Update:
In a swift turnaround Walmart has discontinued the sale of Israeli Soldier Halloween costumes as well as the “Sheik Fagan Nose” after being flooded with criticism, including calls to boycott the chain store.
TIME magazine, Walmart Halts Sale of Halloween Costumes Criticized as Racist:
Walmart has discontinued the sale of two Halloween costumes after receiving complaints from bloggers that the costumes were offensive.
The costumes — an oversize prosthetic hooked nose sold as the “Sheik Fagan Nose” and an Israeli military uniform intended for small children — were marked as anti-Arab by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, which said on Twitter that it broached the matter with the retailer, the New York Times reports. By Tuesday night, the company had removed the costumes from its online store.
sooooooo wal-mart is also selling fake noses for an “arab shiek” costume: https://t.co/ePjPzWHa5t pic.twitter.com/l19r7rRDAW
— Sara Yasin (@missyasin) October 27, 2015
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) welcomed the decision:
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Original:
It has come to this. Please read the description for the “Boy’s Israeli Soldier Costume“:
The world isn’t as safe as we’d like it to be. There comes a time when your child wants to save the world the only way he knows how, by dressing as his favorite army man! Have your child step into their Jewish heritage by putting on this Boy’s Israeli Soldier Costume. Authentic and modeled directly after the Israeli military officer apparel, it’s got everything they need to enforce the law and protect their citizens! Comes with an authentic beige shirt that has authentic Hebrew printed across the breast that’s bound to signify your child’s love and respect for their culture. It’s also accompanied with a matching pair of pants and complementing belt that ties in the officer’s aura you’re trying so hard to cultivate. What would any soldier be with their signature red beret, don’t worry we’ve got that included as well. Give your kid the official officer uniform by perusing our accessory store for the perfect add-ons. Looking for a faux pistol, machine gun, maybe even a pair of officer boots? We’ve got a wide array to select from. Our attire is the perfect way to help your kid connect with their heritage like never before! Makes for a great pairing with the Hatzolah rescuer costume as well!
“Have your child step into their Jewish heritage by putting on this Boy’s Israeli Soldier Costume.” I’ve stared at that sentence for about 10 minutes and still don’t know what to say about it.
The costume is also for sale at Amazon and Walmart, althought looks like it’s going to be a tough sell based on the comments:
wow – the comments are scathing….and often hysterically funny.
this is one time where you really start to see the ground shifting – I will probably bring this up at Halloween parties this weekend and get a serious laugh from EVERYONE!
sometimes it’s the little things that really change things.
Maybe it’s just the context of putting this on your child that brings home how far the situation has gone off the rails over there.
Drip, drip, drip…
The costume’s missing the bloody hands. Not very authentic!
Better than sending your kid to a Hamas camp in Gaza. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/10914547/In-pictures-Hamas-run-Palestinian-youth-military-summer-camp-in-Gaza.html
1. Why doesn’t the child know about saving the world by dressing up as his favourite superhero, Captain Israel?
2. It’s a shame kids are taught that the only way to save the world is by dressing up as an IDF terrorist goon.
3. Being an IDF terrorist goon in Israel’s army of occupation, oppression, colonization and supremacism – is part of “Jewish heritage”? Really? Man, that is seriously f*cked up.
|| hophmi: Better than sending your kid to a Hamas camp in Gaza. … ||
No, it isn’t. Both ideas suck. But when it comes to whataboutery, it seems you just can’t stop yourself.
Encouraging to read such clear thinking.
Not you Hophmi. You’ll find your affinity group over in the J.K. Rowling expose’.