Hate, in the Name of Love

My mind drifts to old U2 song, Pride (In the Name of Love) as I read today's news about the pastor in Florida who wants to burn a copy of the Quran in observance of 9/11, and the words come screaming through my head, ". . . in the name of love."

"One man come in the name of love,
"One man come and go.
"One man come he to justify,
"One man to overthrow.
"In the name of love,
"What more, in the name of love?"

Oh, the things we do in the name of love. A pastor, in the name of loving God, plans to burn the most sacred book of the Muslims. And, how do people respond to the poor pastor? Well, he says he has received more than 100 death threats.

Hate, in the name of love? So much around us these last few month, so much of what has been in the news, reflects hate, in the name of love.

The Rev. Terry Jones in Gainesville, Florida, if he doesn't change his mind, will stage "International Burn-A-Quran Day" Saturday. A host of government officials, from Gen. David Petraeus to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, have rebuked Jones for his plans.

Rebuking is in order. Death threats are way overboard, but trying to talk Jones out of it is not.

The words of another old song come to my mind. You might remember them:
"Go ahead and hate a neighbor,
"Go ahead and hate a friend.
"Do it in the name of heaven,
"You can justify it in the end.
"But there won't be any soldiers standing,
"Come the judgement day.
"The bloody morning after,
"One tin soldier, rides away."