Jackass wants to Burn Qur'an..... Why do we care???

Unless you are have been living in a hole under a rock this week, you have heard about the "Qur'an burning" event that is scheduled for tomorrow to "commemorate the 9/11 attacks”.

I have a few things to say about this, or rather to the people involved.

First, I will deal with the reverend who is staging this hateful stunt. 

Let me say that this is not about the Quran (a book for which I have no respect link to own blog about islam) it is about his level of jackassery.

Rev Terry Jones, let me be the first to say it "You are an asshole." 

There are many reasons for me saying this, but this is the latest example. 

This is not a protest to a ridiculous death threats for cartoon art like the "Draw Mohammad Day", nor is it a protest against the outrageous harassment of a church- goer for not swallowing a cracker , these protests were staged in response to outrageous acts of disproportionate anger/threats/insults/hatred over something relatively minor.  No, what the "good" reverend is planning is a statement, a statement of hatred towards the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks, and in remembrance of their victims. 
The problem is that in his statement he includes all Muslims as the perpetrators by burning their common holy book. 

Don't get me wrong, I have no love for that hateful book, but to blanket insult all Muslims in your protest against only a select few sends the wrong message.  It says that he sees them all all Muslims as terrorists and, for that, he will burn their club rule book.

He is wrong.

Not all Muslims are terrorists, any more than all Christians are homophobes, or all Scientologists are idiots (hmmm maybe this is a bad example, but you get my point).

Muslims, for the vast majority of cases outside of the fundamentalist countries, are the same as every other religion in that they don’t' really believe what is contained in their holy book. 

They pick and choose what parts they follow. 

I have met many fantastic Muslim people, in fact, I work with one. 

He is a very intelligent young man, whose response to the book burning was "who cares, there are lots more".

The only reason for the Reverend to do this, is to incite his hatred towards all Muslims and to widen the divide in the American people with their fellow Americans (those who happen to be of Islam).

Also as an aside, does he remember that many Muslims were victims in the 9/11 attacks as well?
So this book burning is not a remembrance of those victims, this is a slap in the face to many of the people who fell that day.
What he wants is a vehicle with which to spread hatred, and this was a very polarizing and sensitive issue to use as that vehicle.

It has nothing to do with what he is doing, only WHY he is doing it.

So to that I say, "Hey Reverend.  You are an asshole."



Secondly, I would like to send a message out there to the world and military leaders who responded to this non-story.

SHAME ON YOU!

Shame on you for giving this man the attention he seeks.

Shame on you for lending this man’s protest the validity it needed.

Shame on you for even addressing it.

Obama, your response to this situation should have been "What?  He is burning his own property?  Why are you bothering me with stories of people burning their own stuff??  I have more important things to do, I am the president!"

 <- This puppy is more important on a national scale than Reverend Jones!






Shame on you for acting like it is a big deal. 

NO ONE has the right to have their traditions protected from criticism from people who don't hold those traditions dear.

The reverend has the right to do this to his own stuff if he feels like it and no one has the right NOT to be offended by the actions of others as long as they break no law in doing so.

We DO have the right to ignore him though.

So shame on you Obama, shame on you Steven Harper, and shame on all the military officials that condemned his jackassery as anything more than one guy being a dick by purposefully angering others by burning HIS OWN STUFF.

What you have done with your condemnation is participate in the blasphemy laws that sharia supporters so dearly want implemented all over the world.
You have given credence to the thought that religion should be somehow protected from opposing opinion in a public forum.

We need MORE criticism of dogmas, not less.
More promotion of critical thinking, not less.

Condemning a man’s free speech, merely because you are afraid of the religious response if you don't pander to their childish offence is despicable.

So again, shame on you.

Lastly, to everyone who is reading this and feels offence at what the Reverend is doing, I have a two things to say.

First, have you even read anything about this nut-job?  He is another Pastor  Fred Phelps.

He hates everyone in arms reach, and has actually cooperated with Phelp's church in protesting homosexuals in their "God Hates Fags" campaign.
He wrote a book called "The Devil is Islam" condemning the violence in that religion.  (which is ironic, because until he sorts out the violence in his own religion’s book, he should keep his mouth shut on such things for fear of looking hypocritical).
He has condemned Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and Hinduism and all other religions for being based on demonic possession.
He has put signs outside his church reading “no homo for mayor”
He has written a rule book (full of misspellings and grammatical errors) for Students at Jones' Dove World Outreach Center which contains rules like;
Students are "not allowed to visit family members or friends."; and
No Alcohol, candy, or eating out at restaurants; and
Putting students on a scale once a week; and this gem
Students must "wash or shower at least once a day but not more then (sic) 2 a day."


In other words, he is a basket-case, a hate monger, and as nutty as squirrel shit.

Why do we care what such people have to say? 

Just dismiss him as a freak show and be done with him.

Secondly, and this is the real point here, why do we care in the first place?

One person has DIED in protest of this action (which may or may not even take place anymore, as he is attempting to hold his books hostage in exchange for the ground zero mosque location being moved).
Is one persons lack of respect for  their own personal property and for other peoples opinions really worth other people DYING??

Honestly people!

He is burning is own property.
He is not hurting anyone.
There are LOTS more Qur'ans.,  Iit is not like he is burning the last ones on earth.

and listen closely.......



IT IS ONLY A BOOK!