British soldiers on the Republic's shopping streets

British armed forces action figures are on our toyshop shelves. Are they fundraisers for foreign wars or just harmless fun?

HALF-WAY DOWN Cork’s Maylor Street, past cafes, bookmakers and pet shops, is not where you might expect to see a battalion of British army soldiers, dressed in desert fatigues and primed for battle.

There’s a Royal Marine “desert raiding” figure on a quad bike, while a navy commando is already wearing his underwater gear, ready for deployment. Emblazoned with the Union Jack, and armed with an assortment of assault rifles and heavy mortar, backed up by tanks, attack jets and other vehicles, Her Majesty’s Armed Forces may be camouflaged, but are still in plain view of passers-by and onlookers.

But not many people are paying them much attention. Most of the shoppers in Smyths toy store, the location for this miniature army, are more interested in Gameboys and Playstations than in the exploits of the British army. However, the miniature army has caught the attention of others, who are questioning how appropriate it is for an Irish toy store to carry the latest line of British army figures.

The line was launched in May and apart from the UK, the toys are not available on the shelves of any other EU country. The real-life equivalents of the product are likely to be seen patrolling the streets of Kabul or Helmand Province in Afghanistan, which has drawn the ire of Sinn Féin. A spokesperson has urged the public to boycott the figures, stating, “This is a matter of personal choice but we in Sinn Féin would urge people not to buy these action figures for the simple reason that a portion of the money goes towards Britain’s armed campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan to which we are opposed.”

Since their launch, the UK company behind the products, Character Options, says the toys “have been a popular line since . . . in many different Irish toy stores.” When asked whether it was appropriate for Irish stores to carry British armed forces toys, a spokesperson stated, “The fact they depict the British Forces has no bearing on how children play with these toys. It adds to their authenticity, which is an aspect that kids desire.” As for the allegation that a portion of the profits makes its way to campaigns being fought at present, the spokesperson stated, “Any manufacturer of any product is obliged to pay royalties where they are appropriate, to the owner or logo, flag or distinguishing features on a product. In the case of these toys, the manufacturer pays a royalty to the UK authorities.”

Smyths deflected any criticism, stating that its aim is to, “sell toys that kids want. These toys have been very popular since their launch.” So, how about a range of figures depicting the Irish Defence Forces? Smyths said if such a range existed, of course they would consider stocking them.

A Defence Forces press officer wasn’t exactly enamoured by the idea though: “You’re asking the Defence Forces about toys. Are you serious?”

Someone who is serious about the toys being stocked on Irish shelves is Michael Youlton, of the Irish Anti-War Movement. “We have a situation where soldiers are involved in campaigns where there are daily casualties and these toys are representative of those types of army groups. I don’t think having these figures in toy shops is the best example for children. It is helping create an environment where violence and state violence appears inevitable and logical. We will be launching a campaign to ask toy stores to remove these objects immediately.”

But aren’t objectors getting a little carried away? From Napoleon to Custer’s Last Stand, children have always played with toy soldiers. For their part, the toy industry points to the fact that there is little evidence to suggest that children identify toys with current military campaigns. Children, they say, will play in their own style creating different scenarios as they go. In many cases the objects are simply facilitators of children’s fantasy games and cause no harm.

Cork father of one, Aidan Mulcahy, thinks objectors should clarify what exactly they have issues with. He says the objections by Sinn Féin, in particular, are somewhat hypocritical. “If you go onto their website, you can buy all sorts of military-inspired items with images of guns, from place mats to mugs. So for them to be urging people not to buy these toys is a bit ironic.”

Mulcahy feels that the issue with the toys is more to do with nationality, than neutrality.

“It’s important to ask if the issue is with the suitability of any kind of military-inspired toys, or is it the Union Jack that people have a problem with? I think we need to step back a little here. Kids have been playing with toy soldiers for hundreds of years. I think these toys represent adventure and a sense of the exotic. Just because a child plays with plastic cowboys and Indians today doesn’t mean he will want to go out hunting scalps tomorrow.”

BUSH TOP GUN

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IRAQ FORCES

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