By now you’ve probably heard that athletic clothing manufacturer Under Armour released a new shirt featuring a basketball-themed parody of the classic Iwo Jima photo. The reason: a horde of angry patriots, many likely Marines, took umbrage at the parody and called for Under Armour to pull the shirt from shelves. The manufacturer complied.
My only question: What was it about this Iwo Jima parody that rankled them so much? After all, the Iwo Jim flag raising is easily one of the most parodied photos ever? In fact, scores of magazines, cartoons, movies, album covers, and more have paid homage — actually, let’s rephrase that, mocked — the photo.
Seriously, what exactly got everybody’s panties in a wad? Was this simply another manufactured controversy from Fox News? Was it just another instance of the ongoing culture war that has divided our nation? Was it because some folks simply hate basketball? Who knows exactly. And honestly, it doesn’t matter.
But now that a precedent has been set, I’m sure these very individuals who were offended by Under Armour’s appropriation of this iconic WWII moment will respond in kind the next time someone chooses to make an Iwo Jima parody.
Of course, we all know that won’t happen. Everyone will be on to the next outrage du jour and this offensive will be lost to history.
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