XPost: rec.sport.pro-wrestling   
   From: BillV2320@webtv.net   
      
   Store's awesome answer to customer 'disgusted' by Anakin toys   
       
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   When a patron found Anakin Skywalker toys in a local storeâ€"one   
   that claimed to be an education-minded establishmentâ€"he took issue   
   with the idea of Star Wars' Scourge of the Galaxy being sold as an   
   innocuous plaything. So he wrote a letter. And got a fantastically   
   astute one back.   
   Videogame developer Ross Mills took umbrage with Anakin Skywalker being   
   displayed alongside other, way less genocidally inclined Star Wars   
   characters and drafted a quick, rather knowledgable letter of complaint:   
   From: Ross Mills   
   To those responsible for choosing the toys they wish to sell at the   
   Early Learning Centre, as well as in-store advertising.   
   I was recently walking past the Dundee Early Learning Centre, and was   
   shocked and disgusted to see an advert for Star Wars toys, prominently   
   featuring the characters Yoda and Anakin Skywalker as positive figures.   
   Personally, I could not be more shocked. I thought the Early Learning   
   Centre was a place for positive reinforcement of positive actions for   
   children, but yet, here it was, actively promoting one of the most evil   
   characters in the Star Wars universe. Anakin Skywalker.   
   Now, I am aware that Anakin was not always evil, and was in-fact an   
   innocent in Star Wars: Episode 1â€"The Phantom Menace, however, I   
   wish to press on you the severity of his actions starting upon joining   
   the Jedi Order as a Padawan:   
   * Consistent and flagrantly ignoring the rules, orders and limits set on   
   him by his Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. * Killing an entire tribe of   
   sand-people on Tatooine * Killing the unarmed Count Dooku * Cutting the   
   arm off a Jedi Knight, Mace Windu. (Need I remind you that the Jedi   
   Knights are the PROTECTORS of peace and justice throughout the Star Wars   
   saga?) * Pledging himself to the Dark Side of the force, an organisation   
   based on the teachings of the Sith, involving Brutality, Fear, Anger,   
   and Hatred, including severe humanistic racism when they came into power   
   forming the Empire * Acted as the right-hand of the Sith Emperor *   
   Choked his wife using the power of the Force, nearly killing her and   
   undeniably an act which eventually led to her death. * Attempted killing   
   of Jedi Knight and Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi.   
   And, last of all, and the most important   
   * The massacre of an entire school of young Jedi Children.   
   Now, I ask you, how can you sell such toys, promoting such individuals,   
   in your establishment?   
   Sincerely, Ross Mills   
   And here's the reply from the Early Learning Centre which reminds, like   
   dear old Ben Kenobi once did, Mr. Mills that Anakin's placement is   
   appropriate ... from a certain point of view:   
   Dear Mr Mills   
   As an avid Star Wars fan myself I can relate to your points below and   
   see the perspective that Anakin Skywalker (in his teenage years onwards)   
   is by no means a "positive" role model, nor is he intended to be   
   represented as such.   
   We sell a wide range of characters from the Star Wars universe,   
   including stormtroopers, scout troopers, Commander Cody and so forth.   
   With particular reference to the two former characters both are   
   generally considered to be "bad" and unlike Anakin have had no periods   
   of being "good" or "redemption" and are provided to give the "good guys"   
   someone to triumph over. While ideally the Jedi Council would have no   
   enemies and would sit in their chambers sipping Bothan rum, it's not   
   particularly interesting for a small child (unless of course they wish   
   to populate their "tea parties" with Star Wars characters in which case   
   we fully endorse this!)   
   For a child to fully immerse themselves in the Star Wars products we   
   sell I would hesitate a guess that said child is a fan of the Clone Wars   
   cartoon series (the prequels and sequels being of an age most would   
   agree is unsuitable for the age range we cater for). In this series   
   Anakin is very much portrayed as a force of good, and our aim is to   
   provide fans of the series with both heroes and villains so they can   
   replay the epic battles of the show in the comfort of their own home.   
   It's unlikely that children of that age have seen any of the Star Wars   
   films, however if they have I beg to offer the following counterpoints   
   to "the sins of Anakin":   
   * Anakin loved his mother a great deal and always treated her with   
   respect * Rescued his master several times from assassins, pit monsters,   
   droid troopers etc. * Rescued Amidalla from assassin snakes, pit   
   monsters, the Trade Federation and even found time to romance her in the   
   fields of Naboo * Built C3PO * Won the Podrace * Killed the evil emperor   
   to save his son * I would also argue that if a child has seen all the   
   films they'll see Anakin as a hero who went wrong but ultimately paid   
   the supreme sacrifice to atone for his sins.   
   There may be better role models out there for a child, but for the   
   period our toys are aimed at (the Clone Wars), Anakin remains very much   
   "hero material" and is a popular and welcome addition to our range.   
   Kind regards, Paul ******** Client Support Manager The Early Learning   
   Centre   
   Ah, well-reasoned correspondence from level-headed individuals. A relic   
   from a more civilized age.   
   (via Bleeding Cool  )   
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