Only In America

The Heart of America

Although nothing should surprise one in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave, it nevertheless surprised me to read this morning of the shooter at the Jewish Center, that the KKK and its pathetic anti-semitism are alive and well in America. A contemptible, hate-filled 70-something shouting “Heil Hitler” and gunning down three people, including a boy and his grandfather, and a woman. Not in the South, either: Kansas City, the heart of America. In the South we have our own detestable bigots breathing hate grounded in religious-based certitude. 

According to the media, the Reverend Adam Hamilton of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, a suburb of Kansas City, said the two male victims were members of his church -- a mild irony. An irony that reminds, some weeks ago a group of Syrian rebels raided a hospital, dragged a patient out and cut off his head, only to discover that he was one of their soldiers. Nothing is as certain as hate. Nothing is as hateful as certainty.

An extreme irony is that, according to this morning’s media, at a theater near the Jewish Center, a production of “To Kill A Mockingbird” was scheduled for yesterday afternoon. Only in America.

The heart of America: to begin Holy Week with ironic hatred. Whether to laugh or cry. I think, cry.

TW+