(MANHATTAN) - A full two-thirds of New York City households surveyed last week said that seeing a rebroadcast of rock singer Marilyn Manson's ass might "heal the racial tension that's been gripping our city," while a quarter of respondents claimed that seeing Manson's ass plastered all over their television sets again "would not create a significant difference in race relations.."

The survey, conducted by USA Today in conjunction with the NAACP, referred to the exposure of Manson's buttocks during a performance first aired on MTV in late October and the recent incidence of police shootings of unarmed African-Americans. "The fact is that while Manson's ass was being broadcast throughout October and November we had relative calm, but shortly after his ass was taken off the air in December we had several shooting incidents. That leads us to believe there is a direct correlation between the two," said New York State Sen. Patrick J. Moynihan. "People were united by their mutual disgust of this man's ass, regardless of color." Predictably, support for rebroadcasting Manson's ass to soothe racial tensions was divided along partisan lines.. "Any further appearance of this man's ass may well prove to be the downfall of not only this great city but this great nation as well," said Rep. Rick Lazio (R-NY).

Manson's performance on the video music channel during one of the network's award shows was broadcast to an estimated 12 million viewers. "We weren't sure whether to edit out Manson's ass or not," said MTV senior vice president John Sykes. "But after the producers talked it over, they decided running it was probably the right choice." When pressed about whether or not the channel would rebroadcast Manson's performance, Sykes proved diplomatic. "It's up to the people of New York," he said. "All's I know is, when [Manson's ass] was out there we didn't have the problems we do now. Sort of makes you wonder.?

Whether leaving footage of Mr. Manson's performance unedited was the right choice or not is still the subject of much debate, but one thing remains certain, the absence of Mr. Manson's buttocks on the city's landscape and the coinciding increase in police shootings over the previous four months has only served to fuel contentions that Mr. Manson's buttocks have the capacity to bridge the racial divide. In a rally held outside Manhattan's City Hall, outspoken civil-rights advocate Rev. Al Sharpton was quick to point out the alleged connection. "Both the black community and the white community need the repulsiveness of Manson's ass now more than ever, before we have one more Amadou, one more Dorismand," said Sharpton, referring to two of the victims of recent police shootings. In seeking calm among the 250 demonstrators, some holding signs and chanting "No ass, no peace," the Rev. Jesse Jackson asked the crowd to join him in prayer. "We as a people's should feel neither inferior nor superior, based on one man's posterior." In response to the protest, New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was quick to dismiss the notion of Manson's ass as a racial bridge. "Despite a few people's political motivations, the racial healing that Manson's ass may or may not provide has yet to be proven. I firmly believe the rebroadcasting of this man's ass would benefit no one, black or white."

Whether or not rebroadcasting Manson's performance would help race relations in New York or further divide the city like the crack on the ass of race itself, remains to be seen. In any case, the dilema faced here may prove to be a microcosm of the dilemas soon to be faced across the country as the socio-economic boundaries between black and white continue to disappear..

*Marilyn Manson could not be reached for comment.