So then I said to my people, “We only want to make a small profit”.

And the next thing I knew, they musta flipped the wrong switch or something, ’cause there was this pile of cash covering the company parking lot. Then I did the right thing and gave donations to all my politician friends.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was election day and America was about to make a very important decision. Would it be four more years for George Bush or would we make a change and go with John Kerry? As I walked down Lisbon Street here in Lewiston, Maine, I was shocked to see that people had set-up a George Bush punching bag in front of the Democratic headquarters. They had a sign up and were soliciting people to “Punch Out Bush”. The people in front of the building were greatly enjoying delivering kicks and punches to the ersatz President.

Since I thought this was a really dumb idea I went across and spoke to the people. I was immediately greeted with jeers and one person accusing me of being an asshole against free speech. So I went inside and asked who was in charge. Again a chorus of obscenities. I turned and left and as I passed the group on the sidewalk one of them spit at my back. The crowd howled with laughter and mocking insults about me being a “Fascist Republican”. I shook my head and kept on going.

As it turned out Bush won a close election. Like the last one it seemed that America was more divided now than it had ever been. In an email to a group of people a friend asked that the day after the election we all put both Bush and Kerry bumper stickers on our vehicles as a way to begin uniting the country.

Since I do not own a car I decided that I would put the stickers on my rolling backpack. And so on Thursday of that week I set off to my CPE classes Central Maine Medical Center with Bush on one side of my backpack and Kerry on the other.

As I walked up one street I heard someone yell something about me being a “Republican motherfucker” (he could only see the side with the Bush sticker and I really was an “ex-Republican motherfucker” but that is another story) a split second later I was hit by a forearm as someone charged into me screaming obscenities. He hit me on a dead run and I flew backward about 5 feet. He follow the hit up with a couple kicks which later turned into nasty bruises. He and his friend then ran away laughing hysterically.

Do I think that these people had anything to do with the Democratic party or the Bush punching bag? No, and on some level yes. I do think they have bought into the poisonous belief that people in another party are somehow evil and therefore can be targeted with violence. How often do we hear people on both sides vilifying and demonizing political opponents? Far too often.

The most discouraging aspect of this incident was that, of the 10 to 12 people outside and 20, or so, inside, not one person spoke up and said that the vulgarity and name-calling was going overboard. Not One Person!

As we come into a new election cycle for President I am doubtful that we will see less animosity and violence. I hope that I am wrong but I am sadly pessimistic.

You would think that hiring Halle Berry would be a no-brainer. Let me quote her to recap her qualifications:

“It doesn’t matter that I have an Oscar, an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Silver (Berlin) Bear.” I shouldn’t have had to try so hard to be considered. I should have to stop convincing studios I am right for it - it should be on my acting merit.”

I would love to hear some of the conversations she has had with the Hollywood producers who cannot envision a black actress in any role that does not include dressing like Aunt Jemima or Cleopatra Jones. Let me give them a clue from flyover country: Halle Berry has talent and an Academy Award. Those of us who pay good money to see movies would love to see more movies with Halle Berry.

I have never believed that Hollywood was free from things like racism. There is an element of prejudice in every strata and every institution. There is the common assumption that racism and prejudice are solely the flaws of lower income and less educated. In my short time on this planet I have seen it span every class and education-level.

These common assumptions generally come from the media and Hollywood. Do you think that the people who make movies or investigate news stories are going to tell the truth about their own backyards? Neither do I. My hope is that more courageous people, like Halle Berry, speak up and expose this injustice wherever it hides.