And so a church in Gainesville, Florida, the Dove World Outreach Center, is planning to burn the Quran. This is really good news! Not good news because it's a good thing to do, mind you. No, it's a reprehensible, low-life, thuggery thing to do. It's so horrifyingly bad and thoughtless and even dangerous that no less than Gen. David Petraeus, commander of American forces in Afghanistan -- perhaps the most-admired general in America today -- has said about the proposed action,
"Images of the burning of a [Koran] would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan -- and around the world -- to inflame public opinion and incite violence."
I believe the proper response is, "No kidding."
Indeed, that's the reason this proposed act by the Gainesville church is good: finally there's an issue again that will bring Americans together.
It's not that this religious book burning is wildly un-American, it's just as un-Christian. (You know, that whole "love thy neighbor" thing.) Perhaps even a hate crime. There's just no way burning a religious book is anything other than despicable, unless you're using the "Religious Bigot and Hatred Handbook" as a guide.
When you have such an un-American, un-Christian act that also has the commanding general of American military forces denouncing how it will inflame the very people we want to see peaceful, give a loaded gun to terrorists and put American soldiers at greater risk, finally the left and right -- and even far right will be able to come together as one.
Oh happy day!
I look forward to Fox News denouncing how damagingly unpatriotic the proposed actions of Dove World are. Fox probably is already working up some seriously impressive, splashy graphics, like "America's Terrorist Church?"
I look forward to Glenn Beck organizing a protest march on Gainesville. Since he says he has reclaimed the Civil Rights Movement for white folks, here is an issue tailor made for them. And since Mr. Beck and his followers want to "restore honor" to America, what better way than to show how they support the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment and just plain honorable decency.
I look forward also to Republican politicians standing up united in their respective houses and crying out with righteous indignation about anyone whose un-patriotic actions are putting Our Fighting Boys overseas at risk. This isn't just the kind of raw meat these legislators regularly dine on, it's a full smorgasbord. They could deliver this outraged, fiery speech in their sleep.
I look forward to Sarah Palin sending out a Twitter that with a child of her own in the Armed Forces, she understands why Real Americans must protest anyone who puts our soldiers fighting for the Real America at risk. Any day now, expect to see "Rl Amer mst take aim 2 refudiate Fla chrch. No hate 4 unAmer danger hurts soldrs. U go boycott."
I look forward as well to Michelle Bachmann stirring up the masses to protest the Dove World Outreach Center. If she can spot traitors in the U.S. Congress, imagine the evil she'll be able to uncover at the World Dove Outreach Center where they actually plan to do something physically harmful to America.
And George Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michelle Malkin, Pat Robertson, Franklin Graham, I look forward to them all speaking out as one in support of the safety of the troops and America. Exhorting their followers to protest. Listening to the general on the ground.
But mostly, I look forward to all conservatives rising in outrage at a clear-cut disgrace to the soul of America. A soul which believes in liberty and freedom. For all mankind. It's why we fought in Iraq, why we still fight in Afghanistan, why we honor the revered memory of 9/11. Why we celebrate the Fourth of July. Why we adore the Statue of Liberty. And why we stand with our hands over our hearts reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, "with liberty and justice for all."
For all.
All.
Indeed, even the most virulent understands that burning a religious book is the wrong way to sensibly go about anything, understands that burning someone else's holy book can only serve to explode their anger, just as it would them, and provide a high-flying banner to fight back under.
In fact, we only have Dove World Outreach Center's word that they actually are a church. Since their actions will certainly result in inflaming terrorism and putting our soldiers at greater risk, this could be an intended terrorist act, and the "Dove World Outreach Center" might really be a terrorist front. "Outreach Center," indeed. They can't be reaching out very far if they want to burn another religion's holy book. Indeed, given the hatred and cruel intolerance of these actions, its building would even seem too insensitively close to Ground Zero. Mind you, having it anywhere on the Northern Hemisphere would appear to be too close. As would anywhere on the Southern.
It's amazing that so much potential damage can be done by a piddly organization with only 50 members, but then a terrorist act merely takes one. Happily, America is so much bigger than that.
That's why this is a good thing. Why I look forward to Republicans and the far right being as outraged as all others and raising their voices in patriotic, loving protest. I look forward.
And wait.
Michael Winship: 9/11: The Rest Should Be Silence
Parvez Ahmed: Burning the Quran Is Like Burning the Gospels
Weeelll...I guess that's one way to look for a silver lining but I think I'd rather have Americans coming together over more hopeful ideology. You're premise sort of reminds me of the end of that Monty Python movie.
Always look on the bright side of life
Why not just have some Imam burn the bible......if the Imam was to do that......I am sure that the world would recoil in fear at the backlash from the Christians..........there would be a violent backlash...correct?
Or is violent response solely the domain of followers of Islam?
If Obama was worried about the safety of our troops in Afghanistan, he wouldn't have sent thousands more over there. He would have shut down Wikileaks who are making public that which is confidential. That doesn't seem to be a really big deal compared to this.
Terrorists will want to kill us regardless of whether this dude burns some books. I am getting so tired of watching Chriastianity and Judaism being mocked, ridiculed and spat on but somehow we can't offend Muslims! If they are a tolerant people, they will not be affected by this. It is not as if our government or any religion in this country is sanctioning or sponsoring this. Some nutty preacher in the middle of nowhere.
If he bought the books, they are his to burn, deficate on, draw funny pictures of Mohammed in the margins, whatever.
Southpark is allowed to mock Christianity and Scientology (which it absolutely should), but they get censored for wanting to show Mohammed as a cartoon! If their religion is not about sponsoring terrorism, why the hell are we so afraid of them?
Burn away. Dance around the fire while you're at it, dude.
The writer of the response made the obvious statement that someone who buys a book can do whatever he wants with it. It is legal to tell an elderly lady that she should die because she is old and worthless. Few would argue that it is the right thing to do. It is legal to burn someone's holy book, but it, too, is not right. The writer is very protective of Christianity and Judaism, but he fails to uphold the principles of those two enduring and influential belief systems.
And just because a book is sacred to someone, doesn't mean it's sacred to everyone, or MUST be viewed as such.
what is your opinion about Mitt Romney opposing the Florida pastor's plan to burn Qurans on 9/11?
The former governor of Massachusetts said in a statement to POLITICO, " Burning the Quran is
wrong on many levels. It puts our troops in danger, and it violates a founding principle of our republic."
?
YESTERDAY: You better not burn the Koran or your troops will be in danger.
TODAY: You better let us build our mosque or your troops will be in danger.
So what will the future bring?
TOMORROW: Your women better stop wearing short skirts or your troops will be in danger.
NEXT WEEK: The presence of homosexuals in your country offends us, unless you change... the situation your troops will be in danger.
I dislike the pastor and what he's doing. But I find it more dangerous that your willing to let a bunch of crazy people thousands of miles away decide what speech we should or should not engage in. Didnt the censoring of the mohammod southpark episode teach anyone anything? Its "dont do it or I'll commit violence". Perhaps other groups that get offended should start doing that by your logic.
So if you see a distinction between the two you are already at odds with the Right.
Business as usual....
Anjem Choudary of Islam4UK also wants Shari'ah Law to be imposed globally. Choudary is very
honest about the agenda and youtube has many of his comments.
This event won't be used by extremists to recruit?
This event won't interfere with the military s efforts to gain the trust of the people whose countries they occupy?
This event won't be directly responsible for the de@th of someones son?
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/20/us.military.bibles.burned/index.html
It will work for a short time (see Sept. 11 2001). But that ol' rugged individualism, pull your self up by your bootstraps, my complexion makes me better than you so I don't...and all of the crap that is fueling the destruction of this country is going to continue. This empire is being destroyed the same way as all of the others...
Would a Muslim group be allowed to burn a cross?
Absolutely not. It's against the law.
YOu cant do it on someone elses property, thats intimidation.
Same with the korans. Burning ones you own on your own property is free speech. Burning ones you own on the steps of a mosque might be intimidation.
If you feel you can do anything you want with and on your own property, try exploding a bomb.