D-A-M-N!
It never ceases to amaze me how something so trivial as a doll can stir up so much controversy in the good old U.S. of A. I’m, of course speaking of the shit stir started by Mattel’s newest Barbie; “Totally Stylin’ Tattoos Barbie.”
The newest model of the classic toy has been released with decal tattoos that the little ones can apply to Barbie’s unrealistic figure, and some temp-toos that they can, of course attach to themselves. Well hold on to your hats, because although the doll is selling like hot cakes at a starving logger’s camp, it seems that it has made more than a few sphincters pucker up in outrage.
Apparently the stamp applicator, (although I don’t think so), looks a little too close to a real tattoo machine for some Moral Oral’s tastes. As far as they are concerned the Barbie and it’s temp stamp applicator will be promoting nudity, loose behavior, and a uncontrollable desire to get a real tattoo in innocent young minds.
Democratic Delegate Jeff Eldridge of West Virginia is trying to have the doll, and others like her banned in the state saying:
“The dolls influence girls to place too much importance on physical beauty, at the expense of their intellectual and emotional development.”
I suppose he would want to ban Stretch Armstrong for the same reason should the pliable muscleman suddenly show up with fake tats as well.
Now since I agree with the late Lenny Bruce, I have to ask one question. Why would a doll that has tattoos be considered a threat to the moral and emotional determent to our children when those bastions of development, video games, are not? I mean look at all the realistic values such games as Grand Theft Auto teaches; drug dealing, murder, hopping in the back seat with a hooker to regain life points. Hell, that has to be better for the kids than a doll with tattoos.
(Yes, I’m being sarcastic as I can here.)
Why, I even had a set of cowboy cap guns to play with when I was a kid, and I grew up to be a old time gun slinger who would just as soon shoot your eyeball out in the local saloon as look at ya. Didn’t I?
Too be honest, I’m beginning to believe it’s not the kids who need to grow up; it’s the parents. Perhaps to be more accurate, maybe its time to cut the kid a little slack, stop letting the TV and video games to raise the child, and develop a personal relationship with your kid.
Then you won’t have to worry about how dangerous the toy is because your actually doing your job as a parent and the child will trust you more than they do some hype filled toy maker.