But Seriously Folks

A few days ago I sent a seriously unserious letter about the scheduled burning of Qurans by a small congregation of religious hillbillies. What impressed me at the time was that the plan to burn one hundred books by a membership of fifty, since estimated at thirty, suggested that these primitives may have developed rudimentary mathematical skills, a fact that might be of interest to sociologists.

My mistake was in viewing the matter as it should be, not as it is. The possibilities have become seriously serious. What began as a blatant publicity ploy by a “man of the cloth,” helped by anything goes media coverage, has brought to full blossom the Islamophobia latent in this country since 9/11.

No prominent political figures have spoken in favor of this book burning. But the intensity and nature of their objections paints a clear picture of where they stand politically. Those on the right have been more tepid in their condemnations, concluding with caveats suggesting to skeptical types like me that they are afraid of offending Tea Party members whose votes they need in November. This approach involves conflating the planned demonstration with the “Ground Zero Mosque,” in the process strongly implying, if not claiming, that the two are a wash.

There’s no questioning the legality of either. In a pragmatic context I consider both unwise, although not equally. On principle I think all religions should be able to exercise identical rights in building places of worship and social recreation. On the other hand burning religious sacraments of others is nothing other than spiteful in the extreme.

This affair has resulted in divisions that are unjustified and detrimental to the nation. It is not one of America’s, or organized religion’s finest hours.