An American icon is getting a makeover: Concerned about the current negative image of the American military in many countries, Paramount Pictures and Hasbro, the toy manufacturer, have decided that in their forthcoming film featuring comic-book patriot G.I. Joe, the character will become part of a multinational force, the London Daily Telegraph reported today (Tuesday). Even the character's name has become an acronym for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, the newspaper said.Our negative image across the globe is because of the Bush administration, not our military, so why the makeover? One word - money. From Fox News:
But in order to be a true success these days, a film has to play well to foreign markets as well as stateside in everything from box-office to DVD sales.Sigh...its always about the money with these companies. What a way to support the troops.
For some citizens of other countries — where sentiments against the Iraq war and the American government are strong — a U.S. soldier might not be the easiest character to get viewers to identify with.
This is a Blogging For Michigan Troop Care post. From November 11 through November 25, 2007, Blogging For Michigan will use 100% of every dollar received in the Troop Care fund to purchase and ship items to Michigan troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Learn more about BFM Troop Care here. Click here to contribute to Troop Care. Contributions are not tax deductible.
4 comments:
At first I thought this was a joke, especially when I saw the GI JOE acronym.
Where will globalization strike next? Maybe we'll have to rename Uncle Sam to Uncle Everyman. ;-)
Uncle Everyman? I'm not sure the feminists would be happy about that name!
I'm just amazed, with all the critical problems in the world, that ANYONE could consider such a ridiculous issue as a friggin doll the least bit important.
You're right Kathy. It shouldn't be about the money. But it also shouldn't be about any interest in such a trivial piece of non-news as a new name for GI Joe. Who gives a damn?
We have real soldiers dying in two real wars, and some jerk off executive is concerned about what to name his product in order to not offend a world that is starting to hate us, as well they should. And the press gives it coverage? Let's not stoop so low in the blogs.
Expat, I didn't mean to diminish the sacrifice our troops are making by posting this. I was trying to make the point that our troops aren't really getting the support and recognition they deserve from corporate America or the press. Changing an icon to suit marketing needs is an insult to the troops.
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