I’m sure many have heard of the Marines’ very successful new “toys for tots” philanthropic campaign. It seems that ISU’s ROTC was not to be outdone this year at Veishea. In Cy’s Big Top, the ISU ROTC had what can only be described as “Land mines for the little ones.”

The fun didn’t end there, however, as children were encouraged to inspect and play with guns, shell casings and try on child-size army gear. It made me think long and hard when I saw a 5-year-old child put on that vest. Did he know that those vests often hold weapons that are used to kill people?

Did he make the connection that the land mine displayed is responsible for over 10,000 deaths a year, according to the International Coalition to Ban Land Mines, the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize winner. The festivities of “Land mines for the little ones” attracted the attention of local peace activists who displayed signs displaying slogans of nonviolence and tolerance. They were then spit upon, pushed, and made the victims of many verbal assaults.

It kind of makes you glad the children didn’t have to see their parents act like that. What makes me really wonder is why weapons were deemed okay for children. I heard that the meteorology club had to mute their video of storm chasing due to graphic language. That makes perfect sense, because children are not supposed to be subjected to foul language, sex or violence.

Isn’t that what TV rating systems have taught us? Yet weapons of war are okay for children to play with. I cannot see how people would be outraged by violent video games, yet be passive when real weapons are laid out in front of their children as if they were not a dangerous thing. I’m sure that all of the weapons displayed in “Land mines for the little ones” were not active. This still presents an image that Iowa State and Veishea are OK with promoting violence to children. The next time you hear a child ask for a toy gun, you can conveniently direct his parents to Veishea’s children’s events, where they can play with real weapons.

Jonathan Mullin<<br>

Junior

Biochemistry