Tuesday, January 16, 2007

This is Unconscionable

A Connecticut toymaker has manufactured and is now distributing an action figure of Saddam Hussein, deposed dictator of Iraq, dangling from the end of a rope. I refuse to place a picture of the toy on my blog that is so very wittily being publicized as the "Dope on a Rope." The toy smacks of misplaced values and an abuse of capitalism.

This is not the first such undertaking for this toymaker, who claims the toys are essentially novelties targeted at adults. They have marketed more than 100 satirical figures, including Tony Blair as an Action Man in combat fatigues, George Bush as a superhero, and Michael Jackson holding a baby over a balcony.

This further confirms my suspicion that in America, everything is for sale. If you can make a buck off of it, then go for it. Morals or simply good taste and common courtesy are not issues for some. Some in America may make a mockery of Saddam, but his ghost will taint history much more so than his actual life. FOX News ran this blurb laden with false humility:
“Of course, it’s not gonna be received well by everyone," the company's president, Emil Vicale, said on Monday in a phone interview with FOX News.
I have said before, Saddam was a bad man; he probably deserved to die. Nevertheless, he should not be the butt of sick jokes. Even though he does represent all America stands opposed to, at least allow the man some dignity in his death. The situation in Iraq is much too grim to turn their deposed leader into a laughingstock. Not now; not ever. It is regrettable in America that no one even blinks when a man's death is used to make a dollar. This is capitalism at its finest.

You can click here if you want to see a picture of this sordid little curiosity.

7 comments:

Streak said...

Yep, it is all for sale. Unfortunately. I saw over Christmas break that one of the songs from the Sound of Music was now just another advertisement.

Tony said...

Affirmative. The Kia car company is using it for some kind of clearance sale; and they are another foreign based car manufactured in America.

Writer said...

Tony,

You said, ""I have said before, Saddam was a bad man; he probably deserved to die."

I am a bad man also. I also deserve to die because of my sin, and die I will. But praise God that Jesus has saved me from spiritual death. :)

Is there anyone who does NOT deserve to die?

Regards,

Les

P.S. BTW, are you still looking into Reformed theology?

Tony said...

Les,

Glad to see you again! I have missed your blog...no persuading you back, huh?

Yes, Saddam was a bad man, as you are, as I am. I could have been more specific in saying that he deserved to die for his crimes.

And the only Man that didn't deserve to die was nailed to a cross...

I am still considering Reformed theology...not sold out to it yet, though I am still reading, studying, praying. Any particular reason for asking, or just curious? I know that is where our conversations pretty much left off after your resignation from blogging.

Anonymous said...

There is little to no social restraint in our culture. "Once upon a time" common decency would have prohibited this. Now all is fair game.

Thanks for speaking up against things like this.

Anonymous said...

Tony,

I've got a John Piper CD package to send to you. Email me your snail mail address and I'll get it right out to you.

Les

Tony said...

Cameron,

An ethic of common decency has little influence in the secular world; especially capitalism.

Les,

I have emailed you.