When I was in the Peace Corps in Africa the nation I was stationed in had some serious political problems
Violence not part of our system
With some justification - I think - I have talked about how nasty this presidential election has been. It has been dirty, with name-calling coming from all directions.
At times it has been dishonest, deceitful and just wrong. But no one has died.
To be honest, this all must be put into some context and that context shows the strength of us and our system.
In the last election, there were no greater rivals - and two men who disagreed more - than Al Gore and George Bush. And with the way the election ended and the anger felt by the Gore supporters, this is perhaps the only place where what was to follow, did follow.
Nothing.
Gore and President Clinton did not call out the army to keep them in power. There were no midnight arrests of dissidents. There was no armed revolt. This is not to say people weren't mad enough, it just never entered our heads.
And this cannot be said everywhere.
When I was in the Peace Corps in Africa the nation I was stationed in had some serious political problems. The army had overthrown the elected government years before. And that military ruler had himself been deposed by some of his generals.
Now there was an election that everyone considered a joke. And - of course - the government backed candidate won.
Well, some junior officers did not like the results and revolted. But they were not organized and did not get the word out and were crushed. Only now the word began to spread and the protest grew.
The discontent over the people's feeling that there was nothing they could do about their government grew and these young officers in jail became the focus of that discontent.
Soon there was an attack on the jail, the men were freed and the revolt began anew. Only this time they had thousands at their back.
The first thing they did was to attack the nation's broadcast center. There was only one radio station and one TV station in the country and this time the rebels were going to get their word out.
I lived not far from the facility and could hear the gunfire.
Now, I don't know how it is today, but back in 1980 Africans liked Americans and did not like Indians and Middle Eastern peoples. During the fighting - which lasted two days in the capital - I was stopped by some rebel soldiers who thought I was an Arab.
Luckily I had some friends with me who talked the troops from removing the AK-47 from my face, convincing them that I was an American. They were sorry and bought me a beer.
The rebels won and in the ensuing days and weeks took a terrible revenge. There were TV broadcasts of the former leaders being taken to the beach and tied to posts and shot.
The live TV broadcast was just surreal.
Yet, for the all the screaming and anger and dislike, I have not heard anyone call for Bush's head or that Kerry be strung up. Well, not anyone serious.
Back your candidate, support your cause, and defend your issue. But do it knowing that your life is not on the line, that win or lose you are guaranteed that in four years you get another chance to move the world in your direction.
Believe it or not, we have the one thing that so much of the world lacks and is so desperately trying to find: we have hope.
