Unlike the slime who have oozed out of the shadows to torch churches and synagogues across the nation, the Hamas and Islamic Jihad suicide bombers who are waging a horrible and persistent campaign against Israel are at least not nameless, faceless sneaks.
In the past five years, 128 suspicious church fires have been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Yesterday, investigators declared that the fiery destruction of the historic sanctuary building at the Matthews-Murkland Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C. was intentionally set. It becomes the 27th black church burned in the South in the last year.
Today, President Clinton is to address the nation on the topic. In the twisted minds of the hateful cowards who set the fires, this recognition by the nation's leader will probably be seen as a perverse victory.
Vandals delight in recognition and revel in condemnation. They feed on our distress; delight in our horror and disgust.
There's pure evil at work here. Combining hate with spineless cowardice, their crime is the bush-league version of blowing up federal buildings or airplanes. It is an act beneath civilized contempt.
