"Emma, for every one of those you can find, there are others who are the opposite"

Kat, I'm quite aware that there are many people opposed to this proposed deliberately provocative action , on Facebook for example a protest group has now 252,572 members

While the very disturbing comments, such as the ones I quoted, may represent the views of a minority - according to Rev. Michael Kinnamon "only one corner of the Christian world." - it is, nevertheless, a strident hate fuelled minority and it is surely unwise to simply dismiss such emotive bigotry

Two years ago a similar protest by Fred Phelps passed without almost no attention
Why exactly is there such a media bandwagon at this time?

History reminds us that in periods of economic problems the media and mainstream politicians, as well as individual citizens, can easily latch on to fear of the 'other' even fellow citizens who may only 'look muslim'!

For example I read that

In Tennessee, while campaigning for the Republican nomination for governor in his state, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey suggested arguably Islam is less a religion than "a nationality, way of life, or cult, whatever you want to call it" and, as such, may not be protected by the First Amendment.

and that

"Voters in Oklahoma this fall are being asked in a referendum to ban the use of Sharia, or Islamic, law in the state's courts, even though there has never been one instance of Sharia law being cited or used in the U.S., nor any request for Sharia law to be used in any court in the U.S."

Commenting on this journalist Ed Brayton said
"Another example of pure, unadulterated demagoguery. And you can bet it will work."