TERRY JONES LEADS US TO ARMAGEDDON.

The killings in Afghanistan in the last couples of days, following the burning of a Qur'an in the US, show just how mad some people are and just how destructive religion is. On the one hand we have fanatics in Afghanistan who supposedly follow Islam and, on the other, the maniacal followers of a so-called 'pastor', Terry Jones, in the US.

The Afghans, at least, have the excuse that they live in one of the most backward and uncivilised nations on Earth; their everyday lives are what westerners would consider as being medieval. That they adhere so fervently to the supposed teachings of a figure who died nearly 1400 years ago is, to some extent, understandable, given the nature of their society. This is not to excuse their actions but to find some basis for them.

As for the real madman in this story, Terry Jones, he has no excuse and should be roundly condemned. He lives in the richest country on Earth and one which espouses equality and liberty for all; freedom of expression is something almosy sacred to the US. He, of course, follow the teachings of a figure who died almost 2,000 years ago, so has a sort of 'religious superiority' over his Afghan counterparts which he has exhibited by being every bit as fanatical as they. Jones is fully entitled to express his opinions in accordance with the US Constitution, but, as a professed Christian, where is the tolerance ? Where is the Christian charity ? How about a bit of 'cheek turning' ? Presumably, Jones does not believe that equality and freedom of expression apply to those of whom he disapproves and, therefore, he does not need to show them tolerance or charity either.

What Jones has done in publically burning a copy of the Qur'an flies in the face of all that his country supposedly holds dear. What will he turn his torch to next - the Talmud or, perhaps, a version of the Christian bible that he doesn't like ? Jones is an appalling bigot and his followers must be the same; one wonders why his fringe activities have gained such coverage but, maybe, that is a reflection of the true nature of wider US society. Perhaps we are wrong to see the US as a fount of all that is good; perhaps it is, in reality, every bit as medieval in many of its ways as is Afghanistan. It is certainly the case that 'Christian fundamentalism' is rampant in the US, mirroring the backward-looking and largely uncivilised societies of much of the third world.

There are no 'rights and wrongs' in this matter; everyone is so wrong that it is painful to contemplate. While the UN has condemned the Afghani militants, very little seems to have been said about 'Pastor' Jones and his actions, He may not have shot or beheaded anyone, but his deliberately provocative actions have given the Afghani lunatics more than sufficient excuse to go on the rampage. Why hasn't Jones been loudly condemned by the UN, or by his own Government ? Why does the media of the Western World not rise up and squash this appalling little man ? The answers to these questions say far more about the US and the Western World generally than they do about any third world troublemakers.