Religious Wars

Wars of religion develop with less cause than the intended Florida Quran burning. Burning Qurans would be exactly what to do if one wanted try to to foment religious wars. Burning flags does not have quite the same resonance because flag-burning is fairly common.

But there is a tradition in America that is at once shameful and a reminder that our country has a history of burning cherished religious symbols. I am thinking of the burning crosses of the KKK, which was once more powerful than anyone seems to remember.

The burning of things sacred to religion appears to be a truly lethal button. I have no doubt that individuals may perish on all sides because of the intensity of feelings. Which is why it would be best to nip this in the bud.

And to reflect that no form of violence will do much to root out the causes of terror.

Florida

That this takes place in Florida reminds me of how pivotal Florida has been in our national life. Here, in the early 1960s, the seeds of animosity against JFK began to grow. Then there was the space program. Then the election which history may show was most likely won by the side that lost. And now, once again, Florida represents this country to the world.

The time is short. The media is all over this. Even if the media was restrained, all that would be needed to confirm a Quran burning would be a single blog post.

We live in a crowded theater.

President Obama

The President's entry into the crisis is timely. Rev. Jones like all of us, is a spectrum. He has better angels somewhere.

Obama opposes Quran burning; Arabs torch U.S. flag, threaten 'destruction of America' | threaten, flag, america - News - TheDestinLog.com: "Obama urged the Rev. Terry Jones to 'listen to those better angels' and call off his plan to engage in a Quran-burning protest this weekend."

What this comes down to, I think, is not religious war at all. The world is moving beyond religion to spirituality. It comes down to a conflict between extremists on both sides who know the world is moving past then. Whatever happens, we are not about to go marching off to war because people on both sides are acting like villains in a second rate melodrama.

Religious Wars: Burning Qurans, Burning Flags, Burning Crosses. But we may be witnessing a battle of extremists who represent a diminishing minority in a world moving beyond intolerance.