I'm usually a big fan of the Oriental Trading Company, which keeps America knee-deep in craptastic knick knacks from China, but I have to draw the line at their new Army Vehicle piñata. It's featured in their latest party supplies catalog.
The piñata is in the shape of a humvee and comes fully loaded with soldiers. It sells for $15.95. Big stick and candy are not included.
To date it's estimated that 1112 American troops have been killed, according to iCasualties.org, by IEDs, or improvised explosive devices.
Dear Miss Poppy,
I don't think I want J.C. Christian would take very kindly to your prohibition against the almighty god "pecuniam" being suppressed on a good christianist web site like this one seemed to be (alas!). These pinatae support our troops in the very same fashion that those cute little ribbon refrigerator magnets do. Frankly, my dear, I thought you of all people would give a damn regarding the welfare of our troops and the plaethora of good that these harmless little trinkets and myriad other products sold in the capitol of the dollar-worshiping center of the microprosopus we consider to be the center of the known universe do for them.
Well, just shows to go ya. Hero one day and goat the next. Another bastion of freedom of capitalism blown to shit just like those cute little unarmored humvees that we saved so much money on by being thrifty.
For shame, Poppy!
Posted by: dicklesscheney on Dec 20, 06 | 6:20 am
Miss Poppy,
You were right to question this item...
The concept of attacking our troops is offensive to some of us… especially those of us who have had our loved ones killed or wounded in Iraq already. Their images should be treasured and honored… not hit with by sticks.
As I look at those cartoon-like images, what I saw was my brother’s face… and it broke my heart. If you don’t have a loved one facing roadside bombs and sniper bullets, you might not “get it”… but for too many of us, it hits too close to home.
But, the most important thing is, the company removed the product. As Isaac stated, it probably was “innocently done” without realizing how it may be seen by some of us. They fixed the problem and that is all I wanted.
Miss Poppy,
There have been 2,954 casualties (2 more today--there are four families who will be receiving notification as you read this...) as per the Dept. of Defense. It is estimated that we will hit 3,000 before New Year's...or at least very soon after.
That is in addition to the 22,300 wounded...
"Giving a damn about our troops" includes awareness of their sacrifice and having sensitivity to it... and to the families they've left behind.
I think she meant specifically "killed by IEDs" (presumably while driving). I had to read that twice to catch that, because the "according to Icasualties.org" interrupted the flow.
If you join the military you should expect to possibly get killed in combat. Just like if you join the McDonalds crew you should expect to make hamburgers.
Recently I had an uncle die from drunk driving. All the family was devestated. But there was a lesson to be learned there: DONT DRINK AND DRIVE!
Likewise, all the families of dead soldiers who were devestated by the loss of a loved one should get a similar message, and help spread it a la MADD: DONT JOIN THE MILITARY!
Maybe if the US Army bought a ton of these and dropped them all over the Sunni triangle, the insurgents would take a whack at them and maybe stop killing so many real humans?
Dorothy, thanks for pointing that out. I missed it also...
Aaron, using your argument, then let's start selling guns that come with paper targets which look like police officers. I mean, it's all in the job description, right?
You also misunderstand the devastation felt by some of us--it's not that we resent our loved ones death as a member of the military. We recognize the need to be able to protect our country and we know that our loved ones joined for that purpose--not to be used as tools for certain egos and bank accounts.
How pathetic can you be? Military pinatas have been around for a long time. A world full of important subjects to cover and this is what you complain about? You seem to 'care" so much for the troop but PC like yours is what limits them and the rest of us. Next time, kindly keep your sensitivities to yourself.
If it was JUST a tank or something, then I would agree with you, Gene. Seeing soldiers' faces made it different...which if you had a loved one killed by an IED, you might have a glimmer of understanding of what someone like us would see in that item.
And I can promise you, this is not normally what I "complain" about. I am normally a "be and let be"/"to each his own" kind of person. As long as people aren't hurt. When someone is hurt, then it crosses the line.
When you hear YOUR mother screaming at the sight of the Marines and the chaplain at the door, THEN you can tell me I'm pathetic.
Until then, have a glimmer of compassion for the families of almost 3000 of your fellow Americans.
Just out of curiousity, what have YOU done for your country besides judge others?
One: You make a lot of assumptions.
Two: The fact of the pictures changes nothing. Only if you are oversensitive would you seek to have this item banned.
“Just out of curiousity, what have YOU done for your country besides judge others?”
Non sequitor argumentative reach. One does not need to do or not do anything in order to comment over actions due to over-sensitivity. Your emotional reach or plea to compassion indicates shaky ground from a reasoned argument point of view. Again, banning something due to PC sensitivities is nonsensical no matter what sensitivities we are talking about.
How many members of the armed forces do you think would have ordered these and not have seen a problem with it?
You speak of compassion to the families of the solders but totally forget the solders in this matter. They have made their decision in this by joining the military, an act that puts their lives at risk even in peacetime. Would you so easily castigate them for using such a piñata or endorsing its use? Would you lecture them as to how they must be sensitive to the families?
PC limits freedoms and it makes no difference if you think it is being done for a good cause to not. You also totally disregard the all too human macabre tendency to make fun of death and that wich may disturb us.
If you and others don’t want to buy these, fine. Such a decision is totally understandable. Seeking to have it removed form the market to force such a decision onto others is not. Once one such sensitivity is indulged, then there is no excuse not to indulge all others. This may come across to you as lacking compassion or insensitive, but any other course leads directly to and ideology that limit freedoms.
You argue that since it has soldiers pictured on it, it is disturbing. Then ones like these would also be disturbing since who in their right mind would want to beat open a fireman, a soldier, a police car or a fire truck with fireman pictured inside? That last one would definitely upset widows of 9/11 NY FD.
This is a rather limited forum for me to post all my comments about this topic and its ramifications. Suffice it to say, I think going into Iraq was a fool’s errand. Afghanistan I can understand, but the reasoning behind Iraq does not make sense especially considering that same reasoning can be applied to so many other nations, a few listed as our “allies”.
I grew up in a military town and while it may seem old fashioned to have such sentiments, I have nothing but respect and awe for those who volunteer for military service. I have friends who are now in harms way in Iraq.
Sentiments are one thing and personal sentiments are understandable in regard to such a topic, but the last thing I would seek to do is limit anyone’s speech over such sensitivities. There are those who would seek to stifle any conversation regarding Iraq and the current war based upon such sensitivities. As I stated before, PC limits all of us. If we are unable to talk about such subject due to PC or other sensitivities, then how are we to discuss if not rectify such problems?
I'm usually a big fan of the Oriental Trading Company, which keeps America knee-deep in craptastic knick knacks from China, but I have to draw the line at their new Army Vehicle piñata. It's featured in their latest party supplies catalog.