the drumhead mass

When I wrote yesterday, I was still simmering over Falwell's and Robertson's special brand of hatred, but now I'm upset in a whole different way.

My employer invited everyone to the caf to watch the prayer service.  I feel very weird knowing anything about my coworkers spirituality, and I'm not interested in sharing either so I stayed away, and went on with my work day.  I think I stayed until 5:30 or so.

We came out to Front Royal, and the National Cathedral ritual was replayed.  Tino didn't make anything else available to me, and it gradually became evident that he wanted me to watch it.  I'm glad I did.  There was a whole lot more going on there than Billy Graham boring the pants off young people in the audience.

They were asking their &diety's permission to go kill people.  Christians need an excuse to do this.  They must feel righteous, or they cannot wage war.  The battle flags were up on the alter bearing witness and being blessed to make sure they were effective in war.  They were crowned with streamers from each of the battles they've witnessed.

This was very serious and ancient ritual going on, and it did impress upon me that this is about the Crusades, in many ways.  One Thousand Years later and it's still about the Crusades.

After the president spoke, those assembled sang several verses of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.  Have you listened to the words to this thing?  I now agree that we are clearly preparing to use nukes, should they become necessary.

Now, I'm afraid.

I'm still not shocked that this happened, or that humans could do this to one another.  Of course they can and do all over the world.  After all, an American blew up a building full of civilians not so long ago.  Why is it so hard to believe that anyone could hate Americans this much?  Look how much hatred we've shown towards each other since, say, Pearl Harbor.  

Humans are a real piece of work, aren't they?