<HTML>Fortunately, the likes of Falwell, Robertson and bin Laden are considered extremists by the majority of people. In times past societies were overpowered by political and religious forces that promulgated hate and intolerance. Our civilization has evolved from these dark ages and has instituted laws that forbid behavior that reflects these base emotions.
Employment law in the United States, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1963, individual states Human Rights Acts, and precedent setting case decisions in civil lawsuits bring harsh penalties against those who discriminate and/or harass persons based on their sex, race, religion, national origin, color, disability and age. In some states sexual orientation is also protected.
For those who are protected under these laws, these are days of enlightenment and tolerance. They are based on unalienable Rights articulated in the Bill of Rights.
This tolerance and what some might call a social engineering effort based on love and acceptance is what the aforementioned people would try to change.
While Falwell and Robertson would publicly decry the gay bashing and Southern Black church burning, they contribute to its existence as surely as bin Laden and Arafat contribute to the emotions and actions of their followers.
Those with evil in their hearts look for justification for exercising that hate in a more forceful way. They gravitate to leaders who articulate what is in their hearts and comfort themselves that their cause is just.
Our civilization has come a long way and has learned from some terrible mistakes in the past. We need to go to war against evil. It is the right time to do it. We are blessed with laws that reflect a majority who believe that freedom of thought, religion and the pursuit of happiness is an unalienable right. A right that is worth fighting for - not just for one country, but the entire world.
Chris</HTML>
