Burning the Quran is a Good Thing
Members of the Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia hold placards during
a protest in front of US Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 4.
Photo: Christian Science Monitor
The Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida is protesting what it calls a religion "of the devil," (which I call a political system and not a religion) and in memory of 9/11 victims plans to host an "International Burn a Qur'an Day" (1) on the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Some people may complain that such an event will only to stir up a hornet's nest of Muslim outrage and help extremist groups recruit more Jihadists.
Well, actually that's a good thing for a number of reasons. Let me tell you why.
First of all, Taliban recruiters are already telling lies about America in order to persuade young gullible stupid Muslims to join them. Read the comments from my moderate Muslim readers who make ridiculous statements such as Americans have killed a million Iraqis and Afghanis and that we set dogs on Muslim inmates at Gitmo. It doesn't matter what the truth is, there will be lies. I doubt this Qur'an burning will get any more press than the usual fabrications against us.
Second, for Muslims here in the US, it will be a lesson on freedom of expression. We are not Europe, and a simple display of Islamophobia is not yet a crime.
Third, Let Muslims know that we are not intimidated. Let all Ahmeds and Fatimas know that if they keep on provoking us with demands of accommodation, that there will be consequences.
And last: Let the nest be stirred - let every Muslim who is stirred to action join a Jihad now. Why should Jihadists come to the party in dribs and drabs? Let a million all join at once. What is better, to catch a cockroach here and there, from time to time, or to have all of them come out at one time so they they can be squashed once and for all?
I am opposed to burning books - but this is a political statement, and in that regard it is an expression of speech which is of course guaranteed by our Constitution. I would certainly defend with my life any attempt by our government to burn any book, the Qur'an included. But certainly, if someone needs to tell the world how evil and disgusting Islam is, then this is arguably the only book in the world worthy of a good toasting.
Let it burn. It will be the only time that the Qur'an shines a light unto the world.
ENDNOTES
(1):
CNN, 30 Jul 2010, Church plans Qur'an-burning event
"We believe that Islam is of the devil, that it's causing billions of people to go to hell, it is a deceptive religion, it is a violent religion and that is proven many, many times," Pastor Terry Jones told CNN's Rick Sanchez earlier this week.
Jones wrote a book titled "Islam is of the Devil," and the church sells coffee mugs and shirts featuring the phrase.
Muslims and many other Christians -- including some evangelicals -- are fighting the initiative.
The church launched a YouTube channel to disseminate its messages.
"I mean ask yourself, have you ever really seen a really happy Muslim? As they're on the way to Mecca? As they gather together in the mosque on the floor? Does it look like a real religion of joy?" Jones asks in one of his YouTube posts.
"No, to me it looks like a religion of the devil."
The Islamic advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations called on Muslims and others to host "Share the Qur'an" dinners to educate the public during the monthlong fast of Ramadan beginning in August. In a news release, the group announced a campaign to give out 100,000 copies of the Qur'an to local, state and national leaders.
