Hillbillies

Your head will spin reading this story about a North Carolina Baptist church that posted a sign reading The Koran Needs to be Flushed.

The more you read the story, the weirder things get. Start off with the cracker preacher who believes: "It is a statement supporting the word of God and that it (the Bible) is above all and that any other religious book that does not teach Christ as savior and lord as the 66 books of the Bible teaches it, is wrong."

Then we have a local Muslim woman -- perhaps the only local Muslim -- who "moved to Rutherford County for the 'small town friendly' atmosphere." Yes -- it's a small town. And it may seem friendlier than New York. But really, what was she thinking?

Then the reporter, covering the story like a rug, talks to several other people before winding up back at the voluble preacher.

Lovelace said the sign changes every week. "About Friday or Saturday we will have a new sign," he said. "It should state to some effect 'Where are your treasures? Are they at the flea market or are they in heaven?'"

This, no doubt, made the enterprising reporter's ears prick up. I can see him asking, "Oh yeah? You have something against the flea market now?"

Lovelace said that he does not have anything against the flea market that recently opened up down the street from the church. "I enjoy a good flea market, but if people can be down there at eight o'clock why can't they be at church at 11," he said.

Can't you just see Jon Stewart repeating that last quote, very slowly? "If they can be down there at eight o'clock.... WHY can't they be at church... at eleven?!?"