What I Think About Burning the Qur'an on 9/11

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Plain enough for you? Allow me to elaborate.

I have two major problems with the Dove World Outreach Center in Florida that has announced they will burn copies of the Qur'an on 9/11 to protest the Islamic influence on the tragedies of that day.

First, it is ignorant to think that all followers of the Islamic faith are to be held responsible for the actions of the 9/11 conspirators. Yes, the men who pulled off the highjackings were all devout and practicing Muslims and held the Qur'an above all other holy texts. But that by itself does not mean that the Qur'an inspires the same actions in the millions of other Muslims throughout the world. I've never read the Qur'an, but I do know it can be interpreted to justify violence against other peoples, and terrorists groups throughout the world uses those interpretations to justify their actions. But, I also know the Qur'an speaks of loving forgiveness with as much value as the Bible does. Taken for it's best points, the Qur'an can serve as a motivator for a peaceful life ... and it DOES for millions of Muslims. Yes, the Jew-hating, America-hating, gun-toting, cave-dwelling Muslim terrorists are forgetting these perspectives, but burning the Qur'an doesn't send a message to just them, it sends it to all Muslims.

Second, despite the Dove Center's opinion to the contrary, I believe it will put American troops and citizens in greater risk. More importantly, it will rekindle flames of hatred of America from Muslim communities. A nation that allows such abhorrent bigotry deserves contempt. It enhances the hypocrisy of the U.S. that we allow everyone in but you are not necessarily welcome. I think it will give the gun-toting bastards fodder to fill recruiting drives and undo years of diplomatic progress.

Above all, it will accomplish nothing to improve the world.

The problem is the actions of the Dove Center are very much protected by the First Amendment. It is as protected a right as burning a U.S. flag. The law cannot stop it. Efforts by the Vatican and the U.S. Government to stop the protest are being ignored. It's going to happen.

So, when the retaliations begin against U.S. citizens and messages of revenge for the acts of the Dove Center are broadcast, I hope they can accept their damned nature and know that they will never be forgiven, certainly not by me. Sadly, they are doing nothing to promote the ideals of peace personified by a dove. Idiots.