Proving once and for all that Happy Meals and accusations of genocide don’t mix particularly well, McDonald’s has been catching flak due to its motorcycle-riding Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian toy.
The Rapid City Journal notes:
“The fast food chain’s decision to circulate the toy in Indian Country is akin to circulating a Hitler figure in Israel, according to Laurette Pourier, executive director for the Society for the Advancement of Native Interests-Today. ‘It’s insensitive and disrespectful.’”
Ah, but if it were a tiny Hitler toy astride a moped? Well … actually, that could, in theory, be even worse. Point taken.
Why would Custer be offensive to people of Indian Country? Not being a resident I claim ignorance, but Custer got his from them. I’d think Andrew Jackson would more more like Hitler in Indian Country.