Photo of President Obama removed at Peterson Air Force Base

By GottaLaff

Happy Presidents Day 2009! Current (black) presidents need not participate:

President Barack Obama's picture was removed this week from a Presidents Day sign at the Peterson Air Force Base commissary after customers complained that the image did not fit the holiday commemorating the birthdays of past presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

The head of the local NAACP and a commissary employee say it was blatant racism.

The picture of the first black president accompanied a sign near the entrance listing the government-run military grocery store's operating hours on for Presidents Day. [...] Employees took the sign down after customers complained that the holiday wasn't about the current president, according to the Defense Commissary Agency, which oversees the base grocery stores.

Rosemary Harris, president of the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said something more sinister was afoot.

"It bodes poorly for the progress that we hoped we would see in this country; we might have taken one step forward but we see many steps being taken backwards," she said Friday.

A cashier at the commissary who did not want her name used said pictures of past presidents, including George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, have accompanied the Presidents Day closure sign.

One customer, a military retiree, objected this year because of Obama's race, the cashier said.

"He said they're not going to have no black man on the window where he shops," the cashier said.

The commissary agency disputed the cashier's story, saying no past presidents have had their picture displayed with the holiday message.

I wonder if, on Veterans Day, someone put up a photo of a soldier who served less than 180 days, whether it would have been removed because he/she was not yet a "veteran".

H/t: Ellen

"Dear Mr. President, please make it rain candy!"

By GottaLaff

(via)

Dear Prez O,

You inspire children. That is even better than making it rain candy (preferably Reese's).

Love, Laffy

Thousands of kids detailed their hopes and expectations for President Barack Obama in letters and drawings as part of a worldwide project, with 150 chosen for a free e-book being released on Presidents Day. [...]

The "Dear Mr. President" project was a joint effort between the National Education Association and kidthing.com, which is putting out the book for use with its downloadable media player. A special hardcopy edition of the book will be sent to the White House for Obama, who has done wonders to bring the office of the presidency to life for young people. [...]

Kids ages 5-12 were eligible to participate. Submissions flooded kidthing, including some from other nations.

Lawrence Hitchcock, chief executive officer of the Web site, said more than 4,500 letters were considered for the book on a heart-wrenching range of topics that don't stop at an end to the war and climate change.

Here are some of the sweetest, most poignant letters from the kiddos:

• "I hope that we will have no war ever again. I mean why are we fighting why can't we all be friends."

• "I would appreciate it if you would try to make this a greener planet and try to bring home the troops and end the war. I am very luckey because I am not part of a military family, but it saddens me to hear about all the people who die in Iraque and know that somewhere In the world people are greiving over a lost family member."

• "Dear Mr. Obama, Please Make it rain candy!"

• "My dad's out of work, fix the company, please get more jobs."

• "Please change the immigration laws so my dad can come back from Mexico."

• "I hope Mr. Barack Obama will one day create a holiday for children from around the world."

• "I feel very proud because I know he'll be able to make a change in the country and we'll be a lot more happier. I think he should make people feel more welcome, people who don't really get along with other people."

• "Make fires and earthquakes not exist. Make no tornadoes or any of those things that break things."

• [My dream is that a] "cure for cancer will be found" with Obama in the White House, "Because it took my aunt to a better place on father's day."

• One child drew Obama as the "new sunrise of America."

• One made Earth and labeled it "Obamaland."

• One drew an all-green globe. "I just think he's really, really awesome."

Yes he is. And these children are even awesomer.