Let's talk for a moment about the Quran burning in Florida and its consequences. Most Americans are repulsed by the offensive actions of Pastor Terry Jones, a publicity-seeking extremist. But they must wonder how an isolated act like that could produce so much violence halfway across the world in Afghanistan.
So let's trace the event.
The Quran burning took place two weeks ago – to not much publicity. It was not highlighted by the international media and was not a big story in Afghanistan. There had been a few small, peaceful protests last Wednesday.
Then, Afghan President Hamid Karzai decided to try to capitalize on the issue and score some political points.
Last Thursday he made a speech loudly condemning the burning and calling for the arrest of Pastor Jones. But having lived in America, Karzai understands well that people cannot be arrested here for engaging in free speech, which includes burning flags or books.
Karzai's speech opened the door for Imams across the country to use their pulpits on Friday to call for protests and more.
That is when all hell broke loose.
But even then, the killings appear to have been the handiwork of Taliban agitators who were using the occasion to score points against the United States, the Karzai government, and to generally cause chaos in the streets.
The senior UN official in Afghanistan said that there was abundant evidence that the killings were not the result of out-of-control mobs but rather deliberate acts of murder by Taliban militia.
Keep in mind that these protests have been extremely small by Afghan standards - not a single one had more than 100 people at it, according to the U.S. army spokesman.
So it's politics as much as religion at work here.
And yet there is something depressing about the fact that when something like this happens, there is an imbalance in the reaction.
Many Muslim leaders - from the Afghan government to the Pakistani government to local activists - condemn the burning of the Quran. That's appropriate. Burning the Holy Book of any religion is offensive.
But so is killing people in reaction to that burning. And this is where there is still far too much silence in the Muslim world.
President Karzai has condemned the killing, presumably realizing that his political ploy backfired, but what about the others? And what about Muslim religious leaders in particular? Why are they silent about the murder of innocents in the name of religion?
This is a perfect moment for them to stand for a modern, moderate Islam that condemns the burning of the book but also the killing of humans.
We will keep watch for those statements.
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I wrote a letter to Mr. Jones last year begging him to NOT burn the Quran because lives were at stake and any blood shed would be on his hands. I also wrote a letter to our President and said that this man should be locked up if it did happen for inciting a war. I tried to email Mr. Jones to let him know that I hold him responsible and that God holds those who are supposed to be leaders of HIS church more accountable than any other. It says so in the Bible. So, Mr. Jones, every drop of blood that is shed and every child that is left parentless IS your fault. You were warned by many people that this would happen. No wonder people are turning from religion with leaders like you and the ones at Westboro Baptist Church making it undesirable to be a Christian.
Pastor Jones is hardly the first performance artist to use an inferno.
A thought experiment: How long before Salvador Dali’s “blasphemous” caricature of Mohammed burning in hell is expunged from art history classes? How about Auguste Rodin? or Gustave Dore?
Each of these artists caricatured Mohammed roasting in Hell— as related in Dante’s trilogy “The Divine Comedy” [Inferno XXVIII, 19-42].
http://zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/dantes_inferno/
The same forces that repeatedly plot to destroy the fresco of Dante’s Inferno in Bologna’s Church of San Petronio remain at work today.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2205263.stm
And if Westerners remain unwilling to fight this battle, what’s to stop the global Taliban from silencing any and every expression Muslims deem “offensive”?
What freedom are you (Kate) willing to surrender to avoid "offending" Islamo-supremacists?
Archived depictions of Mohammed serve as a poignant reminder that such imagery has been part of Western AND ISLAMIC culture since the Middle Ages— and serve as a resource for those interested in defending free expression.
http://zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/
You have clearly made a point: That the Western thinker has time and time again for nearly a millenium and half insulted the prophet of Islam and the Quran. Your expectation appears to be that no matter how insidious these insults, the Muslims need not do anything. And I do wish those who protest did not destroy property, nor kill anyone. At the same time, could the West not desist from provoking the Muslims in this manner?
I like your thoughts thebuddha. If we give up our freedom on this issue, what is next? And I don't see other religions reacting the same when they are 'offended'. Only the Muslim community becomes inflamed in such a manner. Whether Jones was right or wrong to do it, he had the right to do it. That's what we have fought for for so many years. But did the murderers have the right to kill innocents? No. And any of you who defend them are as bad as them. to mariam yusef, if tit for tat is OK, then we should storm their embassies and kill them? Right? Tit for tat. As I say, only the Muslims react in this manner. Read Sam Harris, The End of Faith. Watch the video The Third Jihad. I cannot recommend this strongly enough. If we do not stand up for ourselves, we WILL be an Islamic country by 2050, as they say we will be. BELIEVE THEM. WAKE UP AMERICA
You are truely at loss both Jews and Christians. You guys have changed and altered your own scriptures. We muslims follow and belief in all the prophets, love them dearly, respect them, and follow them thoroughly in thier teachings. ISLAM will bring Peace and Justice and the day is not too far. I bare witness that there is no God but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (PBUH) is the last and final messenger of Allah (SWT). And I bare witness that Jesus (PBUH) is slave and one of the mightiest messengers of Allah (SWT) and is a Muslim. And I bare witness God willing he will decend and teach you all the lesson that you all have not learned all this time. Truely Allah (SWT) is all wise and all knowing, to him we belong and to him we will return. Fear Allah, submit your will to Allah and believe in the final divine Holy Quran and final Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for you can't escape death and can't escape day of judgement and facing your Lord Allah (SWT). First at least gain some knowledge about Islam and Holy Quran then losen your mouths about Islam.
http://en.harunyahya.tv/all_works.php?l=4
http://huda.tv/services/the-holy-quran
An atheist can believe that God's Word has been changed. Christians and Muslims claim to believe that God is powerful and keeps His Word. If God gave the Torah, Zabur and Injil in the first place, what mere mortal could stand against Him and change His Word? God is not so weak as some Muslims think He is.
Yes, Buddha, the majority of Muslims want to take over the world and are bent on world domination. You feed into the fear-mongering of ignorant people who can't see past the fundamentalist rhetoric of a few people who dominate the news. How about the viewpoints of a million other Muslims who practice their faith in peace and want to be left alone? Go back to the Middle Ages with the other fundamentalists, or back to the Cold War to fight the Communists. How did that work out for us? Vietnam, Korea? Pretty good huh?
Years ago an artist funded by the NEA, submerged a crucifix in urine. Were Christians outraged? Yes. Did we go killing people? No. Not saying that Christians are perfect, but I believe we have learned from our past that violence only births more violence. I hate everything the KKK stands for but I will defend their right to free speech. When will we get our rights back as a nation? Its a scary path that we are heading down.
DON'T BURN QURANS!!!! O WAIT A MINUTE HASN'T THE ORIGINAL QURAN HAS BEEN BURNED ALREADY??????
Fareed Zakaraia,
What about those drone attacks that Nato and American forces Committed by mistake, that killed scores of civilians including young Afghan children who were only celebrating a holiday a couple of weeks ago in Afganistan. As a matter of fact hundreds of Afghan people die because of the Afghan war every month. War has been waged on the soil of Afghanistan past many decades. Many generations of Afgans have been raised during this time. They never went to any school, their entire life. They saw war, poverty and crimes as a routine. Now you expect these people to behave civilized? What about Terry Jones? Did not he get his education and all the necessities and luxuries of life in his life? Why don't you ask him to stop provoking Afghans like that? It is all Terry Jones Mistake and all the Christian world and the Americans should come forward, condemn Terry Jones' actions and convey their messages to the Afghans. Let be a part of solution and bring peace to the whole world.
@islam is peace!
Islam's version of "peace" is the eventual submission of non-believers, either via forced conversion, or at the very least, non-believers being -allowed- to live in a MUSLIM state so long as they have been defeated by muslims, and pay a submission tax. (yes, these verses from the quran may be re-interpreted to be more abstract concepts by more moderate muslims, but thats what is written)
Please consider that non-muslims would NOT consider this "peace". "Opression" would be a far more accurate word to use from their point of view.
Despite the different interpretations of those quranic verses, nowhere in the quran is there any permission for muslims to follow their own religion while respecting the religion of others as equal members living together in a secular state. THAT would be peace, but that is not acceptable to the quran.
One final point, If you say that you "bare (sic) witness that jesus was a muslim", I again must question your choice of words. Jesus (and all the other events and peopel you claim to bare (sic) witness too) was around thousands of years ago. Unless you are claiming to be alive at that same time, over two thousand years ago, then you simply cannot bear witness to any of those events. You are free to believe it, but please realize your faith is different than you bearing witness. A far more accurate statement would be "I choose to believe that jesus was a muslim, although i have never seen him, or asked him if he is a muslim." And thats nice for you. For my part, I choose to believe in unicorns and dragons, but i cannot bear witness to them since I have not ever encountered them. The difference is the level of fallibility, which, (obviously in this case,) is critical.
@islam is peace
Is this the islam you're talking about?
The ko ran meets every criterion by which we define hate speech.
Why is Isl am at war with every major world religion, when none of these religions are at war with each other? Part of the reason is that the k oran is specific about the inferiority of other faiths and the hatred that A llah harbors for their people.
The text mandates the superiority of Is lam, even if the means of establishment are by force. The apologists are correct in saying that Is lam teaches love and kindness, but they fail to add that this applies only to the treatment of those within the Mus lim community.
There is no other religion on earth that draws such sharp distinction between its own members and others, or devotes as much time of its holist text toward condemning and dehumanizing those who merely choose not to follow its dogma.
Not all men are equal under Isl am. Slav es and the handicapped are not equal to healthy free men. The koran introduces the “Law of Equality,” which establishes different levels of human value when considering certain matters, such as restitution for murder.
Joe,
I don't need to see GOD or be in heaven to believe in HIM or at the time of prophets to believe in them!
For me HIS (Most High) revelations, HIS (Most High) prophets and HIS (Most High) creation is sufficient to bare witness and testify that from Adam (PBUH) to the final and last messenger Prophet Muhammad are HIS messengers and they all (PBUT) preached ISLAM. Those who believe Jesus (PBUH) is himself God, are at big ERROR!
Those who believe Jesus (PBUH) was crucified are totally following altered scriptures that has put so much evil doings amongest them. Jesus (PBUH) was neither God nor he was crucified. He was raised to the heavens and will return and teach those who have all this time not followed him but altered scriptures by man.
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. And I would to add that if any of the words I mentioned is/are an error/s or mistake/s is/are from my side and may Allah forgive me for my ignorance. And all praises are due to Allah (SWT) who is the perfect creator, the all knowing and all wise, and who is free of errors and whose judgment is the best of any creation.
The Quran is the source of some extremely unpleasant laws and forms the foundation of several theocratic fascist governments. Americans have the right to criticise it, protest against it, blaspheme it, etc. in whatever way seems most effective to them – and any politician who tries to impose islamic blasphemy laws against us should be rode out of town on a rail. End of story.
Every book, religion and ideology is open to interpretation. What you may intrepret as unpleasant may be interpreted by another as necessary. This is why there are extremetist in so many areas of society including religion and even politics!!!
Zakaria says Muslims don't condem violence but the media fails to cover Muslims condemning terrorism. Why does Fareed CNN (or any major network) fail to cover countless statements by Muslims condemiing terrorism?
-–
The media muzzles the Muslim voice and then condemns it for not crying out. That's the irony–which seems to be lost on Zakaria in his report. The Muslim Public Affairs Council condemned the killings in Afghanistan by protesters as "barbaric, atrocious and senseless." MPAC held press conferences in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles to respond to these "barbaric" events. Was CNN there? I don't know.
-–
I am a Christian, and this I do know: Any Christian who believes any Muslim is intrinsically evil isn't worthy of his/her baptismal name, has forgotten (or never learned) church history, and has mistaken "religion" for "faith." The Holocaust was the result of so-called "Christians" claiming that God had created an intrinsically evil race: the Jews (excluding Jesus, of course). Here we go again.
Bottom line: Report the Muslim outcry against injustice and the Muslim plea for understanding . . . even when the media moguls decide that "Americans" (non-Muslims) don't want to see it. Otherwise, as before, our grandchildren will suffer the consequences of our stupidity. "Silence equals consent." Enforced silence equals connivance and complicity.
Once there was a crow. He tried to walk like a swan and eventually he forgot his own walk. You are one of them Omar. A Crow.
Omar you are clearly off track. Bytheway, why do you have a Moslim name?? There is no such thing as moderate Islam. Either you are a moslim or you are not. The thing i dont understand is why do ppl not stay in bounderies. There are a few things they need to follow so that peace remains but they just wont allow it to happen. Are there not enough crisis going on already to ignite a few more??
Seriously stupid and silly acts BY stupid and silly people.
You can have your freedom of speech, freedom to sin, but remember your words and blogs before God on the Day of Judgement. If you don't fear God you can write or do anything. Everyone who is born will also die one day.
Making contributions in some of the world issues that affects world peace is very good but need to be diplomatic and careful because your statement could ignite an already provoked mind.whether it is alqaida, talibans, or extremist, they all have a point to prove and in trying to trace the genesis of the cause you found out that one way or the other is the fault of one foreign policy of one government or the other.viz-a-viz ECONOMIC power, political dominance and inherent negative factors that follows western civilization which is not accepted by Islamic nations.the result is reactions,attack and counter attacks and the so call UN only stand as mirror and toothless bulldog that has one edge knife.WATCH YOUR STATEMENT.
Omar,
you are on the wrong article. The subject says 'A Christian pastor burned Quran' . It did not say 'Some Muslins Imams burned Bible or OT or NT'. So please stop accusing Islam and Quran of extremism and lets ask the Christians in USA and other places to condemn Terry Jones' actions and other acts of terrorism including war on Afghani people.
Robert
Open your eyes man.
@umar abdulazeez @drAssSniff @Mohmad
oooo so scary. i d i o t s
I am glad that I am enterring my later years. Purtting up with all these Religious Zealots is a waste of energy that could be put to use in helping our fellow man. Jesus, Buddah and Lao Tzu had it right. Everyone else is playhing in a make believe world. Killing people because a book is burned is just plain nuts. I have no reapect for Muslims, especially all of you who remain silent and let your religion be hijacked by crazies. It is time that the notions of Jihad and Edits are left to the historical dust bins.
People have the right to burn a holy book or flag. Political philosopher John Locke argued that people do not have the right to be free of offending speech. In other words, if free speech and expression are to be real, then you cannot exclude any acts under them. So, even though burning a Koran is offensive to Muslims, they need to understand that not everyone accepts their religion and some even hate it. You cannot outlaw hate, just violence.
What a dual standard!! Historical fact denial is a crime but burning holly book is not. Peace can only be established if we respect the believe of all religions.
A person burns the Qur'an and some members of the related religion mercilessly kill innocents and use the burning as the 'reason' for their actions, then some more of that religion go out and murder other Islamists, the Sufi's, on the basis that theirs is not the true version of Islam. I think we must conclude that we have every reason to wonder about these people...such shameful disrespect of Life. Others of their Faith try to compensate for these things by reiterating the Qur'an preaches none of these abhorrent acts, then why does it go on and on and on. It is for sure, God needs to leave the room: we are talking here about the basic respect for Life.
For the sake of argument. Even if we agree with you than please explain how saying any thing about "holocaust" is so offensive? Why does US media demonize any one who even minutely critisizes holocaust? Why is it OK for the face book to allow blesphamy contests and not allow forums against holocaust (yes it happened)? ... Please explain why American public can not see this one sided approach?
Michael, you are absolutely wrong. Freedom does not mean that. It was not the intent of passing that resolution either. Freedom comes with reponsibility. If you do not fulfill your responsibility them you can be jailed and lose total freedom. Freedom comes from restrictions and respect. If you do not respect others and accept the restrictions religion (any religin) has issued for the mankind, you are NOT entitle to any freedom. Just demanding freedom for yourself is selfishness and it has no value in community because others have right to do the same thing to you as well.The misunderstanding of so called freedom has come from not beleiving in God and the day of judgement when every one will be responsible for their deeds good or bad. And the judge will be the God who is just.
@QB
All the counter examples you list are examples of speech, not violence.
As he said, people are free to criticize and protest.
the press is free to mock people who deny the holocaust, just as they're free to demonize this pastor for burning a book. Facebook is a private company and is free to monitor their website however they see fit. None of these are violence.
My point is, no one is arguing that muslims should not be upset. Just as jews may be upset if someone denied the holocaust, muslims are free to be upset when their book is burned. There is no double standard there. The media demonizes holocaust deniers, just as they have been demonizing this pastor for needlessly antagonizing people. The real difference comes when the muslim reaction is VIOLENCE and KILLING PEOPLE.
We should clarify that people don't leave Christianity because of Reverend Jones or Westboro Baptist church because they don't represent true Christianity. Check out John 6 and you will see that people leave Christianity because they no longer want to follow Jesus. Let's not confuse things. People will always look for an easy way out.
Some of us left Christianity because it no longer held meaning. Organized religions that capitalize on people's faiths to foment hatred, rebellion, murder, and bigotry have no meaning to truly dignified human beings. Faith is one thing and that is something personal to each person. Organized religions are simply leeches that use YOUR faith to rob you of your dignity and your money. Simply leaving a religion says NOTHING about one's faith or spiritual or ethical values - except that leaving an abusive hateful religion says that the person leaving will no longer tolerate the ugly crap the religious leaders urge their followers to do.
It is absolutely not true that people leave Christianity because they no longer want to follow Jesus. Many leave Christianity today because there is so much about Fundamentalist Right Wing Christianity that is distinctly un Christlike. Christ taught love, tolerance, and compassion for the Least of those in society; Yet many who call themselves Christians, such as Terry Jones, preach violence and hate and many Politicians who call themselves Christian are among those clamoring to dismantle what safety net we have for our poor and marginalized while supporting huge tax breaks for the wealthiest. I suspect Christ would place these individuals in the same category as the Pharasees of his day; He used a term which I think is particularly appropriate for Jones and his followers, "you brood of vipers".
Diana, please learn to read for comprehension. I said NOTHING about leaving Christianity because one does or doesn't to follow Jesus. I said that we leave because the organized religion (the institution) has no meaning for us. For many of the same reasons you cite: fundamentalism, hatred, etc. But, do NOT put words in my mouth I didnt say; it makes you look as ignorant as those we left behind in their morass of institutionalized hatred. There is a difference between FAITH and belonging to an organized religion. One does NOT equal the other.
Dejah, please learn how comment nesting works. Diana was responding to CJP, not you. Nothing she said referenced anything you said. It makes you look ignorant to respond to hatefully to someone who wasn't even talking to you.
I feel you are right and I am christian myself; I feel that the Religous Right in this country needs to state that is wrong. Are you listening Pat Robertson?
every american and conscious democratic individual should do what you did kate!
And if you do some day YOU will also be without the ability to express your free speech rights. Do you not see that? My right to free speech is more important then protecting the sensitivities of a bunch of nuts who are going to threaten and kill people when their holy book is burned. Or do you bow down to someone who says to you "Islam is a religion of peace, agree with me or I'll kill you"? Tell me where the logic is in this?
Jone is not responsible ..The fact that you would seek to have him locked up clearly shows that you lack understanding .People have died from Valley Forge to Gettysburg, to the magiot line in France to pork chop Hill in Korea to give freedom of Speech to Americans and you dare desecrate their honor??? Have you ever sough to jail those Americans who have burned the Flag???
enough with you ...by the way you have no rights as a Christian to hold Terry accountable for anything..the blood of those shed in Afghanistan have absolutely nothing at all to do with you... but you are responsible for your own actions..
Well written Jonathan!
I agree with you...Pastor Jones has every right to burn the quran. There are probably many more who would do the same. The killers in Afganistan are the only ones responsible and THEY should be punished. Go back just 20 years in time and come forward count the attacks on Americans from – the hijackings, prisoners held captive for years, the list is long and lest we forget 9/11. We have been tolerant for a long time!
good post jonathan.
The only people with blood on their hands are those who chose to use the act of some loony preacher as an excuse to slaughter innocent people. Period.
Though it is foolish to burn a Quran (rather one should encourage everyone to read it and find out the truth about a certain peaceful religion), you are absolutely wrong in saying that Pastor Jones is responsible for these brutal killings. Those who committed the crime are solely responsible for their evil deeds. If you shift the blame to those who supposedly offended them then any murderer or rapist would blame someone else who "made" them commit the crime. What is that you don't understand?
By the way, so many Bibles and Churches have been burned and continued to be burned by Muslims in the Muslim world and Christian symbols have been constantly desecrated by them. But you do not see Christians rioting in masses and beheading innocent people. Where as this is quite an expected reaction by the Muslims. This goes to show something about their religion. Doesn't it?
Search "The Religion of Peace Jesus Muhammad".
Doesnt it just show what muslims are really like? As you say Christians wouldnt act this way. A bunch of radicals that dont know how to behave! Always looking for something to riot about.
DON'T BURN QURANS!!!! O WAIT A MINUTE HASN'T THE ORIGINAL QURAN HAS BEEN BURNED ALREADY????
I want to put a youtube of burning your ******.
The irony you are having fun in burning Quran's. When God will question you on the day of judgement and send you likely to a fire where the fuel is human bodies. You should be careful next time you might be burning in a fire that no man has every seen. You will neither live nor die but you will feel the pain. Even boasting that you are burning it. IHistory has shown how the Phorah, the Tower of Bable, the people of Ad, and others challenged God recieved.
I'm very happy that Obama or some other authority didn't do what you asked of them. What the pastor did was not great, but please think about what you're asking before you do it. You're asking him to empower himself to lock up anyone for anything, including you. Not wise. Not wise at all, and it would take us hundreds of years in our populations rights...it would take us to where the Middle East is now...not a good place.
I agree with you Kate. It was a mistake from Mr.Jones to provoke the Muslims. It was much better to help raising their understanding specially among the poor uneducated Muslim majority, and to encourage them to read and understand the Qur'an then to decide how to deal with it.
Was 9/11 a provocation???
i am a Christian and am appalled and saddened that this person in the name of Jesus Christ, has chosen to do such a bad deed. We must love the Muslims, not hate the Muslims. If we disagree with Islam, then that is one thing. I know many Christians who also beleive that is not the way God says to act.. We are to do good and overcome evil with good, not overcome good with evil. It would be better to pass out Bibles to Muslims rather than burn the Qur'an.
@mary t
Love these muslims?
Last week brought a sober reminder that every religion has its
extremists, as Christian radicals burned one copy of the Quran.
(and Muslim radicals attacked a half-dozen churches, burned dozens of
Bibles, and slaughtered 321 people in 26 terror attacks in just 7 days).
It is a hate crime. Seriously... and yes, people are getting killed over here because of it (I am deployed). We have seen attacks escalate to a very high level in the South.. More than what is being shown on the news. Recently, an Afghan opened fire on a group of soldiers inside a base... not in the news. We see the medevac choppers coming in every day now with remains of soldiers... also not in the news. Our bases are under siege and there are protests in some of the cities and districts around the country. Some of you think you understand. Go to war, be shot at, and you might see why such hate crimes should be looked at for their enticement of violence and not hidden under freedom of speech. Walk through the line of a memorial, present arms to the soldier's bloody boots, and shake the hands of the teary-eyed 20-year old soldiers ready to go out again.
Your not fighting for the freedom of speech. Why are you there.
Do you seriously not know what your fighting for? You have a lot of thinking to do. It sounds like you want to defect. Calling something a hate crime is crazy. What if he did it cause he can, rather than, because he hates? Your suppose to uphold the constitution not condem it. Becareful speaking freely, Muslums don't approve lol.
Dan, first off, thanks for your service mate. That said, I'm going to have to agree with the other posters here. Freedom of Speech. My father fought for it and my grandfather fought for it. Pastor Jones, for better or worse, exercised his freedom of speech. He did not call for the harm or killing of anybody and his actions are protected by the very core of our United States Constitution. The day we take that away becuase we don't want to offend a bunch of people who decided to go on a murderous rampage is the day the very ideal of America dies.
So I would give the question some though. Do you know what your fighting for?
Matt you are an idiot. He is a freakin soldier. You are a freakin neo con.
Freedom of Speech or not, why would someone purposefully provoke the people our soldiers are trying to help and put their lives at risk. That POS Jones should be tried for treason for the simple fact that he is putting our soldiers at more risk than need be. Sure we have the right to do these things, but is it very smart to? I don't think so, why make a horrible situation worse, just plain stupid. And if you think its great he did this, go sign up for the service right now and see how great it is for our soldiers that are there. For a man of God, Jones is nothing but another Britney Spears looking for attention. I guess he needs more idiots to come fill his offerring plate.
A few truths we all should know: Allah is not God, Mohammed was a false prophet and Muslims are savages who kill innocent people.
Allah is arabic for God. Just like Jews use other names. Muhammed peace be upon him is the last prophet and is the descendent of Prophet Ishmael and Prophet Abraham peace be upon them. You are ignorant. Muslims want the same rights non Muslims have. We want freedom to worship and practice our religion. We dont want american foreign policies to support the genocide of Palestinians. Many Muslims died in 9/11 too.
No Miguel. Muslims are people too, that are victims of the islamic religion. They need the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ. They need the truth of the Word of God. You, Miguel also are wicked if you have not surrendered your very life to Jesus Christ, the Savior... For by grace are you saved thru faith, and that not of yourself.. it is the GIFT OF GOD, not of works lest any man should boast. Miguel, if you have not come to know the Savior, Jesus Christ, you too are as evil as any Muslim who has also not surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Please pray that God would have mercy on us all.
Thank you Kate for help. I am so sick of this anti-Islam stuff. It's really gone too far. This is an act of war on all Muslims and on God. The Quran, The Bible, The Tourah are all Islamic holy books. Every Muslim is responsible to protect another Muslim's life, honor, and property. I can see Mr. Jones before God saying it was freedom of speech. God will likely say the freedom to go to Satan for eternity.
As you say, the koran specifically forbids muslims from killing muslims. Period.
wait, what? period? just from killing other muslims? what about, oh, I dont know... EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD?
This omission (could have said "muslims are not supposed to kill ... people") is either a silly oversight (if islam is truly a peaceful religion, and the quran was only written by people who make oversights)
or muslims are implicitly allowed to kill non-believers.
In the context of this passage, many other passages which appear to command violence or "struggle" against non-believers are readily interpreted literally.
religion of peace?
by the way, act of war? Really?
Burning some paper is not an act of war, unless you are overly sensitive about your paper.
Um, didn't this pastor try to do this a year or two and he received such negative publicity he didn't do it? Where was the media this time around?
it is equally the fault of the Islamic clerics in Maz-R and Kandahar, who fanned the flames in the streets, just like Islamists did after the cartoon controversy. In most Afghan cities there was NO reaction! If one responds to idiots at every turn . . . does this not also make one an idot?
The clerics involved MUST be held accountable by the Karzai Govt!
I really don tunderstand why are muslims of afgahnistan making such a big deal.. Did anyone see this kind of reaction from Wahabi muslim stat of suadi arabia? did the fanatic shite state of Iran react in this manner? or did the failed state of pakistan had this voilent reaction? mr.karzai is a corrupt politician who is using this to divert the attention from his failed policy and cover up his families billion dollar drug smuggling operation..
In Islamic history u can read of cases where opposite muslim army used copy of Quran tied to there spears to stop the advanceing muslim army.. but their leader said to continue because it was just peices of paper. so by burning the Quran the pastor proved his shallow thinking and intolerance for other faiths which christians so proudly say they were taught in bible....
And muslims need to be remineded that the Prophet(PBUH) was againts writing down the Quran for this being one of the reason.. he must have forseen this happening when he would not be alive to guide the muslims and that muslims will hold peices of paper holy than what was revealed to Prophet(PBUH) which he narrated to his Sahbi's to learn and commint to their memory so they can teach to the future generation of muslims.
Muslim of afghanistan are illetreate and are like cattle which follow thier corrupt leaders and imams of the masjids without thinking for themselves and insulting the stature of Asharff-ul-Maqhlooqat given to them by Allah.
kate, thank you.. I too wrote him.. we knew that his idea would do nothing but cause harm and it happened
. He is totally misguided. may the Lord have mercy on us and the Christians in the Middle East who may have to pay for his stunt. that pastor would not listen to anyone. He just wnated to do what he wanted to do. and now he says he would be willing to die for it. so he thinks he is a martyr 
.. i feel for the Christians in the Middle East who are now going to suffer because of that stupidity.
Hey guys have you heard of this thing called Google? It's really neat. You can look up all the bible burnings by moslems over the past year, or hey why not just read some stories about how the U.S. military destroyed bibles. Or maybe the slaughter of christians last year by muslims and other faiths. Or the raping of nuns in india, or.......shall I go on? Because I can.
Where were the riots? Did I miss those?
apparently theres another matt. i'm not him and I was a soldier. Before you slag me off answer my issue i raised. I can call people names too but instead I thought i would write something that required thought and effort
All religions are based on love. But where is the love?
I agree to an extent. Any violence that occurs due to his hanous act of burning the Quran, should be on his shoulders. All repercussions, on his conscience. But, let me make one point, he cannot be locked up. Everyone does stupid things. Americans, I being one of them, most of all. But, we are allowed to the right of free speech. The First Ammendment gives us the right for our voice to be heard, even if that what is coming from that voice is complete idiocy. So, he cannot be legally arrested, for it is his right to do what he wants, even if we do not condone him taking "advantage" of it. It was naiive, ignorant, and un-Christianly to say the least. Christianity is a religion of peace and equality. So what kind of Christian is he for burning the "bible" so to speak, of the Muslim faith. But, what right do radical muslims have to kill innocent people for one man's actions?
Kate
Being a Christian is about your relationship with God and not this pastor or Westboro. And if these people turn you off to religion then "how about those muslims" they must make you want to become a devil worshiper.
And to the rest of you people with the mu slim names telling people they should be careful what they post here or say there, guess what, no sharia here hadji. The law of this land is the Constitution and it's not compatible with sharia so take that 7th century bassackwards crap elsewhere. Stealth jihad will not work in this country. Millions of Americans are waking up to the MB and all your front organizations. See the "TEAM B II" report.
God has no religion – Mahatma Gandhi
Thank you for your concise reporting of the issue. I watched the other networks handling of the issue and not one of the correspondents presented all of the surrounding circumstances. Books are only memory tools. They are not the memory, they remind us of the principles by which we should live. A balanced human being and balanced society will keep a perspective on what is important and what is not. Put in perspective one man burned one of his possessions.. Here it happened to be a book. A very simple act. When we as people stop putting symbolic meanings to harmless and trivial acts, then we will all be safer. The mob mentality will be insignificant . Shame on the other networks for permitting opinions of others who are not totally informed of the issues.
By far, Fareed has brought international credibility, and left boisterous, pithy, limelight seekers (Reuters,etc.) in the dust. He has foreigh Presidents, princesses, and the best experts– fascinating, interesting and with direct perspective, living in the news.
The international guests ONLY appear on Fareed's show. WHY? They can get a word in from experts other than our own politicians and the worst journalistic self-anchors,who have their schizophrenic agendas.
Thanks to Fareed for bringing objectivity and restoring MY faith in the intelligent, polite, Tim Russert- questioning, Tim was the Best and is missed, now Fareed is domestic AND international credibility.
Congrations, Fareed, for your incredible line-up of guests, and for your excellent perspective, and credibility in the media.
Fareed has somewhat jumped on the people's revolution bandwagon after suggesting we must consign ourselves (very publically) with radical Islamists who along with the dictators were putting these same people down. The people of MENA don't seem so consigned. They are saying no religion, no military, no dictators. A THRID WAY. Also recall Fareed expressed "surprise" when the people of Iran took to the streets "Who knew there were moderates in Iran?" Give me a break! Therefore he has little street cred I am afraid . . . one need only look at his commentary over the last two years. It takes little courage to scold a fool like Jones, it takes more to scold the radical clerics he wants us to engage who touched off this firestorm on the ground . . .
What happened in Afghanistan was a result of a few megalomaniacs, who did the wrong things at the right moment. Terry Jones is a egocentric, contemptuous figure and Hamid Karzai is a selfish, reckless opportunist. Both wanted to seek international attention.
Terry Jones did the right thing...He showed the root and the heart of the Koran...just imagine what those people will do with a nuclear device...they are intolerant!
Same thing goes to Israel.. Imagine what they would do with five or more nuclear reactors in a nuclear free region !!
Thanks so much Fareed for your calm, level headed, and incisive reporting. After reading so many other articles about the tragic recent violence, your brief commentary is the first piece that seems to actually shed light on events in a way that makes them more comprehensible. Your voice is truly appreciated.
Well said, when it comes to things like this, level headed thinking and analysis are always welcome, and Fareed usually is right on track, as far as I'm conderned...
http://www.videoquran.net/
42 dilde kuran meali online dinlene bilir bir cok türkçe tercüme ve seslendirmesiyle videoquran.net
adresinden alabilirsiniz.arnavutca amerikce arapca azerice bahasa indonesia bangala bengali berberce
tamazgitce boşnakca cince ingilizce filipince fransızca almanca gujareti hintce kannada dili korece
kürtçe malayalam maranoa marthi peştunca persce portekizce rusca somalice ispanyolca kisvahili tagalog
tamilce telagu türkçe urduca uygurca özbekce ve daha bir cok dilde sesli kuran tercümesi indire bilir
dinleye bilir. veya bilgisayarınıza program olarak yükleyebilir. hatta sitenize ekleye bilirsiniz.
sadece arapca isteyenler için 150 değişik hafızdan sesli kuran için http://mp3quran.audioquranmp3.com
sitesini ziyaret edebilirsiniz.
Wishing to reply to Farid Zakaria's request for voices representing the Muslim community to speak out and address the killings on Friday of 12 people, including UN workers, in Afghanistan, I have found it immensely frustrating in not being able to simply reach him or any of his staff throughout this morning after numerous attempts by phone, Email, or messages to the CNN website. Reaching media outlets to respond to these kinds of events – and particularly direct on-air requests for responses such as the one made by Farid, is always a challenge and seldom successful. As Director of Common Bond Institute, an international NGO based here in the US that has operated capacity building peace programs in regions of conflict, and as a Muslim-American spokesperson, I would like to comment on and condemn this violence and attack in Afghanistan, at least in part instigated by irresponsible statements by political leaders there and actions of psudo-religious groups here in the US. We are actually holding a major international conference this next weekend in Dearborn, Mich. created by a representatives of a diversity of religious/cultural communities – including the largest Muslim American community in the US – to address exactly these kinds of dynamics, whether here in the US or other countries, and how to be proactive in working together in reducing the animosity, polarization, scapegoating, and targeting of communities with hate acts and violence. I would think this would be exactly the kind of voice CNN would be seeking out, particularly in light of Farid’s clear call for such voices to speak out publically. The barriers to simply reaching him and his staff to comply is unfortunately rather daunting, and a lost opportunity for voices of reason to be heard in the public space. This itself is a troubling issue that should be addressed every time there is a statement made in the media asking “where are the Muslim voices?”
Perhaps this post will somehow reach him.
Steve Olweean, Director, Common Bond Institute, http://www.cbiworld.org
I urge you to check out the website, http://www.IslamQA.com. The answers are made by "Sheikh Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid, a well known author and lecturer, using only authentic, scholarly sources based on the Quran and sunnah, and other reliable contemporary scholarly opinions.”
Go to the section on politics. The third question is regarding democracy. The answer is that "it is contrary to Islam..."
Every good Muslim is urged to do everything he/she can to implement the shariah of Islam. If this means working within the system to "overturn the system of government..." and implement the sharia, then this is what Muslims are ordered to do.
Other shocking statements:
"Men are superior to women..."
"It is forbidden to play music or to stand for the national anthem or salute the flag..."
"All other religions are either fabricated or false or abrogated..."
"Muslims fight to free people from the injustice of other religions..."
This website reveals that Islam is not just a religion. It is a theocratic autocracy, ruling every aspect of life. There is no religious tolerance, no acceptance of any other system of government, no personal freedom of choice, unless you’re a man, choosing another wife.
The goal is world domination. These are not mine, but the words of "authentic, scholarly sources based on the Quran and sunnah, and other reliable contemporary scholarly opinions.”
Americans need to wake up to the true goals of Islam. We are ignorant of this because we are so used to thinking of religion as separate from government. In Islam, there is no such thing. Religion and government are one in the same.
When Fareed Zakaria said:
"President Karzai has condemned the killing, presumably realizing that his political ploy backfired, but what about the others? And what about Muslim religious leaders in particular? Why are they silent about the murder of innocents in the name of religion?"
I think that Fareed was talking about the Muslims calling for protests against the burning of the Koran, particularly the Imams that sparked the protests in Afghanistan. In previous epsisodes of GPS, he has discussed before how terrorism is condemned by Muslims across the globe, and I wish he had been more clear about that today.
The organization that you are a director of looks great, I really like the voices of reason articles. It isn't really the type of thing that Fareed Zakaria covers very often though. He mostly does straight up analysis and brings in expert analyists or heads of state (big picture type thinking). You would be better off trying to contact Amanpour or one of CNN's reporters that does special reports or short exclusive interviews I think. Good luck.
Are Americans allowed in Dearborn still?
Sad when these people value an old fable more than human life. Sad when CNN tries to justify or rationalize murder.
right on man, seems like people are blind, yeah this pastor's act was stupid, but to focus on him burning a few books that were given to him and forgetting the deaths of those human beings is disgusting! all this boils down to is that some people care more about some book that they can't even underestand ( most Afghans are illiterate and cannot read their own languages Pahstun and Dari let alone the classical Arabic in the Quran).
Sad when someone does not pay attention to what was actually written. You might want to try that again, marc.
I cant believe Mr Fareed is lying sooo bluntly, and his eyes r closed to the fact that the screen beside him shows 1000s of ppl protesting the burning of the Holi Quraan and he still says there werent more then 100 ppl??? Where is ur logic?? dont u feel some shame? and not only that, Mr Faredd tell me wats a hate crime in USA?? is there anything that will come under hate crime ? and i think as the second largest religion if and having 1.5 billion followers doing anythign against islam let alone burning Quraaan is a hate crime not free speech... so plz next time if u ever wana lie .. dont show the picture of it whoing other wise or at least read wats a hate crime and wats free speech,,,
Terry Jones' big crime?
He didn't genuflect to the ACLU and request a grant from the NEA first.
Free expression clerics will NEVER forgive that heresy.
Burning the Quran is not a hate crime. It's a despicable action, to be sure. But it's not a crime, much less a hate crime.
what's so dispicible about it??
it sounds like a good idea..it exposes the intolerance of the book
Stu,?
Yeah so it was not a hate crime, you say? Then what was it? Love crime? Love for violence crime? Whatever it was, it was not meant any good at all.
It's not a crime at all Amber you moron. It's simply burning a book...like many "Christian" groups have done for years and years... While I don't support his actions, Jones was within his legal rights to burn the book, regardless of how it made people 'feel'.
fareed is a house negro ,every one knows the master will send him to the field if become an honest journalist like wolf or and andreson,he is a clown and cnn should be ashamed for having him .we should not complain about him cause they gona love him more ,every one knows no isllamist extremist in libya and he kept shoving the idea inside his quest throats and keep saying no ,what you make of this clown .
I think the fact that the news of this burning of the Karan, two weeks ago was not widely reported. It was taken as an event being hidden away by the authorities. I do not hear about it until the protests in Afghanistan and I was surprised. This in contrast to what happened before with the intervention of the government stopping the burning before.
Of course all extremists and terrorists are just ready to use it and run with it.
Quite Frankly, that preacher is creating strife, indirectly causing death. I am surprised he is not charged.
Man has screwed up Religion, I do not think any higher power would approve of all of this and perhaps this strife, death, war, misery, is our curse of our failure to understand this.
No person is responsible for the actions of another.
These animals chose to commit these deplorable acts. Blaming someone else is the precise reason that so much of the world holds I s l a m in contempt.
And rightfully so.
the strife is already begun..it began on 9/11 and continues everyday..maybe you haven't noticed but a whole lot of Americans are greatly agitated ...many protest the mosque in NYC near the ground Zero site. others have burned mosques...but so far no Muslims in America have been killed yet as far as I know because of 9/11
Clearly your facts and knowledge are both out of date. Do research on topics on which you give statements first. Don't mislead the stupids which are misled already. 9/11 was just a way to start wars all over the world. Now just wait for the dollar to crash so all your assets are worth shit and that stupid smile of yours will be lost forever.
Savages. Mobs going into the streets killing people over the burning of a book? These people are still living in the stone age. We will never win unless we admit that the enemy is Islam. What it teaches is not compatible with our culture and can't coexist with it in a modern world!
Jack,
We do believe that we are living in the stone age, but do u know why?? cause west is not letting us Americans are against Islam cause they fear that Islam is the real religion and will conquer the world one day and their will be nothing left for America or west to do afterward, as it is mentioned in the Holy Quran that you cant be our friends so no worry keep going and we will continue walking on the right path the path which is explained by the holy Quran, Inshallah and the day when all the man kind is brought together to be judged their deeds Islam will be the winner and the conqueror its a promise which will happen.
Masood: The west is not scared of any faith. The west is tired of the insanity of any faith that reacts with mob mentality – promises ignorant followers 70 virgins in heaven if they kill themselves – has the hateful and murderous arrogance as you've spelled out so clearly in your response. The west is not scared... we've just been too polite and politically correct to allow faiths – such as the one you describe – to have credence in any civilized community. If there was a high point in the history of Islamic culture – that time has long ceased to exist. Islam should be thankful to us infidels for providing a modern world – a platform – for you to carry out your hateful tenets. If it wasn't for the infidel... you would be nowhere. The west is not afraid. Muslim's living in the west should be afraid of people like you who will one day incite the infidel – of any persuasion – to strike back... not because we arrogantly believe we are right and you are wrong – but because there is right and wrong according to the precepts of the modern world and Sharia law does not belong in the 21st C. It is wrong. The Islam you spout is abusive, hateful, repressive, ugly, and warped. If Islam will survive in the west it will be because people like you are a fringe element much like other religions have their fringe element. We are not scared... but we are getting pissed off.
Hay...talk from your own closed mind understanding of Islam ....not from all of us. read Quarn at least that invites people to "think" and not "follow" ...to be kind with one another and that the biggest crime is KOFR which means covering the truth ....your understanding of Quarn is exactly like paster Jones ....no wonder world is facing all these troubles , those who know are after power and oil money, those who don't know follow the first group and then it is rest of us who have to carry the guilt of being Moslem !
I understand the quran.
It is the most contemptible of all religious texts, as it promotes non-thinking.
Note the by-rote post, ad nauseum, by supporters of this atrocious manuscript.
you are so full of crap there is no such thing as the true religion. What I find so funny is that the extremeists of religion dont even get the point of thier religion ie as a belief system and self enlightenment NOT TO SET THE LAWS TO CONTROL PPL ANYONE WHO KILLS FOR THIER SO CALLED RELIGION IS A GOD DAMN FOOL AND SHOULD BE HUNG. THEY HAVE NOTHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS WORLD. ITS SUCH AN OLD IDEA WHY ARE WE STILL USING IT IS BEYOND ME.
>You are truely at loss both Jews and Christians. You guys have changed and altered your own scriptures. We muslims follow and belief in all the prophets, love them dearly, respect them, and follow them thoroughly in thier teachings. ISLAM will bring Peace and Justice and the day is not too far. I bare witness that there is no God but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (PBUH) is the last and final messenger of Allah (SWT). And I bare witness that Jesus (PBUH) is slave and one of the mightiest messengers of Allah (SWT) and is a Muslim. And I bare witness God willing he will decend and teach you all the lesson that you all have not learned all this time. Truely Allah (SWT) is all wise and all knowing, to him we belong and to him we will return. Fear Allah, submit your will to Allah and believe in the final divine Holy Quran and final Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for you can't escape death and can't escape day of judgement and facing your Lord Allah (SWT). First at least gain some knowledge about Islam and Holy Quran then losen your mouths about Islam.
http://en.harunyahya.tv/all_works.php?l=4
http://huda.tv/services/the-holy-quran
When will you people understand?
the best way to defeat Islam is with Christianity..
hey A Moslem why do Muslims kill persecute slaughter many Christians i who were once Muslim but converted to Christ in Muslims nations..Why are they allowed to get away with the murders....Don't get me wrong ..its' ok by me...Jesus said these things would happen to many who follow after him...I just want to know why the religion of peace provide so many examples of prejudice in the world today and through out history while a Secular Government like that in the USA corrects itself and exposes and acknowledges if past wrongs and failure ...This means that the USA is more civilized that your religion....your religion in the dark is hidieous and ugly..our sins are out in the open and we have the opportunity to change...but the sins of Islam are kept in secret...but the light shall shine on it and bring it all down..
It should go without saying that the desecration of Christian, Hindu and Buddhist symbols are regular occurences in the Ummah. Whereas, Terry Jones' free expression stunt is sensational only because it is so exceptional.
Muslims burn Bibles routinely and often.
Google "Muslims Burning Bibles"
"Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel." [Matthew 23:24]
The Buddha called— he’d like his Bamiyan monuments back.
Insulting bible is a common practice in the Muslim world. You take bible to soudi Arabia, they will make you stamp on it and throw in the garbage. Why is burning Quran a big dal for these savages.? Unless you educate these idiots, they will never come out of this slavory.
Any muslim does such an act is not a muslim. Any muslim causes chaos among muslims or non muslim communities is not muslim. Any muslim who does not believe in the Bible, Torah (non altered, unchanged copies) and in the prophets the books were revealed and sent to is not a muslim.
Can you tell this to Muslim leaders and mullahs?? Why are they persecuting innocent people for not joining a barbaric group of cave men??
When Islamic terrorists massacred 186 children and 148 other non-Muslims on the morning of September 3rd, 2004 at a schoolhouse in Beslan, Russia, very few Muslims celebrated the high-profile event and some even took the time to denounce it. But, in a community renowned for its peevishness, there was very little passion over the routine slaughter of innocents in the name of Islam.
While rumors of a Quran desecration or a Muhammad cartoon bring out deadly protests, riots, arson and effigy-burnings, the mass murder of non-Muslims generally evokes yawns. In the six years following 9/11 more than 10,000 acts of deadly Islamic terrorism were perpetrated, yet all of them together fail to provoke the sort of outrage on the part of most Muslims that the mere mention of Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo inspires.
The holiest book of Islam (61% of which is about non-Muslims) draws the sharpest of distinctions between Muslims and non-believers, lavishing praise on the former while condemning the latter with scorching generalizations. Far from teaching universal love, the Quran incessantly preaches the inferiority of non-Muslims, even comparing them to vile animals and gloating over Allah's hatred of them and his dark plans for their eternal torture. Naturally, the harsh treatment of non-believers by Muslims is encouraged as well.. from thereligionofpeace website.
Why are reasonable secular voices like this so rare among Muslims in the West?
"Get Over the Quran Burning"
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-09-08/get-over-the-quran-burning/
On the plan to burn Qurans this weekend, I say to Muslims: Let's get over the symbolic insult and deal with the very real issues of literal interpretations of the Quran that are used to sanction domestic violence, terrorism, militancy, and suicide bombings in the name of Islam.
Gen. David Petraeus has weighed in, saying that the planned burnings by the Rev. Terry Jones' congregation in Florida will endanger U.S. soldiers fighting in Afghanistan. But I believe that there is something that endangers Americans and American soldiers even more: certain passages that–when read literally–pit Muslims against Americans and the West.
We, as Muslims, need to tear a few pages out of the Quran.
I believe the Qurans are being burnt because we, as Muslims, haven't dealt sincerely and intellectually with very serious issues that certain Quranic passages raise, particularly in the West. These include verses–when literally read–that say that disobedient wives can be beaten "lightly," that Muslims can't be friends with the Jews and the Christians, and that it's OK to kill converts from Islam.
We, as Muslims, need to tear a few pages out of the Quran–symbolically, at least, by rejecting literal adherence to certain problematic verses....
Thanks Asra for your insight. I have rejected religion for the very reason. you have sited. I do not expect others to arrive at the same conclusion. One way to reduce murder is to remove guns from society. Countries like Canada and Australia put credibility to this premise. What if we remove religion from society and replace it with the golden rule. I suggest this only to bring discussion to the value of religion when it is used to justify murder and behavior contrary to the golden rule.
The golden rule for me is to share the gospel of Christ with others..
Asra, thank you for your bold comments. I wish all educated Muslims show the courage come out and talk like you so that the less fortunate and illiterates in countries like afganistan and Pakistan will have a decent living. It's time for educated Muslims to speak up for their own people, keeping aside this menace.
Quran is the book of Muslims which they believe came from Allah, our God. This is part of our belief. If Asra Nomany says that a few pages of Quran need to be torn out, then by definition she is not even a Muslim. I am a Muslim and I am very secular in my outlook 'Every human is entitled to having his or her beliefs.' But as far as my own beliefs are concerned, I am a Muslim and Quran is book of Allah, whole of it. I will not tear any page out of it to please Terry Jones. I can actually change my name here and say 'OK I am Terrry Jones' And I take responsibility for the killings in Afghanistan' So shut up Asra it is not 1sr April anymore.
Asra you are a rare jewel among Muslims; and give me pause from attacking your religion..
If you have a bible by chance i would ask you to read about the parable of the tares in Matthew 13 26-47 ...
Asra,
I suggest you to comment carefully your sentences -> "We, as Muslims, need to tear a few pages out of the Quran–symbolically, at least, by rejecting literal adherence to certain problematic verses...."
Holy Quran is not a man written book to altere, ignore, change or omit verses from to avoid conflictions. There is no such verse or word that will cause chaos or confusion. You need to comprehend the meaning of the verse (Ayas, Suras) properly to know what it means. Allah (SWT) is all wise and all knowing and HE doesn't reveal anything that will cause problems for Human beings and in HIS verses there is NO ERROR!
Just ponder upon how perfect HIS creation is in every aspect and every detail. Ponder upon the smallest thing and ponder upon the biggest things here on earth and in the universe that HE has created.
Try following links
http://en.harunyahya.tv/all_works.php?l=4
http://huda.tv/services/the-holy-quran
Why is burning Quran is a big deal? Hundreds of religious books of non-Muslims are confiscated, stamped and thrown in the garbage at Soudi airport. I haven't heard anyone being killed for that! Don you dare to tell your leaders and mullas to respect other religion? Why are your leaders keeping their own people as illiterate slaves? You are fortunate to be educated! Do you dare to share the the freedom you enjoy outside the Muslim world with your own people?
Democracy depends on freedom of speech and expression. That protects idiotic, tasteless and obnoxious actions like those of the pastor who burned the Quran. But those who think the pastor is responsible for the actions of murderers of innocent UN staff in Afghanistan have lost sense of what democracy is about. If Islam really is a peaceful religion, compatible with democracy, its leaders should call for the arrest and trial of those who are responsible for these senseless murders in Afghanistan. I have yet to see any reports of this. And this silence on the part of the leaders of Islam is an ironic proof of those like the pastor who identify the religion's inherent violence.
So you invade their country, allow mercenaries to randomly kill their citizens, fail to police your own troops, allow torture, extrajudicial renditions, imprisonment without trial, spread poisons across their land, install drug/war lords to the highest government positions, allow intentional insults to their religion that you excuse as “freedom of speech”, support the stealing of their coreligionists land while the victims are called terrorists and embargoed and then expect them to genuflect in appreciation of your efforts. LOL Some people would stir a stick in a hornets nest and not expect to get stung. Your deaths would be considered a case of “thinning the herd”.
The killing of the UN workers over the alleged burning of a Koran shows how barbaric the muslim religion is. I as a christian consider the bible to be the word of god, and could be just as upset over a burning of the bible as the musulm's are about burning the koran. In fact I will make a committment to burn one copy of the koran for every christian killed by the muslim's.
You just stepped outside of the Christ's message by saying what you said. There is no message of "turn the other cheek" in your post. I am a Muslim, and I despise burning of the Quran and the Bible, or for that matter any other religious or nonreligious text beloved to a large group of my fellow humans, however much I may disagree with any of them. Your post is nothing but hate, and hatred is the very antithesis of the Christ's message.
I believe that Organized Religion (regardless of what type) is co-responsible for the amount of hate and anger people have towards their Brothers and Sisters on this small blue planet. When we as a people learn to accept that another may not believe as we do, and let them actually believe that way w/o fearing reprisal, discrimination etc, then and only then will human beings crawl out of the cesspool we were born into.
I believe each person has the right to believe in what ever deity or deities they wish to. I do not believe that any person, government or religion has the right to tell them they are wrong, or shouldn't, or can't believe as they do, or try to force them through threats, intimidation or violence to 'conform' to a particular belief.
The Creator did NOT create us for us to kill one another in 'His' name. I believe he looks down at us and weeps at what we do to one another under the guise of religions in 'His' name. I believe we as a people have a terrible burden of sin to answer for and I don't think God is going to be real happy with us because of that.
I pray that people, regardless of belief, religion, creed, sect, denomination or none finally wake up and realize, we should treat one another with respect, dignity and love, everywhere.
~Dragon
Where are the Muslims? We are here and we do not agree with the killing of innocents or the burning of any holy scripture. There are plenty of Muslims speaking out, but no one is listening. We don't get a platform. Why are we not heard? If Fareed or CNN is interested in hearing our voices why is it so hard to get our message across to the media? No one wants to hear us respond which has been my experience, prove us wrong hear us speak!
It's encouraging that educated Muslims like you are speaking out. But what is important is the sound of Arab leaders and Muslim clerics.
We allow desecration of the American Flag in the interest of Freedom of Speech. Good.
Why not prohibit desecration of religious materials as hate speech.
No muslim can refute the fact that violence is permitted in Islam if certain conditions and circumstances call for armed response. Indeed the quran gives us muslims the right to fight THOSE WHO PERSECUTE US AND DRIVE US OUT OF OUR HOMES. Once the reasons for armed conflict are resolved violence must immediately be stopped.
The problem comes from a sponsored ignorance of a people (middle east and the islamic world) who have a very rich culture of religeous conservatism and spiritual aliegance to Islam and the quran.
Sponsored Despots have chosen to stifle free speech and keep people ignorant of the good and prosperity and potential that they could reach using half quotes and half truths and tailoring Quranic interpretations to suite those goals.
They have reduced Islam to a very narrow religeon of personal actions of left foot before entering the bathroom and the shunning of the outside world.
I think that the answer to Mr. Zakarias question is that the culmination of this sinister use of religeon has finally started to pay off with fatal consequences the Imams cannot backtrack on the messages they have been spewing from the pulpits for the last half century.
I am glad educated Muslims are ashamed of the barbaric acts of some illiterate people in the middle east. But I am wondering why civilized Muslims are not asking arab leaders and clergy to release their people from this slavoy? Persecution of non Muslims is a common practice in most Muslim countries. Why are you raising your voice against it?
This is all tit for tat. Nobody is right in either case. Burning the Quran, killing people, making assumptions that all muslims are barbaric is the same as you making a fool of yourself because you know you're wrong, and telling people that your religion is better than mine is all human ego. I am a proud Muslim and I preach PEACE.
Muslims burn Bibles. We don't protest and kill our own people because of it; nor do we go out and kill Muslims for it either. Muslims are heard chanting "first comes Saturday then comes Sunday" in reference to killing all the Jews and then all the Christians. Christians flee Bethleham and numerous other areas when Muslims take over. They flee for their lives. Yet the news never (or seldom) reports it. Don't misunderstand me. I believe there a lot of good Muslims, just as there are a lot of good Chrstians. The problem is there are some bad apples in each group. The problem isn't with religion. There have been plenty of mass killings by atheis. I think part of the problem is our misunderstanding of one another. For us, you can burn the Bible; it is your right to do so; just like it is within our right to burn the Quran. You can make fun of Jesus; he says he'll forgive you for it. Yet, the Muslims find it offensive when we do the same to them. Cultural differences. Burn the Bible if you must. Protest if you must. Just stop killing your own people! That is barbaric.
I have never heard of Muslims burning bibles but if they do it's perfectly alright with me..I have a bible written in my heart..
You are absolutrly right. The real problem is illiteracy. Although these incidents are unfortunate, it's an opportunity for Muslim scholars to speak up against such barbaric acts and teach their community to show some tolerance and behave like humans.
Where and when the muslims burn the bible? but indeed,they bleave in all the books of God.
You are an idiot it is not, the same not even close to burn a book, and in return to kill people. Not the same not the same NOT THE SAME, do you hear me you IDIOT......
YOU DO NOT KILL PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY BURN YOUR LITTLE BOOK>>>> PERIOD.
Fools, fools, fools! Both Sides. None of those actions will save your souls. Be at peace with yourself & LOVE one another!
Terry Jones is a man of War!! He can't help it....
Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war.. 
"And yet there is something depressing about the fact that when something like this happens, there is an imbalance in the reaction." Really, Mr. Zakaria? How do you define "imbalance?" Would you say that calling prophet Muhammad names and desecrating the Quran for 1400 years is also an imbalance? Would you say that killing hundreds of thousands for a few hundred or a few thousand is also imbalance? That you had harsh words for the angry Muslims who killed innocent people in Afghanistan is laudable. That you glossed over the core source of it, namely Terry Jones' burning of the Quran, is deplorable.
Fareed never glossed anything over. Read the article again.
"Most Americans are repulsed by the offensive actions of Pastor Terry Jones, a publicity-seeking extremist. But they must wonder how an isolated act like that could produce so much violence halfway across the world in Afghanistan.
So let's trace the event.
The Quran burning took place two weeks ago – to not much publicity. It was not highlighted by the international media and was not a big story in Afghanistan. There had been a few small, peaceful protests last Wednesday..."
The rest of the article is the focus on the firestorm from the extremists incited by the clerics. Jones played a part in this series of events – no one is downplaying his egotistical actions – the clerics and Karzai set the bomb off.
fareed is spot on with this analysis. none of the sides in this episode have any interest in religion except for using it as a cover for their own lust for power, whatever they perceive it to be.
I guess that this is the one and only example needs to explain how religion makes people stupid. So, people can be fired into a murderous rage because a book was burned. That's all? Nothing more? One would have thought that some harm more profound would have done the trick but no: people really are that stupid. Human evolution will only come once humanity abandons all those things that defy reason, and accepts the fact that humanity has a finite existence, as we hurl through space on a rock. There is no after-life, men who live in the sky, magic, the dead coming back to life, or anything else that you may have found in the collective holy books of lies.
No Fareed, I'm not repulsed by Jones actions. It wasn't that bad. The response on the other hand was repulsive
all I can say is
Everybody has something to say when anything is said or done negative towards Islam, but either has little or nothing to say while they are killing people all over the world, and I along with many others are tired of it!!! Islam needs to just publicly declare a global war and not hide its agenda on everyone who does not follow Allah!!!
As usual a media pundit says Muslims don't condem violence but the reality is as always the media fails to cover Muslims condemning terrorism. The real question is why does Fareed Zakaria fail to cover on his show Muslims condemiing terrorism.?
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The Muslim Public Affairs Council today condemned the killing of at least 12 people, including seven United Nations workers, in Afghanistan by protesters as "barbaric, atrocious and senseless." This afternoon, MPAC will hold press conferences in Washington, DC and Los Angeles to respond to today's events.
Pastor Jones' decision to burn a Quran earlier this month despite warnings from the Obama administration and a broad spectrum of mainstream Christian leaders was reckless and deplorable, but in no way justifies any type of violence. In late August 2010, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates personally warned Jones that his plans to burn a Quran on the anniversary of 9/11 would put the lives of American troops in danger.
First off, Pastor Jones was just trying to prove the point that if you burn a quran that the people of Islamic Nations would go so crazy people would Die cause thats what this Religion and these nations Promote. If you burnt a bible, Vatican city wouldn't start killing people, neither would any other religion except the Muslims! If we in america started killing muslim people every time we saw The American Flag being burnt in a muslim protest there would be dead people all of america every day! could we blame the muslims who burnt our flag for us killing innocent people? OF COURSE NOT! but we are rational people and we are taught that behavior is unacceptable yet Islamic Nations never say this is wrong , they actually promote hate! I can understand people being upset about the burning of any holy book BUT LETS BE RATIONAL FOR ONCE and ALL AGREE that the only people who Collectively protest with this degree of violence over something so small are the Islamic Nations aka 100's of millions of MUSLIMS! Have you all Already forgotten The Rape and Torture or LARA LOGAN by what the media was calling "peaceful muslim protests(revolution)" yea only a FEW HUNDRED muslim men were involved while Thousands of other muslims cheered and yelled "Death TO AMERICA". This isn't an isolated incident! Only the Muslim Islamic Nations see this degree of extremism! America Spends so much money on our military lets for once overthrow this Hateful regimes and put in rational leaders who wont promote hate and extremism on the level that is accepted in Islamic nations today!!
I don't think the author is really waiting for moderate Muslim statements. Maybe he's just being a troll. If you search out the reports you see that Muslims around the world constantly condemn honor killings, terrorism, protest violence, unjust punishments that are touted by the western press as part of Sharia law and no one listens. Americans don't want to read stories about the way Muslims condemn violence and consistently help rebuild American communities after disasters because we have invested heavily in xenophobia. The media presents Muslims as terrorists and Christians as crazy gun toting hicks. It is easy to write these stories when they are fed to you, just like all the 'mom kills her kids' and 'gang related shooting' stories that are great for leading the 10 'o clock news. These stories are all overblown and don't represent anything but an extreme blip away from average behavior.
This so-called analyst is biased, dishonest, and plays the game to keep his lucrative job. Why don't he condemn himself the killing of over 400 children in Gaza, the use of nuclear weapons in Iraq, Afghanistan and Gaza, respectively. The rape of women and even girls like Abeer may God almighty bless her soul. (BTW what happened to the perpetrators? well nothing!) check the following website for the crimes committed by illegal wars and occupation
http://www.bbc5.tv/eyeplayer/video/zionism-david-kelly-and-bbc
by
David Halpin who gives a presentation on 'The Zionist agenda, Dr. David Kelly, The propaganda of the BBC'. Adding insult to injury is this sub-animal burning the Quran. Anyway compared to all this what happened as a reaction is a drop in the sea albeit deplorable.
Maybe you should write to Fareed to address these many other situations... however – this situation – one situation – is probably all he could cram into this episode. A situation which just happens to be on the minds of everyone since it happened this week.
You criticism of Fareed is uncalled for. He is – by far – one of the most unbiased commentators in the media today. Go listen to Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh and come back and tell me what you think of Fareed.
For "Christ" sake the burning of a book , that was writing by God know who. Are we going to kill all members of the KKK for burning the cross? I think Obama should give all muslims living in the U.S. their own State move them all there , declare war on them and drop the ATOMIC bomb on them.
TO KATE
KATE You are right. This criminal pastor know very well that his action would provoke deadly reactions from groups equally criminal as himself, against INNOCENT people.
FAREED: Your article is is to thew point, except that the Pastor cannot be imprisoned. Anybody who knowingly willfully and unnecesarilly commit an action he knows it will provoke death of innocents is an instigator to murder, and try to invoke the first amendment is itself an act of complicity.
The right of life of innocent people is, as the constitution itself states, it foremost obligation, and prevalent in front of all its other articles. This is particularly true regarding the 1st and 2nd ammendments!! Any authority, including Supreme Court Justices, should be punished if they convert themself, I say so again, to complices of criminals.
What kind of moron focuses on the alleged culpability of a book burning while completely ignoring the personal responsibility of those whose extreme response was to commit mass murder by AK-47?? Wake up!
since he is a moron he is not responsible...
The actions of this Florida pastor are unbelievably stupid, and he should be arrested for inciting a riot! He knew, as well as any of us, the kind of results his actions would bring.
However, the results of his stupidity do underline a truth many of our politically correct press would like to ignore. Burn a Bible, and Christians are deeply offended, but no one is beheaded! Draw a cartoon of Buddha and no one is murdered. But burn a Koran or draw a cartoon of Mohammad and these are EXPECTED as the results. Our politically correct leaders keep telling us–against all evidence–that Islam is a peaceful religion. The facts speak for themselves! Wake up America!
First time this writer said ANYTHING I agreed with...totally not the comment I expected from him. Yes, killing, burning the Bible, the Koran, the American flag (or any other) are all terrible things to do. Nice to hear someone not put the sensibilities of Islam above others for once.
people have burned the flag not only abroad but right here at home..
The same consideration should be given to the burning of the Quran...it is nothing but a book just like the flag ...I know that means a lot to some people ..BUT ...:) you gotta realize that not everyone is going to agree with whatever you believe... therefore tolerate what we do know is that Islam does not tolerate and that is What Terry revealed in Florida
If someone burned a Bible, while it would be offensive, would not cause Christians to go out and kill people. This sums up the difference between Christianity and Islam. There is no excuse for this type of behavior.
The article starts well, andpoints out how Quran burning did not directly cause the violence. But then veers from that point, and goes into standard arguments about the offensiveness about burning holy books. This whole episode has nothing to do with burning Qurans. Nobody cares if you burn a book, any book. Keep on burning, if you wish. People have grievances against the Afgan government and the US military. They are using this occasion to mobilize the masses to make their political point. Similarly, Karzai is not happy with the US policies, and he is making his point of dissatisfaction with the US, by using this occasion. Quran burning is being used as a symbol.
Money is the root of all evil. Maybe that should be: Religion is the root of all evil.
Like so many, you missed the mark. It is the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil.
So LOVE is the root of all evil?
You people don't read so hot...perhaps that's why you're anti-Christian.
Normally, I'm a big Zakaria fan, but I'm not sure I follow his point here. Is he saying that in order for Muslims to demonstrate their "moderate" credentials, they are supposed to "protest" a few violent weirdos from tiny, marginal country? Or come out as a group and condemn terrorism?
It's a faulty criteria, period: First, there is no "Muslims" .. Islam is not a country, racial group, or organization. Muslims don't speak for each other. This is an obvious and common characteristic .. for example, where were all the Christian protests of the qur'an burning by yet another racist southern Christian pastor (at least until the politicized Muslim reaction became a political opportunity for American politicians and organizations .. namely, well after the actual qur'an burning event)? "religions" don't speak for themselves as a group – the never have. Muslims don't feel "responsible" for one another, nor should they be expected to be. Christians don't feel responsible for one another. White people don't feel responsible for each other's crimes. Nor do Africans, latinos, Catholics, or any other "group" you can come up with. So, why should Muslims? It's a false litmus test for moderation, and normally Fareed would seem to understand this.
Second, in spite of the above, there still are many THOUSANDS of Muslims and organizations that have spoke long and loud against terrorism, quoting Qur'an passages that discourage murder and hate. All Fareed (and anyone else) needs to do is plug a few words into Google and there are entire compiled lists of Islamic organizations that regularly and repeatedly condemn the radicals from the Islamic world. Why would Fareed be "waiting" for a response? The response has already been made, and yet he seems to have ignored it.
Third, radicalism is a violent blight in parts of the world that are unstable. People have to keep a low profile, and not stick there heads up against the armed extremists. Look at Mexico – what happens when local people condemn or act uncooperative with the armed thugs that run rampant in the Mexican North? What happened in America, even, when people criticized capitalist principles and were labelled as Communists? What happened when blacks in the south tried to act liberated and spoke out against Jim Crow laws? In light of the tremendous, graphic violence in unstable countries worldwide (including some islamic countries), is it really fair to ask the average Muslim to speak out and get himself (and/or his family) killed?
The entire "test" for moderation is false and contrived. The best test for moderation is the most obvious one: those who, by their own choice, don't join extremist groups are moderates. Muslims have many chances to join extremist fringe groups, therefore, those who refuse to do so are moderates by definition.
Isn't this rationale self-evident? And why do we keep treating Muslims as some monolithic group that marches in lockstep and watches each other's back? Why don't we raise to the occasion, learn from the past, put our panic aside, and find a rational response to terrorism and extremism? I'm quite sure we will find many allies in the Islamic world.
Many.
Where was your denunciation of the murder committed by Muslims in Afghanistan? I guess you're alright with obfuscating the issue and letting them off the hook for mass murder by AK-47.
Nonmuslims are persecuted in Muslim countries everyday. Soudi Arabia and Pakistan are notorious in this regard! Carrying bible is crime in soudi. Bible is confiscated, stamped and thrown in garbage in soudi air ports everyday. Have you heard of any nonmuslim killed any muslim for insulting their book? Do you dare to tell your leaders and clergy to behave in a civilized manner? I would suggest all civilized Muslims to spak up against this menace for your own good. After all Muslims are also humans. They too have right education and live a decent life! Can you ask these fanatics to set them free to live like humans?
Pastor Jones's burning of the Koran obviously was a very offensive act to Muslims and should be looked on with disguest, that being said, I am proud that we in the US where we have the freedoms that allow us to express our feeling openly without threat of punishment. As much as I think Pastor Jones's actions are wrong, I do not believe them to be inherantly evil. What is evil, is the insane reactions of the Islamist in Afganistan. Whereas burning a holy book is just plane ridiculous and offensive, killing people is seriously demented and evil. If a Muslim Iman was to burn the Jewish Torah or a Christian Bible do you think there would be such a crazy reaction; of course not. People may indeed be offended but to kill over this action would be considered immoral in both religions. It is time for the Muslim world to get a backbone and some morals. Hopeful a leader emerges in the Muslim world who can bring this religion into the 20th century.
Don't hold your breath about Islam having a leader who will bring about change. Islam is not a religion open to reform and change like the other monotheistic religions. There may be the slimmest minority of Muslims who see this as the problem for Islam in the 21st C but slim is skinny. Not going to happen.
For those BBQing this September, please remember those 3000 people who died needlessly on 9/11. If you don't have a quran then use a piece of toilet paper and simply write the word "quran" on it and burn it.
Now! Now! Fight nice ;-]
This is my take on it: People should get a little perspective in life especially about religion. I think burning any book is an act of incredible ignorance but it is just the burning of a book. If someone burns the Bible, it's not Yahweh or Jesus that's being burned. God doesn't disappear because a book got burned. It's just the act of a moron at which I shake my head and move on. Do people need to be killed because a book got burned? Like I said, perspective.
Fareed, I rarely agree with your liberal positions (at least that's the way I view them), but this article comes very close to hitting the nail on the head. As repugnant as Terry Jones' acts were, they did not warrant the murder of unrelated Westerners in Afghanistan. The Muslim community should stand up (here and in Afghanistan) and loudly denounce this imbalanced, nay, extreme action of murdering Westerners in response (?!) to the burning of the Quran. Why do we hear so little? Why do the Muslims who post here appear to blame all on Jones without saying one word about the actions of their fellow Muslims in Afghanistan?!
Finally, Fareed, I would like it acknowledged that while so many defend Muslims, Islam, the Quran, and Muhammad, and shout from the rooftops that burning the Quran and making fun of Muhammad are hateful and deplorable, no one raises an eyebrow anymore when so many in the media make fun of the Christian savior, Jesus, and the Christian Bible. Are the hateful and mean-spirited depictions of the Christian savior, Jesus, in shows like South Park and so many others somehow less hateful and mean-spirited than burning a Quran? I certainly don't think so. Either people are permitted, in this country, to ridicule Islam too, or so many in the country should stop ridiculing Jesus and Christianity! My preference would be that, if it ain't your religion, don't metaphorically throw it on the ground and stomp all over it!!! And the same goes for Christians, duh!!
Let'sa face facts: If someone burned a Bible and Christians rose up and killed someone over it, we would not condemn those who burned it. We would condemn the murderers. Violent Islam is made bold by our cowardice and refusal to stand up to these people. I think that Jones is terribly ignorant to do what he did, but let's get real. Where does it end? If we give in to this, what will they next declare offensive and where do we stop cowing?
Exactly, Dan! Do the makers of South Park and so many other television shows, movies, and new networks think it somehow hurts Christians less when Jesus, the Bible, and Christianity are so strongly ridiculed?? The truth is, it hurts some Christians bad to see their savior depicted in such rude ways! Many here are right in that Jones, nor anyone else should be burning Qurans or making fun of Islam and Muhammad, but neither should people be doing those things to Christians or people of other religions. All I ask people is not to be hyper-hypocritical in asking for toleration of Muslim sensitivities while completely ignoring the sensitivities of all other religions! That only shows favoritism toward Islam, and one would have to ask "Why just Islam?"
What jones did, and did deliberately, was to intentionally provoke a mad dog into killing someone. All your BS about his having the "Freedom of the Press" to incite religious hatred is as hollow as his lame attempts at saying he had noting to do with it. He KNEW that burning that book would result in the deaths of dozens, maybe hundreds. HE IS RESPONSIBLE! We all know he is a self-serving, GODLESS, abomination! What is now under consideration are the mindless excusers who knell with him at the alter of the new Golden Calf called "Freedom of the Press". We all know what he did is a sin, the question is how deep into his sin do you want to follow him.
..... It's his right to burn a book, it's not illegal.... freedom of speech.... bla bla, yes yes yes, all that is true but if you know hitting a hornets nest is going to get a bunch of people stung why hit it? What a moron. Yes he has the right to hit a hornets nest in our country but why? There is no point to it except to inflame and to injure all in the name of a made up religion.
Good article. I didn't understand the series of events. It sounds like Hamid Karzai is more responsible for these murders than that idiot pastor Jones. However, these are the same people that destroyed the Buddhas of Bamiyan. They have no respect for others. I wish we would get out of their country and concentrate on preventing them from exporting their violence and narcotics. It would be better to isolate them rather than aid them.
Sorry, kneel.
"Karzai using an act of desecration to score political brownie points."
Fareed, we've seen this movie many times in India, haven't we? Usually in such cases, both sides were equally complicit and were playing to the sentimental elements in their "constituencies". Remember Ram Janmabhoomi, Rath Yatra, Babri Masjid, Mumbai riots and finally Mumbai bombings?
South Park Christmas episode:
Jesus to Santa Claus while FIGHTING: "You f*ckin' p*ssy! "
Jesus to Santa Claus after FIGHT: "No, no. It's me who should be sorry. I've been a right b*stard. I'm sorry Kringle. "
Why is it ok for the media to treat Jesus, Christians' savior, in such fashion with no outrage and no accusations of "offensive", "repulsive", "publicity-seeking", "hatefulness" against the creators of South Park (and many others who do similar sorts of things like, Saturday Night Live). Does the media think this is ok because Christians don't go out and kill a bunch of people because of it? Regardless, don't you think such things are just as hurtful to Christians as the burning of one Quran or the benign cartoons of Muhammad?? Much of our society is full of hypocrites!
There should be as much outrage against the creators of South Park as there is against Terry Jones.
The reason there is no outrage is that the vast majority of Christians just go to church at Christmas and Easter. They really don't have clue who Jesus is.
There lies the problem. When your community is tolerant and forgiving your, people are given full freedom to disrespect it. More importantly, atrocities against your community are ignored.
On the other hand, if your community is extremely intolerant, extremist and violent, nobody is allowed to criticize you no matter how many bad actions (murdering innocent people etc.) you commit. They somehow find a way to justify it.
Intelligent, reasoned argument. How refreshing to read something like that on CNN.
History is repeating itself but wirh islam. In 1987 after photographer Andres Serrano debuted his Piss Christ photo in the U.S., a photo of a plastic crucifix, a plastic Jesus suspended in a clear bottle filled with Serrano’s urine, the Reagan administration supported the comments of General John Galvin, Chief Commander of US and NATO troops stationed across the globe. General Galvin warning the Piss Christ photo was ‘disrespectful’ to Christians across the globe and could lead to Christian extremist attacks against US troops stationed on the border of Italy and Switzerland.
At the end we should respect each other religion. As you see that's happened before with the Jesus. Religion is very sensitive cases.
If the muslims feel very offended by the Quran burning, they should pick a bible and burn it too. End of story! Having said that, we don't just go about cussing through our daily lives as much as we want to because we have a right to express ourselves freely. We're not animals We have rights but we also have a responsibility to weigh the consequences of our actions too.
I forgot to say that, Andres Serrano was harassed and did receive hate mail and death threats. Even gallery owners and museum curators who displayed the work received death threats. The photo itself was vandalized several times.
History is repeating itself but with islam. In 1987 after photographer Andres Serrano debuted his Piss Christ photo in the U.S., a photo of a plastic crucifix, a plastic Jesus suspended in a clear bottle filled with Serrano’s urine, the Reagan administration supported the comments of General John Galvin, Chief Commander of US and NATO troops stationed across the globe. General Galvin warning the Piss Christ photo was ‘disrespectful’ to Christians across the globe and could lead to Christian extremist attacks against US troops stationed on the border of Italy and Switzerland. Andres Serrano was harassed and did receive hate mail and death threats. Even gallery owners and museum curators who displayed the work received death threats. The photo itself was vandalized several times.
At the end we should respect each other religions. As you see that’s happened before with Jesus. Religion is very sensitive cases , and we mustn't touch it.
There is a factual discrepancy between today's GPS program and some articles I read. Fareed Zakaria said
"The senior UN official in Afghanistan said that there was abundant evidence that the killings were not the result of out-of-control mobs but rather deliberate acts of murder by Taliban militia.
Keep in mind that these protests have been extremely small by Afghan standards – not a single one had more than 100 people at it, according to the U.S. army spokesman."
According to Mirwais Khan of the associated press,
"Thousands of demonstrators in the previously peaceful northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif poured into the streets after Friday prayers and overran a U.N. compound, killing three U.N. staff members and four Nepalese guards."
Khan also said that there were several other demonstrations with hundreds of people over the weekend, and that several of them clashed with police and destroyed property.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/04/03/deadly-koran-burning-protests-spread-eastern-afghanistan/?test=latestnews
If I am misinterpretting Khan or Fareed, or if Khan is mistaken, I would like to know. As always, I enjoyed the show and will tune in next week.
You make good points as ever, but i still think that the stage of social development in the region is a major factor in this. It’s not that long ago in our own history that people were burnt as witches when lesser developed mobs ran wild without the rule of law. The development of something like Democracy MkII through diplomatic means is the only long term solution to this.
Ironically it was the likes of Neanderthol Pastor Jones that fired the witch burners up!
MUSLIMS AGAINST RADICAL ISLAM
http://tareenalam.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/deafening-silence-muslims-against-radical-islam/
There are good and bad among every nation and community. We can not blame the whole nation or community for the wrong doings of the few who try to create choas, problems and shed blood of innocents. Thats is not Islam in the eyes of Islam itself. Islam is religion of PEACE. Islam was not established over 1400 years ago but Islam is since human was created. A muslim is one who submits his/her will to Allah (SWT). All the messengers of Allah (SWT) are muslims from Adam (PBUH) to Muhammad (PBHU). And if anyone truly believes in Allah (SWT) should believe in the last and final messenger of Allah (SWT) as anyone disbelieve in the final messenger Muhammad (PBUH) will not enter heaven (as word of Allah (SWT). The coming of the final messenger was indeed mentioned in the Bible but yet christians can not digest this fact. When Islam and we muslims invite everyone in the circle of Peace and the fact that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world is because we want our brothers and sisters in humanity to join us in the cause and way of Allah (SWT) and we do not want anyone to be at loss. We all know that death will come either early or later but we should know why and what for we are here on earth... to fight eath other and kill innocents? disrespect and burn holy book of each others? or to bring peace, live in peace, support and help each others, and worship and praise our lord?
Truly Allah (SWT) is the only who knows the past and the future and thus we muslims invite everyone to come in circles and peacefully observe religious matters, and I rest assure everyone by Allah's will that everyone will find that Islam is the only religion that all our prophets from Adam (PBUH) to Muhammad (PBUH) preached and is the way to Allah (SWT).
Jews and Christians are truely at loss as they have changed and altered thier own scriptures. And due to this fact the rest of the followers of the Jews and Christians follow what thier forefathers has followed. We muslims follow and belief in all the prophets, love them dearly, respect them, and follow them thoroughly in thier teachings. ISLAM will bring Peace and Justice and the day is not too far. I bare witness that there is no God but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (PBUH) is the last and final messenger of Allah (SWT). And I bare witness that Jesus (PBUH) is slave and one of the mightiest messengers of Allah (SWT) and is a Muslim. And I bare witness God willing he will decend and teach you all the lesson that you all have not learned all this time. Truely Allah (SWT) is all wise and all knowing, to him we belong and to him we will return. Fear Allah, submit your will to Allah and believe in the final divine Holy Quran and final Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for you can't escape death and can't escape day of judgement and facing your Lord Allah (SWT). First at least gain some knowledge about Islam and Holy Quran then losen your mouths about Islam.
http://en.harunyahya.tv/all_works.php?l=4
http://huda.tv/services/the-holy-quran
Sorry my friend we are nor falling for this "Islam is Peace" ruse anymore! We must hold each other accountable for once instead of blaming the "infidels" over and over . . .otherwise we will continue to have little credibility with the outside world
Kabuli brother, I highly recommend studying Islam thoroughly before uttering any words about it. Islam or a Muslim does not need to show credibility to east or west from within themselves to attract them. However, those who claim to be Muslim and create chaos, problems, shed blood and disrespect humanity are not truly Muslims. A true Muslim is soft hearted, down to earth, a helpful hand not to his/her Muslim brothers and sisters but to general humanity as well. We among our Muslim brothers and sisters have those qualities that work day and night to bring peace and equality among Muslims and other communities (our other brothers and sisters in humanity). And the day is not too far when ISLAM Insha’Allah will prevail and there will be peace and respect everywhere (Allah the most high knows the time best) Insha’Allah.
In Holy Quran Allah (SWT) talks about Yahood and Nasaraa (Jews & Christians) in many different Suras. This chaos going around the globe in the east and west, in the Muslim world and other nations whether caused by humans or natural disasters, these are all clear signs that we are nearing the end days (Allah the most high knows the time best) Insha’Allah. There are many who loosen their mouths talking about ISLAM but I pity on them as they have gone blind, deaf and their hearts are sealed from understanding and seeing the truth and reality (including those who claim to be Muslims and yet they do all kinds of shirk in Islam (associating someone or something with Allah), innovations in Islam, creating chaos, problems, shedding blood, looting and so many other things).
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. And I want to say that if any of the words I mentioned is/are an error/s or mistake/s is/are from my side and may Allah forgive me for my ignorance. And all praises are due to Allah (SWT) who is the perfect creator, the all knowing and all wise, and who is free of errors and whose judgment is the best of any creation.
***Correction to the following sentence:
not only to his/her Muslim brothers and sisters but also to general humanity of any nation or religion as well.
I agree with you 100%, and am glad you will look for the statements from the moderate Muslim community. I do wonder how many CNN correspondents cover the non-controversial Friday sermons that condemn such acts. I have yet to attend a mosque where such a horrendous disregard for human life has not been repudiated. Perhaps these moderate imams are preaching to those would never have fathomed such actions in the first place. Maybe the key question is, how do we de-radicalize the inflammatory imams?
I cannot believe I wasted minutes in my life reading through these comments. I had hoped the viewers of this show would be rational, civil, and sane, but I was woefully wrong. The rhetoric remains the same, as does the villification of one group by the other. Please put aside these ludicrous fears and respect one another.
He has the right to burn the Quraan but I have no right to deny the holocaust....Talk of freedom of speech; obviously this doesn't justifies senseless killings in Afghanistan but thats what you get when people don't understand their religion like Terry Jones. As for Asra Nomani she doesnt know which side of the line she belongs.
Burning anything in your own backyard can only be subject to environmental laws. It has nothing to do with free speech. Denying the holocaust, privately, IS allowed. On the other hand, denying holocaust as a means to restore fascism and persecution of jews (why most people who deny holocaust deny it) is obviously illegal. Finally, Terry Jones didn't burn the book, he attended the book burning event. Also, the fact innocent UN employees were brutally murdered, might actually prove Terry Jones' point: Islam is violent.
Holocaust Denial-–Why does it have to be personal, I should be able to say that I don't believe in the number of jews supposedly killed but you know, I cant. ISLAM violent? jeez how can that be, the Muslims in Afghanistan just represent 1.8% of the world Muslim population. Matt hope you have a rethink?
islam means peace nd wil always mean peace no mata wat u or anybody says
The number of Jews murdered systematically by the German Nazi regime has been determined from the Nazi Germany's own meticulous records they kept during World War II. The numbers were recorded in the Nazi Concentration, Death and falsely named "Work" camps by the Nazi administrators of the camps and those records were kept in books in the archives of the Nazi Germany's own libraries. When Nazi Germany was liberated by American and Russian troops, those original Nazi records of the Nazi death camp deaths were found, studied by the world's foremost historians and released to the public.
There is no arguing about the numbers by anyone who is not ignorant and/or has an agenda against the Jews because of his or her hatred of Jews. The Nazis had no reason to exaggerate the number of Jews they killed. the Nazis were proud of how many Jews they slaughtered. Their goal, besides conquering the whole world, was to exterminate all the Jewish people. The Nazis even tatooed the Jews before they killed them with a distinct serial number to keep track of how many they were going to murder. And the Jews have no reason to exaggerate the number of Jews murdered by the Nazis either. It is not an accomplishment to be proud of that so many of their innocent people who were just citizens of their European countries and civilians were murdered. That's why Jews say "Never again." I know you as an ignorant hater of Jews will not acknowledge all this and I don't care what you say or do. But for people who don't know the facts and who are not racists or prejudiced people, they deserve to know these facts.
Hi again, this exactly what I am saying, I say Jews and you are ready to go ballistic and not even prepared to have a discussion so where is the freedom of speech so where is the first amendment now. That is how some issues are to Muslim, Muslim don't want have a discussion on the sanctity of their Quraan. if you want to live in peace with them, then don't disrespect their quran, dont mock their prophet and dont insult their sensibilities. Or does the west need another World War to understand this
sense, you want to argue against facts. Your pretending that 6 million Jews weren't murdered by the Nazis in a systematic genocide in World War II is like you pretending that the world is flat or that the sun revolves around the Earth. You can have an opinion but your opinion can't change facts.
The great majority of Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and members of other religions respect Islam, Muslims and the Koran. You can't blame the West for what one crazy idiot says he did in Florida. It is a matter of common decency to respect other people and their beliefs if they are peaceful and not harmful. But you're saying "Do you need another World War?" to learn something sounds like a veiled threat.
sense, do not threaten the Western countries and our people. It would be a silly thing to do. The West could squash all the Muslim countries in a few minutes if we wanted to and there's nothing you could do to stop us. The West is just that much more technologically advanced than Muslim countries. That's not an insult. It's a fact you cannot change by your opinion. But we don't and won't attack you because we believe in peace, harmony, security, freedom and respect for all people. The USA and Europe give billions of dollars in foreign aid every year to poor countries in Africa and Asia because we want to help people who are suffering from floods, earthquakes, droughts, diseases, etc.
The West didn't help out in Libya militarily until the Arab League's 21 countries unanimously requested our help and the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to that effect. The USA would never have invaded Afghanistan if it had not been first attacked by people living in Afghanistan who had the support of the Taliban government there. The war in Iraq, in my opinion, was a mistake because Bush and Blair thought Saddam still had WMDs, but Saddam Hussein's government was not good to its neighbors or to its own people. Saddam's Iraq attacked Iran causing more than 1 million Muslim deaths and it attacked Kuwait killing Kuwaiti Muslims without any provocation. It murdered by the thousands its own Shiite and Kurdish Muslim minorities. Now, Iraq is beginning a new life as a democracy. And with all its problems, as the British and Americans are withdrawing from Iraq, the Iraqi people are free to direct their own lives and country in a much freer way than they could under Saddam.
So stop blaming the West for all of the troubles caused by the despots, dictators and Kings running almost all the Arabic Muslim countries. It's not our fault that your own people are subjugating your masses. Work for democracy and freedom and you will be able to enjoy what we do. If all you want to do is conquer us and kill us in the West, you will lose and it won't be pretty. Do not mistake our willingness to help, our generosity, our tolerance and our patience for weakness. That would be a big mistake. Hold out your hand in friendship and respect and you will find our hand meeting your in friendship and respect.
Robert, I am not deny the Holocaust am just citing an example of action that have become political taboo and how the west treats it. You want to Muslims countries to apologizes yet the US senate or has not made a statement condemning the Florida burning. The fact of the matter is that you don't respect us but do you really think the west would win a war against the Muslims.
sense, you want the US Senate to apologize for what this one dumb, crazy, hateful pastor in Florida says he did? There are over 300 million people in the USA. The Senate can't take the time to apologize to one group of people or another whenever some lone crazy idiot does something stupid, it would leave the Senate apologizing every day and the Senate would have no time left to do their business which is writing laws to help run the country. President Obama has many times gone out of his way to show friendship and respect to the world's Muslims particularly in his speech in Cairo, and President Obama personally condemned this lone pastor for saying he burned your holy book. And that is still not enough for you? You should be grateful for President Obama's speech and statement against Pastor Jones. You should be a little more understanding and reasonable. The USA is a democracy. The leaders of the USA know that its citizens have freedom of speech. We don't kill people because they say something or even when they burn a book even if it's the Christian Bible. We are a more peaceful people and we respect life a lot more than those Afghanis who killed the UN forces in Kandahar. Those UN people there never did the Afghani or Muslim people any harm. How dare you Muslims justify killing them because a crazy preacher says he did something half a world away?
And yes, sense, the West could easily conquer the world if it wanted to, including all countries currently ruled by Muslims, because the West is economically and militarily much stronger than all other countries. But the West doesn't do that because the West is pro democracy, pro freedom and pro human rights. We respect others' lives. We just won't let others massacre us and stand idly by twiddling our thumbs. We will defend ourselves always. So, if the terrorists want to live in peace, we will live in peace with them. If they keep attacking us, we will destroy them and all the people who support them. You should be against the terrorists too if you want to live a peaceful and free life. Why is it you don't understand that?
Why did he fire Qur'an? This action seem to century that Qur'an come as described below:
First Aspect: It possesses miraculousness and its miraculousness exists for the following reasons. The great majority of the people of the Arabian Peninsula at that time were illiterate. Due to this, in place of in writing, they preserved the sources of their pride, historical events, and stories which assisted good morality, by means of poetry and eloquence. Through the at- traction of poetry and eloquence, meaningful sayings would remain in people's memories and be passed down the generations. And so, in consequence of this innate need, the goods most in demand in the immaterial market of that people was eloquence. An eloquent literary figure of a tribe, even, was like its greatest national hero. It was through him that they gained their greatest pride. Thus, that intelligent people who ruled the world through their intelligence after the establishment of Islam were, among the peoples of the world, at the highest and most advanced degree of eloquence. It was the thing most in demand among them, was their cause of pride, and the thing for which they had greatest need. Eloquence had such high value that two tribes would do battle at the word of a literary figure, and they would make peace at his word. They even wrote in gold on the walls of the Ka'ba the seven qasidas of seven poets called the Muallaqat-i Sebta, and took great pride in them. Thus, it was at such a time when eloquence was the thing most sought after that the Qurtan was revealed. Just as at the time of Moses (Peace be upon him) it was magic that was most sought after and at the time of Jesus (Peace be upon him), it was medicine. The most important of their miracles were in those fields.
And so, the Qur'an invited the Arabian orators of that time to reply to even one of the shortest of the Suras. It challenged them with the decree of:
And if you are in doubt about what We have revealed to Our servant, then produce a Sura resembling it.[4]
And it also said: "If you do not believe, you shall be damned and shall go to Hell." It provoked them intensely. It smashed their pride in a fearsome manner. It was contemptuous of their arrogant minds. It condemned them firstly to eternal extinction and then to eternal extinction in Hell, as well as to worldly extinction. It said: "Either dispute me, or you and your property shall perish."
4. Qur'an, 2:23.
Thus, if it had been possible to dispute it, is it at all possible that, while there was an easy solution like disputing the Qur'an with one or two lines and nullifying the claim, they should have chosen the most dangerous and most difficult, the way of war? Yes, is it at al1 possible that that clever people, that politically-minded nation, who at one time were to govern the world through politics, should have abandoned the shortest, easiest, and most light way, and chosen the most dangerous, which was going to cast their lives and ail their property into peril? For if their literary figures had been able to dispute it with a few words, the Qurtan would have given up its claim, and they would have been saved from material and moral disaster. Whereas they chose a fearsome and long road like war That means it was not possible to dispute in by word; it was impossible. Therefore they were compelled to fight it with the sword.
cont.
Furthermore, there are two most compelling reasons for the Qur'an being imitated. The first is its enemies' ambition to dispute it, the other, its friends' pleasure at imitating it. Through these two impelling causes, millions of books in Arabic have been written, but not one of them resembles the Qur'an. Whether learned or ignorant, whoever looks at it and at them most certainly says: "The Qur'an does not resemble these. Not one of them has been able to imitate it." Therefore, the Qur'an is either inferior to all of them, and according to the consensus of friend and foe alike, this is completely non-valid and impossible, or the Qur'an is superior to all of them.
If you say: "How do you know that no one has tried to dispute it, and that no one has had sufficient confidence to challenge it, and that no one's help for anyone else was of any avail?"
The Answer: If it had been possible to dispute it, most certainly it would have been attempted. For it was a question of honor and pride, and life and property were at risk. And if it had been attempted, most certainly there would have been many to support such an attempt. For those who obstinately oppose the truth have always been many. And if it had had many supporters, they surely would have found fame. For insignificant contests, even, attract the wonder of people and find fame in stories and tales. So an extraordinary contest and event such as that could not have remained secret. The most ugly and infamous things against Islam have been related and become famous. Whereas, apart from one or two stories about Museylima the Liar, nothing has been related. Museylima was very eloquent, but when compared with the exposition of the Qurtan, which possesses infinite beauty, his words passed in the chronicles as nonsense. Thus, the miraculousness of the Qur'an's eloquence exists as certainly as twice two equals four; the matter is thus.
Where are the so-called moderate,peace-loving Muslims? Instead of blaming others for their problems, Muslims should look inside themselves and take responsibility for their own deplorable state of affairs.
Exactly right. Where are the moderate, peaceful Muslims? They're strangely silent. You'd think they'd offer to build a memorial to honor the almost 3,000 innocents slain on 9/11 at the mosque they're building near the World Trade Centre and offer to explain to everyone there that those deaths were caused by Muslim terrorists who tried to pervert the Muslim religion. But no, these people have shown no shame and no embarrassment, just anger and hatred of all things American and Western. How sad for them.
Fareed, Why don't you speak with a Pakhtun/Pashtun to get the real scoop on the Pashtun people instead of talking to people who have simply spent time with the Pakthuns. Even anthropologists (say Fredrick Bath) have made errors in reporting about the Pakhtuns of Swat, why should these "two-week" warriors been different.
But you have wrapped yourself in an isolating bubble beyond reach. Writing these words are like little ants filing single file in a long march from a distance without purpose speeding up or slowing down with a comma, please call me and get the real scoop unless you are concerned about what I may say may not agree with you pre formed ideas about the "Pathans".
Oh you company of jinn and men! If you can pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, pass beyond them! But you will not be able to pass beyond them save with authority [given by God]. * Which then, of the blessings of your Sustainer do you deny? * A flash of fire, and smoke, will be sent on you, and no succour shall you have. * Which then of the blessings of your Sustainer do you deny? [11 ]
And We have adorned the skies nearest the earth with lamps, and made them missiles to drive away the evil ones. [12]
[11] Qur'an, 55:33-6.
[12] Our'an. 67:5.
Islam has been the target from the very beginning by many religions. Now why is that? the easiest answer that anyone can give is terrorism. Because that is how people want to believe it. Never have they taken the effort to study the religion. Maybe because they fear they might become a muslim. All i want to say is, every good thing in this world is targeted.
There is no god but Allah and Muhammed (Sallallauhi alaihi wa sallam) is the messenger of Allah.
WHY DON'T USA LEAVE ISLAM AND ITS FOLLOWERS ALONE. LOOK AT IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, IRAN, PALESTINE, AND RECENTLY, LIBYA. WHAT I HAVE OBSERVED IS THAT, USA LED BY ISRAEL, WANT TO PUT AN END TO ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS PRACTICE. BUT THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH, WILL NOT ALLOW IT. LET THEM CONTINUE, THEIR TIME SHALL SURELY COME, INSHA ALLAH.
You don't seem to bother if Muslims are killed or oppressed as long as they are killed or oppressed by other Muslims. But if America comes to free Muslims and some die in the process you protest loudly. Wow, what a hypocrisy!!!!!!
Your whole Arab League, all 21 Arab Muslim countries, pleaded with NATO and the United States to intervene militarily in Libya to save innocent Arab Muslims being slaughtered by Libyan leader Gaddafi. All Arab countries, which have over 2,000 fighter planes between them, were too cowardly or didn't care to use those fighter jets to protect their brothers in Libya. So when some countries in NATO risk the lives of their own pilots to defend Arab Muslim rebels in Libya, you and other extremist, West-hating, Christian-hating, Jew-hating Muslims have the nerve to condemn us for risking our lives and spending our treasure to protect and defend your own people, people you could have protected yourselves but you were too lazy too? You have a lot of nerve! That's a lot of thanks we get for helping protect Muslim lives from other Muslim killers!
Nato and the US? Until now I didn't believe that Average American new there was a difference. So now US the defender of the Universe has chose to go Libya because they are so caring(a bit of sarcasm here), so why no go to Cote D Iviore or Why did UN/US leave Sierra Leone/Liberia then. US media encouraged the libyan rebels to push their agenda so really the US was waiting for the Arab league to come to them, with or without the call for help from the Arabs, US will still have gone to war but looking at it objectively if you are the number one super power then you really have no choice but to take this decision once in a while.
You're quibbling over minutiae. NATO is mostly made up of European powers plus the US, Canada and Turkey. Now the US has stopped bombing Gaddafi's troops and some European members of NATO and Canada are doing that. You don't know what your're talking about. Obama would have never joined in enforcing the UN Resolution on Libya if the Arab League hadn't voted in favor of the UN implementing such a resolution. You don't know Obama at all if you don't know that.
France is assuming what it believes are its responsibilities in the Cote d'Ivoire because France was the country that colonized that area. The USA defers to France there to help the UN forces there protect civilians against the forces of their illegitimate leader who lost the last election but refused to relinquish power. The US is not needed there so they stay out and let the French and the UN handle things there.
What does the USA stand to gain by helping the Libyan rebels? Not much. We don't even know what the Libyan rebels stand for. Maybe they're worse than Gaddafi for the West. Maybe some of them support or are Al Quaida and want to destroy the West more than Gaddafi did or does. The USA is there to promote peace and stability, to defend innocent civilian lives and as a courtesy to the 21 Arab Muslim countries that asked the West led by the USA to help stop Gaddafi from massacring his own people. Why didn't the Arab countries bomb Gaddafi's troops and shoot down his fighter jets? Why did they ask the West to do their dirty work instead? Because the Arab countries wanted to stop Gaddafi, but didn't want to risk raising the ire of Muslims like you for attacking their fellow Muslims and they wanted people like you to blame the West instead for doing what the Arab countries' leaders wanted done. They fooled you good.
You try to make a joke out of all this because you are against the West and against America. You sound like an enemy. You don't understand, don't believe and don't appreciate that we are trying to help you and that we are not your enemy. You want to kill us or convert us just because most of us are not Muslim? If that is what you want, you will fail. No question. You are brainwashed and deluded by Islamist fundamentalists' and extremists' propaganda. It's very sad for people who believe as you do. I will no longer respond to your posts here because you are not open to logic, reason or peaceful coexistence with the Western nations and peoples.
Next time some Arab leader is massacring his own people with tanks, jet fighter-bombers, rocket launchers and artillery, we'll just let him keep doing it, since you complain when we try to save your Arab Muslim brothers. Then, you and your fellow extremist Islamists will be all over the internet posting messages blaming us in the West, who are mostly Christians but have some other religious minorities, for intervening militarily to help save your lives. We're damned if we do and damned if we don't by you and your fellow hazel-nuts. Seems like no good favor we do for you goes unpunished by you. Your agenda is to take over the world and establish a worldwide Islamist Caliphate. Next time, we should let you kill yourselves so you can't blame us for killing any Muslim by accident.
Because one 9/11 some Muslims decided to open up a can of Whoop Ass.
Although i think the pastor that burnt the Koran was wrong, i do not think he should be held accountable for the atrocities that have taken place since. Lets all be honest for a minute. Nearly everyday, we see images of Muslims in their home countries and even in Western countries like the USA and her in the UK, defiling and burning our national flags, destroying our symbols that we use to commemorate our fallen service men and women, even causing damage to churches (especially here in the UK) and bibles and burning effigies of our leaders and royal family. Yet we do nothing. We are all afraid that we will be labeled racists or bigots and these individuals carry on with their destruction safe in the knowledge nothing will be done. And that is the case here. As soon as someone turns the tables and does to them what they have been doing to us they don't like it. Nobody made these people go out and murder, well maybe their clerics did, who knows. But what i am saying is, they chose this path, the chose to willfully go out and cause mayhem and destruction, and the chose to go out and kill innocent individuals who had nothing to do with this Koran burning. But instead of our world leaders demanding the Afghan government bring these people to justice they chose the soft option and blamed the pastor for inciting these barbaric acts. WHY, because it is easier than dealing with the real problem. I am not a religious individual but i respect the right of anyone who is, and i for one would not go out of my way to disrespect their religion, however, why should we sit back and let these Muslims go about defacing our national symbols ad do nothing? Ask yourself this, what would happen if someone decided enough was enough, had seen one to many of their national flags being destroyed and went out and killed a handful of Muslims, would our governments take a leaf out of the Afghans books and demand they condemn the people who burned the flag? No because we are [supposedly] civilized,
By all means condemn the pastor for burning the Koran, but don't blame him for the actions of a group of savages. They chose to go out and murder, the pastor did not make them.
DON'T BURN QURANS!!!! O WAIT A MINUTE HASN'T THE ORIGINAL QURAN HAS BEEN BURNED ALREADY?????
Oh, please, Zakaria. Did you ever comment on the Christian in Afghanistan who was going to be stoned to death for converting from Islam? Was that due to a single extremist? No, that was the WHOLE COUNTRY that was intolerant. Or did you comment on the fact that he had to plead insanity for converting to Christianity to avoid the death penalty? Or the fact that the Afghans were praised for showing "mercy" to him?
I'm the first person to condemn that false pastor Jones for desecrating the Quran. I strongly condemned him when he announced his intentions. I also strongly spoke out in favor of the Muslim's right to build a mosque at ground zero, or anywhere else in the world. But equating one person's intolerance against a holy book with the intolerance of the whole country of Afghanistan against human beings is like comparing a raindrop to the Pacific Ocean! Equating the two just makes you lose your credibility!
who are you apologizing? The US senate should apologies please
As a Muslim, I am saddened by the acts of my people. As a Canadian, I am thankful that ignorance is not as prominent here as it is in the U.S and that our government does not allow these so called acts of "freedom". Where is the freedom of the Muslims? Who are having their faith scoffed at.
When the Church of Canada created residential schools and DESTROYED a culture, where were the Christians? Where they not defending their religion that was ending another race's way of life? Were they not supporting and accepting the idea of "civilizing the savages"?
Is Christianity not to blame for the enslavement of Africans? The KKK? The destruction that colonialism brought? The state that many Aboriginals are in today?
Directed to those individuals who are saying Islam is the only religion whose followers use violence (which is not the case if you look at Muslims in North America), your all ignorant, in denial and oblivious to your own history.
Do NOT go pointing fingers when you and your religion are not nearly as peaceful as you seem to be.
Christianity is loosing more and more followers by the day, and you can say what you want about Islam, but truth prevails regardless of what you try to do to extinguish the flame of my religion.
WHy do you make this about a race among religions?
All the religions will lose followers the more that their leaders promote division, supremacy or oppressive behaviors.
If you think about it, every individual practices his or her own religion. There are billions of religions actually.
Eman, believe me, we Canadians hate you muslims and all the vile violence you people stand for just as much as any civilized person in this world. Nothing to do with ignorance mr. muslim
So you now speak for all Canadians? wow interesting
You also don't know what you're talking about, Roger Rabbit. Canada is one of the most peace loving and freedom loving countries in the world. There are almost 1 million Muslims in Canada out of 33 million people. Canadians don't hate Muslims at all. Canadians hate Muslim terrorists and Canadians are against the violence of radical, extremist, fundamentalist Islamist forces who are trying to conquer countries and subjugate people. You don't speak for Canada or Canadians, Roger Rabbit. Canada respects the followers of all religions as long as they are peaceful and respect Canada's laws, freedoms, culture and people. If you want to express your hatred of Muslims, speak in your name only. Otherwise, you are lying.
The writer includes some errors. For instance, there is no Church of Canada. The Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church had the significant religious impact. Also, whatever Christians did in Africa, so too the spread of Islam in Africa did, well, except Christianity never required circumcision on either gender.
Islam already condemns killing of any person without any reason. I have heard a lot in religious sittings that the murder of one person is like the murder of whole humanity. Unfortunately its the perception of people and especially the illiterates who forget these sayings or knowingly deny them and kill the innocent. It is evident from the History that when Muslims of Madina conquered Makkah 1,400 years ago they didn't kill any innocent except for a small mob who opposed the marching army and directions of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) which were that if the people remain in their homes they will not be harmed. Unfortunately that mob didn't remain at home.
Secondly, forgiving people is quintessential in Islam. Prophet for the all Worlds; Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) forgave the infidels of Makkah even after facing a lot of resistance from them in the early days of Islams. I would suggest all of those who think Islam is not a religion of peace or it promotes terrorism and killing of people, please ready any verse of Quran in any language and you would never find any harsh statements about Innocent no matter from which religion. I condemn the killing of the innocent in Afghanistan as well as the misuse of freedom of expression by Terry Jones.
You said: "Islam already condemns killing of any person without any reason...". O really? And what should be a reason to kill someone in Islam? How about leaving Islam? Is that a good reason? Or what about a woman caught in adultery. Or a Muslim women falling in love with a non-Muslim? Will that be a valid reason?
It seems you are ignorant of the fact that Muhammad was peaceful when he was in minority in Mecca but when he started gaining power in Madina Quranic verses became more and more violent. According to the Quranic Doctorine of Abrogation the earlier peaceful verses have been abrogated!!! So don't quote me those verses.
Thank you, but what is the definition of innocent. Would Jones be killed? Would his free speech be respected?
He's wrong, but he's allowed to speak.
(WITH CORRECTIONS) Islam already condemns killing of any person without any reason. I have heard a lot in religious sittings that the murder of one person is like the murder of whole humanity. Unfortunately its the perception of people and especially the illiterates who forget these sayings or knowingly deny them and kill the innocent. It is evident from the History that when Muslims of Madina conquered Makkah 1,400 years ago they didn't kill any innocent except for a small mob who opposed the marching army and directions of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) which were that if the people remain in their homes they will not be harmed. Unfortunately that mob didn't remain at home.
Secondly, forgiving people is quintessential in Islam. Prophet for the all Worlds; Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) forgave the infidels of Makkah even after facing a lot of resistance from them in the early days of Islams. I would suggest all of those who think Islam is not a religion of peace or it promotes terrorism and killing of people, please read any verse of Quran in any language and you would never find any harsh statements about Innocent no matter from which religion. I condemn the killing of the innocent in Afghanistan as well as the misuse of freedom of expression by Terry Jones
The protests in Afghanistan are like the famous Sepoy Mutiny in India. They're blamed on religion, but are more about frustrations with the war/occupation.
The Afghanis who murdered and beheaded some of the innocent UN troops there did so out of a hatred of foreigners and non Muslims. One of the UN troops managed to convince the attacking Afghan Muslims that he himself was a Muslim so they spared his life. So, don't tell me or anyone else, that their attack was out of frustration. It was out of hatred for people they regard as "infidels" whom they believe don't have the right to live. It was a despicable crime. And there is no justification for it. None.
One question: Why is it that so many Muslim countries must be founded on the religion? Do they hate anything that is not founded on Islam?
It is possible to found nations on something other than religion. In fact, founding nations on religion seems something that encourages oppression, so answering the question above might help better explain how Islam plays a role in places such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, Indonesia and other locations.
Listening to Fareed, it is clear to see that he believes that if he berates Muslims he will be "loved" by Americans. Without a doubt he is being used to sway those who barely comprehend the very basic of any situation. Any opinion that is bought, by design, only give a biased view. What a tool....This is akin to the Patty Hearst Syndrome Free yourself Fareed..go home and be loved..
Your comments are akin to the same ignorance that is practiced by Muslim clerics and politicians in Afghanistan you manipulate peoples religious beliefs for political gains. Pretty disgusting to suggest that Fareed ought to go home. His country is the United States.
If you support Muslims murdering innocent UN workers in Afghanistan because some idiotic, crazy preacher in Florida says he burned the Koran, why don't you say so? Are you too cowardly to say so? At least Fareed Zakaria condemned the murderers of the UN workers. Fareed should have had the guts to say killing innocent people is worse than burning a book made of paper, but Fareed did not have the guts to say so. That's probably because he's afraid of incurring the wrath of angry Muslims like you who favor the converting of killing of non Muslims. Very nice (sarcasm inserted here).
Burning a Quran was mind-numbingly ignorant.
Killing 20 people not in the least involved with burning a Quran was mind-numbingly ignorant.
And murder.
And against the teachings of the Quran.
Yes, and killing someone who is stupid and/or crazy enough to be involved in burning the Koran or the Bible is also mind numbingly ignorant and also against the law in the USA. In the USA, it is called "murder" and punishable by law. Maybe you kill people for burning books in your country, we do not in ours. A human life is worth more than some pages of paper no matter what is written on it. He who saves 1 life, saves the world. Have you not heard the expression? It is in the Bible and in the Koran.
While the actual buring of the Quran by Rev. Terry Jones was a despicable act, the fact that Afghan President Hamid Karzai used the event to gain political points, which backfired, due to the killings must be viewed as equally as despicable. Again this re-emphasizes that the separation of religious belief from political affairs is critically important. These deaths could have been prevented.
Fareed Zakaria, you will wait forever if you wait for leaders of Muslim countries to condemn any Muslims for killing any innocent Christians or Jews like the UN workers who were slaughtered by the Muslims in Afghanistan lately. And you are very timid, Fareed. It is not an equal proposition. The murdering of non-Muslims by Muslims is much worse than the burning of any religious book, even the Koran. The taking of an innocent life with flesh, heart and a soul is much more evil than the burning of a Koran book made of paper by a crazy man in Florida. But you, Fareed Zakaria, treat the 2 actions as though they were morally equivalent. They were not and are not. But you, Fareed, are either too cowardly and afraid of how Muslims will react to say just that, or you believe they are equal in evil.
Mr. Zarkaria is an apologist for a religion which has a significant portion of its adherents who lack the basic values developed by civilized humans over the past 10,000 years.They need to be isolated from the rest of society as much as possible and left to their own devices.
Wow, I thought I read Fareed say Aham Karzai condemned the acts, ain't that a enough. I think maybe it would be just for us white Americans to start my apologizing for the transatlantic-slave trade. Has America as a Nation apologized for Hiroshimaand Nagasaki. May our white parents should also apologies to the Red Indians. The Quraan condemns such acts and that is all you will get. Afghans are frustrated and that is their driving force not religion, you don't see Muslims in Saudi Arabia doing same. So leave Islam bashing alone and apologize for all the above mentioned deeds
There is no need for America to apologize to Japan for Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Japan made an unprovoked, surprise attack on Pearl Harbour in Hawaii while Japanese diplomats pretended to be negotiating a treaty with the USA. Japan declared war on the USA first. America was justified to attack Japan in self defense. If America had had to invade the heavily defended main Japanese islands, American generals determined it would cause the deaths of over 100,000 more American soldiers and over 1,000,000 more Japanese deaths. Dropping the bombs on those two cities, horrible as the consequences were, caused fewer deaths and injuries than had America pursued their conventional war to the ultimate end of conquering Japan through invasion. The Japanese government, Emperor and generals should have been smart and wise enough to surrender after Hiroshima. They refused. The USA had no choice but to bomb another one of their cities. After Nagasaki, the Japanese leaders finally realized they would cause the complete destruction of their country and people if they did not surrender, so they did. Today, Japan is one of America's closest and strongest allies because we share the values of democracy and freedom.
Americans feel terrible for all the people who suffered in the bombings. But the responsibility for their deaths and suffering rests with the Japanese government and military that infamously attacked America first and without any warning, and refused to surrender when they knew they no longer had any hope of victory and even after they were warned that America would strike them with a weapons of previously unimaginable power if they did not surrender.
You sound like just another person who has been brainwashed to hate America. We're not falling for your load of bull.
I wish and hope (and pray), there were more people like Fareed Zakaria in all religion, as these books, Quran, Holy bible, Bhaavath Gita, Torah, Tipitaka are all written for people and the other way around. So he has correctly said kiiling people proves that which ever holy book they are kiiling for is worthless.
Only moslems can understand moslems. thank u zakaria for reporting how the hell news reached to your home country
Many of us non-Moslems understand Moslems and Islam very well, thank you very much. Speak for yourself.
Why is burning a "holy" book any different than burning any other book. I love books and would not like to see Stephan King or Isaac Asimov burned either. Nut there is nothing special about the bible. qu'ran or any other work of fiction. They are all not true and can be discarded, burned or used as toilet paper. Come to think of it, I'd rather see the bible or qu'ran as toilet paper. They do more damage to the world than King or Asimov.
Zakaria comes heavy with the equivocation, I see.
Burning any "holy book" of mythology is an act of moral and intellectual bravery but only when you burn your own "holy book" as well. The sooner people get over themselves and drop their absurd god delusions the sooner we can save our future.
For every action there is a opposite and equal reaction. Terry Jones should be held responsible for the deaths overseas. When he first talked about burning the Quran the reaction overseas we such that we knew that if the Quran was burned lives would be lost.
You are a coward.
They were all Muslims on 9/11/2001, and no one had to burn an Koran on that day for them to plot against us. Devout Muslims are dangerous Muslims. Apostate Muslims are moderate Muslims. The more devout the Muslim is the more blood thirsty and sex crazed the become.
Non believers are to live as a second class citizen and be subjected to the Dihimitude rules and pay a Jizya.
Val, please try to express your opinions with a modicum of courtesy and decorum. People will have a greater tendency to take you seriously and will not reject your observations out of hand. This CNN Website is a forum for rational discussion, and you can make your point just as effectively without the insults. Otherwise, you're hurting no one but yourself.
The burning of the Quran was an obviously unintelligent thing for that pastor in Florida to do. Just look at all the violance that was the result of his actions. That was not the right or intelligent way to handle the subjcet of Islam. An intelligent way for a Christian to handle the subject is to study the Quran and then show all the errors it contains. Such as contradictions and anachronisms. After all the Bible does teach Christians to expose the works of darkness, Ephesians 5:11. An example of this is the internet site "answering-islam.org" or the book by Don Richardson entitled SECRETS OF THE KORAN : REVEALING INSIGHTS INTO ISLAM'S HOLY BOOK
Muslim world is not Afghanistan. The number of muslim around the world is too big to fit on this country, so, I condemn too innocents killing. As a muslim believer, I believe strongly that if the Quran is a God book, humanity is his creation, then, its burn doesn't justify the killing, in any way..... ironically, human life, health, society, prosperity, and coexistence are highly appreciated in the Quran, and I wonder, do people really read the Quran?
Islam, more than a religion is a civilization, and Quran is not responsible of acts of muslims, and if not, how can we explain the Islamic Golden Age? the Quran didn't change, but yes people.
Please, take a look:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Golden_Age
Well it sure was not America 9/11/2001. Devout Muslims are dangerous Muslims. Apostate Muslims are moderate Muslims. The more devout the Muslim is the more blood thirsty and sex crazed the become.
Non believers are to live as a second class citizen and be subjected to the Dihimitude rules and pay a Jizya.
yes, jizya was a tax for no muslims. People that have health problem, elders or convents were free from this tax, of course we are talking about a tax of around 1400 years ago, in present day, we have a tax system like the rest of the world. I don't know if exists any country where foreigners don't pay tax, perhaps we pay taxes (foreigners or not) because infrastructures, security... need money, and 1400 years ago people needed infrastructures too.
Muslims paid Taxes too, but in their case was called Zakat because is variable, depend on patrimony of every one and more complex than jizya, and like the last one, people who can't pay it, were free of the tax.
I don't share your opinion, but I think that no matter.
I think both sides were very irresponsible. Pastor Jones knew what was going to happen once he burned the Quran. If he was going to do it at least do not make a media showcase about it, just do it privately and have no press coverage so no one's life would be in danger as a result. As for the people in Afghanistan, it is wrong to take away a human life, especially if it was not out of self-defense. The problem with Afghanistan is there is extreme poverty, terrible education, and little if not any mobility in one's class, and being exposed to all that sun does not help. The people there are unable to participate in civic activities, so what do they do they join these Puritan-like people who promise them a better life however false it maybe.
Freedom of speech. It's at the very core or our constitution and one of the very pillars America was founded on. I don't agree with what Pastor Jones did, but my parents and grandparents fought for his right to do it. Pastor Jones did not call for the killing of anyone, nor did he advocate harm for any Muslims. What he did, for right or wrong, was exercise his right. The responsibility of these unfortunate deaths does not lay at his feet, but at the feet of those who chose to kill innocent people as a result.
Freedom of speech does not guarantee you the right NOT to be offended. Either we have freedom of speech, or we do not.
My dad fought just as hard as yours, but not for blowhards like Phelps.
Go yell 'fire' in a crowded theater, watch innocents get trampled, and then come back with your 'FREE SPEECH' mantra.
Freedom comes with responsibility to exercise it morally. That's what a&*holes like Phelps forgert – and so did you.
Love what that crazy Pastor is doing and wish more people would follow his lead. It's become pure entertainment to watch and hear about savages killing each other in a frothy violent rage because someone half way across the world is burning a book. Absolute hilarity! and if we could capture anything remotely this attractive and exhilarating on a reality show we could really truly capitalize on the stupidity of an entire culture for probably the first time, but it certainly wouldn't be the last.
I don't do this, as a rule, but this is particularly germane to this discussion:
From Hosea 8:7: 'For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind – "They shall reap," not merely as "they have sown," but with an awful increase. They sowed folly and vanity, and shall reap, not merely emptiness and disappointment, but sudden, irresistible destruction. "They sowed the wind," and, as one seed bringeth forth many, so the wind, "penn'd up," as it were, in this destructive tillage, should "burst forth again, reinforced in strength, in mightier store and with great violence." Thus, they "reaped the whirlwind," yea, (as the word means) "a mighty whirlwind." But the whirlwind which they reap doth not belong to "them"; rather they belong to it, blown away by it, like chaff, the sport and mockery of its restless violence.'
These words from the Holy Bible apply with the same force to Pastor Terry Jones and the congregation of The Dove World Outreach Center in Florida, to Fred Phelps and the congregation of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, to the Muslim participants in those rabid mobs who have slaughtered innocents in Afghanistan, to every Muslim, to every Jew, to every Christian, yea, to every godforsaken living human being, believer and nonbeliever alike. Most of the people writing in simply refuse to accept or acknowledge – or, by virtue of their willful ignorance, cannot even see – the shared human folly, complicity, and madness in this series of tragic events.
Were I so inclined, I could just as easily cherry-pick the Bible or the Koran to find some sort of justification for any horrific act of my own choosing. Both are sources of holy scripture that are chock full of worshipful paeans to a God of wrath, a God of vengeance, a God of retribution, a God of destruction. I happen to choose a God of peace and a God of forgiveness – and I have some startling news for a great many people out there: so do hundreds of millions of Muslims.
Pastor Jones was cautioned time and time again that his deliberate public provocation would result in violence and death – including the grievous injury and deaths of American military personnel who are now forced to bear the brunt of his incredible folly. His public declaration in response was "[...], so be it." If Jones had led a group of children to a hornets' nest at a picnic ground and had, despite repeated pleas and warnings from deeply concerned parents, struck that hornets' nest with a tree branch – an act which resulted in the deaths of two of the toddlers – he would richly deserve every bit of condemnation and every lawsuit that the parents of those children could muster. And that's putting it mildly.
Everyone responsible for instigating violence in this tragedy is to be held accountable. Period.
Well put.
Vengence is the Lords, and should be visited on Fred Phelps as much as anyone in history for his horrible, hateful actions.
Charlie, thank you for your very complimentary and courteous reply, but I most definitely am not calling out for vengeance or retaliation of any kind in any way whatsoever – not on any party, however guilty they may be. I am attempting to shed some light on this issue. For every human act, there are ramifications and consequences.
'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.' Mahatma Gandhi, Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 – 1948)
"If Jones had led a group of children to a hornets' nest at a picnic ground and had, despite repeated pleas and warnings from deeply concerned parents, struck that hornets' nest with a tree branch – an act which resulted in the deaths of two of the toddlers – he would richly deserve every bit of condemnation and every lawsuit that the parents of those children could muster. "
Adler315, the analogy is faulty, to say the least. Jones would be richlyt deserve every bit of condemnation and every lawsuit, as you put it, because hornets are mindless creatures that attack by instinct, not reasoning, therefore, it would be Jones' fault if they did attack the children, whereas Muslims are supposed to be reasonable human beings that should behave wisely and ignore insults and..........oh, wait...Muslims 'reasonable human beings'? Not supposed to act like animals? Sorry, my bad! Your analogy was quite correct. It IS wrong to provoke ANIMALS to attack and kill HUMAN BEINGS!
Mel,
I am taking the time to write this reply to you with the requisite opprobrium and condescension not only because you have failed to grasp the gist of my argument, but because you have also failed to demonstrate your ability to parse a sentence.
The crux of the matter is that, way down the line, we will have to move on from your faulty punctuation and sentence structure to the function of an analogy, which is a cognitive process of transferring information or meaning from a particular subject (the analogue or source) to another particular subject — and that's you here, Mel, baby — involving a linguistic expression corresponding to such a process.
In this particular case, the "hornets' nest" expression was merely meant to convey the idea of a clear and present danger. Danger, Mel. The danger that one faces when one deliberately provokes a fight with an armed man; the danger that one faces when one goes for a walk in any urban neighborhood at 3:30 in the morning, or engages in a business transaction with a Mexican drug cartel; the danger that one faces when dealing with ignorant, violent people anywhere, Mel, du blöder Wichser. Avoidable danger. You and Pastor Jones both get an "F."
Adler315, you are very right about my poor command of the English language. It is not my first language, but at least I'm not trying to pretend I speak it or write it very well. You seem to be a very good teacher of English, by the way you type, and I do admire you for it. However, my initial objection to your comment still stands. You and your fellow Muslims are nothing but a bunch of animals, and you did prove me right when you degraded yourself by attacking me personally. I have never called you names nor anyone else for that matter, except the terrorists who deserve not just to be insulted but shot on sight. Your verbal diarrhoea (Please help me with the spelling, Mr. English-Teacher-In-Saudi-Arabia) is nothing but pathetic name-calling, something which you Muslims (yes, you are one) do when your arguments fail. If you had ignored it, I would have been disappointed, but you've made my day, Adler135, "baby", because it means that my arguments hit where it hurts! Please keep up the insults (I love the German bit! LOL LOL LOL)
It's an old courtroom trick, Mel. Just wanted to see if you could "ignore insults," as you put it. Thanks for taking the bait, and thanks for coming out into the bright sunlight so that everyone can get a good look at you.
I rest my case.
Finally, some truth is shed on this matter. Trying to get Americans to fear burning the Quran is the start of Psychological Warfare against the American people. Our freedom is challenged by warmongering Islam religion and it would be a shame for America to cower in fear of "the Islam wraith." The guilt of murder is SOLELY placed upon the murderers. You don't see in the States that "Oh, I killed my wife. But it wasn't my fault." No! The blame of the murders MUST be placed on the murderers and NO ONE ELSE. I am American, and I am not afraid.
I see this incident as proof that we humans are disfunctional. Just look at the images all over the world of pain and suffering. The profets and seers have warned us of our distructive ways. They said: "look how you live" see what you are doing. The suffering you create. They pointed the way to the possibility of change. And yet our collective nightmare and distructive ways prevail. So religion have become the reason for division rather than unifying. Instead of bringing about an ending to violence and hatred through the realization of all being united by one common goal, they bring more violence and division.They are over 9 million religions in the world. Has you can see this is not the problem. No matter of our different beliefs–our differences are what adds to each of us. Just like the different stars and planets in the universe. The problems are that most are ignorant of the fact that our continuous cycle of war, seperation and division is us. We must take responsibility collectivly and individualy. Embrace the differences and know that religion is not God made.It is man made–for man, to create control for some. And keeping you ignorante is what they must do. I ask: where are the religious leaders? where are their teachings of peace? They hide behing theire palaces walls keeping you ignorante is what they count on.
Mr. Jones is trying to get attention. the problem is he is asking to get attention from a political group who historically you do not want to get attention from. the reaction was pre-planned. all muslim act this way towards infidels because they are afraid of us. they are afraid we will make them live in an evil ungodly way, problem is they want to violate gods law to protect gods law.
Jones is not a pastor, he is a LOSER. He is not aligned with Jesus or God but with some darker force which shall remain nameless. Jones is a small, petty publicity-seeking jonzer who deserves the guilt of what he has created. Sad person. Not a man, not a pastor, barely a human.
Muslims brutally destroyed statues of Lord Budhdha in Bamiyan (Afghanistan) in recent history. None of the muslims opposed it. How is it that they do not show any respect to any other religion but want respect from everybody ?
Read the Koran and the Hadiths if you want to understand Islam and Moslems better. Those Muslim holy books are available in English translations if you cannot read the originals in Arabic.
Assalamu Alaikkum,
Allah is great . I think as i am a Muslim , as a practitioner of Islam. Islam and the Sunnah of messenger is always teach us peace . Even in the pure thought of christanity also empasised peace and how to live with other people in peace. I kindly encourage to Mr Jhon to read understand pure christianity thought and practice it .
if even thousands of Jhon can burn the Quran but they canot stop and demolish it . because The Holy Quran always with us in our heart and practice . Insah Allah , this is another symbole that , Islam will be going to spread more in the world.
Alhamdulillah
Allah is great.
Pastor Jones is an Idiot in the worst way, America is great and caring nation. You can follow any religion for any reason. You can not say the same for these Islamic Countries! I condemn Pastor Jones as a prejudice idiot, but WE WILL NOT BE THREATENED. It is his right to protest the Quran just as it is ours to tell him he is an Idiot. God Bless the United States and the People of all faiths that preach freedom and liberty in this world!
There is no such thing as a moderate Muslim.
You are right, either you are Muslim or not. Either you practice or not. Either you believe or not. Muslim has to fight against oppression of all kinds. Terrorism is a symptom of operation and loss of hope. America's foreign policies led to 9/11.
No. Al Quaida's foreign policy let to 9/11. Al Quaida would use any pretext to attack America because they are against American law, principles, values, traditions, freedoms and way of life. Nothing justifies Al Quaida's murdering of almost 3,000 innocent civilians on 9/11. Nothing. Not the Koran. Nothing.
Muslims destroyed the World Trade Center.
No, Val, it wasn't Muslims that did that. It was crazy, revenge seeking people that did that. They just happened to be Muslim. They were using their religion as an excuse to murder and kill. Sad. Isn't it?
Muslims don't need to seek revenge. God will punish those severely. This is the sign of the last days of mankind. I feel sorry for everyone in Florida.
Come on now Muhammed! We will all be dust! Try to be happy in this life. Life is precious. God, Allah, or whatever you prefer to call him would not want life to be squandered. I am sure of that. Take a look at the flowers in the field. Are they pummeling each other? And the animals in the wild do not kill each other for revenge, but simply because of instinct to preserve themselves. Simply to eat. Words are just words. It is caring behavior that matters and distinguishes us from hellions. Let's be good to each other. It's a Good Earth. More of us need to appreciate it and concentrate on what really matters: The earth and the future of it!
How dare you even dream of blaming everyone in Florida for the actions of one stupid, crazy man? Who do you think you are? Should we blame your whole family and all your friends because you are full of hatred and lack any humility or gratitude for how America has helped all people including Muslims all over the world? No, we don't believe in collective punishment for innocent people. You are responsible for your own actions and their consequences, only you. We don't blame you for Osama Bin Ladin's actions. Do you think we should?
Mohamad
JihadONdeezNutz.
I am Muslim. If I was asked to renounce my belief in God to be American, I would say no. The same question to the Christians and Jews. If it were a requirement to be an American to not believe in God would you? If it were a requirement to fight for America against the pope, the Rabbi, or Islam would you? No. I support Islam first and America as long as it doesn't go against Islam or Muslims. All this hate against Islam, what goes around comes around.
Dear Muhammed: You see that is the issue here. In the US it is not a requirement to be any special religion. You can practice any form of spirituality you wish as long as you don't hurt others. That is not true, though of some countries in the Middle East or elsewhere in the world. I don't care didly what people in the Middle East want to believe, just stop hurting yourselves and each other and others who don't follow Islam. Stop creating so much news.....Why, if Islam was so great, are so many people on the streets protesting? Apparently there are many who are just not happy living the Islam way of life. People need to be free. Not living in the dark ages! Why does Islam have to be so extreme? Where is the love here? All I see in it is hate and punishment and keeping people, especially women downtrodden. We are not living in the dark ages. Now these repressive regimes and their behavior is getting an audience and they don't like it. Well too bad for them. Maybe the U.S. is not perfect. But I sure am glad to live here and not somewhere where I have to hide myself from view or be punished or killed. If Allah thinks this is right and good, well I want no part of him. I will continue believing that God would never want that for me. He loves me and would not want me to suffer.
The constitution of the US does not garuntee my soul goes to heaven. The Quran does and is my constitution. IF you disagree fine, just leave us alone. YOu blame Muslims for 9/11. How many innocent Iraqis died? How many innocent Afghans died? Collateral damage? What if people said 9/11 was collateral damage. America has much blood on its hands as Al Qaeda. Call a Murderer a Murderer. The US is just as guilty.
No. You are wrong. The USA is the greatest country in the world precisely because it is composed of over 300 million people who immigrated or whose ancestors immigrated from other countries all over the world. The USA was enriched by the contribution of all these people of all different nationalities, languages, religions and cultures unlike most of the other countries of the world. The USA is a free representative democracy unlike most countries in the world. The USA gives more food, medicine, clothes and money in foreign aid to the poor, suffering people all over the world than any other country because Americans are the most generous and selfless people on Earth. America saved the world from the Fascism of the Nazis and from the Communism of the Soviet Union. America is a force for good and freedom all over the world.
Al Quaida are terrorists who unprovoked attacked American and killed almost 3,000 of our civilians. The Taliban government of Afghanistan supported Al Quaida and gave sanctuary to Al Quaida's leaders there and refused to arrest them for trial for their crimes of mass murder. America had every right to invade Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban government that attack Al Quaida there and bring them to justice. Every country has the right to defend their citizens against terrorists. You cannot make a moral equivalence between terrorists murdering thousands of American civilians by highjacking passenger planes and flying them into buildings and Americans killing those terrorists in self defense. Yes, some innocent Afghanis died in the war and the deaths of innocent civilians is always a terrible thing, but you cannot abandon the right to defend the lives of your own people against terrorists who pledge to keep killing you just because some innocent people will inevitably be unintentionally killed in the resulting hostilities.
So America and Al Quaida are not equivalent. America is the beacon of freedom for the world. Al Quaida is an organization that kills and pledges to kill and destroy all the people in the world who don't agree with it's principles and rules. If Al Quaida had not attacked America in 1993 and 2001, America would never have attacked Afghanistan. If the Afghani government can provide peace and security to its own people and its own land, America and all the other countries who sent forces to Afghanistan will withdraw from Afghanistan, leaving Afghanistan with all their resources to build a better, freer, more representative and peaceful future for its own people. We don't want to impose our way of life on the people of Afghanistan but we cannot let Al Quaida and those who support them to continue to attack America through terrorism.
If you cannot understand the distinction between America and Al Quaida, you must have been well brainwashed to hate America, the West and anyone who doesn't believe in and follow your particular stream of Islam, be it Sunni, Shiite or other.
And America helped save the Afghan people from the Communists troops of the Soviet Union who invaded and occupied Afghanistan by giving the Afghani freedom fighters heavy weapons like Stinger missiles, heavy machine guns, mortars, etc. I don't see you thanking America for saving the Afghani Muslims from the God-less Communists, do I? You seem very ungrateful for all the good that America has done for Muslims all over the world. It was America and NATO who intervened militarily in Bosnia against Serbia to protect and defend Serbian, Bosnian, Herzogovinan and Albanian Muslims. It wasn't any Muslim or any Arab country who saved the Muslims of Bosnia. It was us Americans because we believe in defending oppressed and suffering innocent people who are being slaughtered by their own governments. That's why we've helped out in Libya to save innocent Muslim lives there being slaughtered by Libya's own government forces of Gaddafi.
But you don't appreciate that. You show no respect or gratitude for how American has helped Muslims all over the world like in Afghanistan (against the Soviets), Libya, Bosnia or Indonesia where America sent aircraft carriers with field hospitals and thousands of tons of food and medicine to help the Muslim people there after the tsunami. You should be ashamed of yourself for hating America and Americans who have helped your Muslim people so much and so often.
Muhammed,
I am not a Muslim, but I have a clear message for you. We can start with this, and then perhaps we can speak together as brothers:
السلام عليكم
If it's not peace upon him maybe it's a drone.
I think that it's a nice beginning. I saw a comment above talking about the future, I think that all of us, we must do all possible to give to our children a best world ....and reading the comments I see that will be very hard
terrorism is a common enemy.
Taqiyya is a practice in Shi'a (no, not only Shi'a, Wikipedia!) Islam whereby adherents may conceal their faith when they are under threat, persecution, or compulsion.
Do muslims in USA live under persecution or threat?
If that's true, it's well covered, because out of USA we don't have any idea about.
I know that people may have different opinions, they may often express it in no very kindly way....but I can't say that is a persecution or threat...I think. We exchange ideas, every one has his manner.
Despite that 'chií' and 'suní' thinkings were appeared after Quran was finished and after prophet died, despite that most muslims don't identify with any of both or is part of their culture heritage, despite that I believe that people must have the freedom to believe in any idea always that the idea doesn't cause terror, blood or war, I must say that to find the truth (if we want find it), firstly we must leave colored glasses that most persons wear to see cultures like they want they be, we must read about, no only in wikipedia pages, and is necessary have courage to read opposite opinions, perhaps those people are not like we think, just perhaps....of course if our unique goal is attack all a culture or a civilization to revenge a terrorist, criminal and dark event...this discusion doesn't have sense....
And talking about dangerous ideas, I must say that Quran is a book that was finished in 23 years, a very long time, all opinions or laws are justified by society events, first the event occurs and then the Quran sayings come, but never in reverse sense. So often we find ideas expressed kindly and in other times the same ideas are expressed in a hard way, that means the event is different and to understand the sayings correctly we must know the event firstly, and event is found in history not always in Quran. I hope that people that say they read Quran, they consider the age and the first society that received Quran, we are talking so about century 7 or 8, in same way when we read 'Pillars of The Earth', we consider that it talks about concepts and rules in the Middle Age society. Quran express generals ideas and laws, and it can't be in other way because humanity evolves.
You are all wasting time arguing with MUHAMMED. This is the type of person that kills innocents by blowing himself up. Read his words closely. Look out, oh, is that a Drone.
I'm not arguing with anyone at all. That's your department.
More than life itself, religion is more important to a true believer. This pastor in Florida knows that this is going to happen and he still proceeded with this stupid plan. In the Christian faith however, forgiveness is asked of its follower even though they love their religion just as much and the urge to seek revenge is just as strong.
Go to his website and open your head before you judge. Have all the facts. Then judge. You';ll be shocked what you will find there about the hate of the Muslims of you, and me, USA, Europe!
While I disagree with false religions and am a devout Christian, true Christian behavior wouldn't provoke anger but witness and profess our faith through actions, love, and selflessness. But the fact remains that a religion that claims to be a religion of peace blows a gasket and goes on a killing spree when someone disagrees or disrespects their religion. Christians and the Holy Bible, the only true Word of God, are disrespected everyday in the media, on television, and in music, but you don't see Christians going around killing people because of it. Jesus said in John 14:6 that "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." He didn't say go through anyone else such as Mohammed or Buddha or whatever, only through Him: the risen Son of God, Jesus Christ. According to the book, "Living Religions", it states that Muslims cite John 14:16 and 26 as the verses that specifically state Jesus prophesied the coming of Muhammad when he promised the advocate or helper would come to assist humanity after him. This is a twist of the verses in the Holy Bible. Jesus states in John 14:16-17 "I will ask the Father, and HE will give you another Helper, that HE may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know HIm, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you." This refers to Jesus promising His disciples that after He ascends to Heaven, the Holy Spirit will come down and be with them forever. Furthermore, it states in those verses that the disciples already knew the Spirit since He was already abiding with them. In other words, Jesus, the Son of God, would later come in the form of the Holy Spirit, thus completing the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Praise the Risen Lord Savior, Jesus Christ, and praise God for sending His only Son to save us from our sins. I pray that anyone reading this will look for a Holy Bible and seek someone who can share the good news of Jesus with them. God bless.
Thank you for such lovely writing.....I think you have the right idea here. Let's just keep talking about Jesus and the fact that he is the Truth and the Way and the Life and not even focus on what else is being said. I always ask myself: What would Jesus say or do in any given situation I am facing. I know he would say that the Bible is just a book and it is not worth killing someone over. Any holy book does not take presidence over life itself. I don't favor a religion or belief or way of life that would harshly punish individuals and take their freedom away for small petty reasons. I try to follow the Commandments, although I am not perfect....but I know Jesus loves me, or at least I hope he does.....And I will try to forgive those violent ones for they know not what they do!
The truth speaks for itself. It has a ring to it. You spoke the truth and it is loud and clear and has a truth ring to it unlike other things.
Fred Phelps is an embarassment to ALL Americans – a symbol of much of what is wrong with our great country.
Free speech is guaranteed...but being an irresponsible, hateful jerk should be punished.
You cannot yell 'fire' in a crowded theater; neither should you be able to be such a major a%&hole under the guise of 'free speech'.
Die, Phelps. You will be headed south.
Oh, Charlie....This Phelps guy was just trying to gain more parishioners. And the Middle Easterners are just looking for another excuse to kill each other and hate the U.S. What we here in the U.S. should be doing is breaking our dependence on oil from the Middle East. Then let them kill each other if they want. We will protect our shores, which is what we should be doing, anyway, and mind our own business!
Dear Islamic brothers ,
I went through some coments that expressed in very emotional way.Indeed , evry muslim who heard about burning of Quran , naturally we wre getting emotion because it is our great constitution , ways , religion etc. Me too, when i read this message i got emotion but i really myself remembered the thought about kindness, tollaration, and our beleifs about permenet life in other world (kiyama) . By saying so, i am not saying who are going to get revange against this , they have a right , they can take decesion . But i would like to ask them please dont attribute your action with Islam .because getting revange is far from islamic thought . even though you can call Pastor Jhon as idiot .i canot call him because Islam has not guided accordingly.
i would like note the following life experience of our great prophet how they treat others
Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) treated everybody, friend or foe, with kindness and taught his companions to do likewise. It is reported by Abu Basra Ghifari that when he was a non-believer he came to Madinah and stayed as a guest of the Messenger of Allah. He drank milk from all his goats at night but the Prophet did not say a word. That night he and all his family slept hungry! The problem of hypocrites in Madinah was a great test for the Prophet and his companions, but he always treated them kindly and with great consideration. Abdullah Ibn Ubayy and his followers embraced Islam, but at heart they were unbelievers and never really accepted Islam.
Their behavior at the time of the Battle of Uhud and on many other occasions was damaging to the cause of Islam, but Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) always treated them with kindness. When Abdulllah Ibn Ubayy died, Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) gave his cloak for his shroud! Jews were extremely hostile to Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) and his mission, but he was always kind to them. Once he went to the house of a Jew to visit his sick son. He invited the boy to Islam but the boy looked towards his father for his permission. His father gave permission and the boy embraced Islam. Once when the funeral of a Jew was passing, the Prophet stood up as a mark of respect for the dead. Once a Jew complained to him that a Muslim had slapped him. He called that Muslim at once and reprimanded him. In fact, he treated all people with kindness under all circumstances and never showed any ill-will towards anyone or ill-treated anyone. Makhul (Radhia Allahu Anhu) reported Allah’s Messenger as saying, “The believers are gentle and kind like a pliant camel which, when guided lets itself be guided and when made to sit, even on stones, does so.” Mu’adh (Radhia Allahu Anhu) said, “The last injunction Allah’s Messenger gave him when he put his foot in the stirrup was. “Treat people well, O Mu’adh.”
I would like to empasised non muslim brothers who are participating this forum and briefing their neutral points that i hope you will understand the approach between emotion and intellect . Please dont compare the islam with who delevering some thought in emotional way.
My dear Mohammed Shadath,
السلام عليكم
Thank you for your wise and considerate words to your Muslim brethren. I am not a Muslim, but I count many Muslim men and women, former ESL [English as a Second Language] students of mine from Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as being among my dearest friends. They have always shown me great kindness, understanding and true affection.
Your information about the Prophet Muhammad (محمد صلى الله عليه وآله) is most deeply appreciated. May the blessings of Allah be upon you.
(تقیة)
Keep it coming and go on burning as they ruined all in this area!
Please keeep them burning!
Those who are Muslims behoove themselves to face the fact that the Koran is a book of hate that sporns hate against those who do not have the same belief in their religion/political system. We Westerners are free to express what we want, make jokes of, belittle and criticize, and if we say the Koran is a piece of crap than we are free to do that. You Muslims are just “USING” our jokes and the Koran burning as an excuse to be aggressive toward the Westerner because you are very envious of what we have. But we worked very hard for it for hundreds of years. Just today again I read your Muslim system lashed a girl to death. What kind of animals are you men? You abuse girls and women and then you blame them for having been abused and then kill them so you do not have to face YOUR DARKNESS; a very inhuman system, more like dogs would do something like that.
Yeah you can say all you want about how kind and good Islam is! Come live in Saudi, Pakistan, Afghanistan or Iran! I lived there. I worked there! I witnessed ppl. beheading. Witnessed the regimes under the umbrella of Sharia'a! In the name of God I take your life and freedom? All should be dead, robbed and executed coz they r Jews or Christians? WHY? I lived amongst them. I lost my believe in anything beautiful or forgiving! It's a crime. Islam is created to kill man kind and degrade women till death!
I find this so archaic, so primitive, and so very childish!!! Islam is up in arms about the burning of a COPY of the Koran, yet they are passive, often encouraging about the burning or desecration of other holy works, such as the Christian Bible, the Buddha Statues in Afghanistan, the Hebrew Bible, and so on. Masses of Islam’s follower danced in the Streets when terrorist used planes to destroy buildings killing thousands, and rejoiced at the beheading of a Jewish journalist. So the rest of society is to sit idly by and remain tolerant while acts against their beliefs and common human respect are thrown to the side. Burning the Koran was wrong, agreed, but only the primitive would lash out at people who had nothing to do with it. If I were to burn the Koran, the Christian and the Hebrew Bibles all at the same time, who would be most upset? Where would I expect the most outcries? Who would be the most tolerant of my “offensive” actions? I understand Islam is a religion of peace, but the people that believe in it have shown that they are not a people of peace, they are a people of violence and hatred. Much of the Islamic world hates or claims to hate America and what it stands for, but when there is trouble or a disaster or their families are in danger, where do they turn? Who do they ask for help? America. The Arab League asked at great length for American help with Libya, Islamic organizations around the world asked the United States for help with the Taliban, and still Arab nations beg for help from the U.S. in the struggles and pending troubles with Iran. So why is it that there is so much hatred for a people that is so “needed” to help those in despair? So one person burned a copy of the Koran, so what? Who cares? I tell you, only those bent on a life of violence, that is who cares. Was he wrong for burning it? Yes, no doubt, but does that in any way, in the eyes of any God, justify the killing of someone in retaliation? Not in any religion, not in the name of any God! NEVER! I say to you cowards, that choose to burn religious representations, or a nations colors, or kill in the name of God, come see me, I have no fear of this life, I know God is just and right and has no tolerance for cowards who hide behind his name. No, I am not threatening or inviting violence, just telling you, step out from the shadows, don’t be a coward, stand in front of man and your God, then commit your acts of “justice” in his name. See how your God thinks of you then. And remember, God has many names in many cultures in many lands and peoples, but there is one common thread; there is only on “God” in each of these practices, only one Almighty, so how can anyone say that any religion is bad or wrong, when they all worship the same God, only by a different name?
The problem is they are not childish. They are sinister which is a very serious thing. These are people filled with the passion of Satan to hate the West (based on Christian culture). They are very dangerous to themselves and others. The Muslims kill Christians almost every day all over the world only because they believe in Christ. Imagine that!
As a whole, we tend to tip-toe around religion way too much. I'm for a bonfire of all the "holy books" of all religions. The sacred is in our hearts and minds and not the written rules of the superstitious.
If there were no religious texts on Earth, we would not have fewer moral or just people, but the angry and hateful would be robbed of the word of arbitrary authority to cause war on their fellow citizens.
Agreed. Teachings need be imprinted in the minds & hearts of believers so they fret not when the physical is destroyed.
what kind of peoples you are???......when one of your solders killed muslims it is not doing a problem but when muslims kills one of your solders, you said that muslims are terrorists???...and you don't have right to burn Quran!
We have a right to burn the Koran if we bought the book. I do not have a right to burnt the Koran that you bought and you possess. We are the owner of the Koran we bought at Amazon.com. None of your business, what we do with books we buy – basically is what it boils down to. And if I wipe my behind with it, I can do that, too. The pastor made a statement that you all can demonstrate all over the world all the time when we express our freedom and even kill people. Well, we are tired of being nice Christians. We will stand up for what we believe. And we hate the Koran because it is a hateful book that hates Christians and Jews.
California, what is this "we are tired of being nice Christians" business? You are not a religious authority by any stretch of the imagination; in point of fact you are not even speaking as a devout Christian, but as a man with murder in his heart. That makes you no better than the very killers you condemn. If you cannot speak as a Christian in these matters, don't presume to speak for others. Kindly speak for yourself.
From John 8:5-11: Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
It is not against the law to burn books in the USA, even the Bible or the Koran. Is it a stupid, crazy and mean thing to do? Yes, it is. But, it is not illegal. We have something called freedom of speech in Western countries which is something people don't have in most Muslim countries. We also have freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion and democracies, none of which you have in most Muslim countries because your countries are ruled by Muslim despots, Muslim military dictators, Muslim religious clerics and Muslim Kings.
So don't tell us we don't have the right to do it. We have the right to do it and anything else that is not illegal in our countries, even if it is not the smart, reasonable or correct thing to do. You don't have the right to tell us what we can and what we can't do. You don't rule us. You are not our master. You might want to conquer us and tell us what we can and can't do. But you haven't conquered us, you haven't converted us and you haven't killed us. We are a free people. We operate by our rules, laws, values and traditions, not yours.Got that? Understand that? Good!
The Koran teaches all people of the earth MUST BE CONVERTED TO the Muslim system sooner or later and if they do not let themselves be converted they will be murdered. Christians are murdered every day all over the world for being Christians; most of them at the hands of Muslims. Just google Christians murdered and you will find out who murders them. Now the Western society is built on Christianity and our slogan is "love your enemy and do good to those who hate you." "Love your neighbor as yourself." "Forgive others." Our neighbors include all people on the earth but I must say people with your philosophy are frightening to me and I will stay away from Muslims. There is no way you can totally overcome our Christian based good with your evil religion/politics which is only outward rituals but inside your hearts are dark and hard. You Muslims will all burn in Hell unless you repent of your hatefulness and accept Christ Jesus as your God; that’s what Jesus said. You’ve confiscated the historical story of Jesus and call it the coming of the Imam. The devil distorts everything. Your religion cannot possibly be good because it enslaves people and forces people; therefore your god cannot be good. So if he is not good than he is Satan – logically. You have an opportunity in the West to find out the truth. Do it.
Muslim girl leashed to death today by Muslims. She was probably raped and now the fuckers blame it on her so they do not have to face up to their evil. Honor lashing, mind you.
When you look into the face of a Muslim man, you see the darkness. I see it. I have met some nice Muslim women, but the men there is something sinister about them.
Google Pastor Terry Jones. On his website during his speech you will see a video that shows the hate of the Muslims for the west and it goes like this: "Bomb, bomb, USA. Bomb, bomb, USA." "Death to Germany" "Death to Spain" "Death to USA" (Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, and more hate.) Yes Pastor Terry Jones, burn that Koran. Burn Koran, burn. Burn, burn, burn. Burn evil burn. Burn devil burn. Burn Muslims burn! Go watch the video on Pastor Terry Jones site.
It's not about religion in the Muslim culture. It's about hate. It's a system developed by a warrier who had a dream that was all and he called himself called by God and he killed thousands of people and dominated them for political and land gain. And now the Muslims kill thousands of people all over the world for even worse reasons – just because they do not believe in their violent religion. They are so backwards. They are more backwards now than we were in the middle ages. Theya re 600 years backwards! So they think if they call their crap Holy suddenly everyone has to have reverence for it not matter how bad the crap is. While there are good behaviors in the Koran, the basic source of it is evil, hateful towards men, especially Jews and Christians. The only brothers the Muslims have are other Muslims. The are a cloud of dark locusts settling over Europe and the USA. The big blast attle as in Revelation has started.
I hate the Muslim belief that they must conquer the world. I hate them killing Christians worldwide. I hate the way they treat women. I hate how they rape children and women and then do honor killings to the victims. I hate what they did on 9/11. I hate what they did to those school children in Russia. I hate all the bombings they have done worldwide against non Muslims. I hate the beheading of our US citizens. I hate what they do to Jews just because they are Jews. I hate Burkas. I hate what they have done to journalists who are looking for the truth. And I HATE THE PROPHET MOHAMMED. He is the right hand of Satan and he is bringing major distruction into this world. And I am a Christian and I hate evil.
I totally agree!!!! I could not have worded it better myself!!!! God help the generations to come when they will have to abide by Sharia law!!!! Wake up people, it's happening right in front of your eyes!!!! No one will be spared!!!!
These are they who purchase error at the price of guidance, so their commerce doth not prosper, neither are they guided. (16) Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindleth fire, and when it sheddeth its light around him Allah taketh away their light and leaveth them in darkness, where they cannot see, (17) Deaf, dumb and blind; and they return not. (18) Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder and the flash of lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears by reason of the thunder-claps, for fear of death, Allah encompasseth the disbelievers. (in His guidence) (19) The lightning almost snatcheth away their sight from them. As often as it flasheth forth for them they walk therein, and when it darkeneth against them they stand still. If Allah willed, He could destroy their hearing and their sight. Lo! Allah is able to do all things. (20) O mankind! worship your Lord, Who hath created you and those before you, so that ye may ward off (evil). (21) Who hath appointed the earth a resting-place for you, and the sky a canopy; and causeth water to pour down from the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for you. And do not set up rivals to Allah when ye know (better). (22) And if ye are in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto Our slave (Muhammad), then produce a surah of the like thereof, and call your witness beside Allah if ye are truthful. (23) And if ye do it not – and ye can never do it – then guard yourselves against the Fire prepared for disbelievers, whose fuel is of men and stones.
Quran Chapter 2: Verse 16-23
Fear Allah (GOD) for what you are saying is exact word of SATAN putting into your heart. If you are a true christian and a follower of Jesus (PBUH), you will believe in the Last and final Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as Jesus (PBUH) had informed his followers that of a Final messenger from Allah and that is Muhammad (PBUH).
Jesus (PBUH) is a slave and one of the mightiest messengers of Allah (SWT). We believe in Him and revelations came to him in the original contexts and not man altered and changed contexts. Repent before the angel of death comes and takes your life, for that time nothing will save you from hell fire for ever!
Muhamadian
Give it a rest. You are posting psycho-babble.
Was the bombing of the SS Cole a provocation???
Was the bombing in London a provocation???
Was the bombing in my toilet a provocation?
Was the bombing in Spain a provocation? In response to that, did the Spaniards go and murder any old Muslim that walked by? Did the Londoners go kill any old Muslim that walked by after the Muslims bombed the train? Did we in the US kill any old Muslims walking around after they attacked the twin towers?
The Emporer is standing in the middle of the room and he has no clothes on. No one can see it; especially not Americans. They are blinded by political correctness. Psssst! I tell you a secret: It's a Muslim emporer.
When Islamic terrorists massacred 186 children and 148 other non-Muslims on the morning of September 3rd, 2004 at a schoolhouse in Beslan, Russia, very few Muslims celebrated the high-profile event and some even took the time to denounce it. But, in a community renowned for its peevishness, there was very little passion over the routine slaughter of innocents in the name of Islam. From the website: thereligionofpeace.
While rumors of a Quran desecration or a Muhammad cartoon bring out deadly protests, riots, arson and effigy-burnings, the mass murder of non-Muslims generally evokes yawns. In the six years following 9/11 more than 10,000 acts of deadly Islamic terrorism were perpetrated, yet all of them together fail to provoke the sort of outrage on the part of most Muslims that the mere mention of Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo inspires. But if a paperbook burns, then they go and murder more people. Insane! From the website: thereligionofpeace
Praise Cheeses!
LET'S RESPECT ALL RELİGİONS
What about the stupid gay ass retarded ones that make no sense? Praise Jeebaz and may the force be with you!
My finger smells like poop, weird!
WHY WILL NO ONE MENTION THE COMPLICITY OF THE CLERICS WHO WENT AROUND MAZ-R-SHARIF WITH LOUDSPEAKERS INFLAMING PEOPLE!!
It's the clerics stupid!
They set people on fire with loudspeakers? Amazing, these clerics obviously have the power of God in them!
Tell your jest to the relatives of the UN dead and those guarding them my friend . . . not sure they would appreciate it . . .get a life
I just had nothing good to say about it Kabuli, you are right. It was wrong of me to be an idiot about such a thing. It is sad! The world is a sick place. I just don't understand!
Grrrrrrrrr!
I echo the sentiments of most people here. Islam is the only religion that goes postal when they are insulted. Well f@ck them all. I believe in freedom of speech. If someone wants to burn some f@cking book that they have bought then so be it. My faith is not the Bible on its own, but the message inside it. We believe in freedom of speech and they don't. THAT'S the problem.
It is kind of lame isn't it?
Hurry up or you'll be late for work, Belky: the village idiot needs to be in the town square by 9:00 AM.
El Cid,
Muslims in the USA did not react to the Quran burning at all. Only some people in the War-torn countries like Afghanistan where people are backward, who don't go to school, react in this violent way. Help them get education, instead of playing with their emotions. Muslims like me who live in USA, who love this country for its values, condemn Quran burning because it provokes violence in backward war-torn countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan. If you want to bring peace in the world, please help those people. Help them get education. I recommend that you people read 'Three cups of tea' and see that if you get those people education and other basic necessities of life, they will prove to be better human beings than most of the rest of the world.
Well freedom of speech is great and all but perhaps just from the fact that burning the Quran does end people lives because of the fact that some Muslims kill people in these so called backwards countries, it should for just this reason alone be considered a motivation to insight murder. I understand that by saying this I am giving into something that goes against freedom of speech but perhaps in this case as it has already been seen by the damage done from the book burning in question, sometimes freedoms can be dangerous. Is it really worth the lives of the people that have been taken over this freedom of speech that has been practiced? I believe that the burning of the Quran was a protest against the violence that comes with the culture behind it but in the end as sad as it is to see that the violence is true. Burning the book caused violence and death and who will be held responsible for that? This American preacher should be convicted, did he really think that there would be no anger to this extreme somewhere in the world over this. Give me a break, I do not understand the Muslim faith and I never truly think I will but I would not set the Quran on fire to prove some kind of point and what was the point? I think the point was hate, it was a hate crime. Its one thing to speak out your opinion on something such as this but there is such a thing as going to far………….p.s………..I’m on it Adler315!!!!!
How many Christian Churches are in the middle east? With the exception of Isreal. How many colleges and universities are there in the middle east? How many kings and dictators are there in the middle east? How many Americans have been killed defending other people and countries right to exist in freedom and peace?3 million if you really need to know.
I say we leave the middle east and let them fight and die for their own freedom, then they will understand and appreciate the true cost of freedom.
The middle east countries are so backward because they have dictators ruling them for decades. These dictators use and exploit the resources of these countries, but they don't spend this money on their countries. They use it to increase their bank accounts and wealth, but they don't do anything for their people. The people of middle east are progressive and educated but they dn't many good opportunities to improve their lives. You may have noticed that recently these people are rising against these dictator regimes. One by one these dictators are losing ground. Tunisia, Egypt and soon Libya, Syria and even Saudi Arabia. One day all these dictators will have to leave. That day Middle east will be full of happiness and peace will prevail. But right now these people need the world community to raise voice against these dictators.
it is not a good thing what the pastor has done i really donot understand why did he has to do that,he wants to show his strength or what,he should not did that,if he has something to preach to the muslims he should preach not doing that sort of action.that is not really a good thing.
What is the difference between politics and religion? They both strive for power at the expense of humanity! When will the insanity stop!
Fareed Zakaria you are a disgusting, ugly, hate-mongering human-being. I think most people will agree with me that you are puppet of the western media. You pretend to have an understanding of Islam and the east, when you obviously don't! So let me tell you this, Muslims will take over the West and once they do you will be in a lot of trouble ! So change your ways before that happens, you're not on a good path. God will make you burn in hell for all this hate mongering Fareed. You know most Muslims are peaceful and loving people yet you continue to judge us and depict us as evil. Shame on you, SHAME ON YOU.
Amir, your brainwashed if you think the muslims will EVER rule the West. They can't even rule themselves, they believe anything the imans and clerics tell them and then kill each other in the name of god, pathetic. If the west is so evil why do so many muslims try to emigrate to the west?
Amir...you hear that sound? It is your goat girlfriend baying you to come back to the pen and play...no single faith will dominate the world (thank goodness)...Muslims in the Indian Subcontinent cannot defeat the Hindus, Muslims in Europe cannot defeat the Christians, Muslims in Asia cannot defeat the Buddists/Confusiasts/Shintoists or Communists, Muslims in the Middle East cannot even defeat the Jews in the small state of Israel...why not just live and let live, or at least go back to focusing on your goat girlfriend...
Amir,
Your book got burned, protected by our First Amendment. Islam will not rule the west.....protected by the Second Amendment.
Fareed is one of the most balanced commentators on either cable or broadcast news...although I don't always agree with his perspective, I always respect and appreciate his intellect.
Dear wrl468,
Thank you for your all-too-brief contribution to this particular discussion. Your words were like a breath of fresh air. I have to get out of here: the hatred and ignorance on this comment thread are simply intolerable. I wish you well, wrl468.
The concept that there is something inherently sacred, in a book, just because it is a religious book, irregardless of the religion, simply demonstrates the highest level of illiteracy, and blindness to truth.
thanks for the "insight" . quote unquote.
"Burning the Holy Book of any religion is offensive. But so is killing people in reaction to that burning"
Excuse me?? For you to label someone burning their OWN property AND MURDER as BOTH offensive is stupid.
MURDER, Fareed is NOT OFFENSIVE, it is MORE THAN OFFENSIVE. It is BARBARIC, CRIMINAL, and HATEFUL.
No way could anyone in their right mind seek to equalize these two acts: one may be stupid, but the other is A CRIME. One may be offensive, the other is EVIL.
I am dismayed how all of the mainstream media are seeking to cover the hideousness of the 'Religion of Peace.'
Oh they are peaceful alright, as long as you dont offend them in any way! Such as drawing a cartoon of their prophet whom no one knows what he looked like!
Even if an insignificant little twerp like Jones burnt his own property, that is enough for them to PEACEFULLY RIOT AND MURDER.
I agree with you. To say that killing people is also "offensive" is so spectacularly minimizing the slaughter that it leaves me almost speechless. No one wanted Jones to burn the damn book because everyone knows what would result: the slaughter of innocent people by hordes of screaming, blood lust sub-human savages. That's EXACTLY what happened and it is exactly what will happen over and over and over. Fundamentalist islam is a scourge on the world.
Why do all you bigots always come to a computer and show how hateful you really are. Why don't you go and say that to a Muslim guy's face. I'm sick of you people always hiding behind a computer screen and barking BS. I work with a bigot like you, and the only thing he knows about Islam is what Fox, CNN and all the other "news" corp. spit out.
Grow a pair.
Shoplifting in any sweetshop is offensive. But so too is Madoff’s misappropriation of billions of dollars.
This only shows us that Afghan President Hamid Karzai is bad, bad news. If our government is going to remove other
leaders or dictators from Iraq and the list is long. Then maybe they should consider removing this guy? We should make him step down. He has been in power too long and he has already shown to be corrupt with money. The powers that be need to remove this guy because he has shown he is willing to bit the hand that feeds him.
I support the burning. Remember the cheers of the muslims on 911? Beheadings are common with the muslims. Stoning is also. The biggest lie today is that islam is the religion of peace, what a farse, great marketing to be sure, but just a stone cold lie. Nothing further from the truth could there be. I support the burning for sake of bringing the real islam to light. Maybe we can stop the fungus before it spreads all over the world; which is what islam is trying to do; convert or die I believe is their motto. For ever Christian or Jew they kill I say burn 10,000 of their "peace' books – and, while your at it I support going into their mosques spots and take out the guns and bombs they hide in them for future attacks on the west. Deport the bastards to their homeland, withdraw our forces and allow them to live in peace there if they want to, otherwise, give them a war they won't soon forget.
GOP health care plan: Convince muslims that the Old and Sick people are burning Qurans. That way muslims will kill the Old and Sick people instead of the GOP killing the Old and Sick with their legislation. No blood on the GOP hands that way. It's killing two birds (er. I mean Old and Sick) with one stone.
We American's have freedom of speech and if some silly man in Florida burnt a Koran, oh well. Does he really think behaving like a Muslim impresses anyone? A nutcase, but an American one with rights that no middle eastern citizen has. Muslim perverse belief that it is God's will to run like rabid dogs and kill kill kill has nothing to do with one Koran burnt in Florida and has already been going on for centuries. It may continue until they finish their continual self-immolation. An accursed people.
Since you have never gotten out of your trailor, I will thank you for being the typical American everyone outside America thinks about when one says American: Ignorant and stupid.
Must be a slow news day. Book gets burned! Book gets printed! Wow.
thats the reason Americans have no respect in Islamic world, i can remember when we were in school back in 1980s Americans were well respected in our country, use to walk freely they could go any corner of Pakistan people had lot of respect for them but look at now they cannot travel without security not even in the capital so one has to think there is must be a reason why people in Islamic world and particularly in sub-continent hate Americans. They must stop these kinds of activities in the country that is a real terrorism. dont forget its not jhon himslf he represents america. US has damage its image now is the time to repair before its get to late
Malik
Sep 6, 1986 – KARACHI, Pakistan — Pakistani officials said today that at least 15 people died in the hijacking of a Pan Am jumbo jet, including at least three Americans. The 17-hour ordeal ended when Arab terrorists fired machine guns and tossed grenades at their hos tages and commandos captured the ...
From Three Americans Died In Hijacking . – Related web pages
news.google.com/newspapers?id=SMNaAAAAIBAJ ...
Mar 6, 1981 – ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Hijackers aboard a Pakistani jetliner at the Kabul airport today shot and killed a Pakistani diplomat held with more than 100 other hostages since Monday, the Afghan radio said. At least four Americans are among the hostages. The hostage, a diplomat assigned to ...
From Hostage Killed In Hijacking . – Related web pages
news.google.com/newspapers?id=15BKAAAAIBAJ ...
Dec 3, 1984 – On Dec. 3, 1984, Kuwait Airways Flight 221 flying from Kuwait to Pakistan was hijacked and two Americans were killed. http://www.ehow.com/about_5368920_list-terrorist ...
Feb 13, 1989 – More than 90 percent of Pakistan's people are Moslems and the country has long been subjected to strong Islamic influences. ... Two Americans and two Pakistanis were killed in that assault. With tensions mounting during the day, armed Marine guards at the US Embassy, located about ...
From Mob Storms US Facility In Pakistan;At Least Five Killed As Police Open … – Related web pages
pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access ...
Yep, things were looking just fine in Pakistan for Americans in the 80's.......I guess you think Beirut was a walk in the park too.
Apr 17, 1986 – Angry demonstrators in Pakistan burned American flags, and those in Islamabad and Dhaka added effigies of the US president to ... that the raid could have been avoided if the Soviet Union had heeded requests to " restrain the Libyans" from anti- American terrorism. ...
BudTree,
Americans are not just hated in Islamic world, they are hated all over the world because they are engaged in many wars lately. Americans are not really bad people. People like Pastor Terry Jones make it look like Americans are bad. We, American Muslims, want the world know that Americans are really not bad people. But when I come here, I expect Americans condemn Quran burning and other acts of extremism. But naaah, all I find is more hate and intolerance. I hope no Muslim ever gets to read this comments. Most comments are hateful and they only want to support Terry Jones. Where are the good Americans anyway? Are there any good americans at all. I mean maybe my next door neighbor just makes me think he is nice, but when he is behind a computer screen, he is posting hateful comments. I don't know what to think of Americans. Are they good or double face. One in real life is good but the other in the cyberspace is bad?
History provides many more examples of how safe Americans are in countries of "the religion of peace", shall I provide more????
The whole world crying out for condemnations is that all you want. Will condemnations bring back those who died? Will condemnations make Islamic religion better in the eyes of non muslims? Heck no. Instead of getting on podiums and expressing "deep regret" (whatever that is) underlying issues need to be solved. Afghanistan is a war torn nation, with minimal eductaion. If the religion was the problem there would have been killings in every single islamic country but none of that happened in turkey, indonesia, etc. I think the US squandered away an oppurtunity to establish a good education system in Afghanistan instead of just finding the quickest route out of Afghanistan. When the US does exit like the way its thinking about, the same oppressive regime will take hold and all the work that has been done will be quickly undone and Afghanistan will be the biggest blunder in military history. Imagine more than a decade of occupation and achieving no objectives.
All suicidal attempts are coming from satan. Satan misleads people to believe that there is no point in living and if these people think that there is some reward if they kill while comitting suicide they will be motivated more. Islamic prophet Mohammad tried comitting suicides many times (Al-Bukhari Vol 9, Number 111). Mohammad have many people killed in his life time. The modern Muslims combined these two behaviors and are becoming suicide bombers. The truth is these people have atleast now an opertunity to follow the real God who came in the flesh (Jesus) to die for their sins.
God who came in the flesh and died, do you know how ridiculous that sounds. God is all mighty all wise he has no need to "die" in order to forgive your sins. I even know christian pastor who says that people like you take everything in the bible too literally.
Only way,
Suicide is Haram in Islam. Period. Go get your Satan out of your body and try to realize that burning Quran and provoking violence is a thing from Satan.
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/index_files/Taliban-women.jpg
The Taliban is behind the unrest is Afghanistan. Puppet ruler Karzai is just trying to score points with his people at the expensive of The USA. One rogue preacher who desires to be in the spotlight is no excuse to murdering innocent people trying to help their country. Now that we are talking about religious intolerance, how about when The Taliban took over in the 90's their first order of business was to destroy Buddhist Temples. Practice what you preach!
Radical Islam shows no tolerance for other religions. Churches are blown up. Church goers are assassinated. Why should we care if extreme elements are offended? Does non-radical Islam condemn those acts of intolerance? Silence....... Did they condemn 9-11? Islamist were dancing in the streets in Texas when the towers went down. Now that was offensive!
Texas Ranger,
First of all, USA is not a Christian country. Secondly Muslims all over the world condemned 9-11 attacks and any other terrorist activity done in the name of Islam. Check CAIR for instance. You will find plenty of Muslim scholars out there condemning terrorism. Thirdly, what are you, as a Christian doing to condemn Pastor Terry Jones? Are the people in Afghanistan aware that not every Christian in USA wants to burn Quran? Do you know Afghanistan is a war zone for past many decades? Do you know people do not get to go to any school in Afghanistan? Do you know that everyday many Afghan civilians get killed when a US drone attacks them? Do you anything at all? Have you ever read Quran? Do you know most of the Muslim world does not really care if you burn Quran copies or not. They are just copies. The real Quran is all over internet, in people's houses and hearts? Do you know any American Muslim who reacted violently to Quran burning? American Muslims condemn Quran burning in this organized manner because it is provocative. It provokes illiterate Afghans go violent. Look at newspapers closely and tell me one instance in which an American Muslim even hurt anybody for burning Quran? The American Muslims are educated both in Islamic education and Modern education. They think rationally.
Amber I never said this was a Christian country. I used the Church and Buddhist temples as examples. Mainly The church because of the recent bombings and persecution of Christians in The Middle East. The Taliban defacing of the temple was around fifteen years ago. I recall I made a distinction between radical Islam and non-radical Islam. My reference to silence has to do with clerics stirring up anti American rhetoric in Saudi Arabia (and elsewhere) encouraging their young to hook up with extremist groups while the governments allow it to happen on their soil. As far as Terry Jones burning The Quran. He is an idiot. But that still doesn't justify taking innocent lives.
Why should muslim leaders step up for every non muslim that gets killed and how can the western countries bomb strike with misiles at any muslim
I don't like the article because it creates a false relation between killing people and burning a book. There is no reason why anyone should attempt to negotiate for sanity, i.e. the notion of *not* going on murderous rampages as a consequence of someone else's expression, by declaring that the expression is also bad.
There is an obvious gulf between the Western world and the Islamic world. It is sensible to try to find common ground; it's sensible to try to find tolerance and respect rather than hatred and violence. Fine, no civilized person from either world should have a problem with this. The problem is when we in the West are willing to go too far to find common ground by being willing to weaken our core values by pandering to those who do things that are diametrically opposed to our own traditions.
We in the West have a tradition of freedom of speech - the notion that it is not okay to arrest, beat, or outright kill someone because you don't agree with their expressions. This tradition is not negotiable, and we don't need to try to pander to those who go on murderous rampages because they don't like certain expressions, by saying that we also deplore and condemn these expressions.
What we should condemn are the murderous rampages. There is no need to agree that the content of the expression here might provoke someone to go a murderous rampage, before politely asking for calm in the face of this provocation.
It's inexcusable to kill people as a reaction to symbolic expression. Period.
Obama only condemned the burning of Quran when 7 people had been killed already as a result of the protests. What does that tell you Mr Zakria. And also, you are calling ofr the rest of the Muslim world to condemn the protestors, would you mind telling me how many leaders from the Christians world have condemned the burning of Quran.
MIllions of Christians condemned it by ignoring Jones' efforts to gain attention. The only people who listened to Jones were Al Qaeda and the Taliban. That is not a surprise since they may be cut from the same cloth.
we Muslim is guard by the holy Quran , if the freedom of information permitted you be guarded accordingly. All the anticipated event in middle East is as result corruption among their Leader they lack the core Shariah in Islam, We believes in other holy books but their are tamper to create impression,eg As man who married to a woman because of freedom the lay her hand on so called husband .If that should permitted she persistent except you CAUTION Her not any but the future of her Children.We have Shariah law that can promote the whole WORLD without errors
I support the overthrow of any dictator or royal family anywhere in the world. Especially The Saudi Royal family. Nothing wrong with the spread of democracy in the Middle East. Where you went wrong is talking about Shariah Law as the answer to all our problems in the world. Never going to happen. One of the biggest errors happening on this planet is radicals like yourself justifying the killing of innocent people. Especially over a holy book. There is nothing holy about being a suicide bomber and killing innocent women and children.
Dear Mr Zakaria, your interview showing that you did not strongly condemn the action done by this drunk ,piece of shit , idiot peator Terry Jones but your main argue was about uprising the protest in afgan, this pastor ,piece of shit burn quaran the symbol of idiology for millions of muslem and disrespect these people since thousandand thousands of years ago. He did it in Florida in U.S.A. but if in muslem countries take a similar steps and start burning Bibles are arround muslems countries. what the answer would be for this piece of shit , Terry Jones.His action can not be removed by appology or regret. He should be hand-cuff and handed over to protestors .you can imagine what they do to him. in this case no any person or pastor never dare to do such a stupid action.
It's a good thing we are a FREE country not a draconian society like Afganastan.
Plato said the main problem with humanity is they skate on the surface clearly some have not even touched it.
Justified Islamophobia
The King hearings and the desecration of the unholy text, the Quran, are acts of desperation in the face of Muslims extreme intolerance, bigotry and bloody terror rather than the reverse.
We hear a lot about bigotry on the behalf of non-Muslims but for heavens sake the ridiculous nature of such claims in the face of the Justified Islamophobia represented in the creation of Home Security and wars both open and covert across the world, as well as the terrible carnage and bigotry of Muslims against non-Muslims and Muslims alike which occurs each and every day makes this a terrible absurdity which beggars logic.
The persecuted have to in fact apologise to the persecutors – Why? Because the terror derives from a religion – if this was secular terror – it would be open season.
I am not usually into book burning but burning the Quran is deplorable compared to what? Swinging from goal posts, hacked to death in a safe room, burned to death in churches, blown up at shrines, killed in drive by shootings, 9/11, killed by Mohammed because you parodied him not on just one occasion this occurred – imitated by Muslims to this day, in Malaysia even certain Muslim sects regarded as deviates and unable to worship openly, how much carnage from the very beginning to today, this very minute do you want, to prove nothing has been taken out of context – Quran Chap "THE COW" and what follows is the recipe for genocide against other responsible for the continuing planning, attempts and completion of further Muslim atrocities not only in the US and elsewhere, not only by groups but individuals.
This terror against other is not an historical and cultural anachronism it has been going on since the seventh century. Want to be a normative relativism culturally sensitive to allow slaughter of others well those blaming Terry Jones are doing a fine job. Congratulations.
The fact is, do not for one minute believe the way you see the world is the same as Muslims or any other culture for that matter you cannot relabel what you do not understand with what you do and expect everything is going to nice and rosy.
Also to say this does not represent all Muslims ignores the fact the same text which informs these terrible actions against other comes from exactly the same text informing the nature of so called moderate Muslims. Is it any wonder terrorist Muslims come from good Muslim families.
Not every one turns up in a suicide belt, as in most if not every other cultural conflict, but clearly the Muslim culture enables this terror from generation to generation as it has from the seventh century. Muslims blame everyone else for their violence rather than accept their text is flawed and rightly challenged.
Muslims can and do blame everyone else because the Quran in the Chap "THE COW" not only informs them the text will be challenged and is expected (must be from the writers experience) but the objectors are fools, etc and even God condemns them for 'grevious harm'. This is the template for violence against other and we allow this to go unchallenged because it is a fictitious text written by men labeled as religion – anyone would think humanity had not got past thinking the earth is flat.
The text which informs these terrible actions against other clearly within the Quran must be deleted and if Muslims will not do it the for the sake of a secure environment for our children without the threat of terror the rest of society has an obligation to do so.
If the textual construct for Islamic terror is not the Quran pray tell where is this text which does inform Islamic terror.
Then we get the taking out of context comment which is so, so fallacious given not only apart from the charred body bits and unfathomable grief – the context is the Quran – if I saw it immediately what of a terrorist who repeats it as verse each day. Muslims have to take responsibility and recognize calling yourself a moderate is not protection from being held personally responsible for the continuing terror.
Gad those who indeed find problems with the King hearings – encourage the continuation of terror – as with Neville Chamberlain waving his white little piece of paper unable to come to terms with any human being or culture could be so intent on the destruction of other – surely we can treat them nicely – give in to their belligerent, violent manner and sacrifice more humans to their grinding mill until they can see we are just friendly folk.
As a Muslim, my personal view on this is that the persons who burned the Quran in this manner did so out of hate and I don't have time for the childish antics (though one could say he's a Terrorist). However, what is more important is how we, as Muslims react to it. What have we been taught about bullies? A bully without an audience is just a whiner. The media was right to ignore the stunt. We should be more ... "Like... Whatever... You're an Idiot" and get on with our daily tasks.
As a Muslim, you are as much responsible for the terror against fellow humans as you do nothing to remove the text which informs terror from Islamic text the same text which informs your behavior as well as terrorists – bullies give us all a break you are the bully and you think its normative.
Pastor is much better than many radical Muslims. He burned only Quran not any human beings. How many innocent people got burned to death so far by radical Musilims.? I don't understand the rational behind it? If Quran is advocating burning the fellow beings then we should burn everything which instigate voilence against humanity. Human beings are precious than any scriptiour whether it is Bible or Quran. I am glad Pastor Terry Jones burned any Muslims
The war continues...
This is America and I will defend to the death the right for T Jones to burn what ever book he wants whether I agree with him or not. Anyone in America who does not feel the same should find a new country to live in. Thousands have died protecting these rights and thousands more will continue to. When we start prosecuting people for offending someone is the beginning of the end! God bless the USA. not allah but GOD. Jesus' dad, you know the one I'm talking about
You certainly have some agreeable opinions and views. globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com provides a fresh look at the subject.