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G.I. Joe No Great American Hero, Group Says
CNSNews.com ^ | 11/16/01 | Michael L. Betsch

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."

 


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: actionfigure; gijoe; wartoys
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More psychobabble.
1 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:48 PM PST by kattracks
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To: kattracks
Geez, can't these people take ONE Christmas off? I think this year I'll buy the kids a G.I. Jesus, the one that turned over the money tables and tolds his disciples to sell their cloaksto buy a sword.
2 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:48 PM PST by LJLucido
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To: kattracks
Here's the deal, from the mother of boys. Most parents who encourage their boys to play with dolls, wouldn't buy their boys a G.I. Joe, because he's a gun owner. Conversely, most parents who urge their little guys to accept a masculine role don't buy their boys dolls at all.
3 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:48 PM PST by keats5
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To: kattracks
Great. More feminization (or is that feminazi-isation?) of the American male. < /sarcarm>

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.

4 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:49 PM PST by FreedomPoster
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To: kattracks
psychobable, semantics, potemkin victims, potemkin links to victimhood, potemkin psychologist heroes, this nation needs to wake up, especialy the media. America used to be a place where its democracy allowed people to choose the best and brightest to run the various institutions and corporations. Nowadays it is about chosing whoever will make it more cool, more cute or more pleasant. It's democracy run amok.
5 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:49 PM PST by lavaroise
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To: kattracks
I'm taking my child through it in steps, starting with medieval combat with knights and castles, working our way through pirates, and eventually into higher tech modern toys like good ol' Joe and his assorted goodies (included that freakin' tank you can get for under $200 -HooAHHH!) The Star War toys are still brand new in their boxes hidden away until he's old enough to appreciate the movies.

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?

6 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:49 PM PST by Caipirabob
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To: kattracks
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.

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...

7 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:49 PM PST by Ward Smythe
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To: FreedomPoster
Ya know, I can't even imagine what I would do if violence weren't a part of storymaking. Is Luke Skywalker a bad role model, because EVENTUALLY he must use violence in the prosecution of a just war.

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.

8 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:49 PM PST by Skywalk
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To: kattracks
My brothers and I played with G.I. Joe's (the real ones, pre-lifelike hair and Kung Fu grip) and I can say that I'm not any more violent than any of the other psychos on my cellblock!!!!!
9 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:49 PM PST by perez24
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To: kattracks
There's a GI Code Talker Navaho. We didn't buy our sons toy guns when they were little so they made their own. They also pushed their little cars around with sounds very much like a triumph spit fire which is, of course, why a good internal combustion engine sounds the way that it does, notthe other way around. Sort of like the word "mother."
10 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:49 PM PST by Mercat
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To: kattracks
Ugh. Gag me with a backhoe.

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.

11 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:49 PM PST by Peter W. Kessler
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To: kattracks
If I had all the GI Joes and assorted gear (uniforms, jeep, weapons, etc) I had as a kid, I would retire today. Those things are worth a fortune now.
12 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:50 PM PST by Skooz
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To: Ward Smythe
When my friends and I played GI Joes, we would often forcibly recruit our sisters' Ken dolls. We would say "He's been drafted," amid much protest. We would put a GI Joe uniform on him and, since he was always the first to be KIA (he being a girly-man), the girls would get him back before our parents were brought in.

That was fun.

13 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:50 PM PST by Skooz
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To: Skooz
We would put a GI Joe uniform on him and, since he was always the first to be KIA (he being a girly-man),

And to think you didn't even need a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy...

14 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:50 PM PST by Ward Smythe
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To: Ward Smythe
Naaa. He was just cannon fodder anyway; a way to get the enemy to reveal his position. When he was gone, the real men (with scars on their faces) finished the job.
15 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:51 PM PST by Skooz
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To: kattracks
More psychobabble.

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

 For better viewing download 8Mb file here

16 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:51 PM PST by JCG
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To: kattracks
What? No Barf Alert?
If we were to work our way into being a completely non-violent society, with no aggressive or violent tendencies, how long would we – as a Nation – survive?
It would be extremely difficult to suddenly turn a generation of non-violent non-aggressive youth into the killers we would need in time of war.
17 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:51 PM PST by R. Scott
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To: JCG
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?

Empirical evidence is just so inconvenient to liberals.

18 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:53 PM PST by Skooz
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To: kattracks
"groups . . . claim the toy promotes violent behavior."

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.

19 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:54 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: JCG
"We had all manner of toy guns."

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.

20 posted on 11/16/2001 1:22:55 PM PST by BlueLancer
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