Let me start by saying I am against the burning of the Koran. Not because it is a holy book, but because I am against book burning in general. Therefore, I don’t support Pastor Terry Jones and I am pretty sure God did not tell him or his church to burn any books.
It is Easy to Incite Muslim Rage
However, his actions have made a pretty important point. Here we have a pastor of a tiny church in Florida who says he is going to burn some Korans. Next thing you know, we have a world crisis. Just the idea that someone might burn a Koran has set off a fury across the world. Muslims have been rioting and protesting because of this. In one newscast, I saw demonstrators burning the American flag.
I understand that people can love the Koran and be upset when someone destroys it. I love my country. I love the American flag and all that is stands for. I hate to see it burnt. But yet, some Muslims insist on protesting the burning of their beloved Koran by burning something else that is beloved by others, the American flag.
Rage Seems to be Widespread
But that is just subtext. The thing that is even more troubling is how large numbers of Muslims will turn to outrage and violence over something as simple as one small church burning the Koran. We’ve seen it in Europe, where people have been murdered because of slights against the Prophet Muhammad.
Religious Intolerance
Apparently the Muslim religion places great respect on certain symbols. To destroy the Koran is blasphemy in their eyes. So is portraying Muhammad visually or disparaging him in any way. If this is part of their religion, fine. But I have heard Muslim leaders tell us how tolerant their religion is. Its not so tolerant if they feel the need to enforce the laws of their religion on people who do not follow that religion. That is the ultimate form of intolerance.
It is deeply disturbing that one man could cause a world-wide crisis by threatening to burn the Koran. Such is the uproar that the President of the United States felt he needed to comment on it, and the Secretary of Defense personally called this pastor because he felt burning the Koran would put American lives in danger.
Who is to Blame for American Deaths?
If burning a book can put the lives of Americans in harms way, I cannot lay the blame at the feet of the person who is just acting out on his right to free speech. As wrong-headed as Pastor Jones is, he has the right to be stupid. But if his stupidity causes Muslims to kill more Americans, the problem is with Muslims, not the book-burning Pastor. Muslims need to learn the importance of freedom of speech and religious tolerance. America is probably the most religiously tolerant nation in history. In many Muslim nations, being a Christian (or converting to Christianity) can get you killed.
The Curse of Extremism
If Muslims want a place in society, they need to learn real tolerance. I hate making a blanket statement like that, because many Muslims are very tolerant. However, there are vast swaths of the Muslim world that operate in extremism, hate, and vitriol. It is not the religion that scares most Americans, it is that whole nations are under the curse of extremism, paving the way for terrorism and repression.
What’s Wrong at Ground Zero?
Which brings me to the Ground Zero mosque. Why are so many Americans against the building of a mosque near Ground Zero? On the surface, it is easy to say that we are intolerant or politically motivated. And, in fact, that is likely the case for some.
It grates at many people that a mosque is going to replace one of the buildings that was damaged on September 11th. Of course, its not a mosque, really. It is a high-rise building (13 stories) that will include a prayer room along with a bunch of other things, like a pool, and a September 11th memorial. There will not be a minaret going up within sight of the Ground Zero, but that is probably the impression many people get based on the coverage of this.
Property Rights versus the Right Choice
I have a hard time with the question of whether this Muslim center should be built. I believe in property rights and freedom of religion, so legally I think it probably can move forward. But what of the other arguments? Many people are saying that it is insensitive to build a mosque so near Ground Zero. But I imagine that the leaders behind the building, if they are sincere, have as their goal healing rather than hurting. Yet, there are questions about the real motivations of the leaders, as well as their funding sources. These things, of course, should be investigated.
Is the building of the mosque the same thing as the burning of the Korans? In some ways, it is. It is perfectly legal, but maybe not the smartest thing to do. However, I am more against burning of books than building a religious building. It is true that some American mosques attract extremists. There is fear this will happen at the Ground Zero mosque. But we can’t be sure.
How Do We Monitor Extremism?
There is a greater question at stake. How do we best prevent Muslim extremism within our borders? How do we ensure American mosques are not preaching hate? This is especially difficult when we cannot, and should not, police religion.
Perhaps the best thing we can do is to continue to embrace religious tolerance. We should not trample on the rights of Muslims, nor do we in general. At the same time, we should not become afraid of extreme Muslim reprisal. As stupid as the example in Florida is, we should not be afraid to burn the Koran.
To peacefully co-exist, we must let others behave as they like, within the law. This goes for Christians and Muslims. There does not need to be a religious war between the two. Instead, Muslims should be allowed to preach the merits of their religion to Christians, and Christians should be allowed to preach the merits of their religion to Muslims. It seems many Muslims in the Middle East want us to accept their religion, but refuse to allow our religion to have a free voice in their countries.
True Tolerance
In America, we can practice true religious tolerance. When a Christian and a Muslim can preach to one another, and neither is shut up or killed, that is the truest form of tolerance. Some think that tolerance is respecting Muslims but not trying to convert them. If we can’t preach other religions, how is this tolerance?
We must set the example for the rest of the world. We must embrace religious tolerance when it comes to moderate Islam, and we must take a stand against the extreme fringe of the religion, the fringe that brings violence in the name of Allah.
Mosques, Korans, and Missing the Point
Let me start by saying I am against the burning of the Koran. Not because it is a holy book, but because I am against book burning in general. Therefore, I don’t support Pastor Terry Jones and I am pretty sure God did not tell him or his church to burn any books.
It is Easy to Incite Muslim Rage
However, his actions have made a pretty important point. Here we have a pastor of a tiny church in Florida who says he is going to burn some Korans. Next thing you know, we have a world crisis. Just the idea that someone might burn a Koran has set off a fury across the world. Muslims have been rioting and protesting because of this. In one newscast, I saw demonstrators burning the American flag.
I understand that people can love the Koran and be upset when someone destroys it. I love my country. I love the American flag and all that is stands for. I hate to see it burnt. But yet, some Muslims insist on protesting the burning of their beloved Koran by burning something else that is beloved by others, the American flag.
Rage Seems to be Widespread
But that is just subtext. The thing that is even more troubling is how large numbers of Muslims will turn to outrage and violence over something as simple as one small church burning the Koran. We’ve seen it in Europe, where people have been murdered because of slights against the Prophet Muhammad.
Religious Intolerance
Apparently the Muslim religion places great respect on certain symbols. To destroy the Koran is blasphemy in their eyes. So is portraying Muhammad visually or disparaging him in any way. If this is part of their religion, fine. But I have heard Muslim leaders tell us how tolerant their religion is. Its not so tolerant if they feel the need to enforce the laws of their religion on people who do not follow that religion. That is the ultimate form of intolerance.
It is deeply disturbing that one man could cause a world-wide crisis by threatening to burn the Koran. Such is the uproar that the President of the United States felt he needed to comment on it, and the Secretary of Defense personally called this pastor because he felt burning the Koran would put American lives in danger.
Who is to Blame for American Deaths?
If burning a book can put the lives of Americans in harms way, I cannot lay the blame at the feet of the person who is just acting out on his right to free speech. As wrong-headed as Pastor Jones is, he has the right to be stupid. But if his stupidity causes Muslims to kill more Americans, the problem is with Muslims, not the book-burning Pastor. Muslims need to learn the importance of freedom of speech and religious tolerance. America is probably the most religiously tolerant nation in history. In many Muslim nations, being a Christian (or converting to Christianity) can get you killed.
The Curse of Extremism
If Muslims want a place in society, they need to learn real tolerance. I hate making a blanket statement like that, because many Muslims are very tolerant. However, there are vast swaths of the Muslim world that operate in extremism, hate, and vitriol. It is not the religion that scares most Americans, it is that whole nations are under the curse of extremism, paving the way for terrorism and repression.
What’s Wrong at Ground Zero?
Which brings me to the Ground Zero mosque. Why are so many Americans against the building of a mosque near Ground Zero? On the surface, it is easy to say that we are intolerant or politically motivated. And, in fact, that is likely the case for some.
It grates at many people that a mosque is going to replace one of the buildings that was damaged on September 11th. Of course, its not a mosque, really. It is a high-rise building (13 stories) that will include a prayer room along with a bunch of other things, like a pool, and a September 11th memorial. There will not be a minaret going up within sight of the Ground Zero, but that is probably the impression many people get based on the coverage of this.
Property Rights versus the Right Choice
I have a hard time with the question of whether this Muslim center should be built. I believe in property rights and freedom of religion, so legally I think it probably can move forward. But what of the other arguments? Many people are saying that it is insensitive to build a mosque so near Ground Zero. But I imagine that the leaders behind the building, if they are sincere, have as their goal healing rather than hurting. Yet, there are questions about the real motivations of the leaders, as well as their funding sources. These things, of course, should be investigated.
Is the building of the mosque the same thing as the burning of the Korans? In some ways, it is. It is perfectly legal, but maybe not the smartest thing to do. However, I am more against burning of books than building a religious building. It is true that some American mosques attract extremists. There is fear this will happen at the Ground Zero mosque. But we can’t be sure.
How Do We Monitor Extremism?
There is a greater question at stake. How do we best prevent Muslim extremism within our borders? How do we ensure American mosques are not preaching hate? This is especially difficult when we cannot, and should not, police religion.
Perhaps the best thing we can do is to continue to embrace religious tolerance. We should not trample on the rights of Muslims, nor do we in general. At the same time, we should not become afraid of extreme Muslim reprisal. As stupid as the example in Florida is, we should not be afraid to burn the Koran.
To peacefully co-exist, we must let others behave as they like, within the law. This goes for Christians and Muslims. There does not need to be a religious war between the two. Instead, Muslims should be allowed to preach the merits of their religion to Christians, and Christians should be allowed to preach the merits of their religion to Muslims. It seems many Muslims in the Middle East want us to accept their religion, but refuse to allow our religion to have a free voice in their countries.
True Tolerance
In America, we can practice true religious tolerance. When a Christian and a Muslim can preach to one another, and neither is shut up or killed, that is the truest form of tolerance. Some think that tolerance is respecting Muslims but not trying to convert them. If we can’t preach other religions, how is this tolerance?
We must set the example for the rest of the world. We must embrace religious tolerance when it comes to moderate Islam, and we must take a stand against the extreme fringe of the religion, the fringe that brings violence in the name of Allah.