Do we really need to ask whether a publicity-seeking pastor in Florida is smart? Of course he isn’t. He is making a political statement. In the US, political statements are protected by the 1st Amendment to the Constitution, so long as they do not incite immediate violence at the place they are made. (And yes, under US law, an action can be a statement, particularly when it’s political. Burning the American flag, for instance, is a protected political statement.)
Everyone under the sun is condemning this pastor’s intended action, excepting those few who agree with him that his incoherent statement needs to be made.
The Washington Post, for example, carries this piece reporting that even Evangelical Christian clerics are trying to get this guy, Terry Jones, to change his mind:
Evangelical leaders try to reach out to the pastor who plans to burn the Koran
Arab News reports that international political and religious leaders, including the Pope, think poorly of the pastor’s plans:
The paper further editorializes on A wicked plan. The piece correctly notes that Mr Jones no more represents Christianity than Al-Qaeda represents Islam. The piece errs, though, in thinking that there must be some law to prevent him from going ahead. Other than a local ordinance forbidding open fires without a license—which the local government refuses to give him—there is no law to stop him. That law cannot be used preemptively to stop him, in fact, it can only punish him after the fact. The editorial notes that Mr Jones’ action could lead to the loss of life. Unless it appears that violence will erupt in the place he intends his act, imminently, there is no law to stop him. Immediately incitement of violence is one of the few exception to the right of free speech. Incitement of violence a few thousand miles away does not overcome that barrier.
I read many pieces that seek to make the equation that two wrongs do equal a right. If Muslims can be insulting by seeking to build 51Park, then Jones can be insulting by burning Qurans. That is and always has been nonsense. I say that because I do not think those opposing 51Park have any moral justification, beyond raw emotion, for their views. The do have freedom to express those views, of course. They do not have the freedom to squelch others’ 1st Amendment freedom of religion through the force of law. Equally, no one has the freedom to squelch Jones’ 1st Amendment freedom of speech.
As I had noted earlier, I thought the initial decision to build 51Park (then to be called ‘Cordoba House’) to be a mistake. Instead of quiet, rational argument against it, however, opponents to that plan turned the issue into something beyond just an unwise decision. They turned it into a plebiscite on Islam, actually, a plebiscite that confounded Islamic extremism with all of Islam. That, I believe, is an issue worth the digging in of heels.
Mr Jones is free to dig in his heels over his plan. That does not stop me or others from considering him to be an idiot and a very poor example of Christianity.
GAINESVILLE – The minister of a Florida church said he has canceled plans to burn copies of the Quran because the leader of a much-opposed plan to build an Islamic Center near ground zero has agreed to move its location. The agreement couldn’t be immediately confirmed.
The Rev. Terry Jones said Thursday that Americans oppose the mosque being built at the location and that Muslims do not want the Quran burned. He said instead of his plan to burn the books on Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of 9/11, he will be flying to New York to speak to Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf about moving the mosque.
“We are, of course, now against any other group burning Qurans,” Jones said during a news conference. We would right now ask no one to burn Qurans. We are absolutely strong on that. It is not the time to do it.”
However, a Florida imam says no deal has been reached to move the site of a mosque near ground zero in exchange for a Florida minister to call off plans to burn Qurans.
Imam Muhammad Musri tells The Associated Press that what he offered was a meeting among the Rev. Terry Jones, the New York imam planning the Islamic center and himself to talk about the mosque location.
Musri is president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida. He says he told Jones that he does not believe the mosque should be built near the World Trade Center site and would do everything in his power to make sure it is moved.
Jones says he believes a deal was reached to move the mosque and would fly to New York Saturday to discuss it.
…
The above story is running in my newspaper. If it is correct in its details, it is both good and bad. Good in that no one will be burning Qurans this weekend. Bad in that it sets a horrible example that blackmail does pay off. I wonder, though, whether any deal has actually been reached. My reading of the article leads me to believe that Mohammed Musri, president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, has promised more than he can deliver, never mind whether he should deliver.
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
September:09:2010 - 09:37
there is no wisdom in burning Qur’ans, of course. Just as there would be no wisdom in burning anyone else’s Holy book. Yes, he is trying to make a political statement. It is unfortunate that this guy who has something like 50 followers has been given any traction at all. It makes for great news and certainly plays into the emotions that are running high at the moment. Already effigies are being burned of him. The guy is a no one and people in other countries have now heard of him! Crazy! 50 followers…that’s it!!!! That is smaller than my daughter’s entire 6th grade class.
Bloomberg, however, wrote something that I thought really captured the dichotomy in this… yet the essence of religious freedom/speech even when it falls under the category of “offensive” or “dumb”.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704358904575478241873665072.html?mod=WSJ_hp_us_mostpop_read#articleTabs%3Darticle
This whole exercise in silliness should have passed by completely unnoticed. All of the attention just gives him what he wants.
September:09:2010 - 10:09
I blame the media (and those who feed the frenzy) for most of this! Crazies are everywhere. Why make an unknown guy this (in)famous? Why is he even known by name in other countries? The good ol’ media at its best… making mountains out of molehills.
He probably had on his “bucket list” to get famous before he died. And thanks to the media and everyone reacting to him, he achieved his goal (in a warped way.)
September:09:2010 - 11:15
I think it so sad, especially becasue it Eid now. Sad, very sad. This pastor needs seek help!!!
September:09:2010 - 12:23
I think in this instance there is more than just freedom of speech, and being dumb with it. There is a hateful action that could well serve the propaganda purposes of those currently combating US forces in the Middle East. I think that elevates this action at this time to a whole new level. Not only General Petraeus, and Hillary Clinton have weighed in, along with the Vatican and American religious leaders of all faiths, but now UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
I wrote about that aspect, the fame issue, and “undermining Christianity” in my very recent post on it:
Yet Another Ignominious Nobody Finds Fame Through Islamophobia: Burning A Holy Book in Commemoration of 9/11
September:09:2010 - 12:33
Burning books is stupid. Recycle them!!! Actually I have no problem with burning a book such as the Quran, if I could find it. I put it into a box about 10 years ago when I last moved and don’t remember seeing it since. Now I use the Internet – it is so much faster and convenient, with those searches, indexes and multiple translations. Does that mean I have to burn my computer screen instead? The smell of burning plastic is yucky.
Actually, on a more serious note, I would not burn the damn book just because doing so would endanger others because some Muslims are nuts. I don’t care much for Islam, but I don’t want innocent people to get hurt over my actions.
AS John says, Arab News wants us to make a law against desecrating the Quran. Oh? And why not just make sharia the law of the land so Muslims can behead anybody that says or does anything Muslims don’t like? Wouldn’t that solve the problem?
Suzanne, blame Muslims, not just the media. Swede – Eid is just another day, and why do you think that any pastor or non-Muslim should care about Muslim holidays when Muslims obvious don’t respect us?
I also see that the Cordoba House Imam is quoting the Bible, reminding us of (according to him) “the two fundamental commandments common to Judaism, Christianity and Islam: to love the Lord our creator with all of our hearts, minds, souls and strength; and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves”. Oh? Why didn’t he quote a verse from the Quran? This man is a radical, saying what our leaders want to hear.
John, 2 wrongs don’t make a right, but you cannot oppose one wrong and leave the other untouched as is happening here. The fact is that there is nothing we can do that will make Muslims happy. They will always find something to be offended about.
September:09:2010 - 13:26
God says in the Quran he will protect it…that’s why people memorize it.
It’s gonna freak ppl out for sure…
September:09:2010 - 14:05
Kactuz, oh, I also blame Muslims (anyone really) who overreact to things. I’m not a defender of Muslims who get violent because they cannot have their way on this or South Park or cartoon drawings. Sorry I was not clearer. However, in this particular case I *really* blame the media for making this guy famous. Who cares if he burns the Quran? Let him do it in the privacy of his church grounds. No one else needs to know that you are having a book burning. Certainly you don’t need to make an international “advertisement” that some no-name preacher is doing this in Florida.
September:09:2010 - 15:09
He’s being a poorly behaved child and everyone should ignore him. As a Muslim, I it’s not a priority if some wingnut wants to burn the Quran and I wish all the other Muslims would ignore it too. It’s not as though we have solved all our problems and injustices and have nothing else to do.
I think the media should have left it alone. It really was “fabricated” news. People have the right to be jackasses in the US. I don’t see why it needs to get coverage.
September:09:2010 - 17:20
J: I thought the Republicans from N. Ireland held the franchise for The Perpetually Offended ™!
September:09:2010 - 17:24
People have a tendency to confuse things with representations of things. America is not the American flag. The Quran is not the paper it’s printed on. Until there is no one left to remember the Quran, there will always be a Quran, even if that means that it’s left to the angels.
September:09:2010 - 18:52
John: the problem is perception. I was told my a Muslim (who doesn’t really care about this issue) that the physical object that is the Qur’an has to be respected, that this is something prescribed in the Qur’an. It’s an interesting thing: this idea that for many Muslims any copy of the Qur’an must be treated with respect. I don’t agree, and my Muslims friend didn’t seem to care or hold much reverence to this idea, but he was explaining why many Muslims view the symbolism of burning a copy of the Qur’an and a profound sacrilege. It’s an issue of empathy. IMO, I couldn’t care less if a copy of the Qur’an was burned or not — but when you empathize with the idea that some people view it differently (and view it as a profound sacrilege) then you simply have to ask yourself “what’s the right thing to do?” What is the ends of the means of deeply insulting somebody who holds a belief so firmly? Burning a Qur’an isn’t a life or death issue — it’s a stupid symbolic acts in the heat of a deep cultural disagreement.
Of course, it goes without saying that I am glad US authorities haven’t taken a strong-arm approach to prohibiting this stupid symbolic act. I think, despite how stupid it was for everyone to give this Florida hick pastor the attention he sought, it was a success story — virtually global condemnation of this hillbilly’s attention-seeking caused him to cease with his plans. It’s called a peaceful resolution. The imam who stood with this moron should be commended for playing a role in stopping the madness.
September:09:2010 - 19:40
I agree that generally Muslims hold that the Quran is to be treated with respect, not even placed on the ground.
Apparently there was sufficient concern that the Pastor transgressed so that his website was taken down, Obama FINALLY spoke out in defense of the troops, and the FBI visited.
And the Pastor FINALLY desisted. Though now he wants to tag on to the NYC mosque lime light.
September:09:2010 - 20:33
OK…now I am confused. I thought this guy was burning Korans because of 9/11 not to strong arm a movement of Park 51.
Why would the FBI investigate? What had he done besides being stupid? He hadn’t actually DONE anything yet. What had he transgressed? I don’t agree with it but I am not sure he did anything illegal.
September:09:2010 - 20:56
I, too, sympathize with people who get confused. But confusing a symbol with the thing is represents is just a terrible error.
And yes, I think Mr Jones is simply somebody who figured out how to play media like a troop of monkeys.
More annoying, though: Westboro Baptist Church to burn Qurans if Dove doesn’t
Westboro Baptist Church is the group that goes to military funerals protesting gays and is utterly obnoxious. Even though laws have been written to put a muzzle on him, those laws have been overturned by courts recognizing that constitutionally protected free speech trumps even the sensitivities of people at the funeral of a loved one. As I said, it’s all turning into an attempt at blackmail.
September:09:2010 - 20:58
I don’t get the ‘FBI visit’ either. I’ve only seen it referred to on some right wing blogs, so maybe it didn’t actually happen. Or if it did, there’s something we don’t know. Maybe one of his congregates got carried away in an e-mail or something and made a threat.
UPDATE: Ok, the FBI visit was real. What it was about, we don’t know yet as neither Jones nor the FBI is talking. There’s this, though:
September:09:2010 - 21:56
I hope the media is really embarrassed at how this guy is playing them. It’s almost funny. Geesh!
September:09:2010 - 22:06
Given that the US is at war in Afghanistan, Iraq, and parts of Pakistan, and that normally when a country is at war extra legal measures are invoked to protect the country; and given that everyone from the General in Command, to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary General of the UN (which has troops and services there too), not to mention FINALLY the Commander in Chief of the US forces and President of the country thinks that burning Qurans will jeopardize US troops, and US success in battle or in drawing down, I find it most perplexing that the guy hasn’t been thoroughly silenced, and charged with something related to harming his own side in war.
It is a lot easier to control one Pastor (with a better effort than has been shown) than 1.5 billion Muslims, at least one or two of whom might be irked. Certainly the propaganda writers/ filmmakers on the other side must be truly looking forward to burn a Quran day in the USA.
BTW the Pastor is now saying that he is rethinking calling it off, it was only suspended. It seems he is miffed he isn’t being consulted by the Imam at Park51. Doesn’t like being out of the lime light.
September:09:2010 - 22:23
On the one hand I don’t think burning any holy books is a nice thing to do.
On the other, I was thinking about the absurdity of this whole thing. It is a book, made of paper and holding no greater power than say a statue of Jesus has to a Catholic. It is a symbol. It isn’t God. It isn’t the original Koran that can never be replaced. If it is burned more can be printed. I am sure over the course of the world Korans have fallen in the mud, gotten covered in any number of foods or other liquids, they have been lost, torn, babies have colored in them, They have gotten damaged or lost in the mail, surely people have done many worse things to them, not to mention the things I am sure that have been done to bibles the world over. Surely people have burned Korans before as well as bibles if in nothing else other than home fires, both the kind that is accidental and takes the dwelling of the family and the kind that have found the books tossed into the fireplace…it is just that no one knew about it. I imagine somewhere bibles have been burned in reaction to this…but no one knows. What if these guys did it in private and no one knew? What would change? The books are still gone…the end result is the same…Korans were burned.
I am trying to think of this in the same way I do the bible. The Koran is a holy book like the Bible or Torah…it has no greater importance or deserves any greater importance or respect than anyone else’s holy book. They should all be treated with respect. But if one does not it is not worth destroying lives for it as some people have threatened to do.
I am just trying to wrap my mind around the fact that embassies around the world have been told to check their security because some books are/were to be burned. I don’t agree with the book burning and it is wrong I think, but the unbelievable overreaction is hard to fathom.
September:09:2010 - 22:31
And it made me wonder… out of all those who disagree with Park 51 how many made death threats to the imam or the developers.
September:10:2010 - 00:12
oby,
The koran is not like a bible. The koran its self is deemed holy. and is treated with much reverence. Like the US flag, that should be folded a certain way, and has rules like it should never touch the ground.
September:10:2010 - 03:16
I have a bery mean message to say right now!
The man who wants to burn the Quran is being called so many God damned names. Who gives a Fuck if he burns the Quran. Nobody should stop him and Muslims need to fucking get over themselves. Is all hell goign to break loose because a Quran was burned? Will Muslims burn people because of it? Will it jeopardize U.S. lives? If it does than the war effort needs to be stepped up to eliminate people or Muslims who would harm people because they harmed a book. It just proves that there are too many radical animals that need tamed. Furthermore if Allah is all powerful I doubt he will get his panties tangled over a burning of the quran. I would hope that he would be more upset at someone who decided to take people’s lives because of it. Muslims around the world just need to fucking grow up. American law makers need to stop kissing Muslim ass in the public. It is disgusting!@
September:10:2010 - 03:40
p.S. Can someone help me locate my bible in Saudi Arabia? I seemed to have misplaced it or maybe someone fucking burnt it.
My aunt sent me a cross coin in the mail and someone stole it. They probably put it in the rubbage or burned it.
September:10:2010 - 05:47
I imagine Pastor Terry Jones as Lional Richie in Sail On http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg-ivWxy5KE
I bet half the population of Saudi secretly wants the Qurans to burn not because they hate their own religion but because just to do it and say “I didn’t get stuck by lightening.” After burning, they could read one then smoke a cigarette.
I’m sick I know
I love IT halahalahal lmfao
September:10:2010 - 05:57
Chiara, even during times of war, freedoms protected by the constitution are protected. While practice has not always met the perfection of theory, over US history it has gotten much closer. There were lapses during WWII, certainly. By the time Vietnam and Desert Storm rolled by, freedom to denounce the wars in practically any forum–including the enemy’s capital–was well established. This moron isn’t breaking any US law. He’s only being really provocative, really careless about other people’s lives, and really stupid.
September:10:2010 - 05:59
A number greater than zero. I haven’t see a real count, only that they had been received.
September:10:2010 - 06:31
Bigger threat than burnt Qurans
Wikileaks
September:10:2010 - 07:11
John–There are already special laws in the US because of the “War on Terror” that abrogate certain freedoms in certain circumstances. I just finished my response to an earlier comment as a post (with a tip of America’s Hat
):
Pastor Jones: A Propagandist’s Dream Reverend
As you can read, I am, like all good Canadians, extremely law-abiding, and willing to trust INTERPOL’s assessment of danger on this one.
Whether it should be a threat or not, whether Muslims should react or not, the agencies and agents responsible for assessing such things see burning a Quran on 9/11 and Eid Al-Fitr as an inciteful act that compromises the safety of the US and Americans.
September:10:2010 - 07:20
I’d argue that the ‘abrogation of certain freedoms’ is more a matter of perception than reality, but that’s not at all the topic of this blog! So I won’t.
September:10:2010 - 08:20
Russell…
That is all well and good, but even if the American flag has to be folded a certain way it is able to be burned constitutionally. There was a recent protest in Arizona where the US flag was put on the ground and people purposely walked all over it to show their displeasure. I find it disgusting the same as I do burning of anyone’s holy books but it isn’t illegal AND people did not get killed because of it. I am not saying to burn them is right. I am saying it is difficult for me to imagine people threatening death over a book. As I said it is only because they know about it which was the whole point anyway.
What about all the korans that got destroyed in the flood in Pakistan and no doubt came in contact with foul and fetid water not to mention human waste in that water? When the waters recede what are they going to do? clean them? Or will it be likely that they will be burned? I think it likely the latter. It is a book…one to respect, it’s true, but simply a book.
September:10:2010 - 20:16
I really feel I need to give credit where credit is due.
Today on the news (radio)I heard that the biggest mosque in central Ohio, the Noor Islamic Cultural Center which I happen to live about 10 minutes from, was having a three day celebration for Eid. They had 7000 people praying there today. However, instead of continuing the festivities there tomorrow, they will be suspending their Eid celebration for one day due to the fact that it falls on 9/11 and they felt that it was a day to commemorate those who had died and it was inappropriate to have a celebration on such a day. The imam spoke and said that they are Americans too and felt that the day should not pass without a recognition of those who lost their lives due to terrorism. they will continue their celebrations with a picnic all day Sunday.
I was so touched by that gesture that I actually cried. They are not doing it for the publicity as I doubt no one other than they will know. Why can’t this kind of stuff be international news????
September:10:2010 - 23:18
Oby: Can you identify the radio station or a local newspaper that might cover this? I’d be happy to give the mosque publicity.
September:11:2010 - 12:47
the local paper is the Columbus Dispatch..I don’t know if it was in there.
The radio station I heard it on was either 89.7 or 97.9 WNCI…89.7 WOSU is the local public radio and the other a rock station. I was switching back and forth between the two (the public for me and the rock for my daughter) so it would have been announced on one of them. The mosque website is:
http://www.noorohio.org/
If you go to activities you can see the announcement about the picnic. It is low key as I don’t see anything on the website talking about 9/11…
September:11:2010 - 13:07
And because nobody heard it or saw it, ‘it didn’t happen’ for those who would prefer it didn’t happen.
September:11:2010 - 13:18
You know I find this galling…a guy with 50 followers gets international attention for burning Korans…but a mosque with 7,000 congregants that did a really cool thing and showed solidarity with their fellow countrymen goes by unheard of! With tempers running so high around the country/world this whole thing needed a hero and this mosque stepped forward and did something selfless (no one knows except them and these blog readers)that wasn’t about grabbing attention or headlines…they did it because they felt it was the right thing. It is a shame that people on both sides are so willing to jump on the negative bandwagon, but the positives get buried. I think I am more annoyed about this than Rev Jones.
September:11:2010 - 14:07
Sure! And churches that feed the hungry and clothe the poor by the thousands can’t get an inch of news coverage.
And then people gripe about ‘censorship’ when a news organization like AP or FOX says they won’t have pictures of any Quran-burning.
I’m more than a little peeved and disheartened, too.
September:11:2010 - 14:34
John Burgess wrote:
I found this comment by Shaykh Dr. Abdalqadir as-Sufi titled “The Sublime Qur’an and the Florida Fool” very interesting in that context:
The Sheikh then goes on to tell a story of a similar incident, some years back in Mao’s China:
September:12:2010 - 02:21
I’m more than a little peeved and disheartened, too.
But John, where would we be without such delicious irony?
September:12:2010 - 09:22
I may be suffering from an irony overdose. The utter rancidity of discourse, from the left or right, is making me ill.
September:12:2010 - 14:02
This news is just a diversion, a bunch of Americans still continued and burnt the Quran at the 9/11 memorial site.
And also the Westboro Baptist Church has also decided to burn the Quraan,
Check this video on my youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0w5vl5O53U
Inspite of media presence at the scene of Quran Burning, strangely mainstream media like CNN / BBC are not reporting this.
Also check these links below
Man ignites Koran near Ground Zero, apparently prompted by Florida Pastor Terry Jones
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/09/11/2010-09-11_man_ignites_koran_near_ground_zero_apparently_prompted_by_florida_pastor_terry_j.html
Pastor Terry Jones’ 9/11 Koran burn fuels copycats in U.S., violent protests abroad
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/09/10/2010-09-10_pastor_terry_jones_proposed_koran_burning_on_911_is_being_copied_by_protestors_a.html
Westboro Baptist Church to burn Qurans if Dove doesn’t
http://www.ocala.com/article/20100909/ARTICLES/100909743/1412?Title=Westboro-Baptish-Church-to-burn-Qurans-if-Dove-doesn-t&tc=ar
Six Christians rip pages from Koran in White House stunt
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100911/ts_alt_afp/usattacks9yearsreligionislamdemo_20100911185812
Fred Phelps’ daughter: ‘Westboro Church has already burned Qurans’
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/09/09/100291/fred-phelps-daughter-westboro.html
September:13:2010 - 10:39
Syed, and so what? Did the world end and nobody noticed?
And what, exactly, is, “the diversion”? From what?
John, I like ‘rancidity’ – a word not often seen but very appropriate. I have a feeling we will be visiting rancid city a lot from now on.
September:13:2010 - 13:42
Well i wasn’t expecting any sorta sympathy from islamophobes. Islamophobes would be islamophobes, who cares.
But one thing is sure, so far the vast majority of muslims did not bother about America or did not care about the Christian Fundamentilism, now thanks to the Quraan Burning and repeated islamophobia they are paying attention to events, so Alhumdulillah things are getting better for the Muslims in some way.
And about you Kactuz, your comments are the least of my concerns.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0w5vl5O53U
September:13:2010 - 18:14
Things will get better for Muslim communities when they sort out their own community’s messes and stop worrying about ignorant non-Muslims burning the Quran. Surely Allah is more offended by the behaviors of Muslims than the behaviors of crackpots.
September:13:2010 - 18:21
I’d say that the world would be better if every community took to sorting out its own problems, without looking for excuses and scapegoats. Little corruptions lead to and permit large corruptions.
September:13:2010 - 19:03
I prefer good old sin (personal abuse)to corruption (abuse of others and the public). Works for me.
Mr SHA – As to the charge of islamophobia, people who know me know that I am not afraid of Islam. So go ahead, be yourself, do what Muslims do and practice what Islam teaches. We will see what happens.
September:14:2010 - 03:49
SYed the youtube you linked is blocked in KSA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0w5vl5O53U
September:14:2010 - 05:59
Syed Hussain Aleem,
Following links are especially meant for you. Please do take out the time to read them.
Please note that all of these are written by Muslim writers –
http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=2&id=22294
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703597204575483660273156310.html
(Note – If you can’t open this complete article from Wall Street Journal, please type “A Muslim Response to Quran Burning” in Google and click the Wall Street Journal link that comes up.)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/parvez-sharma/an-imam-a-pastor-and-a-ci_b_711518.html
Quite obviously, you wouldn’t call your own Muslim brothers Islamophobes.
It’s rather simplistic to brand such a large population as ignorant and Islamophobic.
September:14:2010 - 07:14
PS – Read the following as well, again by a Muslim writer –
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/firas-alatraqchi/why-i-oppose-the-new-york_b_713693.html
September:14:2010 - 22:39
Sparky,
That Youtube video shows a man tearing off pages from a Quran and burning them near Park51 on 9/11. This news was reported in the media. Youtube informs you that the video contains offensive content and asks you if you wish to continue. If you click on “continue” the video will appear.
September:22:2010 - 16:42
I think the real issue is why this is a big deal in the first place. Bibles are regularly burned, and nobody expects Christians to riot over that. Christians know that if the bible is the truth, then burning it does not stop it, and if the bible is not the truth, then there is no value to protect, anyway.