Politics: Of Bigotry

Operation Save America, a racist, anti-choice, anti-gay religious organization is having a big ol' hoe-down of hate this week in Charlotte, NC. They plan on protesting in front of abortion clinics, gay- and lesbian- tolerant churches and mosques. This is apparently how they spread their message of peace and love in Christ's name.

I think that America's greatest threat is zealotry. I believe that people who believe something so hard and to the exclusion of all else should be considered much closer to mentally ill than anything else. Listen to this tripe from one of Operation Save America's press releases this weekend:

While the city of Charlotte is free to align itself with the enemies of the Lord Jesus under the banner of tolerance, it is not free to deter the severe consequences that will come as a result of her decision.

With the accusations of extremism against Operation Rescue/Operation Save America, the city of Charlotte, its police department, and its city manager, have made a decision to choose abortion, homosexuality, and Islam over Christianity. Who is more extreme? People praying for the souls of men, the lives of children, and the future of America, or those who rip babies apart in their mother’s wombs. Who is more extreme? People proclaiming the transforming message of the Gospel of Christ, or those who promote homosexual sodomy. Who is more extreme? Christians who advocate love toward their enemies, or those who advocate conversion by force or death, i.e. Islamic Jihad.

Charlotte can purchase a false “peace” by touting “diversity and tolerance,” but lies, death, and destruction are included in the package. Our message is true and motivated by the love of Jesus Christ. Apart from Him, there is no peace. History will confirm this to be so!

The whack-jobs sweeping through Charlotte this week will be greeted with nothing but peace and maybe a dinner:

On Friday, members of three mosques hosted an interfaith dinner and a news conference geared at educating non-Muslims about Islam and addressing Operation Save America's position about their faith.

Some 200 people, including Christians, Jews, Buddhists and Muslims, gathered at the Islamic Society of Greater Charlotte in northeast Charlotte for a meal designed to strengthen the ties between the Muslim community and those of other religions.

People sat together on the floor and as they ate, they discussed everything from religion to sports.

"The most important thing for us to remember is that we are not far from each other. Islam is a religion of peace," said Ali Khan, a 29-year-old Muslim. "Our religion teaches of peace and friendship for all humanity."
[...]
Islamic Center of Charlotte spokesman Mujahid Idlibi said his group isn't planning any actions for next week because "we feel doing a counterprotest might result in counterattacks. ... We believe he just wants to incite anger out of us."