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How come we have to worry about the fact that we will anger the muslims by burning their holy book but they don't have to worry about angering the superpower by burning the flag, bibles, and even more serious acts of terrorism. How come we aren't allowed to have a few radicals that offend muslims for fear that they will get angry and judge all westerners by the actions of these few radicals. They on the other hand have radicals that do much more than burn books. They kill our people and what do we do? we keep telling ourselves that it is a religion of peace and then appease them. Its no wonder that they have no respect for us and view us as weak even though we hold the most military and economic power.
By our actions we show them that they are successful and have reached their goal of terrorizing us and making us afraid of them.
It's not exactly a speech issue; more an issue of freedom of expression. If somebody is opposed to Islam and wants to express that opposition by burning a bunch of books, why shouldn't he or she be able to?
It is protected by the 1st Amendment, but it is horribly insensitive, just like burning flags, the Bible, the Torah, or other holy books. One important distinction though, is that it places peoples' lives in danger indirectly. It inspires hatred and animosity in Muslim countries, giving more talking points and recruits to radical Islam (Al-Qaeda and the Taliban), making more suicide bombers and more insurgents for our soldiers to watch out for. It also feeds hatred against the West so more will wish to terrorize the West. Evidence supporting this is the protests in Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan where people chant "Death to Christians" and "Death to Americans" and burn American flags.
It also decreases the hold and security of the legitimate governments in the highly unstable Middle East. Since we support the legitimate governments (mostly) then in the populaces' mind, the government is guilty by association.
I thought Islam was a religion of peace???? If it is a religion of peace then why should one worry about it inspiring hatred and more insurgents?
"Evidence supporting this is the protests in Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan where people chant "Death to Christians" and "Death to Americans" and burn American flags."
Is this a religion of peace then.
Yes it is a free speech issue as is the other burnings you spoke of.
The protests are representative of all of Islam as Tea Partiers are representatives of all of America.
Now you are going to say, "Then if the protesters don't represent Islam, how can you judge that people are in fact turning to radicalism, rather than that all Islam was already radical?" I can say that people who were on the fence Muslims, or those who were undecided in their relation to radical Islam will be more likely to support those who don't burn their holy book, i.e. the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
"If it is a religion of peace then why should one worry about it inspiring hatred and more insurgents?"
Because anyone anywhere can be inspired to do hateful acts. An eye for an eye. Burning a sacred text is highly inflammatory. You can bet that middle-of-the-ground Muslims will begin to sympathize a bit more with those who wish to harm the Qur'an-burning Americans.
"that people who were on the fence Muslims, or those who were undecided in their relation to radical Islam will be more likely to support those who don't burn their holy book, i.e. the Taliban and Al-Qaeda."
A common terrible misunderstanding of Islam. The Tea party doesn't force you in any area to become a member or die,the tea party does not behead you if you do not join their beliefs or convert from those beliefs .You actually believe there are on the fence Muslims???? Show me one tea party member that is forced to be a member or face an honor killing.
"You can bet that middle-of-the-ground Muslims will begin to sympathize a bit more with those who wish to harm the Qur'an-burning Americans"
I think they sympathize more so they won't die themselves and this quote proves to me Islam is not a peaceful religion.
On the fence Muslims as in wavering between radicalism (al-Qaeda and the Taliban) and moderation (most Muslims in the US and other places not terribly influenced by the iron fist of radicalism). I wasn't talking about conversion. Nor did I say Tea Partiers force you to become members. I merely suggested that comparing all Muslims to radical Islam was like comparing Tea Partiers to all of America.
"I think they sympathize more so they won't die themselves..."
Pure, unverifiable, speculation.
"...this quote proves to me Islam is not a peaceful religion."
It does nothing of the sort. Bible burnings, especially performed in the belief that Christianity is "of the devil", would be similarly outrageous among devout Christians. Simply that the Muslims are being provoked into violence (even if they started it, I don't want to get into that debate) by burning their most sacred, dear text does not make the religion violent. The people who may perpetrate the violence are violent. The religion, and those of the religion who were/will not be violent, are not guilty. Correlation does not prove causation.
"I thought Islam was a religion of peace???? If it is a religion of peace then why should one worry about it inspiring hatred and more insurgents?"
Unfortunately, just like practically all other religions (see link), the Quran is being manipulated by radicals into justifying anti-American war.
Besides, if Islam is NOT a religion of peace, then why do I have NO trouble from my moderate and practising Muslim friends? Why do the other communities in my country have NO trouble from our Muslim community?
Besides, if Islam is NOT a religion of peace, then why do I have NO trouble from my moderate and practising Muslim friends? Why do the other communities in my country have NO trouble from our Muslim community?
A better question is why are almost all terrorists Muslims? It's great that your circle of Muslim friends are not involved in overt acts of terrorism, but I don't think anybody is arguing that they're all terrorists (if they were, we'd all be dead by now). The problem is the disturbing number of them that are ready to commit horrendous acts of brutality every time they're "offended". Shhh....we mustn't offend the Muslims....when they get offended bad things will happen.
Supporting Evidence: Martin Marty. "Is Religion the Problem?" 2002.
Oh look it's the "Other religions are shitty or have been shitty in the past, therefore Islam is not shitty" argument.
Islam is one of the most common religions in the world, and the most common in the middle east. The middle east has for a long time had many negative social factors, wars, colonialism, imperialism, dictators, etc. If it is true that most terrorists are Muslims, is it also true then that most Muslims are from or related to the middle east and that it may not be the religion that is the root cause but rather the social and economic factors such people grew up in or whose family grow up in?
Many people confuse the meanings of " Freedom of speech" and " religious abuse". Muslims believe that the Quran is their book of life. They think the Quran holds every way to live your life, loving god. When a guy just burns a Quran and says " I had the freedom to do it" is like saying that the people who abuse others and their world is free to give mental attack to the opponent which is restricted by the law. Burning a flag is just like a picket from the Wesboro Baptist Church, it is an issue with the freedom of speech
Technically it's freedom of expression. Which is why I'm no this side.
And that silly preacher has a right to do it just as I have a right to start a protest next to him and burn Bibles if I want.
The difference is me burning bibles isn't going to get US troops killed.
So the question, the reason it is a debate, isn't because of free speech. No one in the US is arguing he does not have the right to do it or he'd be in shackles.
The argument is whether it is a good idea. Which it is not.
Burning Koran's in remembrance of 9/11 continues this simpleton right wing theory that all muslims are terrorists. The Koran is for all muslims not just terrorists, therefore it is showing animosity toward peaceful muslims, towards muslims who worked in the twin towers and also died on 9/11, towards the thousands of muslims serving in our armed forces.
Yes he has the right. No he shouldn't do it.
It is misguided hatred and anger, typical of small children and idiots.
I actually support the act, however, I would like to start a movement whereby, wherever and whenever this walrus-looking charlatan decides to burn a bunch of Korans, a bunch of people join and start throwing holy books of all denominations in the flame.
That way it can become a united book burning instead of a divided book burning.
Well, the media should not be giving him all of this attention. This guy is obviously a crackpot, and if we would just stop covering the story, it wouldn't be an issue at all.
... wow, you just said something smart. Did you forget to put up your firewall? Did someone steal your account?
However, that you agree the media should stop covering the dumbest and craziest of society does not change that burning something is a physical activity, and not necessarily a speech issue. (I would say the same of flags btw, they are both freedom of expression)
Every Constitution around the World that gives freedom of expression gives it with the limitations that state that any religious or cultural or racist sentiments must not be hurt!
If your burning the Holy books, it is just equal to the activities that the Islam Extremists are doing!
