My OperaStupid People: Burn a Quran Day
Friday, September 10, 2010 4:20:29 PM
I think I need to say something about the latest news story - this supposed minister in the state of Florida who will burn copies of the Quran tomorrow, on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks. First of all, this is a free country - it would be legal for him to burn the U.S. flag, there is nothing we could do to stop him from burning a Quran legally. (Unless he violates some open burning law in the process. Where I live, it is illegal to burn trash within the city, so possibly he would be violating a similar law there.)
Is there really any point to what he's doing though? He thinks there is, he believes the Quran incites people to violence. Not that we couldn't say the same thing about the Bible - there are people who read the Bible in a way to justify the violence within their hearts - so do you think he'd appreciate it if we were to burn Bibles at the same time tomorrow? In fact, at a guess - since this guy does claim to be a minister - I'd have to say he is such a person who claims the Bible justifies his violence.
I'll admit, there are plenty of Americans who believe like he does - that all Moslems are bad people and who would not be upset with nuking the entire Mideast (except Israel). And yes, most such people seem to be Christian fundamentalists (which irony seems lost on them for some reason). Keep in mind, I am a Christian myself, but I would not let myself be called a fundamentalist since it implies certain other things I don't agree with (like Creationism for example).
What am I saying here really? There are violent people in the world. Some of whom are radical extremists of one sort or another. And some of those are muslim extremists. Does that make all extremists muslim? Not even close. Does that make a majority of muslims extremists? Sorry charlie. So while he has every right to do this Quran burning tomorrow, there is no justification for his actions except in his own twisted logic. (And keep in mind the idiots on the other side who are saying things like "We will kill ten people for each letter of the Quran that he burns" are only feeding the madness - they are giving him exactly what he wants: justification.)
I can't stop him, and wouldn't if I could since it is contrary to the principles this country stands for. No, I won't be watching the live webcast or broadcast or whatever (I'm sure there will be one, but it doesn't deserve it). In fact, I won't even watch a video of it on the news, it is not worth watching. It is not in itself news, and doesn't deserve the notice it is being given. On both sides of the world.
Is there really any point to what he's doing though? He thinks there is, he believes the Quran incites people to violence. Not that we couldn't say the same thing about the Bible - there are people who read the Bible in a way to justify the violence within their hearts - so do you think he'd appreciate it if we were to burn Bibles at the same time tomorrow? In fact, at a guess - since this guy does claim to be a minister - I'd have to say he is such a person who claims the Bible justifies his violence.
I'll admit, there are plenty of Americans who believe like he does - that all Moslems are bad people and who would not be upset with nuking the entire Mideast (except Israel). And yes, most such people seem to be Christian fundamentalists (which irony seems lost on them for some reason). Keep in mind, I am a Christian myself, but I would not let myself be called a fundamentalist since it implies certain other things I don't agree with (like Creationism for example).
What am I saying here really? There are violent people in the world. Some of whom are radical extremists of one sort or another. And some of those are muslim extremists. Does that make all extremists muslim? Not even close. Does that make a majority of muslims extremists? Sorry charlie. So while he has every right to do this Quran burning tomorrow, there is no justification for his actions except in his own twisted logic. (And keep in mind the idiots on the other side who are saying things like "We will kill ten people for each letter of the Quran that he burns" are only feeding the madness - they are giving him exactly what he wants: justification.)
I can't stop him, and wouldn't if I could since it is contrary to the principles this country stands for. No, I won't be watching the live webcast or broadcast or whatever (I'm sure there will be one, but it doesn't deserve it). In fact, I won't even watch a video of it on the news, it is not worth watching. It is not in itself news, and doesn't deserve the notice it is being given. On both sides of the world.
