Take a gander at these articles.
I have long worried that the ground is fixing to get dark and bloody in the US as religious wars resurface in the 21st century. I don’t want that happen and pray that it does not. I am not so naïve to believe that religious conflict has not existed since these words were written: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. “, but the strife and conflict has been rather limited. Unfortunately, I believe that is changing. A Flashback,
A few years ago we visited The Church of the Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Waiting for Mass to begin I crossed my legs. I was immediately informed by a guide that I should not do that since it was a sign of disrespect. After Mass I approached the guide asked for a more complete explanation, saying I was fine with not crossing my legs, but wish to understand it better. The guide essentially said, some come here and they are not Catholic or even Christian. Some do not dress modestly, some act irreverently and some indicate their lack of respect through gestures and posture. Now I know you did not mean any disrespect, but across Israel Christian pilgrimage sites are tightening the behavior and dress rules because Muslims and Jews have tightened their rules and because Jews and Muslims have show disrespect at our sites. I said thanks and moved on.
Let me be clear. One should not purposely insult another’s religion, but one should accept the insult when it happens. It isn’t that important.
Now back to the links. The Washington Post did not publish a cartoon because they worried someone might take offense. This was in fact the point of the cartoon. A lady destroyed a “work of art” because it was blasphemous towards Christians. No one in Colorado, that I can find anyway, mentioned the “work of art” includes an image of Mohammed. Should she have destroyed it? No, but she did because she learned the lesson. Should the WAPO have published the cartoon? Yes, but they did not. Why? Fear, pure and simple fear as Matt Welch states in the link above.
What happened In Loveland, CO is, I believe, the first instance in the US of Christians fighting back using the tactics used by Muslims. It isn’t going to stop, unless the government, the media, comedians, (give me a break a burka is funny) the “general public” treat Muslims the same as they treat Christians. Is that going to happen? I think not and that is a tragedy, because when courage flees, tragedy always follows.
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