So Hollywood, wanting to appear politically correct, transforms an American icon from a few decades ago into a more modern, and acceptable character. Never mind that a HUGE group of ticket-buyers, most of which are baby boomers that have influence on their children and grandchildren, will express their displeasure by simply not paying to see the movie and discouraging others from doing so. Never mind the historical context in which the 'action figure' was created and developed.

Are you really surprised? Do you really care? Does it really matter?

Surely it doesn't matter to G.I. Joe; after all, he's just an action figure. Unless, of course, you include the designers, artists, manufacturer, marketers, middlemen, transporters, retailers, and owners of stock in related businesses. Does Hollywood have any responsibility to these people?

It's interesting that Hasbro isn't talking about this issue. If they say anything, people will know where they stand. Until then, all can safely assume the company is on their side. Controversy can increase demand (which, in turn, can increase sales and sale price), so you better get your G.I. Joe now before he has a radical makeover.

I occassionally wonder what people in developing countries, the people that make toys for rich Americans, think about us when they see how much we care about our toys. Especially when they see how little we care about poeple--real people--like them. I'll bet this issue matters to them.

My initial thought was, so what? But now, I do care. Not about G.I. Joe, the stockholders, Hasbro (the company, not the people), what baby boomers think, and certainly not about Hollywood. I care about those who see our misplaced values. With all the bad press that America gets, including that from its own, we are still the envy of the world. What a sad commentary--that we could have so little respect for history, that we could care so much about a doll, and that we could do both over such a frivolous matter.

I also care about Americans, but we are so far gone, it's hard to.

You can find a story about the real G.I. Joe here. Worth a read. It is important to understand just what it is that Hollywood is bent on destroying.

In case you think Vin has his information wrong, check here.