At a community organization’s dinner 2 years ago:

Organization Member: So, what kind of pastor are you? You’re not an evangelical are you? (incredulous) Like George Bush?????
Robert: Well, that depends on your definition of evangelical.
Organization Member: Oh, you know…..like George Bush…..someone who says they talk to God……and He talks to them. (laughing)
Robert: I think an evangelical is someone who prays, yes, and holds the Bible as truth.
Organization Member: (more incredulous) The Bible????? It’s just a book of stories……myths, really.

At a community organization meeting 1 year ago:

Me: Hi! How was it being back home in Germany?
Former member visiting from Europe: Wonderful, but the people there want to know why America voted for George Bush….. and then re-elected him. (very sincere, genuine question)
Another Member: (Rolling eyes, sighing) Oh, he’s just terrible!
Me (to German friend): I believe it was the moral issues they were voting for.
Former Member from Europe: I see.
Other member: (silence)

At a Chamber of Commerce Event planning meeting 1 year ago:

Robert: Why don’t we ask Whole Foods to participate this year? They are great at food tastings, demos, etc.
Board Member: Well, I don’t know, they are a chain store, and they are not local – they’re out of Texas. (hear the undertones of disdain)
Board President: Well….Robert’s out of Texas – and we invite other grocery store chains.
Board Member: Oh, well, ummmm, errrr………
(Whole Foods was not invited.)

At a board meeting (as a potential new member) of the local library supporters this week:

Pre -meeting Discussion: Oh, that Sarah Palin….she’s twice as bad as McCain…..can you believe those Republicans?……What are they thinking?…….She’s more “right” than he is etc, etc.
Agenda Item Discussion: We have to get the word out so that voters will not approve the referendum to abolish the state income tax. But, we’re not allowed to be political in nature, so how will we accomplish this? There will be a big voter turnout in November – we’ve got to let people know that many library services will be cut if this goes through.
They’ve got to be informed that the states with no income tax also have no roads, no schools, and no libraries! (no exaggeration here)
I know…. We’ll draft a letter letting people know about the ballot referendum and its ramifications, and then we’ll hope that no Republicans show up to vote.

Board Member: (trying to get a point across clearly) Well, after suffering through last week’s Republican National Convention……

Board Member: Yeah, made for an all-around bad week, huh?

Being a minority and a complete idiot can get really old sometimes.

(And just for the record, I will be “writing in” my candidate this year – and I have lived in a state with no income tax, and lo and behold, there were roads, libraries, and schools!)