July 01, 2004
Don't Mess With G.I. Joe
From the get a life file:
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, the last place we need to promote war is at our national pastime."
The Twins say Joe isn't glorifying war, but celebrating the efforts of servicemen and women. As part of that mission, the team asked Duke's maker, Hasbro Inc., to remove the customary gun from his side. Hand grenades are still visible.
Then again, perhaps we need more diversity in the sort of action figures we market to young men. How about:
Activist Chad: a student at an obscure New England private college who uses his Spring Break to disrupt IMF and World Bank meetings. Comes complete with gas mask, spray paint (for protest signs), smoke bombs, and multiple ticket stubs from last night's showing of Farenheit 9-11. Saul Alinsky's, Rules For Radicals not included.
Your suggestions are welcome/encouraged.
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Tracked on July 4, 2004 02:26 AM
Saul Alinsky! "Le reference juste," as they say, or should.
Posted by:
at July 1, 2004 07:32 PM
The kids who use every manner of capitalist-funded technology and gas-guzzling vehicles to protest the World Bank always provide me a healthy reminder that the left wing can irritate me just as much as the right.
Posted by:
at July 1, 2004 09:08 PM
And if you buy several "Activist Chad" figures, you can link their arms to form a human chain...
Posted by:
at July 2, 2004 12:35 AM
how about hanging chad, who'll still claim al gore won the 2000 election?
Posted by:
at July 2, 2004 04:55 PM
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