The Null Device

Easter in America

Welcome to the Bush Era: In the U.S., Plastic figurines of soldiers replace chocolate rabbits in Easter baskets.
At the Astor Place Kmart, the encampment is on display just inside the main entrance. A camouflaged sandy-haired soldier with an American-flag arm patch stands alert in a teal, pink, and yellow basket beneath a pretty green-and-purple bow. Within a doll-arm's reach are a machine gun, rifle, hand grenade, large knife, pistol, and round of ammunition. In the next basket a buzz-cut blond with a snazzy dress uniform hawks over homeland security, an American eagle shield on his arm, and a machine gun, pistol, Bowie knife, two grenades, truncheon, and handcuffs at the ready.
Easter provides a way for makers of generic troops to capitalize on the trend. Unlike superhero dolls, war toys don't come with costly trademarks attached. That lowers the bar to entry for small manufacturers, today typically Chinese. That industry has followed confectioners to transform Easter into the second-largest selling season, Rice says.

(via bOING bOING)

There are 2 comments on "Easter in America":

Posted by: bill http:// Mon Mar 10 04:35:08 2003

what the hell are you talking about?

Posted by: acb http://dev.null.org Mon Mar 10 05:14:10 2003

You see that bold thing that says "Plastic figurines of soldiers replace chocolate rabbits"? Well, I'm told that if you click on that, it'll tell you. Go on, give it a try.