Pokemon is a television show/game that you will recognize, without fail, if you were born anytime in the last 10 years. For some of us, it brings back nostalgic memories of hours spent leveling a Charizard and defeating the Elite Four. For many others, I'm sure it brings to mind just another childish phase of popular toys and cards that came and went along with countless others.
Regardless of your position concerning this magical franchise, I believe the world of Pokemon portrays a picture of a society that closely mirrors our own, and I believe these barefaced parallels no longer can be ignored.
If you're still confused, and you probably are, I'll start with a slightly obvious one - self-image.
In all Pokemon games, the goal is to raise strong Pokemon with the objective of defeating other trainers' Pokemon and eventually become the champ. In some of the later games, there are also contests based on "coolness" and "cuteness," among other categories.
What are we trainers teaching these Pokemon? That they're worthless unless they are competent in battle? That we don't love them unless they are just totally super-cute?
Nay, I say, and we shouldn't be teaching the youth of America this lesson either.
Kids are pressured to excel in every area of their life - physical appearance, school, sports, income, the list goes on. It's hard for a Squirtle to feel appreciated just the way it is if it can't "faint" a Pikachu, and, in the same way, it can be hard for anyone, much less a child, to feel good about themselves if they failed English or suck at football.
Now, let us move on.
In perhaps one of the greatest mysteries of the Pokemon world, a 20-foot-tall dragon will obey a small child and even risk its life to fight meaningless battles for said child.
Is this because this Gyarados has been captured in a small ball that defies almost every law of physics, or is it because the child and the dragon form a powerful bond of love and friendship? Some, like Professor Oak, claim it's the latter, while many trainers I know would point to the former as the true reason.
Whichever it is, one thing becomes increasingly clear - Pokemon are tools.
Comparable to this relationship between Pokemon and trainer is the relationship between the few elite CEOs and the members of their work forces. While most managers have not captured their employees in Pokeballs, and few have developed a bond with their workers resembling the one between Ash and Pikachu, they possess yet another means of controlling their tools - money.
Yes, without that drastically important income, we apparently have no lives and no happiness.
Make no mistake, the labor force certainly has the power to overthrow the executives, to throw away its dependence and set its own rules, but unfortunately it is crippled by a fear of change, a need for stability and a reluctance for risk-taking.
So, while a Mewtwo might utilize its immense psychic powers all day on the whim of a 12 year-old, we aren't in any position to point and laugh.
On a final note, the issue of animal cruelty is practically mandatory in this little discussion.
While I was initially tempted to point out all the instances of Pokemon abuse and then use them as a "what not to do" example, upon further thought I realized something. If you think about it, or maybe just do a smidgeon of research, you'll see that what we do to our environment and the animals in it on a daily basis is exceptionally more harmful and careless than any plan a member of Team Rocket could dream up.
Let's make a list and compare, shall we?
In the world of Pokemon, trainers promote violence among their creatures, trying to make the opponent's tool faint, but not die (they really dodged the angry-mother bullet on that one). While this is comparable to something Michael Vick would do, you have to remember that these Pokemon never die.
In another potentially bad choice, trainers use vitamins/steroids like Iron, HP Up and Zinc to "boost" their Pokemon.
Trainers occasionally will throw rocks at Pokemon in the Safari Zone.
Trainers will seek out endangered, rare Pokemon like Eevee, Clefairy and Cubone in order to catch them (but not kill them).
This is not really an extensive list, but it will do.
In our world, we destroy miles of forest daily; release poisons and toxins into the environment; hunt animals to kill them; use these animals for testing of different products, vaccines and diseases; abuse them in our homes; desert them in the streets; and so much more.
Again, definitely not extensive, but the case is clear.
In any case, I think we can all take something from the world of Pokemon and hopefully use it as an educational tool. Also, it's really fun to play.
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