Scrim
07-03-2004, 01:04 PM
Thursday, July 1, 2004
Appeasement Activists Furious About G.I. Joe
Appeasement groups are fighting mad: To honor the troops, the Minnesota Twins are giving G.I. Joe action figures to 5,000 children.
The baseball team plans to present Duke, "the calm and determined battlefield commander of the G.I. Joe team," at the game Monday night, the day after Independence Day, in what the Associated Press today called "the first patriotic giveaway in the major leagues this season."
Uh oh. If something is branded as patriotic, you know the whining will begin.
"It's not a credible way to honor those who've suffered the inhumanity of war," moaned Phil Steger, executive director of something called Friends for a Non-Violent World.
"I think the Twins are way off base with this idea. For gosh sakes, the last place we need to promote war is at our national pastime," grumbled John Varone of a group that dubs itself Veterans for Peace.
Another one of the anti-choice groups is called Women Against Military Madness.
The Twins have already partly caved by asking Hasbro Inc. to strip Duke of his customary tiny toy gun. "Hand grenades are still visible," AP advised.
Patrick Klinger, the Twins' vice president of marketing, said, "I know there are people who are adamant about opposition to the war, but this is not about politics."
The team also plans to offer half-price admission to military personnel and veterans and their families Monday. So far there are no reports of complaints about that, but the day is still young.
http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/580_1088874109_duke_1.jpg
Friday, July 2, 2004
Appeasers Keep Raging as Minnesota Twins Stick With G.I. Joe
Sorry, loony left: The Minnesota Twins say they won't give G.I. Joe the boot.
Despite pressure from several anti-choice appeasement groups in the P.C.-crazed Minneapolis area, the team will present the action figure to 5,000 lucky children at the game Monday with the Kansas City Royals.
"We are absolutely going forward with the promotion," said Patrick Klinger, the team's vice president of marketing.
"It really is intended to pay tribute to the soldiers, those infantry people who are serving the country here and abroad. We wanted to pay tribute to the real G.I. Joes and G.I. Janes serving the country," he said.
The team has included this salute on the toy's packaging: "The Minnesota Twins salute these courageous men and women, past and present, who put their lives on the line to defend our country and assist us in times of need."
Mary Beaudoin, a leader of something that dubs itself Women Against Military Madness, raged to the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "This is hideous … a bad message to send kids. Kids need to be raised with the values of life, not killing."
Col. Denny Shields, a spokesman for the Minnesota National Guard, said, "We're sorry that a small number of Minnesotans are offended by the doll and don't see it as the tribute that it really is."
Appeasement Activists Furious About G.I. Joe
Appeasement groups are fighting mad: To honor the troops, the Minnesota Twins are giving G.I. Joe action figures to 5,000 children.
The baseball team plans to present Duke, "the calm and determined battlefield commander of the G.I. Joe team," at the game Monday night, the day after Independence Day, in what the Associated Press today called "the first patriotic giveaway in the major leagues this season."
Uh oh. If something is branded as patriotic, you know the whining will begin.
"It's not a credible way to honor those who've suffered the inhumanity of war," moaned Phil Steger, executive director of something called Friends for a Non-Violent World.
"I think the Twins are way off base with this idea. For gosh sakes, the last place we need to promote war is at our national pastime," grumbled John Varone of a group that dubs itself Veterans for Peace.
Another one of the anti-choice groups is called Women Against Military Madness.
The Twins have already partly caved by asking Hasbro Inc. to strip Duke of his customary tiny toy gun. "Hand grenades are still visible," AP advised.
Patrick Klinger, the Twins' vice president of marketing, said, "I know there are people who are adamant about opposition to the war, but this is not about politics."
The team also plans to offer half-price admission to military personnel and veterans and their families Monday. So far there are no reports of complaints about that, but the day is still young.
http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/580_1088874109_duke_1.jpg
Friday, July 2, 2004
Appeasers Keep Raging as Minnesota Twins Stick With G.I. Joe
Sorry, loony left: The Minnesota Twins say they won't give G.I. Joe the boot.
Despite pressure from several anti-choice appeasement groups in the P.C.-crazed Minneapolis area, the team will present the action figure to 5,000 lucky children at the game Monday with the Kansas City Royals.
"We are absolutely going forward with the promotion," said Patrick Klinger, the team's vice president of marketing.
"It really is intended to pay tribute to the soldiers, those infantry people who are serving the country here and abroad. We wanted to pay tribute to the real G.I. Joes and G.I. Janes serving the country," he said.
The team has included this salute on the toy's packaging: "The Minnesota Twins salute these courageous men and women, past and present, who put their lives on the line to defend our country and assist us in times of need."
Mary Beaudoin, a leader of something that dubs itself Women Against Military Madness, raged to the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "This is hideous … a bad message to send kids. Kids need to be raised with the values of life, not killing."
Col. Denny Shields, a spokesman for the Minnesota National Guard, said, "We're sorry that a small number of Minnesotans are offended by the doll and don't see it as the tribute that it really is."