system, being upset about t-shirts targeting boys.
Personally, I don't find anything funny about the "Problem Solved" shirt. I don't find anything funny about the fact that more children are abused by their mothers than fathers. And that is a problem I wish could be solved. report abuse
Jess of Waterville, ME
Jan 4, 2007 10:04 AM
We cannot infringe upon the decision to produce or buy this shirt, but this fact in no way makes it right that these shirts are on on the shelf at Kmart. A company that supports children should in no way send this message to them. Granted, I will not buy the shir nor shop at Kmart, but that is not the end of the story. I and every other child will see someone wear this shirt; will believe that this is accepted in society and perfectly normal. Yes, you should raise your children to understand that violence of all kinds is inappropriate and wrong, but there are bad parents and society does not need to reinforce the idea that this is acceptable.

Kudos to these young, brave girls who spoke out and exercised their right to free speech in order to combat something they view as wrong and that many have experienced first-hand. We have to start somewhere and it's great that the younger generation has the integrity and motivation to begin the fight. report abuse

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