Churches Acting Badly

Of late we’ve been seeing disturbing images of churches hanging effigies of Barack Obama, or women and children holding signs that read “God Hates Fags,” or we hear about pastors wanting to round up gays and put them in concentration camps; religious extremism on steroids. The good news is….there have been, and always will be….. extreme groups who defy our perception of man’s inherent goodness and decency. We aren’t born crazy, bigoted, and stupid. It’s something we learn. I suspect it’s something mostly handed down or brought by hysterics sewn by individual deep-seeded fears.

We are a free country and will always have groups like the Ku Klux Klan and Skinheads and extreme churches that spew hatred and vitriol. In an odd way, we should be glad we live in a free country where even warped bigots can preach their ignorance.

Perhaps when we see them we should take it as a sign of just how great our country is, that even at the risk of appearing to be a country of inbred, single digit IQ, snake healing rednecks, we are a country that allows freedom of speech, no matter how insulting it is to our intelligence and morals.

Our society is FULL of real hero’s, of people with compassion who act with honor and integrity, of selfless generosity and undaunted courage. There are more of us that ACT this way, both Republicans and Democrats than the opposite. By in large we are a GOOD people.

I’m reminded of a story I once read about a hate crime that occurred against a Jewish business in the state of Idaho some years back. Vandals had spray painted anti-Semitic hate slogans on the windows and walls of business in a busy small town. In response, church leaders from every denomination put Minerva’s in the windows of ALL businesses in the town. Individuals did the same in their homes. The town even held a parade with all walks including American Indians where EVERYONE marched in support of the defaced Jewish business. THAT my friends is WHO we are.

Americans hate bullies, always have, always will. That we give them a little corner to “act out” their ignorance is a testament to our strength…NOT our weakness.