On Sep. 11, a Christian pastor, Rev. Terry Jones is going to lead the “International Burn the Koran Day” in Gainesville, FL. He has received both support and condemnation for this act. The U.S. government, the Vatican, military officers in Afghanistan and numerous church leaders have labeled this as despicable, horrific, dangerous and irresponsible. Supporters have argued, this is completely in step with his constitutional rights of freedom of speech and expression.
This train wreck of a news story has captivated me. Is he really going to do this? Is he going to light up a bonfire, toss 200+ Korans he has received from supporters into the flames and actually proclaim Islam is from the devil? Aren’t the police, FBI or
New World Order types going to storm his church, enforce a cease-and-desist order and forbid him from doing this? This pastor and other church members are actually armed with pistols in case violence erupts. I mean really, we cannot have religious fanatics like this armed. Only Muslim extremists and David Koresh types can carry guns and rifles, but for God’s sake….not a Christian fundamentalist ordained preacher.
This whole act brings out the hypocrisy of extremists, both Christian and Muslim. The Muslim extremists believed it was ok to crash two jumbo jets into the WTC. It was acceptable to drag bodies through the streets and dance around them. Their book also supports the entire destruction of all infidels worldwide if you believe in a very strict interpretation.
This book burning act by a Christian extremist isn’t much better either. Although I disagree with what the Koran says, I would never put one in a fire, or urinate on one, or flush down the toilet as some soldiers did in Gitmo. There are many people who do not agree with what the Bible says but do not resort to extreme measures such as bonfires to express their hate for the words of Jesus.
This “Christian” pastor should do the same. He needs to confer with other Christian leaders to receive counsel and wisdom. He doesn’t have to like the Koran or its message. But he is out of line to burn a religious book, considered holy to 1.5 billion people. There simply cannot be a good outcome if he does this. For every example in history where books have been burned for religious or political reasons, death and misery have always followed. For any lasting peace to occur, this cycle of hate must be interrupted.
On Sept. 11, between 6 and 9 p.m., a tiny church lot in Gainsville, FL will become another battlefield in the fight between the good and evil that men do. I believe the book burning will occur. This man is on a mission. When asked in an ABC news interview, “What would Jesus do? Would he burn the Koran?” The pastor, without hesitation, replied “Absolutely”. Just as much as Mohammed Atta believed he was right, so does Pastor Terry Jones. May God have mercy on them both.
