Joining the crowds at the U.S. Open of Surfing yesterday in Huntington Beach, I couldn’t help but notice the heavy (visible) security, including uniformed officers carrying large military-style weapons. It was a visual reminder of how the world has changed, of how even the most innocent of gatherings are now realistically understood to be potential targets for violent, murderous haters. (Wikimedia Commons)
Yet another horror from the self-proclaimed “Islamic State,” which couldn’t possibly be more effective at ruining the reputation and image of Islam if that were its intended goal: