Working on my intolerance

Reverend Terry Jones, a Gainesville, Florida man of God, wants to burn the Koran, his personal and peculair way of commemorating September 11th, which also happens to be his right under our Constitution.  How is burning the Koran any different than burning the flag, or hanging and torching various politicians in effigy, or placing a crucifix in urine and calling it art?  And that's just here in the good old U. S. of A.

We have all been treated to countless scenes of "the Arab Street" burning Old Glory.  We have all witnessed what to our minds have been disproportinate displays of displeasure at political cartoons, or comments from Pope Benedict.  These responses went well beyond burning a flag or two, they blossomed into arson and general mayhem.

Our Consitution guarantees Rev. Jones' right to burn the Koran. It is called free speech. Once we start to make decisions on what type of free speech is protected by the Constitution we begin a slide down a slippery slope. Years ago I read Nat Henthof's wonderful book, "Free Speech for Me, But Not for Thee." The book should be read in every Civics and Government class.  While I may not agree with Rev. Jones' act, I hold his right to do it as sancrosanct. The media has whipped the flames of this fire into a conflagration of Biblical proportions without the good reverend even striking a match. (Poetically a match works better than a Bic lighter. You've got the whole smell of sulphur and the fire and brimstone thing going for you.)


Frankly, I am getting a bit weary of being asked to understand this or that abomination under the guise of political correctness.  I am also bone tired of being tolerant.

Especially since our call for tolerance (and let's broaden this to include all of Western Culture) seems to fall on deaf ears.  The Taliban destroying the ancient Buddhas of Bamyan comes to mind.  How many Catholic Churches are in Saudi Arabia?  None.  See this Time Magazine article: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1723715,00.html  Somehow, we have the burden of tolerance and must forgive intolerance in others.

My recent travels to Scotland were edifying in a number of respects.  The Scots are fiercely proud of their country, their heritage, and their history.  They make no apologies for who they are.  They are independent and outspoken. 

I wondered and continue to wonder how many of us in America can make the same claims. 

I am proud of my country.  I am proud that I live in a country where every crackpot or nutcase can express his opinion.  I am proud of our heritage, a country of immigrants (though these days it feels like the melting pot is being sectioned like a bad TV dinner.)  And I'm proud of our history.  We haven't got everything right, but we get most of it right.