I suppose she would approve of the boys playing with the Gay Billy Doll, or whatever it was called
Why doesn't she just cut to the chase and admit she wants all young male to be castrated, and put in pink frilly dresses, like her son I would assume.
Posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:48 PM PST by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - It's no surprise that in the aftermath of Sept. 11, America's young boys are turning to a decorated war veteran to help them combat evil. Yet, G.I. Joe, the world's first action figure for boys, is taking heavy artillery from groups that claim the toy promotes violent behavior.
Toy maker Hasbro first debuted G.I. Joe in 1964 and named the action figure after the movie, "The Story Of G.I. JOE." Dubbed the "Real American Hero," he is representative of the brave soldiers that defend our nation's freedom at home and abroad.
Most recently, Hasbro introduced into the G.I. Joe collection a series of four Pearl Harbor figures commemorating the 60th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor; the first Hispanic figure; and Congressional Medal of Honor recipients Roy Benavidez and Audie Murphy.
So how could anyone find fault with G.I. Joe?
According to the Lion & Lamb Project's Executive Director, Daphne White, military action figures are "aggressive toys." The mission of the Lion & Lamb Project is to stop the marketing of violence to children.
That's news to G.I. Joe's parent corporation, Hasbro. "G.I. Joe has been a part of our culture for nearly 40 years and represents core American values - patriotism, honor and bravery," said Hasbro spokesperson Audrey DeSimone.
While DeSimone admitted not everyone has a favorable opinion of action figures such as G.I. Joe, she said Hasbro has seen a "steady increase" in G.I. Joe sales with both kids and adults over the past two years. White considers those sales figures alarming, especially if they are occurring as a result of post-Sept. 11 patriotism.
"Our message has always been, as far as children are concerned, violence is not child's play," White said, especially "when there is so much real violence going on in the world."
During this time of national crisis, it's important for kids to have role models to guide them, noted Jeff McIntyre, a federal affairs officer for the American Psychological Association. "They'll take role models out of whatever is available out there," he added.
But violent action figures such as G.I. Joe are not role models, said McIntyre. "At one developmental stage, it may just be a doll for the kid, but eventually they may begin to emulate that character and begin to do things that that character does. And, that will include violent action eventually."
McIntyre provided an example of such 'violent action' by young boys equipped with their G.I. Joes. "If he sees Osama bin Laden as bad, and that the way to deal with that is acting like G.I. Joe, then he may also interpret something else that happens in his life as 'bad.'" He summarized that boys may choose to resolve conflicts the "same way that G.I. Joe resolves situations -- and, that's going out and being more aggressive and committing more acts of violence."
"In and of itself," McIntyre noted, "G.I. Joe is not going to demonize the world." However, he said the "prevalence" of violent toys on the market "really does screw up kids and their ways of approaching conflict and the ways of dealing with any sort of struggle that they may have in their lives."
Hasbro's DeSimone rejected McIntyre's argument. "G.I. Joe, and action figures in general, enable kids to act out classic good-versus-evil scenarios and mission-oriented adventures, which is something they have done for generations."
McIntyre, in turn, does not believe the 'good-versus-evil' scenario is a valid reason for kids to play with G.I. Joe. He said kids learn the wrong lessons from "militaristic" toys including G.I. Joe, "that have violence as endemic to their character."
Kids tend to learn lessons from G.I. Joe and action figures that lead them to assume, "Oh, violence is the way that we solve those situations," McIntyre said. "And, that's not a very healthy response, especially for certain developmental elements."
"Problem solving, cooperating, getting along - I think that's the kind of world we would all rather have," the Lion & Lamb Project's White said. "I think most parents want to teach those values to their children."
DeSimone maintained it is up to parents to decide whether their children will play with G.I. Joe action figures. "Parents know their children best," she said, and what is "most appropriate for them."
Sorry, girls, we aren't buying that crap at this point in our country's history. We need all the red-blooded American men we can develop, and fewer of the girly-men you want to raise.
Despite all the goodies (which are probably just as much to placate dear old dad as much as for his amusement) half of the time he'll still pull out the lego blocks and build his own gun. Ahhhhh... my boy! ;)
I guess we'll be homeschooling, eh?
I felt old enough this morning without being reminded that I have an original G.I. Joe (mine since childhood) and an an orginal talking G.I. Joe. I've thought about selling them on Ebay, but my wife keeps telling me I should save them for the boys...
Wish I still had "Johnny West," "Major Matt Mason" and the 200+ "Matchbox" cars I had. I could be a wealthy man...
Let's start from the assumption that the good guy doesn't want to hurt anyone. Ok, he tries to talk to the bad guys, and the bad guy, as they are wont to do, does not listen. I've seen many stories,comics, movies and TV programs that show the hero TRYING TO talk to the bad guy but it won't work. So violence is the only way sometimes. Even then, the villain will get a second chance at life before getting offed.
Life IS conflict, not all need be violent, but when the stakes are highest, violence will occur. It's a fantasy world that these people think that having your son act out a scenario as an accountant is going to do a damn thing but make him a boring, uptight, girly accountant:)
This is clearly a case where there's a market for this stuff because males want it, and have always wanted it.
G.I. Joe came out just as I was leaving toys behind for other pursuits.
But I had some real neat Mattel rifles, and a sub-machine gun with a crank that would go through caps like crazy. My folks got pretty tired of buying caps!
We played "Army" all day long.
I grew up to be a healthy, well adjusted, productive member of society.
I wish these peaceniks would just go away.
That was fun.
And to think you didn't even need a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy...
Indeed.
In my 1940s childhood we played army from dawn to dusk -- or cowboys and indians -- or cops and robbers. We had all manner of toy guns. We shot each other with caps, suction cup darts and water. We heaved dummy hand grenades and fought hand to hand with rubber knives. Such conduct was far more prevalent among us than it is today.
So the question is: if so-called "violent" toys are the problem, why wasn't my generation far more violent than the ones that have succeeded it?
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America -- here
Empirical evidence is just so inconvenient to liberals.
Wrong. The toy doesn't promote violent behavior, it responds to the fact that little boys, like grown men, have aggressive impulses.
You could put a thousand Barbies in a room with typical little boys, and it wouldn't "promote" feminine qualities in them. Within a few minutes, the boys would be happily bashing each other the head with the dolls, building skyscrapers with them and delighting in knocking them down, etc.
Our behavior lies in our genes, not in our toys.
We never had any toy guns ... not because our parents disapproved of them, but, with five boys, plastic (and even metal) toy guns wouldn't have lasted very long.
We found that baseball bats made ideal weapons. When held underneath your armpit, they were BARs or submachine guns; when held against the shoulder, they were rifles; when rested on top of the shoulder, they were bazookas.
Truly, the first multi-function weapons system.
Buy them for your daughters--so Barbie doesn't have to date that wimp, Ken.
Therein lies the problem, it represents American values. And Lord knows we can't have that kind of stuff 'round here.
Boonie Rat
MACV SOCOM, PhuBai/Hue '65-'66
For those who are interested in reading about real heroes, I suggest you read the citation about his actions.
On May 2, 1968, Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. Benavidez distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions while assigned to Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam.
President Reagan presented the CMH to Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez on February 24, 1981.
The text of Reagan's remarks can be found at:
http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/resource/speeches/1981/22481d.htm
Have a drink and a box of tissues nearby; it will leave you crying like a baby.
I suppose she would approve of the boys playing with the Gay Billy Doll, or whatever it was called
Why doesn't she just cut to the chase and admit she wants all young male to be castrated, and put in pink frilly dresses, like her son I would assume.
BTW, happy birthday to my husband who is celebrating his last year as a 20something!
Everyone knows you have to turn the fat end of the bat forward when its a bazooka or youll shoot your own troops. Ill have to remember to never play guns with you!
NO, IT AIN'T ... the flared end was always the end where the bullet/rocket came out. If you don't like it and won't play nice, I'll take my bat and go home.
Nyaah, nyaah, nyaah ... you poo-poo head!
8')
A rat is a dog is a pig is a feminist...
(with profound apologies to rats, dogs and pigs.)
Has this guy ever seen two kids at play for more than an hour? Left alone, they wrestle, argue, hit, and insult each other for fun, as early as they can waddle on their own two feet. That doesn't come from TV, movies, toys, or parents. That's simply biology. Heck, watch two puppies for an hour and tell me there's not a natural inclination for fighting.
As for "so much real violence going on", I would venture to say that the world is a more peaceful place in the 21st Century than in any other. The 20th saw Socialists kill 100 million of their own citizens for not being on the same ideological page, and two world wars taking almost as many. Every previous century had people struggling to survive the elements, and find enough food. Fights/gunfights/duels/fatalities occurred between men for something as absurd as refusing to tip your hat. Simply staying alive was a daily fight. Just because we've grown the most sensationalizing media ever conceived does NOT mean that our troubles are the worst in History.
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