Obama Chia Pet Considered Offensive Due To Afro Hair Style

In case you don't know what it is, Chia Pets are a brand of collectible animal figurines originated by the San Francisco, California-based company Joseph Enterprises Inc.

Chia Pets are traditional Mexican animal-shaped clay figures covered with chia, where the chia sprouts resemble the animal's fur. Chia Pets achieved widespread popularity in the 1980s following the 1982 release of a ram, the first Chia Pet. Subsequent decline in popularity has relegated these objects to fad status. The catch phrase sung in the TV commercial as the plant grows in time lapse is "Ch-ch-ch-chia!"

Chia Pets are grown by applying moistened seeds of chia (Salvia hispanica), the sprout-like plant from whose common name the Chia Pet gets its name, to the grooved terra cotta figurine body. After three to five days of filling and refilling the Chia Pet with water as well as discarding water that has accumulated in the provided drip tray, the seeds sprout, having formed a gelatinous coat that adheres to the Chia Pet's body. At this point, little effort is required to maintain the plant covering of the Chia Pet.

Enough seeds are provided with the Chia Pet for three plantings. Additional seeds can be purchased for use with the Chia vessel, which is reusable. Several Chia Pet animals are currently available, including a turtle, pig, puppy, kitten, frog, and hippopotamus. Sculpted Chia heads and licensed Pets based on popular cartoon characters like Garfield, Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes, Shrek, The Simpsons, and most recently the Chia Obama.

The Chia Obama came under fire even though Chia founder Joseph Pedott says he was "inspired to create the Barack Obama item as a show of patriotism."

Walgreens, a major seller of the Chia Pets stopped carrying the item amid reports and complaints by customers that the Chia pet was "racist."  Many people believed it was a mockery of African Americans because the Obama Chia had and afro hairstyle when the Chia grew out.

Although the Chia Obama was originally designed to show support for President Obama, it did the opposite.

What do you think.  What Obama Chia offensive or not?

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