Plans to Burn Koran: Free Speech — or Hate Speech?

The Obama Admin won’t participate in the National Day of Prayer, but we hold up Islam during Ramadan? What is wrong with this leadership? If Muslims burn our flag, why can’t we burn their Koran?Not the “Christian” way to go about this, but they did kill 3,000 Americans on 9/11, it’s his right, Burn Baby Burn…

This is an obscene action. Burning the Koran is a return to the bad old days of the Inquisition. How far are Americans now from lynching Muslims? This is endangering US efforts abroad to win the hearts and minds of Muslims, although invading Afghanistan and Iraq has done more damage than this ever will. Muslims have long memories and symbols like this mean something. My mother lives in Gainesville, Florida and I don’t want to see that become a target for revenge.

Time for us (Christians) to take a stand!
Burn them.

I dont believe the 1st amendment be used to protect people who wish to protest against funerals or religions. No good comes of it, and it really affects other peoples rights to gather peaceably.

This will truly be one of the most disgusting acts that anyone has done in a while. The religion this man teaches requires us to accept all people, and not to judge anyone because god is the only one allowed to pass judgment. Terry Jones is the quintessential extremist. What sets him apart from the people that burn flags? An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. We may have freedom is speech but sometimes its better to keep your mouth shut. He should be excommunicated immediately. No person with this much hate should be allowed to be a pastor in ANY church.

PLEASE, PLEASE cover this event live this Saturday!
Have representatives from ALL faiths and show the world our universal condemnation of this Nazi tactic.
PLEASE have our President address the nation AND all of ISLAM via Al Jazeera TV and explain that on this day, Patriot’s Day, we as a nation are ashamed of this act of disrespect for another’s holy scripture; however, we here in this FREE society must accept it as a hard held freedom of speech and expression. Explain further that this moron is a simple minded fundamentalist extremest much like those ammans on the fringe of Islam who are ignorant of their own scriptures and instead spread their own brand of faith among equally ignorant followers and incite them to act out the hatred that a simple mind breeds.

yes it’s “legal”, but as a Christian u should respect all religions , just because the 9/11 catastrophe was caused by a group that are “Muslim” doesn’t mean they represent the majority. You are making a moral mistake, burning the bible would NEVER be acceptable no matter what a small group of Christians do , Jesus would not approve of what you’re trying to do

this is not anything more than a pjublicity thing with that pastor I believe in God my way they believe their way we have no rights to doubt their faith as they see it he needs to get a grip nd his followers are taken in by his message and are not men tally sound in my opinion

I’d hope that if this ( Pastor) goes on with this charade he gets charged with a hate crime against all muslims.Besides, this man will endanger our troops overseas and place a target on Americans everywhere. So where is Homeland Security and why are they doing nothing to stop him? You have no first amendment rights when you endanger America. THIS IS HATE ANY WAY YOU LOOK AT IT, AND HAS NO PLACE IN THIS COUNTRY!! WE ARE ALL ONE UNDER THE SUN!!

In our current situation this is probably not a good idea. It’s just going to make people more angry and fuel the already raging fire. He’s going to do it regardless of negative feedback . If it wasn’t being advertised so publicly I would say go for it. The more we excercise our freedom of speech the better. Either way we’re screwed so more power to ‘em for doing it.

Of course Pastor Jones has a right to burn the Koran if he wants to, but I just don’t think it’s the Christian thing to do. To me, he’s just lowering himself to there level.

Pray for peace dont insite a riot over their bible leave them to their beliefs and the important thing here is we have soldiers still in the country that will suffer for his wrong doings and possibly on our soil here at home stop his finatical thoughts and stop his burning of the Koran he wants a bonfire send him marsh mellows to burn hes a weird person and hes not sending out a Christian message its a selfish idea hes like the guy that had brainwashed the people in the sweat lodge that died

(Re:) Cassie – You are absolutely right. But the blood is on his hands not ours. He’ll do what he feels is right. Our opinions no longer matter. It seems to me that’s probably what he wants or he wouldn’t make it public. He would have just walked out his backdoor and burned it. They’re already p***ed off at the world and his burning such a sacred book publicly to prove a point is just going to fuel their anger. It’s as if he’s smirking in their faces knowing that it would make the news and cause such a huge contraversy. Yes indeed. I do believe that is exactly what he wants.

Ir is obvious that no one is right here: but tell me: who was right and who was wrong on 9/11/01?

Yes America is about freedom, but what about our people who are over there? Having them fight for our freedom doesn’t mean we can be stupid. And is he trying to get us bombed again? Think of the retaliation. Would you want your bible burnt, regardless of the religion let’s try to be tolerant of each other. It would also be like burning our constittution that is what governs our laws.

If I ain’t mistaken burning a book (religious or otherwise) is not actually freedom of speech. This man is going to insite a riot maybe they can arrest him for that!

I don’t believe Jesus would burn the
Koran. Although I don’t agree with
its message, I would not desecrate their book. It will only cause hard
feelings and more conflict between them
and us. Jesus loves them also. We can
share our faith with them and treat them
with kindness. Nowhere in the New Testament do you see Christians burning
other people’s books or objects.
Ginger
Ginger

first of all the spelling of the book is Quran. i do believe this man needs to be dealt with , with law enforcement, also it is true america has freedom of speach, but i believe certain parts should be changed, just like the men that stood on a corner in NEW York and wished death to the United States, they should be arested and put in jail, we are to respect everyones religion and treat people with respect. thats what is wrong with the world today , no respect , no one cares anymore. if people do not change their ways this world will not be here much longer. so heads up people and pay attention to everything thats going on in the world, i think god is trying to get our attention before something really major happens . god bless everyone.

I respectfully disagree- It is about time that we stood up for ourselves and stop being bullied. We are SO patient, and SO accepting of others, that we are now the horses’ asses of the world. Face it; we have fallen behind in every aspect. Even the Canadien dollar is more valuable than ours! When are we going to stand up to the world? We are wusses hiding behind a wuss president!

“Where they burn books, they will ultimately also burn people.”
Heinrich Heine, 1921

Any person expressing his/her freedom of expression concerning other faiths must consider the global impact of such an act. I do not believe that it is in the best interest of American citizens or others for an individual to perform an act that could produce hate or possibly a holy war.

Kathleen,
When were you last overseas? Did you go anywhere off the tourist track to really see overseas?

Looking at it from the Christian point of view, Jesus states to love the sinner, hate the sin. Many times he turned his ‘cheek’ to those that persecuted him, all the way up to crucifiction. The so called pastor stated that he believes that Jesus would do this, I don’t. I believe that Jesus would not do something that could potentially kill innocent people just to prove a point.
Looking at this from the ‘freedom of speech’ point of view, yes, we have freedom of speech, but we don’t have the freedom to yell ‘fire’ in a crowded building. We don’t have the freedom to incite a riot. We don’t have the ‘freedom’ to say whatever we want or do whatever we want if that action or word is going to cause harm.
I do not understand how people could just think only of themselves and not humanity. This country is not about freedom anymore, it’s about getting what you want regardless of who might get hurt in the process.

I am a proud American wasn’t born here however grew up here. Lve the way of life, since I was little our military intrigued me and even more did our constitution. I was born in a secular nation an ally of the western world even closer than Isreal. Hey who cares I fought fr this nations freedoms and I would no matter what never ever desecrate Antibes race religion nor creed. I was born a Muslim hey to each his own however I’m non practicing ignorance on either side isn’t the anser. As an 11 B American fighting man I’m disgraced to see someone so ignorant praise the words of god to so many this goes both ways. He is doing nothing but creating more problems and showing intolerance, actions those unbecoming of a religious man. If a Muslim were to desecrate another book of faith in true Islam this would be frowned on as that person would probably be ousted from his/ her community. I was raised by my grandmother a woman who believes in faith I was raised to believe in all faiths as they are related and equal and peaceful. I am a soldier I live everyday with my own. This ignorant man how strong is he to live with what he is about to create with his ignorance. Probably not much in the back woods .

RESPECT THE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF OTHERS.
Tolerance is a good cornerstone on which to build human relationships. When one views the slaughter and suffering caused by religious intolerance down all the history of Man and into modern times, one can see that intolerance is a very non-survival activity.
Religious tolerance does not mean one cannot express his own beliefs. It does mean that seeking to undermine or attack the religious faith and beliefs of another has always been a short road to trouble.
Philosophers since the times of ancient Greece have disputed with one another about the nature of God, Man and the universe. The opinions of authorities ebb and flow: just now the philosophies of “mechanism”1 and “materialism”2—dating as far back as Ancient Egypt and Greece—are the fad: they seek to assert that all is matter and overlook that, neat as their explanations of evolution may be, they still do not rule out additional factors that might be at work, that might be merely using such things as evolution. They are today the “official” philosophies and are even taught in schools. They have their own zealots who attack the beliefs and religions of others: the result can be intolerance and contention.
If all the brightest minds since the fifth century B.C. or before have never been able to agree on the subject of religion or anti-religion, it is an arena of combat between people that one would do well to stay out of.
In this sea of contention, one bright principle has emerged: the right to believe as one chooses.
“Faith” and “belief” do not necessarily surrender to logic: they cannot even be declared to be illogical. They can be things quite apart.
Any advice one might give another on this subject is safest when it simply asserts the right to believe as one chooses. One is at liberty to hold up his own beliefs for acceptance. One is at risk when he seeks to assault the beliefs of others, much more so when he attacks and seeks to harm them because of their religious convictions.
Man, since the dawn of the species, has taken great consolation and joy in his religions. Even the “mechanist” and “materialist” of today sound much like the priests of old as they spread their dogma.
Men without faith are a pretty sorry lot. They can even be given something to have faith in. But when they have religious beliefs, respect them.
The way to happiness can
become contentious when one
fails to respect the religious
beliefs of others.
1. 1. mechanism: the view that all life is only matter in motion and can be totally explained by physical laws. Advanced by Leucippus and Democritus (460 B.C. to 370 B.C.) who may have gotten it from Egyptian mythology. Upholders of this philosophy felt they had to neglect religion because they could not reduce it to mathematics. They were attacked by religious interests and in their turn attacked religions. Robert Boyle (1627–1691), who developed Boyle’s Law in physics, refuted it by raising the question as to whether or not nature might have designs such as matter in motion.
2. 2. materialism: any one of a family of metaphysical theories which view the universe as consisting of hard objects such as stones, big or very small. The theories seek to explain away such things as minds by saying they can be reduced to physical things or their motions.
Materialism is a very ancient idea. There are other ideas.

Tom. very well said! If only you were the word,,, Just wish everyone would prescribe to your beliefs- then all would be well, no matter which god we profess to. Whatever God Bless you! KAM

The Koran belongs to the deserts. We don’t need the Koran here not if you want to live under the Desert’s Sharia Law!
Pastor Jones is defending the Constitution of America courageously against the Desert’s Sharia Law and Pastor Jones should be hailed as a great pastor/hero!
The USA has a half-past-6 general who couldn’t defend the Constitution of USA and pastor Jones against Sharia Law. It’s time to recall this hp6 general!

This is just ignorance and intolerance, that’s all. For every ignorant and intolerant action there is an ignorant and intolerant reaction. This will just continue until the end of time. I will say that there is nothing Christian about this so-called “Christian” Quran-burning group. Christ would have never approved. It’s contrary to everything he taught.

It just shows the true face of the USA and it’s obscure “christian” groups!
As a true christian I’m opposed to this because it’s all but christian!
Where they burn books they’ll be burning people soon!
I can only hope this’ll cost you biased lot dearly!!!!!!!

I think Terry Jones is making an important point.
While I find his act disrespectful I fully respect his right to perform it. We see this ALL the time in the West. Atheist artists have constantly made obscene pictures of nuns, placed crucifixes in urine, just to name a few. Most of these cases did not even reach mainstream media. Why? Mainly because Christians are specifically forbidden from going out and performing violence against the artist. Why do we worry in this case? Because we KNOW Muslims will react violently. We are in fact, afraid of angering Muslims. It is bowing down to blackmail.
If Islam is truly a peace loving religion this act will pass without consequence. If it is not then we should cease to hold-up appearances and understand what we are up against.

Why is Islam the only religion that gets a free pass when it comes to violence?
Today, a bunch of Muslims in Kabul burned an American flag, a scene that has been repeated on Muslim streets for decades.
Muslims flew planes into the WTC on 9/11 and we are now worried about what they think of us. There is something very perverted about that way of thinking.
This whole stunt by the guy in Florida is meant to show the absurdity of the Ground Zero Mosque proposal. By doing something equally distasteful, yet legal, he is showing the mosque supporters and builders what it feels like to have such an offensive act perpetrated under the protection of free speech.
Some argue that this act of burning korans is more offensive than building the mosque near Ground Zero but those people are nearly uniformly mosque supporters. Opponents of the mosque know that burning korans is offensive but see it in the same light as building Park51 on the site where 3,000 Americans were killed in the name of Islam.
Some have said that because it is two blocks away, it should not be considered a graveyard. However, those of us who remember that day know otherwise. After being burned alive, suffocated, crushed, or falling to their deaths, the inhabitants of the towers were pulverized into dust and ash, much of which covered the site of the proposed mosque. That dust is all that is left of nearly 40% of the victims in the towers because the destruction was so great that no identifiable remains were found.
It’s a graveyard.
Burning korans is offensive, yet legal.
So is building a mosque on the graves of 3,000 Americans killed in the name of Islam.
Faisal Abdul Rauf should do the right thing and move his proposed mosque. That would calm tensions around the world and prevent stuff like the koran burning from occurring. But, I suspect he will not and this rift will only escalate until it becomes a full blown war of cultures.
Regardless of what is done in the name of free speech, anyone who commits an act of violence owns that act in its entirety. Burning books, showing photos, or drawing cartoons cannot be accepted as the impetus for violence. If you commit a violent act, you alone are to blame.

Yes he has a right to Burn any book
he pleases. Freedom of Speach.
This Country and it’s Constitution were built on Christian Ideals and Morals.
The word “God” is used all throughout the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. I do not see any mention of “Alah” or any other Towel Head.
Why must we constantly bow down to Anyone who doesn’t like us in fear of reprisals. We are who we are because of Christianity. Why should we accept anything less. When we begin to accept anything less, it’s the beginning of the End. “God Bless America”.

what ever you do. no matter how much you try allah will protect his religion , will protect his words which is quran. quran will not be eliminated nor islam

Islam is not a religion it is am ideology of hate like Nazism. Evidence all the atrocities which have been committed in the name of Islam. Stop appeasement of Islam – Islam does not play by the same rules as us. Therefore let us play by their rules. Let’s show them we mean business stop the islamidication of the West burn their manual of operations a.k.a. the Koran

Our country was founded upon the right to freedom of religion, and if Terry Jones chose to read the Koran he might find a great deal of common ground with his Christian faith. He says he has been praying about this. I say he needs to pray much more. And after that, he needs to listen to what God has to say back. I share his disgust with extremism, but the violence of terrorism is not consistent with the tenets of the Koran. It is like saying that we should burn the Holy Bible because of the Oklahoma City bomber.

Free speech is a right that must be used responsibly. If this small minority goes forward with their plan – in spite of the knowledge that doing so will lead to an increase in hostility and possibly even attacks against US citizens – they are as guilty of reckless endangerment as someone falsely shouting out, “FIRE!” in a crowded building.

I strongly condemn burning of Quran or any religious scriptures any where in the world. We are representative of free world we should be exemplary to the world. It was sad and very tragic time in our history when we were attacked and many of our brothers, sisters, fellow citizens lost their lives because of a few crazy fundamentalist! Forgiveness is bigger than revenge, let’s not forget that. Burning Quran is totally hate-crime and not freedom of expression.

ok we all hate the extremist of islam who bomb people and them selves…but why don’t the moderate muslims stand up and protest against the crazys that give their ideology a bad name….you don’t see any muslim speaking openly against violence…and the extreme views of islam marching in the streets!!!hopefully this will spark productive discussion????time will tell

Those who think, it’s correct because
some muslims are burning american flags and shouting “Death of America”, just think who are you comparing yourselves with?
Didn’t they also start with burning Ramayana(Hindu Hold Book) and Bible?
Someone once said “Those who burn books will finally end up buring people”.

Okay. I’d like to say a few things. First, it wasn’t “Muslims” who flew the planes into the Towers on 9/11. It was terrorists who claimed they did it for Allah. Terrorists trying to bring America down. Terrorists trying to show us that they didn’t like us, our culture, and our way of life. TRUE Muslims who practice Islam value life and what it stands for. They are a peaceful people and don’t believe in what the extremists are doing. Before you start to criticize someone else’s religion or views, understand them first. I am positive that this man has never even opened up the Koran, let alone try to understand the true religion. Not what those idiot terrorists claim Islam to be. Secondly, if this act of burning the Koran does happen, it will just prove that hatred and ignorance are plaguing our country. Burning the Koran will do nothing more than stir up the tension already brewing in the Middle East. Also, doing this will put our troops in extreme danger! Why doesn’t this man understand that?! Doesn’t it seem at all selfish to not care about the people who fight for you, every single day? Fight so you can say what you want, practice whatever religion you want, and go to whatever website you please, such as this one? Third, my opinion is that this is nothing more than an act of hate on the part of an “American” who should know and act better. If he wanted(wants) to do this then, by all means, go ahead BUT in the privacy of your own backyard or the church you attend. It is ignorance and pure immaturity that runs through this mans’ brain. Open up that Koran and read it before you go and burn it. Open up the Torah and read it. Open up your mind!

I cannot see the followers of Mohamed hurting a fly because of this book burning.
After all, Islam is a religion of peace.

Just because we have the freedom to do so, doesn’t mean we should do the action.

Here is your proof that Obama is a closet Muslim. Would the administration be as upset if a group was burning Bibles? Not likely. They would call it a celebration of civil liberty … and the liberal news media would cheer them on.

Ignorance. If people actually took the time to simply leaf through a Koran, they might realize that it contains the exact same message as the Bible, but with a different cast of characters. Islam is not the enemy, but rather, ignorance and a close minded world view.

I also will burn my own koran in my back yard

There needs to be a religion of common sense. If something is bad and you wouldn’t like it if it was done to you, then ‘DON’T DO IT’. Send that message in your everyday actions. Use your noggin people, most of this crap can be taught to kindergarten kids. Does the term ‘Blind leading the Blind’ ring a bell? How ’bout shortsighted ignorance?

Though I am of a historic bible base spiritual orientation, freedom of religion is strong. To negate the results of Karon burning people true Christians should be burning Bibles along side the Koran, because extreme fundlementalist have destroyed peoples lives, in Oklahoma, and New York, and you do not need to have it grow in the US. Burn Bibles along with the Koran an it would delete the message of burning what is to extreme fundamentalists which destroy lives and will help to put out the fires.

If the burning of a book brings about a worldwide killing spree, the pastor’s point will have been made. Islam is a dangerous political movement and this fact needs to be exposed.

It ‘s funny to see how the powerfull Americans are scary to burn a book.

I don’t see anything wrong with burning a Quran or Qurans. Is he right to do it? Yes he is! It’s perfectly legal to do it, there is no law in the U.S.A. stating you can’t burn a Quran, Bible, or any other religious book out there in the world. Is it disrespectful? Yes, is it wrong to do? No, it’s not otherwise we wouldn’t be having this discussion. I know there are better ways to express himself, but this is his ordeal. He may be an radical extremist but he has every right to do it. I know he is burning a holy book but he’s not burning a follower of Islam alive. Islam will survive after this episode in American history is over. People say that the troops overseas will come under more violence and death than there is now. Do you really think we are going to just stand there and take it, not to shoot back? Please. Soldiers were getting killed before this little incident and they will be continued to be a target as long as we are over there long afterwards. I know that everyone here does not want to see more violence and death of our troops, but it is what it is. The Arab countries will get over it, one man’s views and freedom to express doesn’t represent the U.S.A. as a whole. If you would have found out about this a few days, weeks or months afterwards, would you have really cared? Now it’s on the news and everyone is in an uproar. You have the freedom to express yourself in about every which way that is practical and this man is using this exact freedom this country is founded on. It is disrespectful and he could have found a better way but oh well just another embarrassing moment in our history. I say let this man make an ass out of himself and carry on, he’ll be long forgotten a few days, months or even years afterwards and nobody will really care what happened that day he burned the Quran.
It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
and lastly…………
It is the soldier, not the radical, who gives the extremist the freedom to express and make a fool of himself.

Burning 2 buildings and killing 3,000 Americans was cause for celebration in most Middle East countries. We all saw it. Burning a religious book in symbolism does not compare, yet these same people are outraged at us? Time to stop walking on eggshells and making victims out of criminals in this country and in the international community. Political correctness may look good on the surface but we have traded it for our strength and respect. The rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness here are not secondary for honest, hard working patriotic Americans to the rights of criminals and murderers. And I see no illegality in doing so according to our constitution whether you agree with this action or not. Sharia law? It does not govern in The United States of America. If you want to live under Sharia law, live in a country where it does. There is plenty of square footage around the globe to do so elsewhere. Immigration does not deny culture but does not permit substitution of government and laws in the country you immigrate to. As has been said recently, it is time for America to return to being America.

THE PRICE HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR BY CHRIST…ITS NOT THESE PEOPLES FAULT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN RAISED SINCE THEY WERE CHILDREN TO BELIEVE A CERTAIN WAY! GODS WAY IS LOVE!!! LOVING THE UNLOVING! THERE IS NONE THAT IS GOOD…THE SCRIPTURE SAYS! NO ONE CAN THROW ANY STONES! IT’S B/C OF GODS GRACE THAT WE ARE FORGIVEN!! GOD ISNT ABOUT HATE! I PRAY THAT INSTEAD OF THIS MAN OF GOD TO ENCOURAGE HATE..THAT GOD WILL MOVE AND PUT COMPASSION IN HIS HEART FOR ALL OF GODS CREATION! THE WORD ALSO SAYS THAT WE KNOW BY A PERSONS FRUIT..LOOK IN GAL. AND U’LL SEE THE FRUIT OF A PERSON FLOW’N IN CHRIST…BITTERNESS, HURT, HATE&PAIN CAUSES US ALL AS HUMANS TO BE BLIND..DONT REPAY EVIL FOR EVIL..U REPAY BY DOING GOOD!! PRAY FOR THOSE THAT INSULT YOU!! LOVE IS ALL THAT WILL WORK!!! MAY ONLY GODS WILL BE DONE IN THE NAME OF JESUS….THANK YOU FATHER FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND MERCY!! LET THE BLIND SEE…AND BE FREE…GRACE IS FREE ROMANS 5

If that group of hate filled, narrow focused people actually do burn the Koran, in my opinion, it should be delt with as a hate crime. No more, no less.

The Koran burning is a free-speech commentary on Barack Obama bowing to the king of Saudi Arabia.

I think the preacher is right about burning the Quran. If the muslims want to use our goverment and our constitution for their rights then they need to understand that this preacher is well within his constitutional rights to do so. Welcome to America! Why not put it to a poll?
Randy Edwards
Lake Charles, LA

This guy has the RIGHT to burn whatever he wants. My question is: Who started the coverage of a pastor who has less than 50 members and gave him all this PUBLICITY? Where is the responsible journalsim in this? Obviously there was none. As USUAL, just sensationalism. Why do the National Networks glorify this story as well? Don’t they realize the ramifications? I’m not saying we should bend to the will of others, but if they hadn’t started the buzz about this in the first place, there wouldn’t be any backlash to worry about.

why don’t they just let the old wound heal. There is much more good work to do than burning religious Holy Book, hurting peoples sentiment. People are dying of hunger due to cyclones, earthquakes, millions are hungry and homeless, sleeping in cold dark, under the sky. OK fine. you said you don’t give a damn, well go for it, GOD ALWAYS BLESS AMERICA

We as a Universe were all conceived in the same way – we were all born into this world the same way – we learned and grew to become People – Human Beings and we were all born with one thing in common – the freedom of Free Will to choose, to respect one another, and to give to those who are in need of any and all things necessary for life. Life has become about good versus evil and we are the fuel that makes it happen – by choice we did not choose peace we chose dishonor and bigotry to others. In this we have spat in the face of God – the same God of all persons, of all nationalities, and of all religions – he did not make the fighting of who is right or wrong – he did not tell you to hurt one another for being different – he wanted only peace for his world and the people in it.Through time there have been wars – senseless, painful wars that have taken the lives of people who were fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and so forth. They did not ask to die for you or for the cause they died for – they did a job that they were called to do from one nation’s leader and they did it with tolerance and pain. These are the people who have died for peace and we have spat in their faces as well. People talk about radicals and extremists – they are worldwide and in all walks of life, nationality, and religion. There are some who do it in secret and some who do it bold in your face – but they are everywhere – and through time we have always answered them with more wrong doing.The saying to turn the cheek was meant for a reason – if one person rapes another, should we answer by doing the same – if one kills another, should we answer with the same – if one molests, ridicules, abuses, bullies, belittles, etc. and so forth – should we do the same ? We as humans know what is right and for some reason we still choose to do the wrong thing – why? Does it make a point for an answer to unnecessary pain caused to one and by one – or is it just a way we can say we are superior? And what in that answer makes us superior? We still created pain in another and we did it with malice and knowledge of wrong.We can stand in line face to face – you could burn my holy book and I can in turn burn yours – you could slap me in the face and I can in turn slap yours – you could cut off my arm and I could in turn cut off yours – you could take my life and in turn I would be dead – does that mean you win? Or does it just mean that you did it first, so you are superior? And what did you win – my life? What point did you make – what dream did you grant – what life did you better – what words and actions will make you superior in this world? You would only be known as the person who took a life needlessly to make a stand for something that should have been attacked by knowledge and common sense – reasoning and debates – understanding and acceptance of humans and life.September 11 was a horrific tragedy in history that was not caused by one – it was caused and created by many. We as a nation were at the forefront of blame and we all chose to blame others. We as a nation could have prevented, but chose to ignore – when will we stand up for our own mistakes – when will we stand up and learn to fight with knowledge and human kindness – when will we as a universe choose to make the right choices for all of human kind? To stand by each other’s side and find the way to resolve issues collectively – not divided – now that will be a day we can stand up and be proud side by side, arm in arm – all fighting for the same thing in a universe built for the same reason – LIFE and GOOD!!!
Cheryl “Aicha” H

Americans of all stripes, and all politics were effected by the terror that happened on 9/11. Not only were American effect by the tragic events but all nations and all religions. thousands of souls were lost that day from all walks of life including those from the Islamic religion. We are basing this tragic event on religious battle, When we should be focusing on remember the events of Sept. 11. Residents in New York and Washington remember trying frantically to get a phone call through to their loved ones, or worrying about the other rumored attacks uptown, at Foggy Bottom, at the White House, or another incoming plane heading for the Capitol. We remember watching desperate people make the unthinkable choice to jump from the towers, or remember Arlington firefighters and soldiers alike pulling survivors out of the Pentagon. We remember going to church or a quiet room in the house or office to pray for the thousands lost that day, and to pray it never happens again. We remember the week after, the flags draping ground zero, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. We remember President Bush on the flatbed of a truck, arm draped on an exhausted firefighter speaking to the world through a megaphone. American were not the only effected ones all nations were effected. Instead of singling out a religion we should focus on healing and rebuilding. After September 11, Americans started single out men and women from the middle east of Muslim faith and accusing them of terror activity. People from the Middle East all over America was being treated in different ways. Cab drivers from NYC began getting beat including those who may or may not have been Muslim. I am American I was born and raised in America, we base are values on the constitution and fight to protect our constitution to keep the freedoms that we have. America was founded by the idea to escape religious persecution. Treating people that come here from other country’s that have different religious beliefs in bad ways is a violation to the United states constitution. We are so lucky to have the freedoms we have people can believe in what they want and worship where they want. I wanted to add that Pastor Terry Jones is wrong for trying to single out the Muslim religion over a Islamic center being place near ground zero. The Muslims have the right to place there Islamic center where they choose and American should embrace that because of our freedoms. Burning the qua ran is wrong that is just as bad as spitting in someone face which we would all find very offensive and hurtful. My husband is a strong Arabic man he is Muslim so I have allot of experience in the Muslim community. My husband is not a pushy man he is a very patient selfless man. He is a kind hard worker. All the other Muslim family’s that I have had the pleasure to encounter are very pleasant and hospitable. The religion is based on peace. Pastor Jones should put himself in these peoples shoes would he want his wife and children to be attacked just because of their religious beliefs. I am a American and I am converting to the Islamic religion it is my choice and that’s why I love America. Pastor Jones please try to keep the peace do not burn the Quran that is hurtful on all levels. September 11, is about remembering the people from all over the nation who died not religion or politics.

People should have the legal right to burn any book, including the quran that is filled with hate speech and promotes killing, domination of women etc.. The quran should be outllawed asap ! Let’s get this done !

Free speech or hate speech? Since when did we in the U.S. start using the shibboleth “hate speech.” The Europeans use “hate speech” to suppress free speech. If an opinion is especially offensive – which usually means that it is especially opposed to a view that is endorsed by the government – the government has a simple solution. They make it a crime to express that opinion. They call it “hate speech.”
In the U.S. it is well established as a matter of law that demonstrations such as buring the flag are a form of speech, a way of expressing one’s very strongly held views.
What happened to the principle that, “I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Personally, I am intolerant of people who are intolerant. The pastor in Florida and others who are following his example are expressing the view that Islam is not just a religion; it is also a culture. And that culture is inimical to the values that Americans have held dear for a long time. The Muslim religion does not respect freedom of religion. They do not respect freedom of speech.
And in these difficult times the government has found it more expedient to appease those who would suppress free speech than to defend those who would offend the oppressors.
You might find it easy to dismiss this pastor as irresponsible. But prepare yourself. This discussion is not over. We have just shown the oppressors how easily we surrender our freedoms.