When the temperatures are bearing down, emotions run raw and this week the blistering debate over abortion hit a fever pitch on the steps of Mississippi&8217;s state Capitol.

In all honesty, the anti-abortion protests remained relatively civil longer than we would have originally guessed.

This week, however, the group Operation Save America showed their true colors.

The group isn&8217;t just about stopping abortion; it&8217;s about hatred.

Abortion continues to be one of the most hotly contested, and deeply emotional issues facing America.

Unfortunately, true debate on the matter becomes an afterthought when you start burning a copy of the Islamic holy book, the Quran and spewing hate-filled rhetoric.

Members of the OSA group have reportedly been driving a truck around Jackson emblazoned with a huge, graphic image of aborted fetuses.

Despite what the organizers think, using such incredibly over-the-top tactics and acts of hatred such as burning another religion&8217;s holiest book, does nothing to help constructive debate move forward.

In fact, it&8217;s a little like what happens when two people are discussing an issue and one starts to yell and scream. The minute the voices are raised, communication stops and imaginary lines in the sand are drawn.

What&8217;s worse is that all of the hate and bigotry being thrown around the state may be coming from non-Mississippians. We know Mississippi is the Hospitality State, but couldn&8217;t we make an exception, just this once?

If tempers and temperatures continue to be high, we fear someone will get hurt, as the verbal barbs turn more violent.