War toys seem to have become politically incorrect. Does this give children a false sense of security or weaken our Nation?

SSG Ronald Williams — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 15:52:43 -0400

War toys for the most part have become politically incorrect. A child can no longer bring an action figure with a weapon to school for show and tell without the fear of being suspended. Does this attitude improve the Nations children or does it weaken their ability to see the world as it really is.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 22 at 2015 8:09 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 20:09:09 -0400

Seriously? No more G.I. Joe?? OMG, this PC crap has simply gone too damn far!!!

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Apr 22 at 2015 8:13 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 20:13:22 -0400

I do not understand how people can comprehend that supporting the government taking away rights and making decisions such as this will not eventually bite them in the ass (even if they agree with the current choices).

This PC crap is getting ridiculous. I should be the one that determines what toys are right for my children.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Apr 22 at 2015 8:20 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 20:20:43 -0400

ACTION FIGURES! lol

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Apr 22 at 2015 8:23 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 20:23:04 -0400

This can't even begin to be discussed without MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca 's input....

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 8:56 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 20:56:00 -0400

My kids don't have GI Joe....they have marvel super heroes, transformers, and a veritable Mongolian hoard of little green & tan army men....complete with tanks, jeeps, and jets.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 9:30 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 21:30:17 -0400

I was that kid growing up. My mother's goal for my brother and I was for us to turn out like Niles and Frasier off of the Sitcom "Frasier." I wasn't even allowed to have a toy gun for much of my childhood. We can see how well that worked out.

Violence is part of the human experience. No amount of political correctness or "conflict resolution" is going to change that. The sooner we accept this the sooner we can move on to productive endeavors.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Apr 22 at 2015 9:45 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 21:45:05 -0400

Again .. a survey that really needed a "HUH" option.

Where is it said that GI Joe or the Green Troopers are politically incorect?
Here is what Huff Post called politically incorrect .. count the number of Trooper Toys.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/23/politically-incorrect-toy_n_4145209.html

12 Politically Incorrect Toys We Never Knew We Were Missing

Warning: Some people might find the following images to be offensive. It seems like just yesterday that Little Suzy and Bobby were playing with miniature minstrel kits and toy dogs that could smoke

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Apr 22 at 2015 10:03 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 22:03:38 -0400

Sixteen and pregnant.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 10:20 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 22:20:39 -0400

Again we are avoiding a problem. The problem is parenting is not what it used to be. One part of society works to the point they don't see their kids (gotta pay taxes). Another part does not work to the point they are not communicating value, because they don't know what that is. The government has over sold it's ability to raise childern. Then the social wealthfare system blames the parents. So after circling logic but miss completely, the system turns blames everyone else. The the system in final step of lunacy turns on itself and says we need more. What has happened to the individual who is developed to be responsible and then rewarded accordingly for being part of the team?

The collective error is thinking about defense equals all violence. People are violent but given discipline that nature can be curved. Ignoring it cause self deception a grand scale. We learn about what is right and wrong as youth. Ignoring the problem of unjust violence by avoiding a toy does address the problem.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 10:45 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 22:45:57 -0400

PC is what is destroying this country as well as one group wanting recognition but bashing those who oppose them. God forbid you don't jump on a bandwagon and join them and their "cause" for you will be ridiculed. I stand firm in what I believe in and if you don't like it, NMFP!!

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Apr 22 at 2015 10:52 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 22:52:21 -0400

Don't ever, EVER, EVER, EVER, call my GI Joes into question!!! :-)

It honestly kills me when I hear these things. A lot of us grew up playing with toy guns and YES, GI Joes and most of us are not that much worse off for it. When PC stopped referring to "Personal Computers" and became the shortcut for "Politically Correct", I tuned out. Kids need to be kids and play with toys.

George Carlin said it best "They want to ban the toy guns, and keep the f--king real ones!!!"

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Apr 22 at 2015 11:05 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 23:05:33 -0400

SSG Ronald Williams, I didn't think any of the voting options were applicable to my thoughts on the subject. They're just toys and the PC police, as usual, have overreacted. "Much Ado About Nothing" - William Shakespeare

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Apr 22 at 2015 11:21 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 23:21:32 -0400

I'm still a kid and proudly play with my war toys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PXhaAJl7sE

What keeps me young - Bob Petrarca

Description

Response by SFC Charles S. made Apr 22 at 2015 11:26 PM

SFC Charles S. — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 23:26:54 -0400

War toys were an important part of my choice to join and become a soldier. We can't let PC BS ruin our Country. The only way to do this is to continue to allow patriotism to flourish in the minds and imagination of our kids.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Apr 22 at 2015 11:30 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 23:30:23 -0400

Have all the PX/BX's stopped selling military models as well, or is that only here at Davis Monthan, AFB?

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Apr 22 at 2015 11:35 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 23:35:24 -0400

Life itself is politically incorrect, so you might as well just have fun with and make fun of it!

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 1:06 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 01:06:28 -0400

This from when I was in 1st grade, about 12 years ago. I loved the military when I was a child and I always wanted to be in the military. I don't understand why people continue to make it seem like war doesn't exist and make military personnel seem like the bad guys.. Stop hiding the truth from children, for they are our future and deserve to pursue and know whatever catches their attention. PC needs to cut it out.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 2:06 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 02:06:22 -0400

My boys won't know about PC crap at our house.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 3:01 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 03:01:20 -0400

I've been collecting GI Joes I've gotten a few off of ebay I have all of the figures that represent Medal of Honor recipients and I have General Colin Powell MacArthur Eisenhower and JFK pt 109!

Response by SSG Donald Mceuen made Apr 23 at 2015 5:57 AM

SSG Donald Mceuen — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 05:57:58 -0400

I played with them my kids played with them and my grandson plays with them.
And i don't care what they say it has not been a bad thing to use our imageanation.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 3:57 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 15:57:49 -0400

If it wasn't for my love of all things military as a kid, I would have never joined. I had G.I. Joe's & plastic little Army Men I'd play with all the time. I had toy tanks, toy fighter jets, and toy guns. My friends dad at the time was in the Army, and would let dress up in his old Army gear. We played outside killing bad guys, and made our own bases. Everything to us was a gun. Tree branches were guns, brooms were guns, hockey sticks were guns, PAPER guns. This politically correct crap has to stop! Boys grow up wanting thrill and adventure, danger and action. Lets not take that away from them. Stop castrating us liberal cowards! I would not be surprised if the government tried to ban toy guns, since they know they can't take the real ones away.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 5:59 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 17:59:20 -0400

Good or Not . . . some make excellent targets.
I guess that falls under teaching my son "Self Defense".
Not bad from twenty-five yards.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 10:57 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 10:57:19 -0400

Hey I am like that CPT in Stripes, playing with my little soldiers as we speak, :)

Response by SSgt Marshall Franklin made Apr 25 at 2015 11:06 AM

SSgt Marshall Franklin — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 11:06:09 -0400

I was 7 when I got my 22. I would put on my uncles bdu's and go hunting in our back. He was killed in 69 and grandpa gave me his bag when I was 5. By time I was 15 I had my 30 30, shot a moving target at 100 or more yards dropping it with one shot. Grew up on a ranch, only fun I had was shooting or riding.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 11:06 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 11:06:12 -0400

I can see it now. The new politically correct GI Joe/Jane that talk. Joes goes to the NCO club (in uniform) and sees GI Jane talking to Bi-sexual Barbie. Everything is fine until GI Parsons comes in with his Bible and all hell breaks loose. Jane and Barbie tell GI Parsons that you respect our beliefs and bake us a cake. An activist judge holds up their lawsuit while down the road a Jihadist bakes a cake with a severed head on it. What bakery would you go to?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 25 at 2015 11:09 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 11:09:02 -0400

War toys are conversation starters. I would ask my Dad what stuff (GI Joe accessories) was. He would explain. Tell a story about him, my uncles, or his dad using the item etc. parents can then control how much how soon. the violence never solved anything crowd needs to read a history book. As I got older, discussions turned to the costs of war, the nations survival, and alternatives. Helps you understand your burden and obligation as a citizen.

Response by SGT Christopher Holmes made Apr 25 at 2015 11:51 AM

SGT Christopher Holmes — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 11:51:59 -0400

Hiding the world from children, to include the use of "polite euphemisms" and not talking about death ("Fido's gone on a big adventure, chasing rabbits and sniffing butts," as opposed to, "Fido died due to old age.") cannot at all be beneficial to a child's maturation.

The sooner a person learns the realities of life, the sooner they can learn to cope with it.

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Oct 2 at 2017 9:21 AM

SPC Kevin Ford — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 09:21:01 -0400

None of those responses really capture my feelings so I'll leave the vote blank. I'll just leave it as I had a lot of GI Joe's like the one pictured when I was a kid. I also had toy guns and knives and played all kinds of "war" games with them. None of that hurt me in any way or anyone I played with.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2018 12:18 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 12:18:33 -0500

I wonder if the premise of the question is even correct. G.I. Joes continue to be made, and there are G.I. Joe movies and cartoons. I think the idea that some toy is going to give kids a false sense of security or weaken our nation is a huge stretch. But I think lots of the types of toys we grew up with have been replaced by military type computer games anyway.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 9 at 2018 12:35 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 12:35:25 -0500

There becomes a time, that by shielding a kid from everything bad or distasteful- that you end up leaving them unarmed to face the world.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Mar 11 at 2018 10:05 AM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 10:05:14 -0400

If those who are so vocal about this BS would spend the time to teach and mold their children into responsible adults, give them help when they need it and set an example, they wouldn't have to worry about toys and games. I shudder to think of what their reaction would have been when we were playing war with the souvenirs our parents brought home from WWII.