When Little Men Cast Tall Shadows the Sun is Setting

Last Month, MSNBC Reported:

"MIAMI. August 26, 2010 — The government turned up the pressure Tuesday on the head of a small Florida church who plans to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11, warning him that doing so could endanger U.S. troops and Americans everywhere.

But the Rev. Terry Jones insisted he would go ahead with his plans, despite criticism from the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, the White House and the State Department, as well as a host of religious leaders.

Jones, who is known for posting signs proclaiming that Islam is the devil's religion, says the Constitution gives him the right to publicly set fire to the book that Muslims consider the word of God.

Gen. David Petraeus warned Tuesday in an e-mail to The Associated Press that "images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan — and around the world — to inflame public opinion and incite violence." It was a rare example of a military commander taking a position on a domestic political matter.

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Jones responded that he is also concerned but is "wondering, 'When do we stop?'" He refused to cancel the protest set for Saturday at his Dove World Outreach Center, a church that espouses an anti-Islam philosophy.

"How much do we back down? How many times do we back down?" Jones told the AP. "Instead of us backing down, maybe it's to time to stand up. Maybe it's time to send a message to radical Islam that we will not tolerate their behavior."

Still, Jones said he will pray about his decision."

Even though Terry Jones later backed down from the planned book burning, should Christian Fundamentalists have this affect on religion, politics, public policy and international diplomacy? For whom do they really speak on the world stage? To what higher authority or review do Fundamentalists submit when their "messages from God" are so uncertain and contradictory? What inflammatory responsibility must the American press bear in this incident? Was it really news? Which Fundamentalist will vie next for his 15 minutes of "fame?"

"When little men cast tall shadows, the sun is well nigh setting on that nation." (Quoting 1970s chapel message memories from Bob Jones Jr., University Chancellor of the Fundamentalist Bob Jones University, not related to Terry Jones)