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Are Milsims Racist Affairs?

Gungho Cowboy

We all remember when we were young boys (and girls) that we pranced around the house or in the garden playing cowboys and indians, and of course, dressed as cowboys and indians. There were no bad guys, good guys, we're oblivious to it, we just play the game galloping in makeshift horses made of broomsticks, and shouting at each other "Bang! Bang! You're dead!". We even play dead. Now, that's milsim for kids for you.

 

Now as adults, we play airsoft, are deep into military simulations (Milsim), influenced by global media reports on global and regional conflicts. We play our part in these milsims, either as "coalition forces", "special forces", "terrorists", "insurgents", "rebels", and whatever "label" that airsoft events organisers plan. We all enjoyed these games, as it is always fun, and at the same time we learn more about real conflicts that have happened or are happening all around the world. Airsoft is not just a speedball game, it's about scenarios and objectives, it's about competition too with which any side can win the day.

 

I have played as a "terrorist", and I dress up the part. We have won and lost games depending on our group's cooperation and skill. I also played as a GI Joe, trying to shoot at the "vietcong", and still won and lost games depending on the same thing.  I never thought of these games as being "racist" or "politically incorrect". Now here come spoilers of the fun....

 

The UK newspaper, The Sun, reported yesterday, 08 April 2008, about "Anger at 'shoot Arab' war game", where there was an event organised in Lincolnshire  in which the players in British Army and Terrorist loadouts "battled" it out to win, all in a day's game.  The report goes...

 

"FURIOUS Muslim leaders yesterday condemned a war game in which players with replica guns shoot rivals dressed as ARABS.

Teams in military gear fight opponents with traditional shemagh head-dresses...."

"But the Muslim Association of Britain hit out at the 'foolish' scheme.

Executive member Mokhtar Badri said: “They could use any colour or dress to tell between teams. Using Arab dress is shortsighted and foolish.”

 

And as a side bar, Sun Columnist Anila Bajig, called it "Insulting and immature" and ..."THIS 'game' makes me sick to the stomach – it is racist and completely unacceptable, especially in this climate of fear."

 

What? Reinforcing stereotypes? Get real!

 

We need to get some things straight here. One, not all muslims are arabs, and not all arabs are muslims. Another thing, it is a military simulation by airsoft players on a scenario based on real world events.  It could have been another cowboys and indians airsoft event (so the american indians can protest about it?). It could have been a Chinese PLA versus NATO, or a plain cops and robbers event. It just so happened that scenario was against terrorists. The game is always played out that any one group could win, whether arab "terrorists" or the British forces. Unfortunately looking at the photos posted at The Sun, the British forces won the day. What if the "Terrorists" won in the event and you see all these shemagh wearing players (that you see wrapped in many young people walking with high street fashion clothes) were pointing their rifles at "British" forces and tied them to the ground? Would there be a brouhaha?

 

We play milsims since airsoft provides some sort of realism and allow us to act out our "fantasies" being soldiers or as armed combatants without using the real thing.  These have been ongoing since time immemorial, where people played using sticks for swords, brooms for horses, and suction cups as arrowheads. Only the "toys" have changed, but the concept remains the same.

 

We never thought about racism when we played this milsim games, we never thought of stereotypes, and we base our loadouts (or "costumes" for those who do not understand this term) as what we see on the telly, newspapers, and other media reports. So please understand the game well before it gets reported or raise issues about it. This is just another matter of "Shoot first, and ask questions later".

All for the sake of getting media mileage. Shooting from the hip is not really accurate.


 


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