Free Republic

As boys, many of us played with dolls - or what we, in our masculine self-interest, referred to as "action figures." But let's face it: They were dolls. We also entertained ourselves with fake guns, plastic swords and other phony instruments of war - only rarely drawing real blood. Perhaps it was a harbinger of my chicken-hawk warmongering, but I also was the proud owner of hundreds of those rigid green plastic army guys. This army waged epic battles against the Russkies and assorted armies of the Soviet axis. Guess what? I'm no Gen. Patton. And the majority of my...

G.I. Joe didn't start a war. In fact, he hardly caused a peep. Most of the 16,191 fans who showed up at the Metrodome on Monday seemed to favor the Twins' G.I. Joe action figure giveaway before a game against the Kansas City Royals, and the fictional battlefield commander "Duke" was met with little resistance from those who thought the promotion promoted war. "A few people rejected them," said Shelby Rhodes, who was part of a volunteer group from St. Paul Central High School handing out some of the action figures that were distributed to the first 5,000 children age...

Yo, Joe! Collectors Want Iconic Soldier in National Toy Hall of Fame Mike Branom/Associated Press Jul 3, 2004 LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) - G.I. Joe fans think it's about time the iconic action figure took its rightful place with the likes of Barbie, Silly Putty and Mr. Potato Head. The little soldier's absence from the National Toy Hall of Fame prompted something of a war cry this weekend at the International G.I. Joe Collectors' Convention in Lake Buena Vista, where triumphant shouts of "Yo, Joe!" gave way to "Why no Joe?" "G.I. Joe has more name recognition than virtually...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Several peace groups are demanding the Minnesota Twins abandon plans to give G.I. Joe action figures to 5,000 children as part of a team promotion honoring local military personnel. The Minnesota Twins will present Duke, ``the calm and determined battlefield commander of the G.I. Joe team,'' at Monday night's game against the Kansas City Royals in the first patriotic giveaway in the major leagues this season. ``I think the Twins are way off base with this idea,'' said John Varone, a Vietnam veteran and president of the Twin Cities chapter of Veterans for Peace. ``For gosh sakes,...

<p>Five-year-old Martin Patiño threw his toy machine gun into a trashcan marked "armas no," Spanish for "no guns," and he promptly picked up a coloring book to replace it.</p> <p>Martin was one of about 30 Alisal Community School kindergartners from four classes Wednesday who traded in their fake guns for gentle toys such as stuffed animals and Play-Doh.</p>

<p>Something called The Lion & Lamb Project wants parents to keep Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Matrix and the Terminator away from their kids. The group is offended that this "Dirty Dozen" of toys and entertainment carries a message that violence solves problems. If parents stopped buying these violent products for kids, the group suggests, we could build a more peaceful society.</p>

<p>This year's so-called Dirty Dozen list of violent gifts for kids is a stealth attempt to emasculate America -- one toy at a time.</p> <p>The Lion & Lamb Project, a public interest advocacy group, annually announces the toys it deems to be the most yucky, violence-wise. You might have seen the news reports about the list, but you probably do not know that the Lion & Lamb Project is a wolf in sheep's clothing.</p>

From the lefist weaklings at the Lion and Lamb Project: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action figure: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Casey Jones, Playmates, Ages 4+ Video Game: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Konami, rated E for Everyone. The toy: From the Casey Jones action figure box: "Judge, jury and enforcer! … Casey has a unique sense of what’s right or wrong and you better be on the side of right or he’ll slapshot you upside your head with his hockey stick. This hockey mask-wearing vigilante roams the streets of New York City serving up his brand of quick justice to punks...

<p>Walgreens is retreating from plans to sell packaged Easter baskets in which toy soldiers and other war toys were featured nestled among the Easter candies.</p> <p>Walgreens says intensifying talk of war in Iraq led it to rethink the combat sets that include troops in battle dress, assault rifles, planes, tanks and other toys, along with traditional candies.</p>

"Army Forward Command Post," a new toy out this holiday season, has been dubbed by one toy expert as "Barbie's Dream House: The Nightmare Version." It is a bullet-riddled shell of a house, complete with a soldier in military combat gear, weapons, ammunition and even sandbags. There are two versions of "Forward Command Post": one for children 5 years old and older; the other for children 3 and older. "I just wouldn't buy it. It's scary," one mother said when ABCNEWS showed the toy to some parents shopping with their children in New York City. "I mean I know our...