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."
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.
"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."
Look at what we've done since 9/11: We've built a coalition, made friends with the Northern Alliance, cooperated, coordinating airstrikes with ground attacks, and we're working on making the Pashtuns in the south into our friends as well. Sure, we're killing large numbers of people, but that's not really the point.
Don't get me wrong. I loved G.I. Joe too. Our favorate activity was sort of a "Lord of the Flies" type thing where we stripped him down to his skivvies and slid him down a string tied from the tree to the swing-set. Then several screaming, lunatic little boys would throw at him everything we could find as he was sliding down. We could sure frighten some moms with the antics we pulled.
I'm going out and buying my 3-year old a G.I. Joe.
In Your Face, you bedwetting wussies!
Sorry, Ms. White, that is not one of the choices. Either you live in a world where you are willing to use force when necessary, or you live ground beneath the heel of the boot of the despot who is.
Make your choice.
As for me, they can have my GI Joe when they pry my cold dead hand out of his vicious Kung-Fu Grip!
But witchcraft books such as Harry Potter are not role models, said McIntyre. "At one developmental stage, it may just be a book 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 witchcraft eventually.
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