Is The World Getting Crazier?

I don't think so. I think we're just too connected. Every little thing is instantly spread by 24 hrs news outlets, twitterbugs, and bloggers. (Hey, I'm one of them! Bloggers, I mean.)

So onto my craziness target.  We have a real, live celebrity (er, wannabee) about 45 minutes away.  Pastor Terry Jones is in a Dearborn (MI) courtroom waiting to find out if he will be allowed to hold a protest that includes buring a Quran outside a Deaborn mosque.

You know, I don't care if you're the president of the virginity league and you want to burn a racy novel.  Book burners don't sit well with me. For that matter, neither do book banners, but that's for another day.  In this country you are able to burn an American flag if you wish, under the premise of free speech.  I guess that means that books are not off limits either, even if they are considered books of faith.  And if we let a whacko lead us down the path of abridging our First Amendment right to free speech, well, then shame on us.

As distasteful as this man is, I think he has the right to assemble and protest, and yes - even burn a holy text.  But that's as far as I will go.

I think he makes a mockery of religious leadership.  How can a 'Christian' espouse such hatred? Oh, I know, it's the 15 minutes thing.  He's had a couple of 15 minutes ventures into the limelight, decided that he liked it, and is back for more - and more, and more and more.  I further believe that he is a very small human being and he is disguising his hatred for the Moslem world under the cover of 'free speech'. Hey, whatever it takes to get in the media.

I did a little background on 'Pastor' Terry Jones and discovered that he is not really a graduate of any divinity school.  He is an 'appointed' Pastor and was released from a church position in Germany in 2008 "due to his indefensible theological statements and his craving for attention." (See Wikipedia reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dove_World_Outreach_Center)

Apparently, his church does well enough to get him and some of his followers to places around the country for well publicized and emotional protests. His congregation (The Dove World Outreach Center) is reported to be around 50 strong, with 30 or so at weekly services. I guess we should be happy that it's not double, triple, or more than that. It has been classified as a hate group by the Southern poverty Law Center for its anti-gay activities. 

In Metro Detroit, a coalition of religious leaders representing many different faiths have rallied together to denounce this 'protest'.  Hopefully, this group will hold its little protest, pack up into their cars or bus and head back to Gainesville, Florida, where their Mayor has termed them an "embarassment to the community.