Concerning Hetalia

     Quite frankly, I have had enough. I am tired of the stereotyping and the same tired complaints being echoed across the internet. As a fan of Axis Powers Hetalia, I would like to raise a quick point.
     First off, I do not care whether or not you enjoy the series – that is entirely up to you to decide. What I do not appreciate is being unflatteringly profiled as a clueless, "kawaii desu" weeaboo, yaoi fangirl simply for liking the series. This seems to be the greatest hurdle faced by the innocent observer. Indeed most complaints that spring up are concerning either the historical inaccuracies of the aforementioned series or the brainless ramblings of largely uneducated middle school-aged girls who remain completely oblivious to the workings of the world around them. While I can do nothing to change Hidekaz's work, I can offer an argument against this harmful image of the "average" Hetalia fan. There exists a group within the fanbase of older individuals who have studied their history and, as a result, are able to grace the world with beautiful (and historically correct) creations that lend insight to those of us unfamiliar with that particular period of time or delight those of us who are. Contrary to the popular belief, there are indeed fans of the series who became involved due to a genuine interest in history and have the flexibility to observe it from a new perspective.
     Next I will address the common complaint of historical inaccuracies within the series. My initial response to this sort of comment would exist somewhere along the lines of reminding the other person that, in such satirical works, one must take the jokes and content with a grain of salt. All joking aside, this series was never meant to be a factual portrayal of real world events. Rather it is a humorous depiction of history as seen by one man.
     This being said, I will now continue by saying that the intelligent fan, when confronted with a topic or event she finds especially fascinating, partakes in actual research to further her understanding of the subject at hand. Not only do the jokes often make more sense, but she has also educated herself and, thus, has obtained defense against any sharp accusations of the opposition. This informed, well-read fan will be able to avoid misunderstanding the true nature of the South Korean nation, the unfortunate situation of Russia and Belarus, and the atrocious of events of the Second World War.
     To the fans reading this passage and wondering if I, a fellow Hetalia fan, am insulting their lack of understanding in such matters, know that I very well may be. For those of you who never took the time to venture past Wikipedia in your quest for knowledge, for those of you who accepted Hidekaz's word to be absolute truth, this piece of advice is offered: educate yourself so as not to fall into the dangerous expectation of the "idiotic, insensitive yaoi fangirl with no regard or respect for history." In the words of the Prussian Enlightenment writer, Immanuel Kant, "Dare to know!"
     Finally, I will ask only that those of you who hold disapproving or scornful views of the Hetalia fanbase to respectfully bite your tongues and go on with your business. There is no need to purposefully seek out and ridicule the fans of this series when it is very possible that he or she is just as intellectual as you claim yourself to be.