Any arson is bad arson, but would it still make headlines if nobody knew who she was?
Damages to the Wasilla Bible Church were estimated at $1 million, authorities said today. No one was injured in the fire, which was intentionally set while people, including two children, were inside.
“This fire is definitely suspicious,” said Central Mat-Su Fire Chief James Steele.
Pastor Larry Kroon declined to say if the Friday night blaze was politically based or directed at Palin, the failed Republican vice presidential candidate. He also declined to say whether the church has received any recent threats.
“There are so many variables,” he said. “I don’t want to comment in that direction.” Palin stopped by the church this morning. Her spokesman, Bill McAllister, said in a statement that Palin told an assistant pastor she apologizes if the fire was connected to the “undeserved negative attention” the church has received since she became the vice presidential candidate on Aug. 29.
I’ll disagree with the “undeserved” angle, as would others.
“Whatever the motives of the arsonist, the governor has faith in the scriptural passage that what was intended for evil will in some way be used for good,” McAllister said.
The thousand-member evangelical church, which stresses the inerrancy of Scripture, was the subject of intense scrutiny after Palin was named John McCain’s running mate. Early in Palin’s campaign, the church was criticized for promoting in a Sunday bulletin a Focus on the Family “Love Won Out Conference” in Anchorage. The conferences promise to “help men and women dissatisfied with living homosexually understand that same-sex attractions can be overcome.”
If they’re dissatisfied, it’s because they’ve been guilted and shamed into believing there is something wrong with them and encouragement to join a group that will teach them how to ignore those natural urges is not going to help them be well-adjusted human beings.
Arson is against the law. Debate is not. Fight words with words, not fire, folks.
