By Kevin Abourezk
The figurine is the result of a partnership between McDonald's and Twentieth Century Fox, distributor of "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian." The "General Custer" doll represents a figure in the movie that comes to life in the Smithsonian and has adventures alongside Ben Stiller's night watchman character.
But just because a movie distributor decides to give this historical goofball a chance to make his second "last stand" doesn't mean a nationwide restaurant chain should do the same.
And it boggles my mind to even attempt to understand any interpretation of history that would justify creation of a doll that glorifies a man who failed so utterly as a military leader, a merciless Indian fighter who massacred Black Kettle's peaceful, sleeping band of Cheyenne men, women and children in November 1868.
For more on the subject, see The Best Indian Movies.
2 comments:
I think this toy is hilarious (in a sad, I've lost all hope for humanity and if I don't laugh I'll cry Indian Humor kind of way). Think of all the fun and evil things we could do with it. I must get one and then find some time for stop motion animation....
Also, I remember from the first movie that the museum characters weren't the actual characters from history come to life. That complicates things.. I haven't seen the sequel so I don't know how they portray fake Custer.. but I hope they made him a clown.
My impression is that Custer is a buffoon in the movie. But the toy is a separate issue, and it doesn't make him into a buffoon. He looks kind of cool riding on his motorcycle.
I don't think it matters whether the movie's Custer is an animated mannequin or an animated corpse. Either way, he represents the historical Custer. Anything that glorifies him is morally dubious.
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