As a Unitarian Universalist, I am outraged by the brazen assault and the loss of life on Sunday at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville during a peaceful service, and during the middle of a children's play of all things!
This is a hate crime, pure and simple. It is quite clear that Unitarian Universalists were targeted because they were perceived as "liberal" and they were easy targets.
This horrible incident needs a compassionate response. Barack Obama should go to Knoxville and preach against this kind of hate at the TVUUC. Who is with me?
Barack should go to offer compassion to the victims of this family and to the hundreds of members of this congregation. He should go to assure these UUs that justice will be done and if he is elected president he will do his best to ensure that hate crimes against any group should be treated as such.
And I would hope he would use the opportunity to speak about the need for tolerance, and to speak directly to the forces of hatred and divisiveness in this country. I would hope that he would mention the many right wing TV and radio hosts who spew hatred and stir up the passions of adults like Jim Adkisson, the alleged murderer.
Most UUs oppose the death penalty. I expect that if Adkinsson is tried and convicted and given the ultimate penalty, UUs will be in the foremost calling for a commutation of his sentence.
My heart goes out in compassion to all those affected by this hateful, thoughtless and vicious crime.
If you agree with me, do more than vote. Send Barack Obama a comment here, as I did.
http://my.barackobama.com/...