Race incidents blamed on 'tiny lunatic fringe'

Race incidents blamed on 'tiny lunatic fringe'
Some Mainers fear the state might be seen as racist, but others believe outsiders know better.
By ANN S. KIM
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald

Steve Titcomb is worried about people judging his community on a single, now-notorious incident.

Titcomb is a business owner in Standish, where a store owner invited patrons to participate in an "Osama Obama Shotgun Pool." For $1, participants would bet on a date on which President-elect Barack Obama would be assassinated. "Let's hope someone wins" was written on the bottom of the whiteboard in the store.

"I think it's a situation that a few apples make the whole bushel look bad," said Titcomb, who owns Jordan Rentals and is also a real estate agent.

Titcomb isn't alone in his thoughts, whether it is about the Oak Hill General Store's pool or other possibly racially motivated incidents since the election.

Earlier this month, black cardboard cutouts were left hanging by nooses from trees on Mount Desert Island. At Gray-New Gloucester High School, a student reportedly made a racist remark about Obama before similar words were found on a bathroom wall.

Each event has prompted a response.

State legislators and town officials are planning resolutions in reaction to the Standish store incident. The noose incidents – one in Bar Harbor and the other in nearby Tremont – led to vigils in downtown Bar Harbor. The incident at the high school in Gray resulted in the suspension of the student and a request by Principal Paul Penna for staff to deal immediately with such situations.

The Standish Town Council is meeting today to consider a resolution condemning the pool and other alleged activities. The public will be allowed to speak.

"We don't want people to see people in a bad light, because we're a good town, we're a patriotic town. This, to me, is very unpatriotic," said Wayne Newbegin, the Town Council chairman. "And it just does not reflect the citizens of the town of Standish at all."

The store owner, Steve Collins, is reportedly out of town on a hunting trip. No one answered the phone at the store Tuesday or Wednesday.

Several state lawmakers from the area plan a resolution stating that Standish and Maine reject racism and threats of violence.

One of the resolution's co-sponsors, Rep.-elect Mike Shaw, D-Standish, said the incidents deserve a response, but he isn't worried that they will tarnish Maine's image.

"I think Maine will continue to be remembered as the state with all the nice lobsters and the nice folks in the summertime," he said. "I don't think that they think we're racists. I think people realize that it's an isolated incident."

Titcomb said he has heard people making light of the store incident.

"They thought it was pretty funny that the guy did that, and didn't think it was a big deal," he said. "Clearly, they don't have much sympathy that we have a new president who happens to be of color."

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