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Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 1:42:32 PM

Marc2b

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Is the Chia Obama racist or just silly?

I can see how some would regard it as racist but let’s get a fucking grip. I’m more worried about the idiots that would buy this silly piece of crap than the people who manufacture it.

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 1:52:38 PM

Aylee

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I fail to see the racism. The Mister-T chia wasn't racist. Why is this one?

There has been plates, coins, bobble-heads, you name it with Obama on them. Why shouldn't the makers of chia cash in on this?

I really and truly FAIL to see how race could even come into this. Maybe someone can enlighten me.

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 1:52:41 PM

slaveboyforyou

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Okay, that was the funniest thing I've seen today. I was on the verge of hyperventilating from laughing so hard. The "Chia Obama."

Another funny thing in the article was they have made a Chia-Mr. T at one time. "I pity the fool who don't water my beard."

No, I don't think it's racist. It's just hillarious that people buy crap like this.

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 1:58:34 PM

Vendaval

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These types of items and imagery need to be understood in their historical and cultural context. Check out the film documentary Ethnic Notions for a better understanding why many people find these caricatures offensive.

"Ethnic Notions is Marlon Riggs' Emmy-winning documentary that takes viewers on a disturbing voyage through American history, tracing for the first time the deep-rooted stereotypes which have fueled anti-black prejudice. Through these images we can begin to understand the evolution of racial consciousness in America.

Loyal Toms, carefree Sambos, faithful Mammies, grinning Coons, savage Brutes, and wide-eyed Pickaninnies roll across the screen in cartoons, feature films, popular songs, minstrel shows, advertisements, folklore, household artifacts, even children's rhymes. These dehumanizing caricatures permeated popular culture from the 1820s to the Civil Rights period and implanted themselves deep in the American psyche."

http://www.newsreel.org/nav/title.asp?tc=CN0026

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 2:13:03 PM

Crush

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I'm sure it is an "homage" piece, otherwise Chia wouldn't have come out with it....

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 2:15:19 PM

Vendaval

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Nope, just another cheap and tawdry marketing gimmick.

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 2:27:03 PM

Aylee

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So what you are saying Vendaval, is that a chia-head somehow "de-humanizes" Pres. Obama, because of other historical caricatures?

That argument does not hold water for me. We can historically look at ANY group and see caricatures.

Not everything is a statement. Well, in this case I think that the company that makes the chias statement is something along the lines of, "Hey, I think that we can make a buck on this!" Sometimes a chia is just a chia.

BTW ~ in 1995 Mr T was diagnoised with cancer (t-cell lymphoma,) in 2000 they came out with a chia Mr T. I think that it is more insensitive that they would make a chia of a cancer victim that grows him hair, then it is to make a chia head of Pres. Obama. Obviously TV Land did not agree. And Mr T had no problem with it. No one raised the hue and cry. Seriously, we need to stop treating Pres. Obama with kid-gloves. While the world will not be a better place because of a Pres. Obama chia head, it certainly will not be any worse.

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 2:45:02 PM

Vendaval

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aylee

So what you are saying Vendaval, is that a chia-head somehow "de-humanizes" Pres. Obama, because of other historical caricatures?

No, my position was clearly stated. Understand the historical context to learn why these images offend people. Try watching the movie I linked for starters.

That argument does not hold water for me. We can historically look at ANY group and see caricatures.

Provide specific examples.

Not everything is a statement. Well, in this case I think that the company that makes the chias statement is something along the lines of, "Hey, I think that we can make a buck on this!" Sometimes a chia is just a chia.

Capitalism at it's finest.

BTW ~ in 1995 Mr T was diagnoised with cancer (t-cell lymphoma,) in 2000 they came out with a chia Mr T. I think that it is more insensitive that they would make a chia of a cancer victim that grows him hair, then it is to make a chia head of Pres. Obama. Obviously TV Land did not agree. And Mr T had no problem with it. No one raised the hue and cry.

I think it was horribly tacky for Mr. T to be treated this way. And yes, I see racist aspects to it.

Seriously, we need to stop treating Pres. Obama with kid-gloves.

Do you mean that symbolically or literally? Because he had the earliest Secret Service protection ever for a Presidential candidate, going back to May 3, 2007.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18474444/

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 4:12:17 PM

popeye1250

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No, of course not. It's an inanimate object!
It's a planter for God's sake! This "political correctness" crap needs to be stomped back into the ground everytime it rears it's evil head!
What if they made one in the likeness of Joe Biden, would that be "racist?"
You know, people really do need to *lighten the fuck up!*

< Message edited by popeye1250 -- 4/7/2009 4:14:37 PM >

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 4:16:44 PM

kittinSol

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I'm with Ven - this 'toy' is really rather grotesque.

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 4:21:07 PM

MarsBonfire

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So was the George W. Bush action figure in a flightsuit... of course, those will probably be worth something someday... god knows they'll be pretty rare considering how many were burned in effigy, and blown apart with M-80's on the 4th of July...

The Obama chia? I vote silly... and possibly collectible.

Oh, and the Obama action figures will be out well before Christmas... the pre-orders for them beat Bush's by almost 60%! President Barrak Obama, dressed in a black three peice and red tie, with kung fu grip!

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 4:25:53 PM

DomImus

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Would a Chia Bush or a Chia Nixon Or a Chia Mao be racist? If the answers are no then the Chia Obama is not racist.

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 4:35:07 PM

slaveboyforyou

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quote:

I'm with Ven - this 'toy' is really rather grotesque.

C'mon Kittin, you don't find this hysterical?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCiTAJi1yRk

I don't see anything offensive about it. I just find it funny that the folks at the Chia company were sitting around in a board room meeting and someone said, "Eureka! I have a great idea...." The commercial sounds like one of those Franklin Mint commerative coin spiels. It is just so funny. What is even funnier is that I know hundreds of thousands of people have bought this. I am 99% certain that some people don't see it as a novelty. I can just picture some dumb shit proudly displaying this amongst their other hundreds of pieces of Obama memorabilia in their living room shrine to him. You know the types, like those people whose home is filled with Disney shit. It's hillarious.

< Message edited by slaveboyforyou -- 4/7/2009 4:38:43 PM >

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 4:51:29 PM

Crush

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Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 5:00:43 PM

kittinSol

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quote:

ORIGINAL: slaveboyforyou
C'mon Kittin, you don't find this hysterical?

Hysterically pathetic, maybe. Then again, I was never one for novelty items.

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 5:11:52 PM

MmeGigs

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aylee
We can historically look at ANY group and see caricatures.

If you look at history, caricatures of groups are often blatantly racist or ethnic slurs. Take a look at how the Nazi's portrayed Jews and how the US portrayed Japanese during WWII, or how the Irish were portrayed in the late 1800's here in the US.

This wasn't a group caricature, though. I don't believe that it was intended as a caricature, but as a profitable homage. I imagine that its creators are trying to cash in on Obamania, as are the folks who are making other Obama commemoratives. Still, I can see where folks would find this troubling. Has any real person who is not black been Chia-ized?

quote:

Seriously, we need to stop treating Pres. Obama with kid-gloves.

How are we treating him with kid-gloves? Seems to me that he's been getting plenty of pressure and criticism.

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 5:13:42 PM

MmeGigs

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DomImus
Would a Chia Bush or a Chia Nixon Or a Chia Mao be racist? If the answers are no then the Chia Obama is not racist.

They didn't make a Chia Bush, Nixon or Mao.

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 5:22:25 PM

girlygurl

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I think it's stupid and I wouldn't buy it, but do I think it's racist, no. The stepsons bought a chia dude for their dad as a joke cause the dad is bald. I found it funny, the dad did not.

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 5:26:07 PM

kittinSol

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quote:

ORIGINAL: MmeGigs
Has any real person who is not black been Chia-ized?

Now, see, that's a valid question. I didn't know these damned things until I moved over here, so I have no idea either. I would be very interested to find out: if only black people have Chia-ized, it's quite obvious that the manufacturers are on some kind of racist trip.

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RE: Is Chia Obama racist? - 4/7/2009 5:31:35 PM

lronitulstahp

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No it's not racist....i truly believe the company's goal was a marketable, and positive product.

However, of all the "Chia", the only two based on actual human beings (and not cartoon characters or animals) are African-American. Some things are so deeply ingrained in people's psyche's that they don't realize how they can be manifested. Often, people are truly amazed that people find certain things offensive, because they haven't been the type of people to label a person as "less than" based purely on race, or been at the receiving end of such hatred. Though i thnk the company meant no harm...still, i could totally understand how the lack of caucasian Chia pets might make someone else question the intent of the folks at "Chia Inc."

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