O Tempora! O Mores!

I look at the face of the "Reverend" Terry Jones (I do not revere him) in today's New York Times and I make a judgment. The man is a narcissist. He has an inflated sense of his own importance, and is infatuated with himself. I make this diagnosis without the benefit of clinical expertise.

My further judgment: he is not a Christian. He is, indeed, a terrorist.

And yet, this morning in meditation, I made every effort to send him metta; to wish him happiness. Which does not mean the fulfillment of his own intolerable and intolerant dreams, nor the fulfillment of his hateful fantasy, the burning of Korans to mark the anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the intended attack on the nation's capital. No. I tried to wish him that "true" happiness that depends on the creation of no harm to anyone, self or others.

I imagine that this particular Jones, like that other "Reverend" Jones, Jim, of horrific Jonestown infamy, has a vision, however distorted, of righteousness. It's a righteousness that empowers him to ignore the teachings of his purported leader, Jesus, and superimpose his own peculiar wisdom on the world--no matter the damage it may cause.

Shame on him. His words and intentions have already added fuel to the fire of hatred that threatens to consume the world. Grievous damage has been done. The deed itself, should the man pursue his intention, will create an image that gives spurious evidence to his fellow fanatics everywhere, to be exploited in pursuit of their nefarious and hate-generated goals.

The media will ensure that image is transmitted a billion-fold to all those who hate America. They will not see it as a symbol of this country's much-touted religious tolerance, nor as a regrettable example of the freedom of speech we value. They will see it, looking past all public rejection and protest, as evidence of a war against Islam.

O tempora! O mores! What more to be said?