The Reverend Terry Jones misses the point. In trying to destroy his enemy, he becomes like his enemy. What has he accomplished? His reckless advocacy of a book burning day endangers Americans around the world and accomplishes nothing other than serving as a recruitment tool to those who would do us harm.
Rick Sanchez’s interview with Jones proves that Jones is little better than Westover Baptist activists with their hate-mongering. Apparently Jones is trying to ‘grow’ his church. Is he going to take responsibility when one of his parishioners commits some vile act, all in the name of God?
According to Dr. Akbar Ahmed, author of “Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam,” in his opinion piece of cnn.com (thanks Starry Flights):
As objectionable as the prospect of Jones’ Quran burning is, it may not cease with the holy book of the Muslims. I have always maintained that this kind of vitriolic hatred of one religion is a descent on a slippery slope, as no one can say who will be next. I was not surprised, therefore, when I heard Jones recently agree, when asked to do so in an internet podcast interview, to burn “a couple of copies of the Talmud” too.
Not only does the burning of holy texts reflect the darkest days of medieval Europe and Nazi Germany, but it is hard to think of anything more un-American, by the definition of the Founding Fathers themselves.
George Washington welcomed the Jews to America as the “stock of Abraham” while John Adams showed the utmost respect for Islam, naming the Prophet Mohammed as one of the greatest truth seekers in history. Benjamin Franklin called him a model of compassion.
The Founding Fathers read and honored the same Quran that Jones is now seeking to burn. Thomas Jefferson kept the same Quran in his personal collection and it informed his decision to host the first presidential iftaar during Ramadan.
The Founding Fathers were also inspired by Christian thinkers like John Locke, who declared that the true Christian’s duty was to “practice charity, meekness, and good-will in general toward all mankind, even to those that are not Christians.”
The founding fathers were Renaissance men–thinking men of their time. They were highly educated and studied the religions of the world. They were particularly interested in the Abrahamic religions. They would have never endorsed such disrespectful behavior. Why doesn’t Jones just round up all the bibles that aren’t the version he likes, the Book of Mormon, the Bhagavad Gita, and have one big bonfire. Then let him explain his point. He is unAmerican and he is also un-Christian. Christians are more tolerant than this joker.
What a hateful pathetic excuse for a man of G-d.
Being a member of Unity in the Community has given me the chance to talk with people of different faiths, share food, work on projects together, enjoy programs and in the process, learn about each other and our different faith journeys. Sure, it felt weird to take my shoes off and leave them in a cubby, put on a head covering and enter a local mosque through a different door than my husband. But once inside, there was a welcome sight — a troop of Girl Scouts selling cookies at a table!
Tomorrow night’s Unity in the Community meeting is at 6:30 pm out in Catlett at the Wat Lao Buddhavong of Washington, DC (Buddist temple). The subject is planning the International Day of Prayer for Peace, which will take place Sept. 25 from 5 to 9 pm at Wat Lao. Many local faith groups are expected to participate together in the Sept event, from the First Baptist Youth Choir to one of the sisters from the Benedictine Monastery. If anyone is interested, please come to the planning meeting tomorrow night.
Sadly a local teacher was admonished for hours for wearing a hijab on her head. A student has returned from a trip and had brought it to her. She said she would wear it for 5 days.
In addition for getting in trouble in her building, she said she felt like an outcast when she was out and about. It was very much a learning experience for her as far as feeling the prejudice.
She had her job threatened. She is nice. I would have been calling the dreaded ACLU.
Oh but that we could list some of the better stories from the last 20 years recounting the inhuman deeds performed in the name of the “model of compassion”.
No one here is claiming that Islam is the model of compassion. I was simply suggesting we don’t broad-brush. All religions have their dark side. The Salem witch trials hop out at me. A few dead abortion providers killed in the name of Christ are out there too. The Christian treatment of the Mormons would be another low point. Mormon treatment of settlers at Mountain Meadows. Too recent? How about Aztecs’ demise? Crusades? Seems like a number of Jews were killed along the Rhine River on the way to reclaim the holy lands. And let us not forget the Inquisition. How about those little squabbles in England as the Tudors all battled each other for control, burning a couple hundred priests and Catholics here and there.
Yea they were the model of compassion too.
Last 20 years? @ slow…I would say you are right if we do limits. The track records makes me not want to get on too much of a high horse.
Historically, the high road has a few major dips in it.
This pastor is a coward. If he wants to pick a fight with Muslims, he should join the USMC and go fight.
Good point, Starry,and thanks for the links that led to this post.
He is a coward and he has no business as a religious leader.
To support war on the whole of Islam is to support the goals of those
who planned 9-11. We must isolate the monsters and destroy them,
not be raging idiots who add to their support and numbers.
We mirror them when we drink from their toxic cup of narcissism
mixed with victimhood. It is bloody and costly to root out the supporters
of terror, but it is possible. War on all of Islam, though, will end how?
Suggest reading “How Fox Betrayed Petraeus” by Frank Rick in the
NYT op/ed section (8-21-2010). As a nation, we need to take a deep
breath and THINK.
Oh, I suspect this guy must planning his own “Suicide by Burning Quran”. He will become a martyr to his own cause when some very upset Muslim offs him.
@Starryflights
Starry, the USMC doesn’t take idiots. The guy is a Piss Poor Piece of Protoplasm.
@Moon-howler
As you have pointed out Moon, Christianity has been far less than a “model of compassion” for large segments of their past, but I must say that Islam may well be setting a new record. Despite the fact that they did contribute much knowledge and beauty to the world, they did so leaving a very bloody trail and today’s Islmaic extremists are destroying the past image of Islam. Muslims don’t help themselves by not turning against extremists and walling themselves off from societies in which they settle. And if I am not mistaken, the general goal of all of Islam is a world wide caliphate with sahria as the primary law of the land. I and others have said in the past that wherever Islam takes root, freedom dies. Try to build a Christian church or a synagoge in any Muslim country and see what happens. I have a highschool friend who is a Christian missionary and she was nearly killed in a Muslim country for handing out Bibles. Oh, yes, a real model of compassion–women are second class citizens even in the most “civilized” of Muslim countries, and they still cut off hands and heads, subject people to the lash and stone people to death, I realize this is painting with a broad brush, but I am not so certain that it is not warranted. I know a few Muslims and some of my physicians are Muslims but somewhere in my heart of hearts I have this small kernel of doubt.
I fight those doubts daily. I will go a step further and say I fight having outright dislike of the religion.
I have said this many times. When we had moved my mother to Manassas and she was not doing well, and living in assisted living, the very kindest person there was a lovely, older muslim woman from one of the Caribbean countries. She was extremely intelligent and educated. My mother adored her. I think of this lady every time I think of Bin Laden types.
And George, I don’t disagree with much of what you have said. It is a different culture that I do not respond well to. The general disregard for human life and for diversity is totally offensive.
But I don’t want to go burn their Qoran, or harm those who wish me no harm.
She was for it before she was against it
Laura Ingraham To Co-Founder Of Ground Zero Mosque In December 2009: ‘I Like What You’re Trying To Do’
One of the most vociferous opponents of the proposed Park 51 Islamic community center and mosque that will be built two blocks from Ground Zero in New York City is Fox News contributor and conservative personality Laura Ingraham. Earlier this month, Ingraham appeared on Good Morning America and told host George Stephanopolous that there’s a “disconnect between how elites” think about the proposed mosque and how the rest of the country thinks about the project. Ingraham complained, “600 feet from where thousands of our fellow Americans were incinerated in the name of political Islam, and we’re supposed to be cheering this?!” She even went as far as to say that the “terrorists have won” because Park 51 is going to be built:
INGRAHAM: There’s a disconnect, George, between the elites and the way they think about this, and, I think most New Yorkers, and most of the country. I know Michael Bloomberg was out there saying, “Well, our values need to be properly represented to the world, and if this mosque isn’t going to be built, what is that going to say? The terrorists win!” Well, I say the terrorists have won with how this has gone down. 600 feet from where thousands of our fellow Americans were incinerated in the name of political Islam, and we’re supposed to be cheering this?!
However, as Salon’s Justin Elliott’s research uncovers, Ingraham wasn’t always fearmongering about the proposed cultural center and mosque. On December 21, 2009, Ingraham hosted Daisy Khan, a co-founder of Park 51 and the wife of its Imam, Abdul Rauf. Despite using the sensational and inaccurate misnomer “Ground Zero Mosque” (Elliott believes it to be the first use of that phrase to describe the center) and raising various questions about her husband, Ingraham is courteous to Khan, does not appear to categorically oppose the existence of a mosque near Ground Zero, and tells her that she “can’t find many people who really have a problem with” the building of the mosque. Ingraham even went as far as to tell Khan, “I like what you’re trying to do”:
INGRAHAM: I can’t find many people who really have a problem with it. [Mayor] Bloomberg is for it. Rabbis are saying they don’t have a problem with it. […] I like what you’re trying to do and Ms. Khan we appreciate
it and come on my radio show some time.
KHAN: Yeah, we need the support of people like you seriously.
INGRAHAM: Alright, you take care.
It appears that a campaign of hatred aimed at the mosque — and heavily assisted by the network she contributes to — has changed Ingraham’s mind.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/16/laura-ingraham-mosque/
Not surprised our beloved Pat Robertson has thrown fuel on
the fire by saying he could see how officials in Murfressboro, Tenn.
might have been bribed by 10K to allow the building of an Islamic Center
in that town. The Mayor said it was a land use issue
and not a religous one and was decided as such.
When questioned, Robertson denied saying the Mayor was bribed,
only that “he might have been bribed”. Glad to clear that up.
Taking the high road and Pat Robertson just aren’t compatible.
Might have been a different matter in Mufreesboro, TN. That’s the HQ of Barrett, the big .50 cal gunmaker. They may have needed some target practice. Nothing like life-like simulations!
Not even funny. We don’t compare people to dog food or joke about using human beings for target practice on this blog.
Yeah, Slowpoke, not funny. Not only that, but you don’t respect property rights, as enumerated in the United States Constitution. Please respect the Constitution of the United States, or go live elsewhere.
I have respect for the local leaders of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County
for seeing this as a land use issue and recognizing those seeking
the facility have the legal right to build it. As we have seen in our area,
it is far easier for a local elected official to race out to claim leadership
of an angry crowd than to confront and calm one.
Block thier Mosques, Burn their Books, and declare Osama Bin Laden the victor for if we continue the way we are going, the terrorist have truily had their full victory over both the United States and Islam.