Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/06/florida.quran.burning/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/...ogle_cnn</a>
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster Uh yeah it's a bad idea and not just because it might endanger troops. Any time any religion does anything hateful there are always repercussions. How anyone can call themselves "Christian" while hatefully burning another religion's sacred scripture is totally beyond me. Disgusting.
Originally Posted By Mr X Guess they missed that "Do unto others" part. Which makes me think, what exactly would they have to say about people who would burn a bible?
Originally Posted By imadisneygal This is completely contrary to everything we should stand for as Americans. It makes me sick.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< How anyone can call themselves "Christian" while hatefully burning another religion's sacred scripture is totally beyond me. >>> I liked the name of the church planning to do this: the Dove World Outreach Center. And according to their logo, a white dove, they definitely mean this in terms of "peace." But I'm not exactly clear on how burning someone else's holy book is going to contribute to world peace. There's something else interesting. On the home page of the church is a banner ad for a book called "Islam is of the Devil", written by a Terry Jones. At first I thought it might just be a smart at placement by Google or similar ad service, figuring that people going to this church's website are likely to be receptive to the message of the book, considering the recent controversy. But then I noticed something: The author of the book, Terry Jones, just happens to be a Senior Pastor of the church! And, clicking on the book banner, I see that it's available for purchase online for $12.95, and has a convenient "Add to Cart" button. Also available are "Islam is of the Devil" coffee mugs for $14.95, T-Shirts for $15.99, and baseball caps for $12.99. And the merchant that fulfills these orders happens to have the exact same street address as the church. I'm willing to bet that this pastor and his book would not have made it on CNN but for the planned Quron-burning. But I'm sure that has nothing to do with the promotion of the book sales and related merchandise. With such critical matters as those on the line, why would anyone care if it puts American troops safety in danger?
Originally Posted By ecdc Good to see you, SuperDry. And as usual, well said. Salon had an article about a preacher who denounced Islam. They noted there were 50 people present, half of whom were reporters, including some from the New York Times. If exactly 25 people showed up to listen to this clown, why on earth is it news? This country's always had crazy people who say and do crazy things. But they stayed on the margins because no one gave them a camera and a microphone. Now all that's changed. I guess the ratings are just too good to pass up.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt You know, wars have broken out over smaller issues than this. What a stupid and reckless stunt.
Originally Posted By fkurucz Regardless of how I feel about the Quran, burning it in public is not only disrespectful to its adherents, its unlikely to win any converts either. But I suppose that these folks see themselves as "Warriors for Christ" or something along those lines. Also if interest is that the Quran contains many sections that are almost literally lifted from the Old and New Testaments, so the Quran burners are in a sense also Bible burners too. I suppose that is some that is perhaps beyond their understanding.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance I'd like to know what world these people's minds are living in, that make this little stunt they're planning seem acceptable. Let's hope they change their minds because of the warnings they are receiving. " I suppose that is some that is perhaps beyond their understanding." That is exactly right. These are probably the same people who believe Obama is a Muslim and wasn't born in the US. Their IQ's don't enable them to comprehend and interpret the information in front of them using common sense and logic.
Originally Posted By hopemax So here's the Devil's Advocate question, because DH and I have just been talking about it. Isn't Quran burning, free speech? Several of us are upset that people like Howard Dean have said, "Yes, the group behind the Islamic cultural Center have the right to build near Ground Zero. But, out of respect for the victims they should choose to build it elsewhere." So why is it okay to be upset that this group is choosing to express their 1st amendment right of free speech, while criticizing those that are upset that another group is exercising their 1st amendment right of religious freedom? Or as DH said, "If I support the BCF Islamic center, shouldn't I logically support the Quran burning? I'll let that stick out there, before answering.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Both building the cultural center near GZ and burning Korans are protected by the first amendment. Nobody's saying anyone would be arrested if either of these things happen (although the fire marshall has apparently denied an outdoor burn permit to the latter group, so perhaps it would be illegal for THAT reason). So then the question: is it wise to do either of these things. And here the analogy falls apart. Burning Korans could, per Gen. Petraeus, put our troops in Afghanistan at risk of retaliation. In other words, people could die if this stupid stunt goes forward. If the cultural center gets built at the site proposed, certain people get their sensibilities offended. That's pretty different. And the people who get their sensibilities offended do so because they themselves are engaging in guilt by association. Bottom line - that's what those protesting the mosque are doing. It's also, of course, what the Koran burners are doing. So in that sense the two events have something in common - but not those who oppose both or support both. So: "If I support the BCF Islamic center, shouldn't I logically support the Quran burning?" I would say no. You can understand both are protected by the first amendment, but one can support building the mosque at its proposed site because there's really no good reason not to (beyond offended sensibilities of people indulging in guilt by association), whereas there is a good reason not to support the Koran burning.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Sure they are within their rights to do such a thing. I'm not testifying against their right to do it, but my question is what kind of an idiot would equate all Muslims to what happened on 9-11? Do they think that all Muslims would condone such acts as 9-11? Or even that the book that they are burning would condone such an act? Should we all get together and burn bibles on the anniversaries of everything terrible that has come from Christianity? There aren't enough days in the year or bibles in the world! I'm not involved in any brand of religion, and burning a bible or Quran to me would be no different than burning a cookbook. But, the sentiments behind their burning could come only from people incapable of distinguishing differences between anything. I would also wager these people would tend to be racist as well.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 Sure, it would be free speech and no one is saying it would be illegal. But there are plenty of things that fall under free speech that are pretty despicable. They have the right to burn the Qurans but all those who think it is a horrible thing to do are also free to call them on it.
Originally Posted By SuperDry I think the Quran-burning falls in the same category as the "God hates fags and that's why your soldier son got killed in Iraq" protest group does: sure, it's 1st Amendment protected speech, but there's also a saying: "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."
Originally Posted By dshyates It would be so sad if this minister were to have a near fatal car accident on the way to the festivities.
