There are times when we have to be protective of our President. When people start attending health care reform events with guns strapped to their legs and quotations that read, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants," there is cause for concern. When people question whether President Obama is really a natural-born American because of his "Muslim-sounding" name, despite being provided with proof otherwise, we should speak up.
But with all that's going on, I have to tell you that I'm not too c-c-c-concerned about the Chia Obama.
Yes, the guy who invented the Chia Pet, you know, those animal shapes that plants grow out of with just a little watering, has invented another one, he says, to honor the hope he believes President Obama brings to the country.
Walgreens began selling it earlier this year, but then pulled it off the shelves because it was concerned that people would be offended.
"We decided to pull the product, because it didn't fit with our corporate image," Walgreens spokesperson Robert Elfinger said in a company statement. "We also didn't want to be subject to any misinterpretation over the product. People could interpret it through a political viewpoint or other viewpoints, and we want to avoid that situation."
Now, a few months later, CVS has decided to do a trial run of the Chia Obama in Tampa, Fla.; San Francisco; and Chicago stores. Chia Pet creator Jospeh Pedott told AOL Black Spin in an interview today that he couldn't be more excited:
"I was trying to give hope and have a symbol and say, 'I believe,'" said Pedott.
The 77-year-old says he is a Republican who voted for Obama. He said the crush of issues facing President Obama -- two wars, the deficit, the potential collapse of the financial industry, joblessness -- made him want to make a statement that "we should have hope for the future."
"Everything is hope. I wanted it to be a symbol of the American dream," Pedott said.
In June, the White House released a photo of Obama receiving a Chia Obama from Pedott. (It's a tight shot, showing only the president's hand, so Obama may have been a little embarrassed. The Afro on the Chia Obama does need a little taming.) Obviously he doesn't have any major problems with it. And neither should we.
First of all, Pedott's a businessman and President Obama is hot property. Obama is not the first U.S. President who some businessman has tried to make a few bucks off of.
Secondly, during tough times, we have to maintain a sense of humor. Who didn't get a laugh out of all of those George W. Bush Halloween costumes a few years ago? They showed the former president with large ears and a red nose.
"No one takes Chia seriously," Pedott said. It's a fun thing. Everybody loves it."
Finally, I don't want this issue to distract President Obama from all of the important issues. He should have kept his nose out of the Skip Gates controversy, and I hope the White House keeps its nose out of this, too. The president does not have to respond to every minor controversy. There are some he should just hop aboard Air Force One for and fly over.
What worries me is when seemingly normal Americans start complaining about President Obama, a man who obviously took his education very seriously, giving a pep talk to the nation's schoolchildren. I'm more interested in how the health care debate will be resolved.
So lighten up, people. Yes we c-c-c-can have a sense of humor.
President Obama Pictures
HONG KONG August 18, 2009 (AFP) - AFP photo coverage advisory . Tel: (852) 2829 6206. Duty editor: Edmund Edwardes Jones..--ASIA--.TOKYO/OSAKA: Start of 12-day official campaign for Japan's August 30 general election.TAIWAN/CHINA: Aftermath of Typhoon Morakot.AFGHANISTAN: Build up to the August 20 presidential elections.PAKISTAN: Returning IDPs and situation in general as available.JAKARTA: Independence day parade.DELHI: Nepalese Prime Minister Madav Kumar Nepal visits..--MIDEAST--.DAMASCUS: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki visits Syria for talks with President Bashar al-Assad.TEHRAN: Political developments as available.BAGHDAD/JERUSALEM: Situation as develops..--AMERICAS--.WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama meets with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.VENEZUELA: President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mohammed Ibn Chambas visits.HONDURAS: Situation following coup d'etat..Your opinion matters - Online customer satisfaction survey.Click here to win one of 50 copies of the AFP Yearbook for 2009. .http://www.sphinxonline.net/afpmarketing/photo2008/start.htm (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Two Iraqi boys hold plastic flowers in their hands as US soldiers (L) stand guard during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
An Iraqi boys talks to a US soldier standing guard next to his armoured vehicle during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
A US soldier stands guard during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Iraqi soldiers (R) join US troops guarding the inauguration ceremony of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US soldiers patrol a northeastern suburb of Baghdad during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Iraqi children stand next to US soldiers guarding an inauguration ceremony for a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Iraqi boys look at the tattoo on an American soldier's hand during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
An Iraqi girl holds her mother's hands as she plays next to US soldiers standing guard during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Iraqi children stand next to US soldiers during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Comments: (3)
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By: anon on 9/30/2009 1:41PM
has the writer of this article even seen a CHia commercial? its not c-c-c-chia, its CH-CH-CH-CHia... take the time to use your brain before you set down to write an article... and btw that quote: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants," was a very strongly held belief of George Washington
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By: truth b told on 9/30/2009 4:21PM
Hey IDIOT, that was a Thomas Jefferson quote and the context was explicitly directed at King George and the occupying British forces. He also called, in this very same writing, for a rebellion every 20 years.
So do you think America should be overthrown every generation, you whackjob?
Most of you numbnuts who keep quoting this don't have the balls for any type of bloodshed or revolution.
You panzy.
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By: Yama on 10/07/2009 11:28PM
The man with the weapon (which was unloaded) was African-American. Surprised? Google the pic and look at an unedited version of it. It was cropped to create a wonderful propaganda moment.
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