Human Nature

Listening to the radio today while driving home, many of the commentaries about the upcoming Democratic and Republican conventions focused on the battle lines that have been drawn between the various religious factions and whom each type has chosen to support. 

My first problem with all this posturing is, that at my last understanding of the tenents of this country, there is a quaranteed separation of church and state written into our constitution.  Supposedly, we all have freedom of religion.  What is so distasteful is the tolerance level is very high as long as your religion of choice agrees with the group that has the floor.  If not, you are no good, and most significantly, not a good person.  Your crime is to have a different point of view. 

Human nature always seems to raise its ugly head.  The Sunnis hate the Sheites.  The Catholics in Ireland hate their fellow Irish Protestants.  The Palestinians battle the Israelis.  Conservative Christians chafe at their more relaxed Brothern.  Occurs to me that it’s all just an excuse to stubbornly plough ahead, not hearing what each has to say because the volume is turned too loud on their own opinions.