I've refrained from blogging about Pastor Terry Jones and his Koran burning desires on September 11, simply because I felt the effort didn't need any more recognition than the other gazillion nut cases efforts to grab attention in the world on any given day did.
But now that he's become the number one news item everywhere, I guess that's beside the point. Every time I see a picture of Mr. Jones, I'm reminded of John Brown, especially some of the images of him clean shaven. Of course that's probably because I spent so much time researching and writing about Brown years ago. I'm not comparing the causes here because they can't be compared, but I'm looking at the personalities and the drive. Both supposed "men of God" seem(ed) hell bent on proving their point regardless of the outcome. Both stories prove just how much extremism can carry us into dangerous corners once we loose the bonds of reason.
While John Brown's actions and what they meant are certainly debatable from legal, political, and moral standpoints, I can't see where Jones has much credence beyond his probably somewhat unintentional success in becoming a world wide media circus. He's inflaming an already tense set of passions to the point where someone will get hurt. This guy has created a dance with the devil that we're all going to be witness to one way or the other. Whether or not any Koran gets burned, he's already achieved his aim to a large extent, and we'll have to live with that as well. Let's just hope that witnessing the insanity this has already become and continues to threaten will be the worst any of us is exposed to. Somehow, I doubt it.
